Pro 80-s vs. Rev-8's

[ski4evr]

Thinking of upgrading to Rev-8's. Anyone have experience in the difference in the two? Worth the upgrade?

[NautiqueJeff]

If you're looking for a great 8" tower speaker, you really should check out the Roswell Neptunes. The REV-8 is a great speaker (I have owned them in the past). I absolutely love the Neptunes though.

http://www.roswellwakeair.com/series...s_neptune_ros/

http://www.nautiqueparts.com/roswell...eakerpair.aspx
Remember, you get 10% off for being PN member by using discount code PND.

[MLA]

From a sound quality standpoint, yes, there is a huge difference between the Pro-80 and new rev series. Definitely more balance and note nearly as aggressive when listing near-field. If you are not married to a 4 pod setup, I would consider a single pair of Rev-10, rather then 2 pair of Rev-8. Consider the amp power as well.

[David Analog]

Anyone who has heard the Pro80s has not experienced a Wetsounds Rev series product. The Pro80 is L.O.U.D. but it also is totally unbridled in the quest for max SPL and max projection. So it's rather erratic in it's response. In contrast, the Rev8 is really an evolution in sound quality by comparison. I have to agree with MLA. If you are replacing the Pro80 then move directly to the Rev10. The pod size of the Pro80 and Rev10 are identical.

[nukemustang]

If you're looking for a great 8" tower speaker, you really should check out the Roswell Neptunes. The REV-8 is a great speaker (I have owned them in the past). I absolutely love the Neptunes though.

http://www.roswellwakeair.com/series...s_neptune_ros/

http://www.nautiqueparts.com/roswell...eakerpair.aspx
Remember, you get 10% off for being PN member by using discount code PND.

Question for you guys, I just looked at those Roswell speakers, and the 8" diver is just a mid-bass driver. About 8 years ago when I was looking for tower speakers, everyone told me to get a HLCD speaker or you were just wasting money. Have tower speakers come that far that you no longer need the HLCD to be heard at 70'?

[MLA]

Nuke,

What makes an HLCD is the compression driver (super charged tweeter that handles tons of power) thats fitted with a flared horn. An HLCD like Wet Sounds, is a pro-axial style with the compression driver and horn through the center of the mid-bass driver. Kicker makes an HLCD tower setup, but they do it as a component setup. The compression driver and horn are separate from the mid-bass driver. The Neptune setup is similar in this fashion. The one thing that makes the Neptune different from an HLCD is that the Neptune's compression driver is not fitted with that deep flared horn. Without that horn, it will act a little like a conventional tweeter and have a wider dispersion as opposed to the more narrowed focus of a compression driver thats fitted with a horn flare.

An HLCD is still the most efficient means to project at wake range.

[David Analog]

Nuke,
A single cone 8-inch speaker cannot get it done. But the Roswell speaker is still a 2-way with a side-mount tweeter. It is considered an HLCD although it has a smaller tweeter and a very short tweeter horn (semi-horn).
HLCD = Horn Loaded Compression Driver (Tweeter). The diaphragm (cone/dome) loads into a compression chamber which loads into a reduced cross section of the throat of the horn and the horn flare gradually increases the radiating surface area.
The primary function of the horn flare is to gradually transform and couple the high tweeter radiating impedance to the lower impedance of open air.
The Wetsounds HLCD begins with a tweeter diaphragm that is about three times the surface area of a standard 1-inch tweeter dome. The Wetsounds has a longer, larger, and more gradual horn flare. This translates to a) more power handling with a larger voice coil & diaphragm, b) lower frequency capability with the larger tweeter horn, c) smoother treble response with the more gradual flare.

[ski4evr]

Thanks guys for the insight and education. You opinions and experience are appreciated.

[swatguy]

So I have had bot the Pro 80's and then went Rev 8. I mainly use my stereo 70-85% of time while pulling riders. I am not a party cove,floating bumping stereo guy. As far as sq the Rev 8 was much smoother on the ears near field. It really didn't have that piercing (high) HLCD sound to it. However I was a little disappointed at the end of the rope with the Rev8's vs the 80's. The 80's seemed to have more projection. Maybe that's just because of the tuning in the 80's vs the 8's but it was noticeable. That's even with both on a WS 420SQ. I had the pro 80's and the rev 8's up on the syn 4. So to me in order to get a true upgrade from the 80's I would be looking at the Rev 10's. I really didn't think the upgrade from my 80's to the rev 8's was worth the $$$. If I was a party cove/floating stereo guy more of the time I could definitely see where I would think the rev8's were worth the upgrade, but at the end of the rope I didn't think it was worth it. The 10'sat the end of the rope tho are definitely an upgrade

[David Analog]

^^^ True. Going from an 8-inch to an 8-inch you really shouldn't expect any upgrade in sound pressure level and long distance projection ability. The Pro80 and the Rev8 essentially have the same 'average' output. However, the unbridled Pro80 with its main flaw, overly accentuated treble, has more peak output over the smoother Rev8. And that extra treble emphasis will cut through the noise and distance for greater projection. So if you build a more linear speaker (the Rev8), which is a true upgrade in one aspect, in the same size you can expect less peak output. But if you want a true upgrade in every respect (better midbass, better projection, and better sound quality) it has to be the Rev10.

[ski4evr]

So do you think with the quality difference there will be much of a market for the used 80's? I hate to give them away.

[swatguy]

There is always a huge demand for the 80's and a used HLCD speaker. 500 is about the going rate for a used set in my area depending on the clamps and they usually won't last long. There is still a huge market for quality,older, price point gear because the new stuff is $$$.

If you do go Rev10 you will probably need to upgrade your amp as well. They need a minimum 300 but a solid 400watts RMS is awesome on them.