Overview

The Tannoy Revolution XT 6 is a standmount bookshelf speaker using the company’s dual concentric driver: a 6-inch multifiber cone woofer with a coaxially mounted 1-inch PEI dome tweeter in a Torus-Ogive waveguide. It crosses at 1.8kHz, is specified at 8Ω nominal and 89dB sensitivity, and targets the competitive 1000 USD/pair segment (dark walnut/medium oak; black/white 1050 USD) [2].

Scientific Validity

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Third-party measurements show mixed performance with a major transparency issue centered in the presence region. Stereophile measured on-axis output with a significant 2–3kHz peak and noted the tweeter is 3–5dB too high in level; critically, that 2–3kHz peak continues out to 90° off-axis, so EQ at one seat won’t fully fix the tonal balance across a room [1]. Positives include measured sensitivity of 88.8dB/2.83V/m and a benign impedance profile with a 5Ω minimum between 185–230Hz; the port tuning is ~50Hz (woofer minimum-motion notch), and the reflex alignment appears maximally flat [1]. Net: other basics are acceptable, but the broad presence lift keeps the score low.

Technology Level

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The dual concentric driver aims at point-source behavior and good vertical integration, and the Torus-Ogive waveguide evidences real engineering. The concentric implementation and cabinet execution are competent but evolutionary rather than groundbreaking. Classical 2nd-order LF / 1st-order HF at 1.8kHz is conventional, and the measured frequency-response issues suggest incomplete system optimization rather than limitations of the concept itself [1][2].

Cost-Performance

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Cheapest equal-or-better comparator (user functions & measured performance): Polk Audio Reserve R200, 749 USD/pair (Crutchfield). It offers equivalent user-facing functionality (passive 2-way bookshelf) with flat on-axis response and controlled directivity in independent CTA-2034 testing, i.e., equal-or-better measured fidelity than the XT 6 [3].
CP calculation: CP = min(1.0, 749 USD / 1000 USD) = 0.749 → 0.7 (rounded to one decimal). Price sources verified [2][4].

Reliability & Support

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Tannoy provides a typical warranty and has long-standing distribution. Build appears robust, and as a passive design there is no firmware risk. Specific field failure-rate data is not public for this model; documentation depth and measurement transparency lag some competitors.

Rationality of Design Philosophy

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Pursuing point-source behavior via a concentric topology is rational. However, failing to control the 2–3kHz region (and elevated tweeter level) indicates the development process did not fully close the loop between design aims and system-level measurements [1].

Advice

If you want neutral, measurement-first performance around this price, Polk Reserve R200 (749 USD) is the value pick [3][4]. If you specifically want a concentric design at higher fidelity, KEF LS50 Meta (1,599.99 USD) is the better-executed coaxial, albeit at a higher price [7]. If you want a three-way concentric on a budget, ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 (799 USD) measures well for the money [5][6]. Given the XT 6’s persistent presence-region excess, it is not recommended for accuracy-focused listening.

References

[1] Stereophile — “Tannoy Revolution XT 6 loudspeaker Measurements.” MLSSA/DPA 4006, quasi-anechoic @ 50”, lateral/vertical families; notes tweeter +3–5dB and 2–3kHz peak extending to 90°. Accessed 2025-08-13.
https://www.stereophile.com/content/tannoy-revolution-xt-6-loudspeaker-measurements

[2] Stereophile — “Tannoy Revolution XT 6 loudspeaker Specifications.” Price 1000–1050 USD/pair; 1.8kHz XO (2nd LP/1st HP); 89dB/2.83V/m spec. Accessed 2025-08-13.
https://www.stereophile.com/content/tannoy-revolution-xt-6-loudspeaker-specifications

[3] Erin’s Audio Corner — “Polk Audio Reserve R200 Speaker Review.” CTA-2034 (Spinorama) measurement set and analysis. Accessed 2025-08-13.
https://erinsaudiocorner.com/loudspeakers/polk_audio_r200/

[4] Crutchfield — “Polk Audio Reserve R200.” Price 749 USD/pair (in stock). Accessed 2025-08-13.
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_107RSV200/Polk-Audio-Reserve-R200-Midnight-Black.html

[5] Audio Science Review — “Elac Uni-Fi 2.0 Review (bookshelf speaker)” (UB52). Full Klippel NFS data incl. on-axis, directivity, predicted preference. Accessed 2025-08-13.
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/elac-uni-fi-2-0-review-bookshelf-speaker.19216/

[6] Crutchfield — “ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52.” Price 799 USD/pair (backorder status noted). Accessed 2025-08-13.
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_970UB52B/ELAC-Uni-Fi-2-0-UB52.html

[7] KEF (US) — “LS50 Meta.” Official product page with MSRP 1,599.99 USD/pair. Accessed 2025-08-13.
https://us.kef.com/products/ls50-meta

(2025.8.13)