Introduction The Revel B15 sub is the first subwoofer from Madrigal’s Revel speaker line in their comparatively affordable Performa series. Priced at $2,995 in Black Ash and $3,295 in faux Rosewood, Cherry or Sycamore wood veneers, the B15 addresses some traditional subwoofer problems with new, highly successful solutions. At nearly 20 cubed inches in size, the B15 is slightly larger than subwoofers like my reference Sunfire Signature, yet it still retains a modest physical footprint. The B15 is far more than a product that simply fills out a product line. This is a major design accomplishment. First off, the output of this 15-inch subwoofer is staggering at 113 dB at 20 Hz and an awe-inspiring 126 dB at 30 Hz. Revel has made headlines with a Harman-financed research and development budget that makes other high-end speaker manufacturers sick with envy. The B15’s 15-inch driver is yet another example of how Revel is creating products ...

Introduction Rotel is a company long known for low frills, high quality, budget-priced audio equipment. Their new $699 RA-1060 integrated amplifier continues in this tradition. The RA-1060 is a 60-watt-per-channel stereo integrated amplifier and has all the features one needs. Upon lifting the unit out of the box, I noticed that it was a pretty hefty 17 pounds. This is fairly considerable for a low-powered, solid state integrated amplifier. Once the unit was out of the box, I could see that it was solidly built, with a thick metal front panel (with built-in handles) and a large transformer. According to Rotel, the unit utilizes a custom-designed toroidal power transformer, as well as Aerovox T-Network capacitors, for better than average sound quality. There are no other specifications given, nor is there more information on the transformer itself, but it does appear to be very generously sized for a 60-watt-per-channel amplifier. The RA-1060 does not lack for features. ...

Introduction The Richard Gray’s Power Company 1200S is the $2,000 follow-up AC power product to their breakthrough $750 400S power enhaser. The 1200S has 12 Hubbell outlets for your audio/video components, as opposed to four outlets on the smaller and vertically-oriented RGPC 400S. The 1200S, which is the perfect width to fit into a standard 19-inch wide three-space-high rack shelf. The RGPC 1200S uses two of the U.S. patented choke inductors like the one found in the RGPC 400S and is hard-wired with two 20-amp fuses. How Does the Richard Gray’s Power Company 1200S work? The principle behind the Richard Gray’s Power Company product is very simple. RGPC’s patented technology is based around a gigantic power inductor made of hundreds feet of copper wire, which is connected to a hefty iron core. This stores and stabilizes the power that comes from the wall ...

Introduction The Performa F30 is the entry-level $3,500 floor-standing speaker from high-end upstart speaker manufacturer Revel. Financed by Harman International, the largest U.S. based audio/video company, and under the close scrutiny of parent company Madrigal (Mark Levinson, Proceed, Madrigal Imaging etc.), Revel benefits from record-setting investments in research and development. Revel also benefits from over 35 years of speaker design and manufacturing experience from sister brands JBL and Infinity. Madrigal takes the Revel project very seriously, especially the Performa Series speakers, as these represent a reasonable entry to the world of high-end products that are affordable for affluent but non-millionaire enthusiasts. Until now, Revel has been establishing itself as a high-end speaker presence with it's Ultima line, with cost not being nearly as much a factor as performance. The Performa line makes compromises in the fit and finish department (especially when compared to the Gem, Studio and Salon speakers, two of which have reviewed on AudioRevolution.com previously), but still ...

Introduction The Salon is the flagship loudspeaker in the Revel lineup. Revel was established in 1997 as Madrigal’s premier speaker line to complement their electronics products, such as Mark Levinson and Proceed and, later, Madrigal Imaging and IRIQ remotes. Madrigal, which is owned and financed by Harman International, formed Revel with one intention – to produce the best loudspeakers in the world. A tremendous amount of money and design resources were allocated to this end, including the use of the largest speaker manufacturing facility in the world, the JBL & Infinity factory. In production since 1998, the Salon is a floor-standing loudspeaker system with a look of modern elegance. For better than a year, since the AudioRevolution.com review, I have made the smaller Revel Studios ($10,000 per pair) my reference loudspeakers. I welcomed the opportunity to review the much larger Salons. When I first laid eyes on the Salon, the thought that came to mind is ...