Revel Salon 2’s (used) or new Magico A-3 (new) ??

For a family room that opens to say an eat-in or a  kitchen, I do not think the Salon 2's can be beat for the money.  I amplified with first Classe CA-2300, then Mola Mola Kalugas. Finally Audionet Max's won the crown. Talk about smooth and room filling!  I still use the Mola Mola Makua preamp with internal Tambaqui DAC.

The Salom 2's do like power, and mine benefit from Gaia footers on my wood floor.

The Salon 2s are superior!!!  The Salon 2s are still one of the very best loudspeakers in the world today and can easily be compared to Magico's or anyone else's top-of-the-line models.  I've heard  almost all of Magico's line of speakers and they are incredible sounding, but so are the Salon 2s.  There's a multitude of wonderful sounding speakers out there to choose from, from a multitude of different speaker brands.  The Salon 2s are a bargain at their retail price.  You most assuredly can't go wrong with the Salon 2s.  The Salon 2s are, from top-to-bottom, a mind bogglingly incredible, World Class speaker.  No wonder the Salon2s have been on Stereophile's Class-A Recommended list every since the day they were introduced many years ago now.  In the past 25 years, the magnificent Revel Salon 2s were the speakers that finally took me off the speaker---Merry-Go-Round!!!        

I recently upgraded from an Hegel H390 to an Hegel H590 integrated to drive my Revel Salon 2 speakers. Although the H390s sound quality, overall, was fantastic, in the end, the H390 didn’t have quite enough juice to control the Salon’s bass drivers to their full potential. But, the H590 took things to an entirely different level. The H590 is an absolute powerhouse, and drives the Salons just beautifully!!!  With the H590, I’m getting superb, deep, tight, tuneful, controlled, bass performance, at all volume levels. And, the sound quality of the H590 is superb, as well.  Before purchasing the H590, I was worried that I would have to go back to separates in order to get the kind of power I'm getting from the H590.  But, the Hegel H590 turned out to be about as close to separates as I could find on the market that was powerful enough to drive the Salons. They claim that the Hegel H590 was a superb, world class integrated amp, and it most definitely made a believer out of me.  I'm thrilled!!! 

yes they do like power and speed!  I drive mine with Audionet Max amps.  In my family room with cathedral ceiling, the soundstage is wide and tall, and they fill the open area which is 35' deep.

Due to being down-ported, even in my less than perfect, smallish room, the Revel Salon 2 speakers beautifully disappear. For my room size, I drive the speakers with the very powerful and very high current Hegel H390 integrated amp with astonishing results!!!  The Salon 2 speakers have been around for quite some time now, so they tend to get overlooked in todays market in favor of the newer models that now cost a King's Ransom.  And for that reason, I believe that audiophiles assume that the Salons are no longer competitive in SQ with the current breed speakers, which would be a huge mistake.  The Salon 2s were highly advanced when they were introduced years ago, and (IMHO), a lot of the other manufacturers are just now catching up, but do not  necessarily sound better than the Salons.  These are phenomenal, world class speakers!!!          

+1 @kennymacc The Salon 2's are a great value.  Used for around 12k they are amazing.  For a small room the Studio 2's offer much of the same sound....

I placed Isoacoustics Gaia feet under my Salon 2's with noticeable improvement.

My wood floors thanked me as well!  I did need to order different threaded lugs

to fit the Salon 2's.  

Everytime I see audiotroy in a thread he spreads his arrogance everywhere and also tries to sell something. I suppose you may get some advice in there... somewhere but arrogance always turns me off personally. To the OP good luck I like the Revels.

Make no mistake, the Revel Salon 2s are still, after all these years, Stereophile Class A+ Recommended speakers for a reason, they're just that good!!!  These speakers are still an absolute bargain at their retail price, let alone what you could get them for pre-owned.  Recently, I attended one of the very large High End Audio shows, and what they were asking for most of the newfangled speakers was just mind-boggling.  I heard so many megabuck speakers that I though were extremely overpriced.  At the show, for the $$$$, I didn't hear one pair of speakers that could pry me away from my Salon 2 speakers.  The Salon 2s check all the audiophile boxes and is definitely an end-game speakers.  Phenomenal Speakers, from top to bottom!!!                   

