Speaker Asylum: REVIEW: Revel Performa m20 Speakers by SteveM324

Model:	Performa m20
Category:	Speakers
Suggested Retail Price:	$2000
Description:	two-way ported monitor
Manufacturer URL:	Revel
Manufacturer URL:	Revel

Review by SteveM324 ( A ) on April 07, 2002 at 09:01:28
IP Address: 64.12.105.53

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for the Performa m20

I purchased the M20's almost 2 weeks ago and I've been breaking them in 24hrs a day since. I feel now that they are broken in, but if not, all the better. Within the last 4 weeks, I've just finished a complete 2nd system overhaul. I bought the M20's and a Mark Levinson No. 383 integrated amp(Synergistic Master Coupler PC), REL Strata III subwoofer(TG Audio HSR A genII PC), Rotel RCD-991AE(Acoustic Zen Tsunami PC) and Analysis Plus Oval 9 speaker cables. I sold my PSB Stratus Gold I's, Conrad Johnson PV11 preamp, Aragon 4004mkII amp, Monarchy 22B D/A and DIP,Illuminati D60 digital cables, and Audioquest Argent speaker cables.
First of all, I listen to the M20's running full range with a REL Strata III subwoofer filling in the bottom end. The M20's are great by themselves(-3db @44Hz and -10db @33hz), but like all mini monitors, they are not full range. For those of you who think that this review of the M20's
is tainted by the fact that I'm using a sub, stop reading now. I think this is a fair review since the Revel's are running full range and the REL is coming in underneath to supplement the bass. And for those of you wondering whether a subwoofer can be added to the M20's to get a satisfying full range system, read on.
I decided to go with mini monitors after having bass overload problems with every full range speaker that I've had in my small living room 15'x19'. The full range speakers that I've used over the last 15
years include B&W DM640's, Apogee Centaur Majors, Vandersteen 2Ce's, and PSB Stratus Gold I's.
The M20's driven by the ML383 sound very delicate and natural. Bass is tight and the integration with the sub is seamless. This is the first system that I've had in my living room which provides deep bass without the boom. This system is not bright(I have the tweeter setting on "0" or flat) or cold like you might think from a Aluminum dome tweeter and SS electronics. The sound is very smooth, musical, and totally grainless. These characteristics make the system very enjoyable and non-fatiguing. I hate to use the word natural too much but thats the way all the instruments and voices sound. The soundstage is wide and deep and imaging is very precise. The midrange in this system is better than my main system(described below). I currently have the M20's on 30" single post filled Sound Anchor stands. I will be upgrading the stands to 26" four post filled Sound Anchor stands in a few weeks. The other components in this system include a PS Audio P300 with a TG Audio HSR-A genII power cord plugged into a dedicated 20a circuit for the Rotel RCD-991AE and the Fanfare FT-1A(TG Audio HSR-A genII PC). I use a Richard Gray 400S with a HT Pro 11AC plugged into another 20a circuit which powers the ML 383. All interconnects are Cardas Neutal Reference, speaker cables are Analysis Plus Oval 9's.
To give you some background about me and my audiophile experience, I'm a mechanical engineer and I've been into high end audio for the last 15 years and mid fi(high school and college budget) for 10yrs before that.
The review system above is my second system. My main system consists of Thiel CS6's, CAT SL1 Ultimate preamp(Synergistic Reference Master Coupler), Classe CA400 power amp(PS Audio Lab Cable), Meridian 500 transport(Acoustic Zen Tsunami PC), Meridian 566 24bit D/A(ESP Essence PC), Linn LP12 with Lingo power supply, Ekos arm and Grado Reference Reference cartridge, and a Magnum Dynalab MD102 tuner(TG Audio HSR-A genII PC). For power conditioners, plugged into 2 dedicated 20a circuits are a PS Audio P300 with a TG Audio HSR-A genII PC for the front end components. I use 2 Richard Gray 400S units daisy chained with a PS Audio Lab Cable connecting the two, and another TG Audio HSR A genII connecting them to the wall outlet. All interconnects and speaker cables are MIT except for the Acoustic Zen Matrix Reference on the MD tuner. For sound treatments, I use 8 Room Tunes PLZ controllers mounted to the side walls and corners to dial the system in.
This system is extremely dynamic, fast, with a huge and precise soundstage. I now enjoy listening to both of my systems. The main system is more dynamic and detailed. My second system with the M20's has better midrange(absolutely grainless and natural) and is ever so slightly warmer.
In conclusion, the M20's are a wonderful speaker for $2000 and I think they are underpriced compared to their competition, Merlins TSM-M, Silverline SR-17's, Dynaudio 1.3SE's, etc. I won't claim which is the best, nobody should because everyone's taste is different. What I will claim is that the M20's with a subwoofer like the REL Strata III for $3500 MSRP plus stands provides seamless full range sound that is competitive with my $8000 MSRP Thiels(which I think are great).

Product Weakness: By itself, it won't provide the deepest bass.
Product Strengths: Natural timbre,neutral, great soundstage and imaging.

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Mark Levinson No. 383
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	None
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Rotel RCD-991AE
Speakers:	Revel M20's
Cables/Interconnects:	AP Oval 9, Cardas Neutral Reference
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Jazz, Blues, Rock, Folk, Pop
Room Size (LxWxH):	19 x 15 x 10
Room Comments/Treatments:	None
Time Period/Length of Audition:	2 weeks
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	PS Audio P300, Richard Gray 400S
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	By itself, it won't provide the deepest bass.
Product Strengths:	Natural timbre,neutral, great soundstage and imaging.