new Tannoy Reveal 402

[gus6464]

I have been trying to find a small front ported speaker to go in an actual bookshelf and have been having a hard time finding anything the hifi world that doesn't cost a ton of money.

Someone at AVS then suggested a powered monitor but I was afraid of a narrow soundstage since most are designed for nearfield. Then came across the new Tannoy Reveal 402 at some random site with a good pricetag to boot ($120 each). This gets you a 4in driver and soft dome tweeter biamped at 25w a piece.

My local guitar center just got them in so went down there to check them out although I was sure it wasn't going to work but after the first song I was floored. They were spread very far apart with huge toe-in at guitar center so the soundstage was small but once you get them closer and less toe-in to accommodate a small space that soundstage now becomes quite big. Most monitors I have heard have metal tweeters which can get shrill when cranking it up but the soft dome on the 402 is super smooth even when cranked loud. They don't put out a lot of bass but at least the bass it has is not bloated or boomy.

All in all a speaker costing $120 should not sound this good but then again my expectations have always been based on the other side of the pond which is the "hifi" world.

 

[DesiPower]

Irrespective of price, what other speakers have you heard/compared with?

 

[gus6464]

Irrespective of price, what other speakers have you heard/compared with?

Let's see these are the speakers I have owned in the past couple of years:

Mirage Omni 550
Enery Take Classic
Energy Take FPS
Epos ELS-3
Dali Ikon 2
SVS MBS-01 (gen 1 crossover)
Paradigm Signature S1 v2
Totem Rainmaker
Audioengine A2
Zu Omen DW (have ordered them but it's going to take a bit to get them)

Speakers I don't own but have listened to extensively because friends own/owned:

B&W 683
B&W 802D
B&W 805S

Out of all the speakers I have owned the one I would consider the best and really regret selling is the Paradigm Signature S1. I got them used from a guy that was using them as surrounds for really cheap and when they were discontinued I got offered more than I paid for them.

 

[Howard]

http://www.amazon.com/JBL-Profession...ds=jbl+monitor

Amp included. The LF response can be adjusted somewhat to compensate for baffle step, depending on the position of the speaker.

 

[gus6464]

http://www.amazon.com/JBL-Profession...ds=jbl+monitor

Amp included. The LF response can be adjusted somewhat to compensate for baffle step, depending on the position of the speaker.

I saw those but didn't listen to them as they are a bit too big for the space. Although they would work if I went phantom center instead. I do like waveguides though.

 

[Howard]

I saw those but didn't listen to them as they are a bit too big for the space. Although they would work if I went phantom center instead. I do like waveguides though.

Is this a home theater or is it just for music? If the latter, a phantom center is not required.

 

[gus6464]

Is this a home theater or is it just for music? If the latter, a phantom center is not required.

Reason I am upgrading is because I want to put 5.1 in the space. My wife has some classical hybrid SACD's as well some concerts on DVD. All in all I would say it's a 60/40 music/ht mix.

 

[Howard]

Reason I am upgrading is because I want to put 5.1 in the space. My wife has some classical hybrid SACD's as well some concerts on DVD. All in all I would say it's a 60/40 music/ht mix.

Wehn you say they are a bit too big for the space, do you mean you physically don't have the space, or they look too big, or you don't feel the size of the speaker is suitable for this application?

 

[gus6464]

Wehn you say they are a bit too big for the space, do you mean you physically don't have the space, or they look too big, or you don't feel the size of the speaker is suitable for this application?

I mean the actual space is pretty damn tiny. It's a sitting area basically with the TV in the corner. The space with a couch and seat encompasses 6x8'. Here is a picture of where the TV is.

For reference that is a 32" TV. My plan is to put the TV on an arm mount and raise it 10-12 inches and put the speakers and receiver underneath the TV. I can hide 2 1.5cf sub cubes really well on opposite ends of the space. Right now the A2's on the bookshelf do 100% music.