I had the studio 2’s. The ability to adjust treble and bass was great 

fastfreight,

I'm friends with  telescope_trade, he lives less than 20 minutes away from me. He has Audio Solutions Figaro XL speakers. He doesn't get on Audiogon much anymore. 

Oh I see it states you sold the Salon 2's.....thoughts please?

telescope_trade:
Hello, it is  2 1/2 years since your last post here!
Do you still have the Salon 2's? I have had my pair now for about two year.s  I love them!  But I have changed electronics a lot since I have had them.  I also started with PSAudio, first the Stellar series with mono amps, then returned and upgraded to BHK Sig Preamp and BHK Sig 250 stereo amp.  I also had the PS Audio Directstream DAC.  It is now all sold and gone.  With each upgrade, the Salon's became sweeter in all ways.  They love powerful REVEALING electronics.  I have two sets of electronics that I Iove. The first is Mola Mola Makua with built in Tambaqui DAC and Kaluga mono amps.  Class D can be amazing.  It was like new speakers.  I heard things I had never heard before.  Bass more dynamic, bigger soundstage, clearer.  Like a veil lifted, to use an often quoted term.
But I also have an Audionet PreG2 and am patiently waiting on my Audionet Max amps, to be used with an outboard Tambaqui DAC.
You might glean that I have two systems; one with the Salon 2's and another with venerable B&W 802N's.
So I am now lastly looking to upgrade the Nautilus 802's and again contemplating the Salon 2's.  Like you, I find them a deal at around 11k.
My other option is to wait and go for a pair of YG's or Magico's that will cost over twice as much used.
My journey also included an Auralic Vega G2 DAC that was better than the PSA, but not in the league with the Mola Mola DAC, and a Classe CA 2300 amp that was again better than the PSA but not as good as the Kaluga's.

All of these thoughts are 'In MY Humble Opinion'.

Interested in where your journey took you, your lasting impressions of the Salon 2's, and what electronics you ended up with.

Can anyone compare the Salon 2's to the smaller but newer PerformaBE speakers?  Are the new Be tweeters different or better?  Is there going to be a new flagship to replace the Salon 2's???

Finally, sick of the criticisms of a dealer chiming in.  Of course he is a dealer, and we are all capable of understanding this.  And about him recommending 'his' products?  How is this different from every Joe and Harry (and myself) advocating what we have?  Dealer replies, to me, are a way of stepping into a shop without traveling.  Isn't that what we want to learn here. other peoples OPINIONS?

Thanks and have a great day!  Ken.

@ebm that was probably before the price jump right 

How is it vs the salon 2 though

If you didn't buy the Magico A3s you made a big mistake.Magico sold over 750 pairs which makes it one of the best selling Magicos ever.Good luck with Revels though!!

Any more thoughts on this comparison ?

@telescope_trade - Did you end up running the Revels with the Mastersound DueVenti for awhile longer? I'm curious what your longer term impressions were. 

I owned the studio 2 get the salon 2 they are a great speaker!

audiotroy
PM sent.  Happy Listening!

Yes. I don't think it's my place to discuss it, because I don't know all of the details. I just posted that he didn't have them anymore so members wouldn't feel the need to provide the OP recommendations for something he no longer has.

Ah, ok. thanks. Do you know what he replaced them with?

The OP purchased Salon 2s and no longer has them. No, he didn't get Magico A3s. 

ricred1, do you mean someone sold their revel 2's in favor of the magico A3s?

I'm also wondering this same thing... since both can be had for a similar price (used revel 2 vs new magico a3) I'm curious to hear from those who have some direct experience with how both sound. wouldn't that be the ultimate a/b comparison... sigh... probably will be a while before those two speakers can be compared in the same room/system together.

