Set-up and Listening

Using the Integra DTR 10.5 receiver I'm currently reviewing, I set up the Concerta speakers around my 12' x 16' listening room. The large C12 center channel was positioned atop of the monitor, with support leg firmly set. The M12s were put on stands about 9 feet apart, set 18 inches form the side and rear walls. I placed the S12 surrounds on some speaker stands, as it would have been impractical to drill holes in our wall for the review.

I set the crossover in my processor to a THX-style 80 Hz. I might have been tempted to raise the crossover a bit if it were not for the full range M12 monitors.

I set the S12 surrounds to Dipole mode, allowing the S12 to deliver music and sound tracks in reverse phase mode, delocalizing sound for a wider dispersion. I ultimately found this to be my preferred setting.

My only gripe with the B12 subwoofer is that I didn't have two of them, but that was only because I wanted to get rid of some room modes. The sound of the single sub was deep and accurate.

Revel makes no mention of speaker break-in, but I usually set up the speakers and begin to use them on a daily basis prior to any serious evaluation. My best guess is I have about 100 hours invested.

I was so impressed with the sound, that I started recommending them to friends, even dragging them over and telling them, "You’ve got to hear these."

Of course, rolling eyes were typical of those that braved my invitation, as they looked and listened.

"How much are these?" was the cynical question considering the expensive speakers that have come through my home lately. Raised eyebrows replaced the rolling eyes as I told them the MSRP of the Concerta line.

I will tell you the Concerta speakers are probably the most natural sounding speakers I've heard lately. Warm, relaxed and very easy on your ears, Concerta reveals itself as a civilized speaker package. I found the playback full, thick, and rich.

I don't know what attracted me to the new CD Plans from Death Cab for Cutie, but I was impressed with a number of tracks. Specifically track 5 "I Will Follow You into the Dark" was impressively transparent through the M12 pair. A showcase song for lead singer Benjamin Gibbard, I found his voice simply flowed through the Concerta. The melodic track 9 "What Sarah Said" displays some elegant piano playing, percussions, and vocals. Although I almost wished this track had no vocals, nonetheless the blend is precise and crisp. The point is the Concerta layered the instruments and vocals nicely.

So much for two-channel listening - although I would not hesitate to use the M12s permanently in a two-channel system - let's now discuss surround sound.

I played a number of DVDs through the Concerta speakers, some more casually than others. The general description I can offer is neutrality. The Concerta line truly portrays itself as a speaker that fills a room without definitive direction, and that's a good thing. I give much of the credit to the S12 surrounds, which to me were the surprise of the package. Auditioning them in all three modes, I did have my preferences, but the S12 is an excellent product.

I mentioned many of the movies I watched were not challenging to the entire package, not all movies are blow ‘em up, missile-fire, shattering glass, gunship explosions . . . some simply have beautiful soundtracks and great dialogue.

Purposely, I spent much time listening to the C12 center channel. As much as Amadeus is about music, it's more about character, specifically Salieri’s admittance to a priest about his contribution to the death of Mozart. The voices and dialogue from the C12 immersed me in the discussion. Gasps of air from a dying old man were hauntingly real.

Musically, Mozart’s compositions were elegantly and superbly played back through the Concerta, a delight!

Integrating the subwoofer is usually the biggest problem with both designing and setting up a surround system. Without bench tests, my ears tell me this sub is arguably one of the best I’ve experienced in a 5.1 system. Many times, I found myself looking over to confirm it was on, only to discover it was doing its job properly, seamlessly meshing with the others, and not drawing attention to itself. The B12 confidently blends with the package, never overpowering the M12 mains, nor drowning out the S12 surrounds.

Stealth was a movie that challenged not only the subwoofer, but that 4" midrange driver in the center channel. This is an action movie from start to finish, with significant acoustic demands. As the movie takes place sometime in the future, a self-piloted plane becomes a renegade fighting machine. The voice generated by the computer pilot was spectacularly reproduced. A sense of spatial enclosure gave me the feeling I was sitting in that cockpit. Thundering jet engines, as well as plenty of explosions, thrust me into the action.

My favorite of the Lord of The Rings Trilogy is the second iteration, The Two Towers. To me, it's when the story loses its innocence, and the significance and seriousness of the task matures. From a speaker audition standpoint there is no better scene than the opening in which Gandalf battles the Balrog as they descend to the fiery pits. The operatic music, combined with the punishing battle that ensues is amazingly theatrical. The S12 surrounds created an environment of thrashing blades, painful moans from the Balrog, and pure enveloping sound.

Wow, what a speaker system!

Conclusions

I'm not surprised by my thorough enjoyment of the Concerta speakers. I love that Revel trickled down their success and experience with their higher lines to benefit those without deep pockets. This is a line of speakers that you’ll never tire of hearing. They certainly continue to please me as I delay packing them up for return.

- Piero Gabucci -