Revel F208 User Manual

Page 6

Revel Performa3 F208/F206 Floorstanding Loudspeaker

Owner’s Manual

LiSteninG rOOm aCOUStiCS

Listening rooms have a profound impact on sound, particularly

at lower frequencies. In fact, the effect of the listening room can

dominate sounds below about 400Hz. Ideally, listening rooms would

include optimized dimensional ratios to minimize the effects of room

resonances. But in reality, most listening rooms are not designed to

enhance loudspeaker performance.
The interaction between loudspeakers and listening rooms is complex,

with two important determinants that affect the loudspeaker and the

listener:

• Surfaces and other boundaries often cause large peaks and dips

in low-frequency response. These peaks and dips can often range

12dB or more.

• Standing waves (also known as room modes or resonances) interact

with both the loudspeaker and the listener, resulting in large errors

in frequency response.

Unfortunately, there is no simple solution that addresses both of

these factors. Even computer software programs that examine one

or both factors may not calculate proper primary listening position or

loudspeaker placement values.
In most cases, proper selection of the primary listening position

combined with proper placement of the loudspeaker can result in

superior performance at lower frequencies. The difference between

superior and inferior results is often just a small adjustment of the

primary listening position or loudspeaker placement. Contact your

authorized Revel dealer for assistance.

aCOUStiC treatment materiaLS

The F208 and F206 feature high-order fi lters that optimize the

loudspeakers’ on-axis and off-axis response, minimizing sonic

degradations that occur in overly “live” rooms (those with surfaces that

are acoustically reﬂ ective). Placing minimal acoustic treatment materials

at the room’s primary reﬂ ection points will reduce these distortions even

further. Ideally, acoustic absorbers should be placed at the fi rst reﬂ ection

points on the front and side walls and either acoustic absorbers or

diffusers should be placed at the fi rst reﬂ ection points on the rear wall.

Front Wall

Right

F208/F206

Left

F208/F206

Acoustic Treatment

Materials

Because the listener’s eyes and ears are on the same plane, the “mirror

method” is an accurate determinant of critical reﬂ ection points. This

method can be used to determine reﬂ ection points for side walls, rear

walls, front walls, and even the ceiling. Applying acoustic treatment

materials to the side walls is most important, followed by the ceiling,

front wall and rear wall.
To determine reﬂ ection points using the mirror method:

1. Once the loudspeakers have been placed, sit in the primary

listening position and ask another person to slide a mirror along

the listening room walls.

2. Note the locations at which you can see either loudspeaker in the

mirror from the primary listening position. Be sure to look for both

loudspeakers in the reﬂ ection on each room boundary. These are

reﬂ ection points that require acoustic treatment materials.

If acoustic treatment materials are not available, hanging a rug over

the reﬂ ection points will help reduce sonic degradation in overly

“live” rooms. Carpeting the ﬂ oor area between the loudspeakers and

the primary listening position and placing irregular surfaces such as

bookcases at the fi rst reﬂ ection points will also help minimize strong

reﬂ ections.

This manual is related to the following products:

F206