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Help me decide – Revel or Focal

I have been narrowing down my list for new speakers after selling my Avalon and believe I have arrived at my final two. After months of going to all the local dealers, I believe I am close. The entire process, though frustrating since in store comparisons are difficult, has brought out my passion again for the hobby.
My question is, has anyone heard the Focal 1038 BE and the Revel Studio 2 or Salon 2 in the same room using the same electronics? I have heard both speakers separately but no one seems to have both to do a real comparison. I read the reviews and that really does not help. The Focal seems to be a very good all-around speaker but not perfect. They seem to have a minor integration issue between the tweeter and midrange that shows up in the female voice with a small lack of clarity and being a bit recessive. I am still hoping to hear the new Sopras but I do not think I want to spend the extra cash especially since the 1038s are available in a low luster finish and reduced MSRP. The Revels, even though they came out in 2007, still seem to be a very good speaker and can be purchased used ~50% of MSRP. I am reading that their replacement may be revealed at the CES in January. At first I had eliminated them thinking they were too lean and analytical sounding. The music was just not coming out. After hearing them again, I am wondering if that may just be that they are accurate but I have read this complaint all over the internet so it does make me wonder.
I have a 16 x 20 room with 10-foot ceilings and have Anthem Statement electronics. Help me decide (but please try to keep it to the Revel and Focal since I have eliminated almost everything else in this price range available in New England).
128x128cdj123
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mechans
3,048 posts
 
If you don't want to read- My rec is Focal with Tube poer amp, BTW no cheating with tube pre it won't work.

I own Focal Electras a generation before your and no Berylium tweeters. They are very analytical in their own right, until you find a really good amp for them. It took me years of Fudding around with Mega WPC SS and less powerful but high SQ SS and low power (50 wpc) SS. Then a tube CD player, then a tube pre amp and minimal incremental improvement of Sound Quality. Then I was able through a favor from a great friend to buy tube power amps. Holy Schist it transformed my system to something unthinkably good after almost a decade of fooling around.
My recommendation, Buy the Focal and get a good tube power amp with at least 75 WPC. You might find your small prayers answered!
melbguy1
1,438 posts
 
The Ultima Salon 2's are damn good speakers (especially for the money). They have one of the best BE tweeters out there. That's an easy recommendation.
cdj123's avatar
cdj123 OP
57 posts
 
Thank you for your inputs. Time to make a decision.
james633
1,048 posts
 
I have demoed both these speakers in different rooms different systems. The revels are a lot better IMO. the focals have a little more energy in the mids but the revels are the total package.

My first demo with the revels was pretty boring and they were shown with mark Livingston amp. Once we changed amps they had more pronounced mid bass and sounded better to me.

If cost is the same on the used market more or less I would take the Revel with out question.
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