Revel M126Be

For a 6.5-inch stand-mount, reviewers found the bass notably clean, articulate and free of artificial upper-bass emphasis. Useful output reaches to roughly 50Hz, with strong pitch definition and satisfying kick, but several reviewers note that larger speakers deliver more low-end weight and that a subwoofer is advisable for the lowest octaves, movies, or chest-hitting impact.

Vocals and acoustic instruments are a major highlight: SoundStage called the midrange exceptionally pure, with voices sounding eerily realistic and immediate, while What Hi-Fi praised its clarity, subtlety and ability to keep vocals intelligible in dense mixes. Measurements and listening from Erin's Audio Corner identify a small crossover-region irregularity that can produce some upper-midrange glare with certain material or listening positions.

Treble performance receives extraordinary praise for extension, air, neutrality and fine detail, with HomeTheaterHifi calling it the best treble heard from a dome tweeter. It conveys cymbal shimmer and transient sparkle vividly without routinely becoming aggressive; What Hi-Fi heard a slight initial edge that faded with use, while measured diffraction effects appear modest in the in-room response.

This is one of the speaker's most celebrated qualities. Reviews repeatedly describe a wide, deep and holographic stage, sharply separated images, stable placement as music becomes complex, and an ability to disappear physically; Erin's Audio Corner also praised its wide radiation and immersive stereo width.

The M126Be is reported to play cleanly at substantial levels, with convincing percussion, agile momentum and strong reproduction of subtle dynamic shifts. SoundStage found it among the best similarly sized speakers for thunderous material, though Erin's Audio Corner measured some limits around the crossover at higher output and recommends moderation with demanding, high-dynamic-range playback.

Reviewers describe an exceptionally inert, heavily braced cabinet, premium crossover parts, solid driver assemblies and high-quality gloss finishes. The magnetic grille and clean cabinet execution are appreciated, although one reviewer wished the visible driver-mounting screws were concealed and Alpha Audio found the supplied stands somewhat lightweight.

Published reviews commonly cite a price around $4,000 per pair, and several felt the performance and reference-component status justified that premium; one reviewer said they would buy them without hesitation. The view is not unanimous: What Hi-Fi found strong competition at the price, and Erin's Audio Corner considered the speaker excellent but not a particularly strong value at its then-$4,400-per-pair price.