Revel M105
Deliciously Crispy
Sound Quality
92/100
Build Quality
92/100
Value for Money
90/100
The Revel M105 makes compact listening feel remarkably expansive, pairing airy, non-fatiguing treble with rich vocal timbre, crisp instrumental separation, and stable phantom-centre imaging. Jim Clements found its dynamic composure exceptional for the size, while Pursuit of The Perfect System praised bass that suggests a far larger stand-mount. A refined, deeply musical all-rounder.
Pros
Smooth, natural and highly detailed presentation with airy treble that avoids edge or fatigue.
Exceptional vocal and midrange timbre, revealing subtle inflections and tonal differences between instruments.
Strong imaging and separation, with instruments breaking free of the cabinets and a convincing phantom centre.
Impressively dynamic and composed at high levels, with little audible compression for a compact speaker.
Cons
Bass rolls off below roughly 50–60Hz; a quality subwoofer is advisable for the deepest orchestral ambience and full-range weight.
Refined voicing can sound slightly too smooth for listeners seeking sharper brass attack or more overt treble sparkle.
Benefits noticeably from a powerful, high-quality amplifier to achieve its best drive and low-end presence.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 92/100
Reviewers consistently describe an unusually smooth, natural and highly communicative small stand-mount, combining low distortion and fine detail with an easygoing presentation. Its strongest qualities are convincing vocals, expansive imaging, and bass output that exceeds expectations for its compact cabinet, though it is not intended to deliver deep sub-bass or an overtly incisive top end.
Bass
90/100
For a rear-ported speaker with a 5.25-inch woofer, reviewers found the low end exceptionally satisfying, spry, and far more substantial than its size suggests. It rolls off below roughly 50–60Hz, however, so it cannot fully define the largest acoustic spaces or replace a subwoofer for the deepest material.
Mid
94/100
The midrange earns repeated praise for tonal accuracy, low distortion, and communicative musicality. Vocals are described as large, rich, colorful, and clearly articulated, while violin reproduction was judged notably faithful; one reviewer only wished brass had a little more leading-edge bite.
Treble
91/100
Reviewers found the treble airy, extended, detailed, and free of aggression, with smooth off-axis behavior as well. The presentation favors refinement over sparkle, so listeners seeking extra high-frequency fireworks may find it slightly soft or restrained.
Soundstage Imaging
91/100
The M105 is credited with allowing instruments to break free of the cabinets and with producing a notably convincing phantom center image. Reviewers also heard useful depth beyond the speakers and strong separation of closely timed instruments.
Dynamics
92/100
One reviewer reported no audible compression even close to live levels, an impressive result for a compact stand-mount. Others heard lively, energetic delivery with drive and articulation across the range, provided the speakers are partnered with capable electronics.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
92/100
Reviewers describe inert, substantial cabinets with real-wood finishes, robust gold-plated terminals, and carefully specified crossover components. The cabinet reportedly gives little response to tapping, while listening tests found none of the ragged cone-breakup character associated with lesser designs.
Value for Money
90/100
At the reviewed £1,599 retail price, one reviewer considered the M105 a good price for its quality and said it delivered a great deal of sound for the money. Another called it a major contender among speakers considered at budgets up to $3,000, supporting its case against premium compact stand-mount peers.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
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Specifications
- Height
- 14" (35.6 cm) Note Optional Stand adds 25" (63.5 cm)
- Width
- 7.9" (20 cm)
- Depth
- 9.8" (24.8 cm)
- Weight
- 16 lb (7 kg) Note Optional Stand adds 8 lb (4 kg)
- Crossover Frequencies
- 2.3 kHz
- Enclosure Type
- Bass-reflex via Rear-firing Port
- Finishes
- Piano Black, Piano White, or High Gloss Walnut
- High-frequency Driver Components
- 1” (2.5 cm) Aluminum Tweeter with Acoustic Lens Waveguide
- Nominal Impedance
- 8 Ohms
- Input Connections
- Binding Posts
- Low Frequency Extension
- -10dB@44Hz -6dB@56Hz -3dB@60Hz
- Low-frequency Driver Components
- 5.25” (13.3 cm) Aluminum Cone, Cast-frame Woofer
- Recommended Amplifier Power
- 50-120
- Sensitivity
- 86dB
Manufacturer's Description — Revel
Revel Performa3 bookshelf loudspeakers are true full-range loudspeakers that feature small footprints and sleek designs, allowing them to blend-in easily with your existing décor. They deliver an impressive combination of wide frequency range, uncompressed dynamic range and low distortion across the entire audible spectrum.
Revel M105 low-frequency transducers feature distortion reduction mechanisms that stabilize the flux field during operation, assuring low distortion even at high listening volumes. These precision transducers utilize ribbed aluminum cones for ideal piston-like behavior that eliminates a major source of resonances that are clearly audible in most other loudspeakers.
Their cast aluminum frames eliminate another source of resonances that is common in many lesser-quality loudspeakers. These loudspeakers employ a sophisticated fluid-model designed low-frequency port with identical flares on both ends. This greatly minimizes dynamic compression and port-generated noise, assuring low-distortion low-frequency performance.
The M105 is tweeter has been created around a newly designed motor and dome assembly that sets a new standard of transparency for speakers anywhere near the Performa3’s class. The tweeter’s integrated acoustic lens waveguide is based on a breakthrough mathematical approach that accurately matches the tweeter’s dispersion to that of the low-frequency transducer in the crossover region.
This gives the loudspeaker very smooth sound far off-axis – an important contributor to overall sound quality, providing consistent sound over an exceptionally wide listening area. In fact, this new waveguide actually increases the tweeter’s dispersion at higher frequencies.
The M105 is housed in enclosures that are similar to our flagship Ultima2 Series. These fully-curved enclosures are inherently stiffer than conventional box shapes and are formed with contiguous wood layers that prevent splitting. They feature strategically-oriented bracing that eliminates the possibility of enclosure-induced coloration. These beautiful, modern enclosures are finished in high-gloss piano black, high-gloss piano white or genuine American walnut in a process (developed and overseen by Italian luxury cabinet makers) that exceeds automotive finish quality.
The loudspeaker grilles are designed to minimize sonic diffraction or veiling and provide a clean, subtle appearance. The magnetic grille attachment method completely eliminates ugly hardware on the loudspeaker baffle, so if you decide to use the loudspeakers without grilles they will look like they were designed to be used without grilles.
To learn more about the M105 bookshelf loudspeakers, please read the Owner's Manual located in the downloads section.
General Specifications
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- Acoustic Technologies — online and in-store — Montréal, Québec, Canada (website)
- Advance Audio — in-store — Wichita, Kansas, United States (website)
- Alpha High End — online and in-store — Brasschaat, Vlaams Gewest, Belgium (website)
- American Audiophile — in-store — Lynbrook, New York, United States (website)
- Analogue Seduction — online and in-store — Whittlesey, England, United Kingdom (website)
- Audio Advice — online and in-store — Raleigh, North Carolina, United States (website)
- Audio Breakthroughs — in-store — Manhasset, New York, United States (website)
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- Audio Connection — online and in-store — Verona, New Jersey, United States (website)
- Audio Design & Automation — in-store — Salt Lake City, Utah, United States (website)
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