James633 above summarized it well. I have salon 2’s with McIntosh mc611. They are an excellent pairing. The Salon 2’s really are quite extraordinary especially considering their age. I directly compared to the Wilson Sabrina X and found the Revel to be better in terms of midrange and bass. The Revel was able to play louder and command the music. The Sabrina did have a slightly better tweeter. Overall really hard to fault the Salon 2 as it is so well rounded. I listen almost every day and there is no fatiguing.
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But how do you really feel……?
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Once you get your hands on a pair of Revel Salon 2 speakers, along with a beefy, high powered amp to drive them, you will thank the High End Audio Gods!!! The Salon 2 speakers are just "PHENOMENAL SPEAKERS." The Salon 2s are definitely one of those "End-game," "Speakers-for-life," reference caliber, world class speakers. With the Salon 2s, you just don’t have to want for anything else. From top-to-bottom, they do everything supremely well. Over the past 25 years, I’ve owned more types and brands of speakers that you could shake a stick at. But, after purchasing the Revel Salon 2s, it was all over.
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Revel Salon 2 is still one of the best speakers in the world, especially for the money!!! To this day, when I go to High End Audio Shows, or to any of my local High End Audio shops, I very rarely hear any other speaker, regardless of price, that I would trade them in for. You just get it all with the Salon 2 speakers. The Salon 2 is one of those end game speakers that once you get them home and set up properly, they just make you forget about the rest because you're so content with there, top to bottom, absolutely spectacular sound. They're just that good.
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I have MC462 and Revel Salon2, they are both excellent. I auditioned the Triton years ago, Revel Salon2 was sure the better one. But you need space for the speakers to breath, I would recommend speakers at least 3ft from the front wall, and 8ft to the listening position. |
Bought my 5As for under $6k and they are an excellent speaker. Hard to find something in that price range that will be much better. I build my own components so I can't help you there. I was really impressed by the model 7s and if I was going to spend that kind of money that is where I would look for my next speaker. Not sure how much improvement you get from the 5As to the 5Cs and it depends on the used prices.
Happy Listening. |
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Another vote for the 5A carbons from a happy owner. tomic601 said it all with very few words.I will say the same thing with more words.
When I first heard them I was hard pressed to tell the difference between the 5A carbons and the 7s. Now I can tell. But on most recordings its not a big difference. The 5A carbon has the same mid range and sub as the 7.
The powered bass properly tuned to the room differentiates these from almost everything on the market. I could never go back. You can play music with subterranean bass as loud as you want because the main amp isn't powering the low bass. Its pants flapping, tight, not boomy and definitely not one note. You will hear things you never knew were there. The sound stays relaxed and airy because the main amp never gets pushed.
The carbon clad balsa wood mid range is magic. IMO the only thing better is the 7 but its a lot of money.With the 7 you are paying for a better cabinet and two more drivers made from balsa wood.
Finally, these speakers transformed my wife's attitude. She used to tolerate the big stereo in the living room. Two days after the 5A carbons were setup I came home to find her listening with the lights dimmed and a candle going. She greeted me with "You have to hear this song on these speakers." Now she invites people over to listen. Complete transformation and she helps me evaluate electronics.
If you want a pair the best source will be a dealer with a customer upgrading to 7s. You won't find them on Audiogon except very rarely. Audio Connection is a good one and there are others. |
I owned the 3A Signatures and recently sold them to fund the purchase of a used pair of Revel Ultima Studios. I've also listened to the Treo and Quatro CTs though.
Soundwise, I think you'll be happy with either.
The Vandys will need a lot more attention with respect to placement. The time aligned design means that the sweet spot will be fairly narrow. If I moved my head a few inches away from the sweet spot, the tonality changed markedly. What this means is it can drive you a little crazy dialing in the sound since small changes to either the speaker's position or your position can affect the sound.
The Revels were much easier to place in my listening space by comparison. The sweet spot is larger and if you move far away from it, the tonality doesn't change as much.
All the standard advice about speaker placement pretty much applies to the Revels. I recommend closely following the placement guide written in the 5A Carbon manual to get the most out of them.
Hope this helps! |
I have 5A’s (not carbons).....they really benefit from the best components you can fit with them. Very spacious and 3 dimensional. I have upgraded to the Kowazinga wood when I bought them....meticulous woodworking....gorgeous.
