Alsace, France-based Revival Audio is quickly gaining recognition for its distinctive approach to high-fidelity speaker design. Founded in 2021 by former Dynaudio executives, teh company’s flagship Atalante 7 Evo-priced at 9,399 euros per pair-blends a nostalgic aesthetic with modern engineering, challenging the conventional look of high-end audio equipment. This review details a rigorous testing of the Atalante 7 Evo, assessing its performance across a range of musical genres and even its suitability for home theater applications.
If you find most speakers look alike, Revival Audio, a French company based in Alsace, may change your mind with the Atalante 7 Evo. The company’s flagship model combines nostalgic design with a striking aesthetic, creating a speaker that’s hard to miss.
Revival Audio
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Revival Audio, though a relatively young speaker manufacturer founded in 2021, has quickly established itself in the audio market. Based in the Alsace region of France, near Strasbourg, the company is one of the few high-fidelity audio brands in the area, alongside B.Audio.
The French periphery also serves as a central hub in Europe, from which Revival Audio is expanding into the Benelux countries with its Sprint and Atalante speaker lines through importer House of Music. The company’s rise is particularly notable given that it was founded by two former executives from Dynaudio. This pedigree suggests a commitment to high-quality audio engineering and design.
Jacky Lee, one of the founders, was interviewed at the UK Hi-Fi Show Live in Ascot earlier this year. Following a successful demonstration at the Dutch Audio Event, the Atalante 7 Evo speakers were tested.
The Atalante 7 Evo represents the top of Revival Audio’s product line, and is available for 9,399 euros per pair.
A Substantial Piece of Art
The Atalante 7 Evo’s status as Revival Audio’s flagship model is immediately apparent in its size and weight – 67 kg per speaker, including the dedicated stand. This substantial weight is due in part to the approximately 12 kg of metal used in its construction.
This is a powerful speaker that may be too large for smaller rooms. It’s designed to make a statement, and the Atalante 7 Evo certainly does.
While many high-end speakers are large, the Atalante 7 Evo’s design draws inspiration from the past. The photos accompanying this review illustrate that it’s neither a traditional tower, standmount, nor bookshelf speaker. Revival Audio also offers the Atalante 5, a more compact model featuring a 12-inch woofer. While not an ‘Evo’ model, it incorporates technologies like the Anti Reflection Inner Dome (ARID+) and the Basalt Sandwich Construction (BSC) woofer cone found in the flagship model. The Atalante 4 and Atalante 3 are more conventionally shaped floor-standing and bookshelf speakers, respectively.
Designed in Collaboration with a Parisian Studio
The Atalante 7 Evo is a beautiful piece of furniture. While fundamentally a wooden cube, that description doesn’t do the speaker justice. To give it a unique identity, Revival Audio partnered with A+A Cooren Studio in Paris, which also contributed to the design of the more affordable Sprint line. The design firm employed the golden ratio – a mathematical proportion considered aesthetically pleasing – in its design. This ratio, approximately 1.618, has been used by artists and architects for centuries, including Leonardo da Vinci and Salvador DalÃ. The golden ratio is reflected in the speaker’s height-to-width/depth ratio, as well as the division of the front panel into two sections: the 15-inch BSC woofer below and the cluster of a 3-inch RASC Évo soft-dome midrange driver and a 1.125-inch RASC Évo soft-dome tweeter above. The bass port is also located on the front, rather than the rear, simplifying placement.
A Vintage Aesthetic
The Atalante 7 Evo’s sophisticated look is enhanced by subtle details, such as the engraved logo on the surrounding strip. The walnut veneer finish is among the finest seen on a speaker. Given the speaker’s size, large surfaces are highly visible, making a high-quality finish essential. An ebony finish is also available.
The speaker comes with the stand pre-attached, requiring only the removal of a protective plate for the four feet during transport. The stand, which is 34 cm high, positions the speaker so that the listener’s ears are aligned with the midrange and tweeter. While the stand itself is relatively basic, it features subtle details, such as a recessed connection between the stand and speaker, creating the illusion that the Atalante 7 Evo is floating. These details add refinement to what is otherwise an imposing design. Ultimately, the Atalante 7 Evo is a striking presence.
