Revel Speakers

Drubin I was worried too, until I actually heard them. They are better in every way. Not a joke or hyperbole . They are lower in distortion, have better intergration between drivers, more inner definition and clarity, a much better tweeter . Their sound stage is wider and deeper. They are much closer to the sound of the ultima line than their older counterparts. Really what more could you ask for? And no I am not a dealer.

the studio 2s are more transparent speaker over all with better soundstaging but not as warm in the mids as the f52.

If your funds allow the solon 2 is the best overall speaker I have ever heard. It is better than the studio 2s in the ways that count, more warmth in the mids better bass and midbass punch. Since you are already a revel fan, the Solon 2s will not disappoint. I wish I could afford them. The new Revel f208 is better than the f52 in every way, and closer to the Salon 2 than the f52 could every hope to be, and is my next upgrade.

Anyone that says the f208 is not as good as the f52 in the soundstage dept has to either be crazy or actually have not heard them. I have spent literally hundreds of hours over the years listening to f32s and f 52s and I can asure you the new f208 are better in every way, ESPECIALLY the sound staging.

I also agree with Egrady, revels are some of the most transparent speakers out there, garbage in garbage out, one must partner them with good electronics and proper room treatments and placement. I spent a little time on the AVS revel forum and was dismayed at the poor advise being thrown around there, cheap blue ray player, done ! Home theater receiver and zip cord, done !! "Because of their wide dispersion they are not sensitive to room placement" It blew my mind how many people that could afford Salon 2s will never hear their true potential . Sad, and a waste.

As far as the ultima line is concerned, I am around, on a constant basis, speakers that cost far more than the Salon 2s, that are not even close to the Salon 2 in performance. The irony is that for many in this hobby, they listen with their wallets and not with their ears, so the Revels are to cheap to be taken seriously.

Paradigm and Revel share many of the same design goals, and both hit outside their price range.