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I'm biased, as I have Vandersteen Treo Ct's. The 5A Carbons would be an excellent choice for you. Although the Revel Salon 2's are a fine speaker too. |
Leaning toward Vandersteen. Any more thoughts? |
yes of course i have heard and setup the 5a Carbon, etc from the Vandy line. Soundstaging, coherence and great bass in any room are hallmarks of the design. Fatigue free listening for countless hours.
Read the 7 reviews, it’s 90% of them at a fraction of the $. |
The Walsh 5000s produce a very refined yet coherent sound in a large airy soundstage; they are audibly superior to the mk2. I spoke to JS at Ohm when I was debating upgrading to the 5000 years ago; he told me the inverted cone main driver was a cost-no-object driver using cast frames, very powerful neodymium magnets, cloth surrounds for long life and excellent wave termination and IIRC metal cones, though not sure about this last detail. The thing is they have such a low noise floor, no energy storage and no colorations. Because of their high dispersion dynamics (with the right amplifier) are startling and explosive, energizing the entire room.
You should call JS at Ohm. He will give you an honest assessment whether the 5000s are a worthwhile upgrade. Of course the F5015s are his definitive loudspeaker for wide range and highly dynamic unrestrained reproduction. Reportedly they are extraordinary! |
The salon2 needed more power than my 250/425wpc amp could provide and I let them go. The Vandy's I've heard had huge mids with a kinda thick bass and a soundstage that made me wonder if they were wired in phase. |
I narrowed my selection based of all the positive accolades I have read over the last several years. I know there will be many more options but I am trying to simplify the process. |
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I have heard the 5A Carbons many times at the Audio Connection before they were discontinued. They are great speakers with an amazing midrange. The high frequencies with the Carbon tweeter make music so natural sounding that you will listen late into the night. The bass is fully adjustable to your room using the 11 band equalizer.
Overall , a great speaker. You might want to go over to the Forum on the Vandersteen website where you will find owners of the 5A Carbon that will be able to give you a more thorough description of the 5A Carbon sound.
I own Vandersteen Treo CT's. Good Luck! |
How did you come to the 2 finalists? I'm sure everybody would have another recommendation for you. |
Anyone heard the Vandersteen 5a Carbons?
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I have found my last speakers
Revel Salon-2 Ultima 2. They still impress me
3 years later. They are great in all areas. |
Depends what type of sound characteristics you’re looking for.
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as a 7 owner and biased, i like the 5a carbon....
enjoy the music and your search |
The revels will not wow you as they do not exaggerate anything in anyway. It is a very good speaker and they sound good on McIntosh gear.
If they have any major flaw it is lack of impact. They are a little polite and dry. Other wise they are near perfect imo. |
I know the Salon 2 are considered some of the best Revel has made but they aren't in production anymore so you'll have to find used or might still be a demo pair around. I have no idea if they would be a wow I've never heard the Goldenear speakers. |
I am seeking a “wow” what a difference experience. Anyone with experience with either or both of these speakers compared to what I have? Should I make a change or not?
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If you love the Triton Ones, move up to the $10K Triton Reference. That is what I did and have zero regrets. They are powered by Mac electronics. |
Both excellent, and you don’t have garbage now.
Assuming you like what you have now, but want something a tad more refined, but with the big, spacious soundstage that the OHM’s in particular provide (though the Triton’s are no slouch)... if you can find some 5a carbons I would lean that way. Though, you may not need all the oomph the 452 can provide with the carbons.
If you can somehow find a pair of used Salk SS10’s or 12’s, I would put those on your list.
Myron, who reviewed for HT Review for a while had some SS12’s he was selling. He’s in California... he was willing to ship.
I really enjoyed my OHM’s, though they were not as refined as others. But the huge soundstage was awesome. I’ve liked most Revel’s as they are voiced correctly.
I find my SS12’s to provide the best of both worlds. The ss10’s would do the same. But, very hard to find.
I currently use a Mc462 and C2700... I’m happy and for the first time I’ve not had any thoughts of a change.
But with the two you have listed... I lean toward the Vandersteen, but the Revels - also excellent. |
