For around $800-900, I'd go for "real" Tannoy studio monitors, i.e., dual concentrics. The Reveals are fine as far as they go, but don't hold a candle to the coaxials that Tannoy has designed for the past 55 years. I picked up DMT 12s for around US$700 and DMT 12 IIs for closer to $900 (used). Even with a single modest amp, they'll blow the Reveals (and most hifi speakers) away. Plus you can enjoy them while saving up for some Bryston Power Packs to bolt to the back to make them into bona fide active monitors.
Active is the definitely the way to go, for it gets rid of the speaker cable (or 99% of it) and allows you to use an electronic crossover which can be made to much tighter tolerances than a passive one. Tannoy makes an active model based on the DMT 12, but a pair is very expensive, list price around $6500, though I did once see a used pair for rather less.
By all means audition ATC and Genelec and Tannoys, but compare models at similar price points. Reveals are Tannoy's compromise, because dual concentrics are much more expensive to manufacture than two physical separate drivers.
Happy listening/monitoring!
Joel Tatelman.
Active is the definitely the way to go, for it gets rid of the speaker cable (or 99% of it) and allows you to use an electronic crossover which can be made to much tighter tolerances than a passive one. Tannoy makes an active model based on the DMT 12, but a pair is very expensive, list price around $6500, though I did once see a used pair for rather less.
By all means audition ATC and Genelec and Tannoys, but compare models at similar price points. Reveals are Tannoy's compromise, because dual concentrics are much more expensive to manufacture than two physical separate drivers.
Happy listening/monitoring!
Joel Tatelman.