Best speakers out there for Midrange and Highs


Hello Everyone!

I would like some advise about what are some of the better speakers out there for a 2 channel system - with use of subwoofers.

I currently use a pair of significantly large - full range speakers (Revel Salon2), that go down below 20hz. Even though my speakers go down so low, I still desired more air movement / sound pressure in the room - to make the sound as palatable as possible.

I found that combining the Salon2 with an external active crossover (JL Audio CR-1) and 2 Subs (JL Audio F113s) sounds excellent. Soundstage is close to like being at a concert, and surprisingly to me, was that imaging has not been lost. Furthermore, adjusting the phases on the subwoofers basically made the speakers and subs act like a singularity and helped the system sound even more exciting. I cross over at 90hz with a 24Db decay.

However, can’t help thinking about the obvious - that I am waisting all that available bass capability on the Salon2s. So I was wondering what speakers out there could be even more appropriate for my configuration. These speakers need not go down so low - Down to 55HZ would be more than enough. On the other hand, Salon2s also have a very strong midrange and highs, so I would like the new speaker to be either:

1) Better in the mids and highs (whether same price as the Salon2 or possibly more expensive), or
2) As good in the mids and highs as the Salon2s but less expense

Very much appreciate your recommendations.

Thank you in advance!

Ag insider logo xs@2xjmarshak
Hi @hombre - Thanks. Sound like you are really enjoying you system.
I like this explanation, paints a very vivid picture:
The LRS is more like an open picture window....

Also when you say:
This system seems to sound better everyday but I’m not sure whether it’s the system or my brain that’s breaking in

Funny but true.. sounds like everyday, you appreciate your sound reproduction more and more...I think that’s what this hobby is all about!

It also reminds me of the ’low fatigue’ factor. If you feel the way you describe when listening, your system must be ’low fatigue’ to you ... and that’s great. Because to me, it does not matter how good the sound is if you can’t listen for long stretch of time.
I can sit in front of my 6000Watts, actively listening, then wondering off, then actively listening again for hours, rarely leaving because I am tired, but mostly because of stuff to do. I think that makes all the difference between looking forward to listening to your system and selling it :)

Hi @wspohn - yes, so to me its not just dialing/ adjusting the volume. It is completely possible on the Salons2 if one needs to and I tried that.  Instead, I read and confirmed that it's when you relieve the main speaker from the super high current bass burden, that the rest of the frequency sound reproductions begin to shine even more. I experienced this immediately when integrating the Salons with the Subs via Active crossover. There were other sonic improvements that I mentioned before.
Salon2s have an amazing midst and highs capability, even better than their smaller sibling models.  And even though the Salon2s are also great for bass reproduction, the JLs are maid for bass, they are hard to compete with [for the money] when it comes to bass. The active JL cross over provides much better integration than the ’uncomplete’ crossovers and frequency attenuators on the subs . So the benefits of adding the JL subs are 1) the Subs are best at what they are built for, helping to pressurize the room with ease, etc. 2) the Salon2s now carry less burden to reproduce the mids with ease and sound much better at what they do. Clarity and dynamics improved also.  Again, very important to me was that imaging was not lost at all (perhaps because I use the same SR Active XLR interconnect cables everywhere).   3) The active crossover literally makes the two Sub/Speaker pair sound like a ’Singularity’.   And yes, the downsides are many 1) More equipment, more floor space (Although I co-share the JLs with my separate HT system- they are great for multi system usage) 2) more interconnects and power cord investments.. more expensive. 3) If you dont get the integration exactly right, the system will surely sound worse.
But it works good.

Finally, thanks all who suggested the different Electrostats - One day I hope to try them.

Happy Holidays to All!


hi jmarshak thanks for the nice response. I’ve been an audiophile for a long time and I’ve figured out that much of what audiophiles claim to hear from amps and CD players is actually a product of their own imagination it’s just that they’re unaware of this phenomenon.If they were blindfolded they wouldn’t be able to distinguish one amp from another. They listen to a four-figure CD player and they imagine that it must sound better than a three-figure CD player because it’s more expensive. I’ve read a lot of this kind of nonsense on the stereophile forums.I've argued with Robert Harley in the pages of TAS about the "sound quality" of digital interconnects. He wrote an absurd review of a four-figure interconnect in which he waxed poetic about the sound quality of it.I told him he was full of it. 
Yes, with time, I’ve come to appreciate a sort of priority order of what’s most important in the system to what’s least important. To me its:

#1) Room dimensions and treatment, ambiance, Scotch :), lighting, etc..
#2) The listener’s ’Mood’, who else is in the room and what else is going on there.
#3) The Speakers
#4) The Electronics
#5) Sonic cables (interconnects, speaker cables)
#6) Power conditioners(could be very important in poor/unstable power areas) and power cables, tweaks

People may also place different importance/priority on the above at different times in their lives (and depending on the deal at hand :) )

Best Regards!


I have the JL Audio CR1 with TAD CR1’s and 2 Jl Audio F-113’s and couldn’t be happier with the synergy, imaging and overall sound. I originally had Sonus Faber Amati’s and it was great. The TAD CR1’s took it to the next level and they are crossed over at 90 HZ. This was a best practice of Barry Ober aka The Sound Doctor. Pure magic. If you are in the Charlotte NC area, I would be happy to let you hear for yourself. The only caveat is that the CR1’s are inefficient, so I had to upgrade my Butler Monad tube hybrid monoblocks to Bryston 28B3 monoblocks. Problem solved!
I also have the JL-CR 1 which I use to bi-amp my Artemis Eos 2.1 speakers.  They have two separate boxes, each larger than average, and resemble Watt/Puppies.  I use an ML 534 amp on top, and a pair of Wyred 4 Sound mAmps on the bottom. I really love the sound, and so very much more since inserting the crossover.  I x-over at 150 Hz, 24 db/octave.  .  
Although I can’t give a reason, I too have been thinking of a change very much in line with the OP.  Listening to a few systems I came to one realization so far: the upper speaker needs physical volume and a 7” mid/woofer (if they are two way) in order to develop the fullness of sound I require.  Thin sounding midrange leaves me cold. That is one reason to go with floor-standers and subs.  I also want detail and imaging from narrow fronts and top quality tweeters.   
I have heard the Persona 9H and really like them.  I also like the smaller 7f’s and think that they would meld well with a pair of the JL Audio 113v2’s but haven’t heard the combo.  I think the Salons or the Studio’s or the F228be’s would also sound right to me hooked up with the 113v2’s.  I’ll be exploring these in 2020.