So, I read the comparison of the Kef LS50 and Revel Performa3 M106s and I have been extremely interested in all topics associated with these two speakers because I opted for the Revel M105s over the Kefs for a variety of reasons. I thought it was interesting that at the end of the review, the comment was that if the room was set up differently, the outcome could have been different.
I made a choice at the time based on the best logic I could use in speaker selection as I have an awful room setup and the Revels have distinct advantages in design. I spent more by purchasing them in NY (higher tax rate) so I would have the flexibility to return them. My initial reaction was very favorable and I kept them and found that at lower volumes they very satisfying by at higher volumes (not 11 but loud enough) that they were less satisfying.
I have changed the layout of my room, I have moved furniture. I have moved picture placement and had to reprint once to deal with nail holes. I got everything tuned in as good as I could, and the sound was still thin when I turned up a bit. I concluded it had to be my amp and that Revels just needed a bit more oomph to open up. Thus, my Rega Brio R needed to go.
Admittedly, the new preamp and power amp is 8x more expensive at full price than the Rega was but oh my god. The difference is mind boggling. At lower volume levels, i don't feel the difference is as remarkable with the exception of Bass detail but that is an inherent issue with Rega I think. In quiet listening I was kind of disappointed.. However, at slightly higher volume levels (you can still have a conversation in the room but feel like you are talking over something), everything has changed. I know the new equipment improves both resolution and power, but this is ridiculous. The sound, is full and rich. The soundstage I was getting at modest volumes with the Rega was maintained with the new equipment but expands at higher volumes.
I clearly had a bottle neck with my amp and it is reasonable to suggest the Revels were a poor choice given the integrated I had but the reality is I was following the manufacturers guidelines. I wasn't damaging the speakers but I wasn't getting what I should out of them.
With my system upgrade, I am confident now that I made the absolute right choice in speakers based on my taste and my room. Additionally, where I was convinced I was going to invest in a higher end set of speakers, I am no longer certain I am going to or at least not as soon as I originally planned. They sound that good.
The ultimate compliment came the other day when a good friend was over and is a music guy who is on the fringe of the audiophile world. He asked where I had hidden the second set of speakers in a serious way.
I know power isn't everything and more variables are involved than just power in my case, but with all of these 50w integrated amps out there combined with a ton of high quality, lower sensitivity speakers like the Kefs, Revels, B&W CMs, Dynaudio Excites, Wharfedale Jade, Monitor Audio Gold, etc... How many of us are making a mistake and falling short of our speakers capabilities because we aren't delivering enough power to get them to open up properly?
Just something I have been pondering and it is making me reconsider the value of these low power (50w or less), high detail integrated amps unless you have a relatively sensitive speaker (>88dB).
So, I read the comparison of the Kef LS50 and Revel Performa3 M106s and I have been extremely interested in all topics associated with these two speakers because I opted for the Revel M105s over the Kefs for a variety of reasons. I thought it was interesting that at the end of the review, the comment was that if the room was set up differently, the outcome could have been different.
I made a choice at the time based on the best logic I could use in speaker selection as I have an awful room setup and the Revels have distinct advantages in design. I spent more by purchasing them in NY (higher tax rate) so I would have the flexibility to return them. My initial reaction was very favorable and I kept them and found that at lower volumes they very satisfying by at higher volumes (not 11 but loud enough) that they were less satisfying.
I have changed the layout of my room, I have moved furniture. I have moved picture placement and had to reprint once to deal with nail holes. I got everything tuned in as good as I could, and the sound was still thin when I turned up a bit. I concluded it had to be my amp and that Revels just needed a bit more oomph to open up. Thus, my Rega Brio R needed to go.
Admittedly, the new preamp and power amp is 8x more expensive at full price than the Rega was but oh my god. The difference is mind boggling. At lower volume levels, i don't feel the difference is as remarkable with the exception of Bass detail but that is an inherent issue with Rega I think. In quiet listening I was kind of disappointed.. However, at slightly higher volume levels (you can still have a conversation in the room but feel like you are talking over something), everything has changed. I know the new equipment improves both resolution and power, but this is ridiculous. The sound, is full and rich. The soundstage I was getting at modest volumes with the Rega was maintained with the new equipment but expands at higher volumes.
I clearly had a bottle neck with my amp and it is reasonable to suggest the Revels were a poor choice given the integrated I had but the reality is I was following the manufacturers guidelines. I wasn't damaging the speakers but I wasn't getting what I should out of them.
With my system upgrade, I am confident now that I made the absolute right choice in speakers based on my taste and my room. Additionally, where I was convinced I was going to invest in a higher end set of speakers, I am no longer certain I am going to or at least not as soon as I originally planned. They sound that good.
The ultimate compliment came the other day when a good friend was over and is a music guy who is on the fringe of the audiophile world. He asked where I had hidden the second set of speakers in a serious way.
I know power isn't everything and more variables are involved than just power in my case, but with all of these 50w integrated amps out there combined with a ton of high quality, lower sensitivity speakers like the Kefs, Revels, B&W CMs, Dynaudio Excites, Wharfedale Jade, Monitor Audio Gold, etc... How many of us are making a mistake and falling short of our speakers capabilities because we aren't delivering enough power to get them to open up properly?
Just something I have been pondering and it is making me reconsider the value of these low power (50w or less), high detail integrated amps unless you have a relatively sensitive speaker (>88dB).