Revelation2

The original Image Revelation won accolades from reviewers and owners alike, agreeing that the speakers had an ability to conjure finely layered three-dimensional sound and previously obscured detail from music never heard before.

A new midrange driver and cabinet refinements now gives Image the opportunity to offer Revelation2.

In 1995 our design objective was simple: to build an affordable speaker that could provide a level of accuracy and musical enjoyment that surpassed any other in its class. We achieved our objective. This performance level has now been surpassed with the choice of a new midrange driver for Revelation which we believe is a true masterpiece in engineering and design.

This highly evolved model communicates so much information in such a natural manner that it readjusts expectations of musical reproduction.

At the heart of Revelation are pedigree drivers that integrate perfectly to present a totally seamless top-to bottom sound source.

Treble is reproduced by the Morel Supreme 110, a 28mm, hand-coated, soft dome tweeter using neodymium magnets, a technology pioneered by Morel. The perfect acoustic loading under the dome ensures there is no compression or harmonic distortion. The result is an effortless and natural high frequency.

Critical to any loudspeaker is the midrange where the human ear detects so much of the layered inner detail, fine harmonic texture and overall realism. For Image there was only one choice, an extraordinary 16cm driver, also from Morel. This carbon fibre/Rohacell unit bears some similarities to the driver used in our new Petite Performa2 but is a dedicated midrange driver that utilises an underhung external voice coil. The company's new DLIS (Dynamic Linear Impedance Stabilizer) technology uses a copper insulated centre pole to maintain a smooth impedance curve under dynamic conditions. Having DLIS and an extraordinarily linear upper response means we employ a minimalist crossover circuit so that every nuance can take its rightful place in the perfectly layered and defined soundstage. The few components that are used include true audio-grade quality devices, hardwired to the gold-plated Bi-wire WBT input terminals and drivers via Supra OFC multi-strand speaker cable from Sweden. This is arguably the highest performance midrange available and a breakthrough in design.

With relatively high midrange and treble efficiency, and because Revelation is primarily for larger rooms, two fast response 21cm bass drivers are used to match the speed and dynamics of the midrange, plus have the necessary cone area to maintain the overall frequency balance. The rigid aerodynamic cast aluminium chassis and Nomex cones are there to see, but the most important design features are hidden behind this and within the Revelation cabinet.

Bass is often a compromise. Our desired bass response was more to do with accuracy, dynamics and detail than extension, but though the low frequency room response (see Specifications) is noted at 35Hz, on test there is still considerable output from the rear mounted port below 30Hz which is a real 'designers bonus'.

The speaker enclosure is a critical and integral part of Revelation and the bass section has considerable vertical and horizontal bracing, all mechanically linked and bonded to create a very rigid assembly. The midrange driver also requires a specific 'sub' enclosure within the overall cabinet that provides acoustic isolation and further braces the overall structure. And like Petite Performa2, this sub enclosure is a build up of internal laminated sections with a resulting wall thickness of 37mm. This creates a totally inert and sonically dead cabinet.

Internal acoustic damping is the well-proven real wool blend found in all Image loudspeakers and is positioned to maximise the absorption of rear radiation. A specific type of acoustic foam is also used in the midrange enclosure. And typical of all Image floorstanding models, a section in the base of each enclosure is hand packed with specific sand to absorb cabinet energy.

Revelation2 is more than suitable for use in medium size rooms, but due to the efficiency and easy amplifier load it is the perfect loudspeaker and arguably better matched for use in larger listening rooms.