Extensive Bracing
The speaker’s weight has been mentioned several times. As with many reviewers, unpacking and packing speakers is part of the job. The weight of the Atalante 7 Evo is immediately noticeable, especially since it arrives with the stand already attached. While the box doesn’t explicitly recommend a two-person lift, it’s the safest approach. The weight comes from the combination of the outer shell and stand, as well as the extensive internal bracing. The speaker features five horizontal struts, strategically placed with openings to allow for airflow. The cabinet is also heavily damped. This bracing provides support for the large neodymium magnet of the 15-inch woofer – a driver typically found in larger subwoofers. The ‘Evo’ designation refers to improvements made to the woofer, making it easier to drive.
The design of the Atalante 7 Evo suggests a need for substantial amplification. A Lyngdorf TDAI-3400 amplifier was used for testing, which is known for its ample power reserves. However, even with this amplifier, the volume knob needed to be turned up further to fully drive the woofers. Revival Audio specifies a high sensitivity of 90 dB and a minimum impedance of 4.4 Ohms, which doesn’t seem particularly demanding on paper. However, to fully exploit the woofer’s potential, a powerful amplifier is required. This is a premium speaker that deserves a high-quality amplifier.
Philip Glass in the Room
The Atalante 7 Evo’s unconventional appearance is matched by its unique character. The sound isn’t necessarily nostalgic, but the bass response indicates a modern approach to design. With Philip Glass’s ‘Violin Concerto No.2,’ the ‘Movement 1’ and solo piece ‘Song No.1’ seemed to exist freely in the room, not projected forward, but on a soundstage that appeared limitless. This is a rewarding listening experience, closer to the experience of sitting in a concert hall than being in the front row. It’s a special quality, particularly with a compelling work like this. The violin playing of Gidon Kremer was successfully highlighted without overshadowing the overall composition.
The repetitive note sequences characteristic of Glass’s work emerged fluidly. During testing, the Atalante 7 Evo’s strengths were most apparent with orchestral and acoustic works. Their size supports the epic scale of bombastic symphonies, primarily due to the power delivered by the large cabinet and woofer. The speakers didn’t sound sluggish, as one might expect from a speaker with a 15-inch woofer. This speed requires the right amplification partner.
More Versatile Than Classical
The Atalante 7 Evo’s design evokes the 1970s. This led to exploring soul and Motown tracks. Hits like Diana Ross’s ‘I’m Coming Out’ and Stevie Wonder and Bobbi Humphrey’s ‘Home-Made Jam’ sounded pleasant in the room. The large-scale presentation of these speakers filled out older recordings. They also highlighted certain elements, such as the flute or harmonica in the Wonder track, creating a sense of depth. The Atalante 7’s pacing was good, maintaining the funk energy.
While the 15-inch woofers suggest an overwhelming bass experience, this wasn’t the case. Daft Punk’s ‘Giorgio by Moroder’ was surprisingly restrained, keeping the track at a controlled level. The enveloping soundstage created a sense of immersion, with some elements appearing to extend beyond the screen. Highly compressed pop tracks played at higher volumes were less suited to the Atalante 7 Evo.
Surprisingly, the Atalante 7 Evo proved suitable for television viewing. The Lyngdorf amplifier’s HDMI-ARC input made connecting the speakers to a wall-mounted LG TV easy. While the Atalante 7 Evo appeals to discerning music lovers, its presence in the living room…
With series like ‘Pluribus’ and ‘The Diplomat,’ the speakers delivered full, clear dialogue, and the expansive soundstage created sound effects that extended beyond the screen.
Conclusion
The Atalante 7 Evo’s are the crown jewels of Revival Audio. Like such royal pieces, they aim to make a statement about a brand’s values. Their size and preference for a larger room make these speakers ideal for audiophiles with ample space and supporting equipment. They will discover unconventional speakers with much to offer, particularly with classical music and high-quality recordings.
The Atalante 7 Evo’s demonstrate that Revival Audio is a young speaker manufacturer that designs and builds speakers with seriousness and competence. It’s a compelling player in the accessible speaker market, and its products are worth exploring.
Revival Audio Atalante 7 Evo
9,399 euros/pair revivalaudio.fr | houseofmusic.com
Rating 4.5 out of 5