The OP sold his Revel Salon 2's.

I’m using the Ayre VX-5 Twenty. Plenty of power at 175W into 8ohms and 350W into 4ohms. I’ve never opened up the volume to it max but at the sometimes ear splitting volumes that I have tried, the Ayre stays completely in control of the Revels.

I had the studio 2 I think it’s a great sound but the revel really need a lot of power. Current depends on what you are powering them with. 

Spikes are essential with the Salons. When I set mine up, I didn’t have the time to spike them. One week later, when I added the spikes, I couldn’t believe the difference - particularly to the articulation of low frequencies. The spikes now sit on those circular indented things - I don’t hear a significant difference between the indented things and the spikes running through a carpet to the wood floor below. 

... I did not appreciate them above the many other box speaker in the $10k price point"

Some do, even against more expensive models:
https://www.soundstageglobal.com/index.php/product-debuts/magico-a3-december-2017/739-magico-a3-loud...

Sounded much better then the competition at AXPONA  

Oglala Oglala,

Thanks! Which exact model # did you get?

Hi, in that case you are asking me I own JBL 4367s. Cousins of the Revels, despite their obvious design differences they sound a lot like the ultimas. I heard today for the first time at the Lone Star Audio Fest the Magico A3. The setup was seemingly fine (the bass was not a problem), but I did not appreciate them above the many other box speaker in the $10k price point. Granted this was an initial impression at a show. 

I left the spikes at the place I bought them and haven't been in a rush to pick them up because i'm having so much fun moving them around! I never had a speaker pair that made such an impact with movement. my Salon1's sounded so good with hegel that I got the best I could afford the H360 and happily since i'm running out of money (for hifi) the salon2's also sound great with it. Bright compared to the Mark Levinson 536 but still musical and uncolored. my only acc''s are kimber 4tc and a supra power cord, i have some nordost rca cable for my cd player but all i do is stream tidal anymore or use the built in dac with a coax out from my player.

I’ve heard Salon 2s and Some Magicos. Further up the Magico line. Not sure which one and prefered the Salons. Both were really good. I would think the line Revel still sells would beat the bottom of the line Magicos. Just bring a heavy duty amp! 
The Personas I heard we’re really good! 

Oglala Oglala,

Thanks! Which exact model # did you get?

New finishes for Personas will be available May 10...for those waiting

Telescope,
I can understand your concerns regarding amplifier power for the newly bought Revels (congratulations by the way). Your particular Mastersound is an el 34 parallel SET no NFB circuit and has excellent quality output transformers. No doubt it sounds fabulous as you’ve described (within its power limits). It may not not ultimately be your final amplifier choice but it is an exceptionally good designed and implemented low power integrated amplifier. The Salons are revealing the superb sound quality of the pure class A Due Venti🙄. A case of watt quality rather than watt quantity. I’ve enjoyed reading your thread.
Charles

Look into IsoAcoustics. I have them on my PL500s. They make a difference, are really well made, and not too expensive. There's a IsoAcoustics thread on Audiogon.

The spikes that come with Salon 2s are OK but putting Star Sound Apprentice XL stands under mine made a substantial positive difference.  I have them under my amps as well, but they make the biggest difference with the Revels.

Even though the S3mkII lack the drama in scale and dynamics compared to the Salons, the Magicos have great tone. I find the Revels more threadbare. I don't know the A3 but don't see how it is not more restricted than the S3. Thanks for the LSAF reminder!

