oldaudiophile,
I can add my commentary. I own the Revel 228be with two subs and McIntosh MC462.
I demoed the Sonus Faber Olympica III and Nova 3 a number of times. On Classe’ Delta gear and Musical fidelity. They were about 36” off the front well when I heard them.
Anyway I would not chase McIntosh gear as my first move or electronics honestly. Mac to Mac sounds somewhat the same. The better ones are of course better… but I would switch out your speakers. Ask yourself what are you looking for and will a better integrated do that and in what magnitude?
The Performa3 F206 really lacks bass extension and needs subs in a bad way. Pushing them 39” or less (from driver face) from the wall could help. The F206 is a very good speaker other than bass depth. A good sub system could take it to a whole other level.
The Olympica III/Nova are very enjoyable speakers. Changing out from the revel 206 will get you more bass (both deeper and more of it) and just a totally different sound. They are a touch warm at 80-100hz, a touch rolled down at 2-4K and a touch tipped up at 10k to my ear. Very subtle and tasteful tuning. So a bit tuned and very enjoyable. Technicalities are not better than the revel (soundstage, detail etc) just a different tuning. I would have bought the Olympica III Nova if it had real grills but I have two young kids. I favor a neutral tuning. There are a few used pairs of Olympica’s on here that have been for sale awhile. They would be worth looking at.
Moving up the Revel line will get you more than you might think over the 206. The highs on the 328be are the best I have heard. The mids on the 228be/328be are outstanding. Very natural and they pop out In the soundstage while still having a super flat frequency response. They sound very clean and can play crazy loud.
Another speaker worth looking at would be used Wilson Sabrina’s. They sound a lot like the Olympica III but have a bit more bass impact and the mids are a little more forward (pull or minus depending on taste). The mids sound more sibilant and stressed on the Sabrinas than the Sonus Faber but take that comment with a gain of salt. The Sabrina is also tuned to sit close to the wall (quick bass roll off brought up by room gain).
As a side note the Classe’ Delt amp and pre is great. Pricy but very good. Warm and with a powerful sound.
I would post in the amp forum to see what people felt they gained climbing the mac line. I have hear most of the line but never in direct comparison of each other. Mac’s newest line C1100/C53 preamps and MC462/MC611 amps are pretty great but the lower end integrated seemed pretty average to me. Not sure if the 8900 would have the same magic as the highend separates. Maybe it does.
I can add my commentary. I own the Revel 228be with two subs and McIntosh MC462.
I demoed the Sonus Faber Olympica III and Nova 3 a number of times. On Classe’ Delta gear and Musical fidelity. They were about 36” off the front well when I heard them.
Anyway I would not chase McIntosh gear as my first move or electronics honestly. Mac to Mac sounds somewhat the same. The better ones are of course better… but I would switch out your speakers. Ask yourself what are you looking for and will a better integrated do that and in what magnitude?
The Performa3 F206 really lacks bass extension and needs subs in a bad way. Pushing them 39” or less (from driver face) from the wall could help. The F206 is a very good speaker other than bass depth. A good sub system could take it to a whole other level.
The Olympica III/Nova are very enjoyable speakers. Changing out from the revel 206 will get you more bass (both deeper and more of it) and just a totally different sound. They are a touch warm at 80-100hz, a touch rolled down at 2-4K and a touch tipped up at 10k to my ear. Very subtle and tasteful tuning. So a bit tuned and very enjoyable. Technicalities are not better than the revel (soundstage, detail etc) just a different tuning. I would have bought the Olympica III Nova if it had real grills but I have two young kids. I favor a neutral tuning. There are a few used pairs of Olympica’s on here that have been for sale awhile. They would be worth looking at.
Moving up the Revel line will get you more than you might think over the 206. The highs on the 328be are the best I have heard. The mids on the 228be/328be are outstanding. Very natural and they pop out In the soundstage while still having a super flat frequency response. They sound very clean and can play crazy loud.
Another speaker worth looking at would be used Wilson Sabrina’s. They sound a lot like the Olympica III but have a bit more bass impact and the mids are a little more forward (pull or minus depending on taste). The mids sound more sibilant and stressed on the Sabrinas than the Sonus Faber but take that comment with a gain of salt. The Sabrina is also tuned to sit close to the wall (quick bass roll off brought up by room gain).
As a side note the Classe’ Delt amp and pre is great. Pricy but very good. Warm and with a powerful sound.
I would post in the amp forum to see what people felt they gained climbing the mac line. I have hear most of the line but never in direct comparison of each other. Mac’s newest line C1100/C53 preamps and MC462/MC611 amps are pretty great but the lower end integrated seemed pretty average to me. Not sure if the 8900 would have the same magic as the highend separates. Maybe it does.