Revel F228be


So I bought a pair of B&W cm10 when I first graduated. They are fantastic and was my first high end speakers. I got my masters last year and got a good paying job. I want to treat myself with a new pair of speakers. Which speakers do you guys recommend for around $7k to $8k. I recently heard about Revel and read more about them. A lot of people have high regards for Revel as they make great speakers that compete with speakers that are much more expensive. I have seen some Ultima 2 used for around this price range as well. I have an SVS pb4000 as a sub. The amp is Rotel 1585. 

2pinacolada

Heard the Revel Salon 2. Really good but kinda boring if that makes any sense just like my Pioneer (tad) S-1ex were. I hear they are a bitch to drive but I heard them on some big expensive monoblocks if I remember correctly. The new 228be are supposed to be fairly easy to drive I think and would probably serve you better without drastically upgrading your amp/front end. Top floor on the Salon with some heavy duty electronics I’m guessing is higher but that’s just a guess. Also again don’t know but the 228be “may” be ammendable to tubes if you ever want to go there. 

Rotel is the weak link. Revel speakers need good quality power. If you can find a pair of Revel Studio 2’s used for a similar price, I would get the studios plus you will need a quality amp but you won’t be disappointed 

A year in to the pandemic and what became working from home I moved my system that consisted of a McIntosh MA352 int amp and a pair of Klipsch Forte IVs From my family room in to my home office. 
Having heard the revel F208’s and liking them i purchased a new system for my family room that features the F228be’s powered by a McIntosh MA8900 and this system is wonderful in a completely new way. I can only describe the sound is that it doesn’t excel at the extremes of highs and low frequencies but fills the middle frequencies in a way I have never noticed. So the balance of real instruments and vocals sounds like the “instrument” being played. Like it get are  in my room.

I listen to music across a lot of genres w an emphasis on Jazz, electronic, indie and  the F228’s are just great to sit in front of for more time than I have in a long time. 

You're ready to drop an amount that certainly warrants getting the room prepared to exploit whatever you decide on.

It will be a waste if you can't get them out into the room 4-6ft from the front wall along with diffusion/damping. Fancy speaker cables and footers will NOT compensate for not being unable to meet this requirement.

Your amp and whatever linestage  in use will be fine until can plug in a "proper" 2 channel  amp and linestage. 

Demo highly recommended.

With a $7-8K budget you could probably buy the Revel F226's and a Coda CSiB integrated amp (and keep your SVS sub).

With a $10K budget you could probably buy the Revel F226 BE's and a Coda CSiB integrated amp (and keep your SVS sub).

The biggest issue with either scenario is how rarely the CSiB hits the used market; and, they sell very quickly when they do.

Bottom line, upgrading from the Rotel amp is good advice; so, expanding your speaker and/or amp choices might be necessary. Have fun and good luck!