Thanks Steve,

Yes they are great speakers for sure! Have you tried spiking them? I have not yet, but hear it’s pretty essential!? May do it today.
I also still own (just bought less than two weeks ago) a pair of Golden Ear Triton Refs. Tempted to try them with the MastersounD amp as they are 93.5db, but don’t feel like dragging them back in. I currently have them For sale, but no takers yet. I can’t keep both! 😳

Congrats! I was shopping in the $10k price range for a 26x18x7 room and as much as I liked the Kanta2 I thought they were too small to hold together at Rockin' spl's. I also listened to the contour 60 and while it was a brief demo they were very nice, flippin' huge tho! I had a pair of beethovens and really wanted that sound so I bid on "the music" here but stopped at $10k because shipping would have added another $1400! The f228be sounds great also but I still think the f208 is the best bargain in hifi...a pair of salon2's came up locally and I went to listen, I own the Salon1 and the first time I heard the salon2 was in a dry room (1 wall solid windows!)  they had no midrange so I walked, my 2nd demo was in a treated room with ML 536 mono's driving them and I couldn't believe they were the same speakers! I made an offer and currently enjoy them. That doesn't take away from all the speakers I didn't buy, and I may sell these down the road and try something else, but i'm really enjoying these now!

Thanks cb5300,

I bought the Revel Salon 2’s already, and trying them with different amps. I agree with you on Legacy having owned the Focus SE previously, and just sold an original pair of Focus last week. Thought about buying a current version (My ribbon SE’s were the model before the latest ones now).
But when we heard the Revels at a local shop, we had to have them. So, that
is where I am at now.
Been running the new PS Audio stellar series on them and they sound great, but last night, I unboxed a Mastersound DueVenti Integrated amp that I have for sale, and it sounds fab! Only 10 W/pc pure class A (20 In Pentode) and seeing if I can live with the power long term. So far, I can’t believe what it’s doing on the “power hungry” Salons!

And only using a $19 DAC bought from an electronics store. 😳 So a good DAC is next on the list ASAP.

Of the speakers that have been listed here and at the price point you are looking to be at I would buy the Legacy Focus SE..These are store demo units (listed here). You could have a great speaker and keep $4k in your pocket. On another site I saw a pair of Aeris with an asking price of real close to your desired budget...With all that being said I'm so glad that I've found my "for life speaker". I really am sold on the Legacy sound, and my Focus SE's keep me in total musical bliss...  

Tdimler,

Thanks! Funny you ask right now as I am thinking about trying something and was going to start a thread on it.

As of right now, I am using a pair of PS Audio Stellar M700 monos, and GCD preamp. Sounds great, but wondering if class D is truly the way to go, so thinking about that long term.

Also have a low powered tube integrated (MastersounD DueVenti) that is BNIB And has been up for sale, but no takers. I stopped and bought a cheap $19.95 DAC at Altex just to try it. 😳

It is supposed to be a super fine amp, But is very low power 10 W/PC Triode, 20 W/PC Pentode. I asked Revel, and they simply said “try it” LOL! SO...i think
i may as well since no one seems to want it.

Drinking a few brews first to syke myself out to even open it LOL!

Stay tuned!

Congrats on a fine purchase telescope.  You'll love them.  What electronics are you using?

Golden Ears tend to sound a bit dark and bass heavy

Weird. Golden Ear's Triton speakers are some of the brightest, most fatiguing I've encountered, even when driven by McIntosh amps. Ironically, in the same room where I auditioned the Triton 1s, I auditioned some Salon 2s. The Revels were far more tolerable and balanced, and I wouldn't call any Revel speaker warm.

hmm, Magicos lower lines are really anything but etched sounding in my experience. 

The poster asked the Question

Revel Salon 2's or Magico A3's

In my book it would be the Salon 2's--one would soon tire I feel of the over detailed upper Mid/Treble etched presentation of the Magicos.

Other than that Magicos are OK.

Team212

2lumpy,

Bought the pair we heard last night. Love them!  What amp are you using? 

Amazing speakers! 

Hello I was so blown away by the overall coherence of the salon 2 that I sold my Alexandria x2-2 imho few speakers at any price point match the overall match the clarity and the midrange is close to elctrostats bear in mind not very efficient the need power.To me these were the best value gem in my audio world