| Revel Ultima2 Speaker System (Salon2/Gem2/Voice2) |
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| Home Theater Loudspeakers Speaker Systems | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Written by Thomas Garcia | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Saturday, 01 December 2007 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Page 3 of 3 The Downside Potential purchasers should not be expecting any major downsides from a product that calls for the financial investment of the Revel Ultima2 system. Indeed, I had a very difficult time finding flaws with the system’s overall technical performance. The minimal color options for the Ultima2 system may be a potential limitation for many buyers who may be looking for more than just high-gloss black or high-gloss mahogany veneer. I'm aware that Revel had an issue with too many color combinations with the original Ultima series and stocking became a problem. Still, at this price point, it seems fairly limiting to have only these two options. Additionally, the low sensitivity of the Salons2s will require a relatively high powered amplifier to drive them. During my testing, I used a multi-channel receiver rated at 125 watts per channel, and maxed it out relatively quickly. Optimal performance was achieved after I incorporated my Sunfire Signature Seven, which is rated at over 400 watts per channel. Finally, though the overall fit and finish of all of the components were excellent, I felt that they were a notch off from their predecessors which possessed high-gloss finishes that were extraordinary. Conclusion Within the first few days of listening to the Revel Ultima2 multi-channel system, I realized that this review was not going to be easy. I tried to imagine how I would represent the revelations that the system bestowed upon me. As I took notes, I recognized I was using all the frequently employed descriptors that are commonly utilized to define the sound of an audio component. My problem was, how would I take those universal descriptors, such as transparency, refinement, articulation, balance, etc., and convey the degree of improvement that the Revels provided over any loudspeaker I had previously experienced? In summary, the Revel Ultima2 system provided electrostatic type transparency with endless amounts of dynamic capacity. The beryllium tweeter assembly is truly amazing, and the integration and performance of the dynamic drivers is flawless. The reduction of overall distortion created a supremely quiet background, which allowed every acoustic nuance to be revealed, regardless of source. Ultimately, I concluded that my listening experience with the Revels was an exercise in how an accurate loudspeaker should perform. Similar to any other component in the audio chain, it should reproduce exactly what it is fed. Through all the design and engineering efforts put forth by Revel, the Ultima2 system reduced its influence on the front end source substantially, allowing me to hear the artistic event as it was intended to be. As a true music enthusiast, I can't imagine a more desirable outcome than that.
3.26 Copyright (C) 2008 Compojoom.com / Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."
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