Why so underwhelmed by Revel F208 audition???


After much reading my local dealer finally got in a pair of Revel F208 speakers to audition. After playing my usual demo songs I was sorely disappointed with the sound.
They simply had no life. The strings that sparkled on other systems sounded like cardboard (ok, bad description but you get my point). They bass did not move me at all.

Was it because:
1) I wouldn't know good music if it slapped my in the face?
2) I was actually auditioning the electronics more that the speakers?
3) I've become a music snob and only the best will do?
4) They are not properly broken in?
5) The speakers really are cr@p?

After reading that 3 different reviewers use the performa's (f206 or f208) as their reference speakers, it's really hard for me to believe number 5 - that the speakers suck

I've been a severe critic of bad sound and a conosour of fine music my whole life so I hope number 1 isn't true:(

The sound from my main system is breathtakingly beautiful. It consists of a Metrum Hex Dac, Benchmark DAC2 Pre preamp, Bryston 3B Sst2 power amp, PMC 22 speakers flanked by 2 Rythmik F12 Subs. The DAC is very rich and analog sounding and the rest of the system is very transparent. Stunning sound. So I have very high standards to reference these speakers against. Maybe I am just expecting too much from the Revels? So number 3 might be somewhat true???

The F208 speakers where being fed by an arcam CD player and an arcam a39 integrated amp. Perhaps this can not compete with my home system? Is number 2 correct and I am really just auditioning the electronics?

Break in can make a big difference in speakers. Maybe they need hundreds of more hours through them? I need to check on number 4.

Or maybe they really are that bad and everyone who has reviewed them is a big fat liar?

Who has heard these and can make a comment???
earlxtr
I heard the 228Be recently at a dealer, to me they sounded thin, dry and somewhat boring.  Then they hooked up the Magico A3 and to my ears it was so much more musical.  A large difference was timbre - the Revels did not seem as truthful to the instruments.  This was on 150w/ch tube amps.  
I just reread the OP and this thread's 5 years old... We just have to pull these speakers out to beat them down every once in awhile lol.
in fact these are praised in recent review on asr and I like mine as yet to hear anything 
The speakers have not changed nor have the variable tastes of listeners.
Owned the F208 for 3 years, bought without listening to them based on overwhelming positive reviews at the time. They actually sound pretty good, very neutral, transparent, not fatiguing at all. Was much better than the Paradigm S6v3 I owned as well and sold eventually. I had them hooked up to Pass Labs XP20 and XA30.5.  Had an opportunity to purchase a set of Focal 1028BE since they discontinued this line. This is what I’m talking about. Just in a different league sound wise. so I ended up selling the F208s. Overall I think at its MSRP price point, the F208s are among the best. Next level up are the Focals with pure beryllium tweeters.