Revel Performa3 F208 Owner's Manual

6

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:

 

t  Surfaces and other boundaries often cause large peaks and dips 

in low-frequency response. These peaks and dips can often range 
12dB or more.

 

t  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.

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.