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Revel f208, dead center image but everything jumbled up?

I recently got revel f208 from my dealer as an open box. A rep from Harman said that they don’t need any break in period. 
I am using peachtree nova500 for the electronics with oasis 5.2 speaker wire and mostly listen to Tidal through the inbuilt DAC. 
The image is pretty dead center which is great and I like the vocals, it’s lifelike. The bass is pretty good as well as the HF. However, since the image is dead center, I am not feeling the sound stage. It feels like drummer, vocalist, bassists are all jumbled up or in the same straight line. It doesn’t even feel like the sound is coming from the speakers, because everything is in the dead center. Is that normal? I used to have B&W cm9 before this and that image was not dead center however I could feel the sound coming from both the speakers. But for F208, It doesn’t even feel like the sound is coming from the speakers, everything is just kinda jumbled up in the center. I Just love everything else about the speaker except the image or sound stage? 
morningrebel
erik_squires
15,869 posts
 
Like everyone above, the first thing is double check  your polarity didn't get reversed. Once that is done....

Room acoustics have a lot to do with this...but lets say it's a placement issue.

Usually the two culprits is too wide, or toe-in.  If you have no choice but to put the speakers near side walls, consider severe toe-in.  They may need to cross at your head or in front. Revel is particular about having a wide dispersion, so they are going to need more care.
markum01
125 posts
 
I once owned the F208s' myself I enjoyed them but I also felt like they were missing something.
Anyway fast forward I demoed a pair of speakers not that much more expensive than the 208s'. They were also a smaller profile than the 208s' , but sounded 3 times the size. 
Perhaps it's my room acoustics ECT they just fit the bill for Me better than the F208s'
Happy Listening
Mark
p05129
483 posts
 
Room treatments? Speaker positioning correct? Are you using anybody’s positioning formula like from Cardas, Jim Smith, the 1/3 or 1/5 formula?
You don’t necessarily want the separation of the speakers to equal the distance to the listener. For example, I use the 1/3 formula which puts my speakers 7’ from the back wall and 50” from the sidewalls. Then I used Jim Smith’s formula which is the distance between the speakers is 82% of the distance between the listener and the speaker. The speakers have no toe in.
mitchagain
414 posts
 
I am skeptical about the Harman rep's comment about the speakers not needing a break in.period.

When you auditioned the speakers, was the dealer using superior electronics, cabling, power conditioning, etc? It's not unusual for one upgrade to lead you to further upgrades.

What you describe as "jumbled up," someone else might describe as "well integrated." I seem to recall at least one professional reviewer use that terminology for that speaker. Perhaps what you might prefer is an open baffle speaker (electrostatic, etc), something with a more "open or airy" sound.

I hope things work out for you.
erik_squires
15,869 posts
 
Well, this doesn't sound like a break-in period issue to me. 

It does sound like a placement and room acoustics issue.

I'll tell you how to tell with 100% certainty.  Put the speakers about 3' in front of you and just to the sides of your seat. If the imaging is correct there, then the issue at a distance is your room, and placement.

Best,

E
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