Acoustic Zen Adagio, How Good Are They?

Chip Stern just posted his review of the Adagios on 6moons and they received a Blue Moon award. I know these awards are subjective as heck but every "award winner" on that site that I have experienced is spot on. I like the Zu line of speakers and will always have a pair on hand because they represent the absolute best value for extreme high efficiency but the Adagios are just SOOOO much more refined. I understand that Acoustic Zen is set to introduce a matching stand mount monitor voiced similarly to the Adagios for use in home theater. I do not have a home theater setup, just 2 channel setups.

My primary system for the record, I run Adagios (replaced B&W 802d) with a McIntosh MA2275 (replaced BAT VK 300XSE) and a Cary 306SACD (replaced Cary 306-200), AZ Silver Reference II IC's (replaced Redge Street Poeima !!) and AZ Hologram II speaker cables (replaced Synergistic Res Ref), Furutech Evolution power cables (replaced Synergistic Ref A/C master couplers) and a Running Springs Audio Duke power conditioner (replaced Richard Gray).

This setup is so coherent, dynamic, uncolored, natural and clean. Detail without overanalysis....I am back to listening to music instead of equipment....and you all know what I mean. The Acoustic Zen Adagio loudspeakers are tube friendly without excluding quality solid state. You do not need a ton of power as the meters on my McIntosh MA2275 (75 wpc KT88 tube integrated) never hit 7.5 watts except on dynamic peaks (I run off the 8 ohm taps) listening at a moderately high level (too loud to converse with someone in the room, not so loud that the walls shake).

Audition these speakers and decide for yourself. I was skeptical until I tried them in my home as there is very little info on them, and zilch on the Acoustic Zen website. I have heard that the next version of the Adagio will not have as extravagant a finish as the maple burl finish on mine. My wife flipped out positively when I moved out the B&W 802ds and replaced them with the Adagios. She is not an audiophile but she preferred the Adagios to the 802ds once they were set up and she has no clue about the price difference (she stated she could hear things on the Adagios that "sounded more right" to her than from the 802d and the Adagio bass is real sounding to her and not so "fake"...her words, not mine B&W disciples...she also likes my Zus although they are not comparable to the B&Ws in her opinion, just different). I have heard that Acoustic Zen did not want to generate more demand for the speakers than they could supply, thus the website exclusion. Seems plausible and when you hear them, you will likely agree if not purchase on the spot.

Peace.

I have not heard them with the Red Dragons. The amplification I tested with was Cary and McIntosh. The Cary sounded great, the Mac had a death grip on bass control so it stayed.

As to the Kef reference, I mean no offense but I believe the Adagios sound much better as I have not heard any Kefs I could stand for more than 5 minutes. Now I have hardly heard the full lineup but their top line with the Uni-q did not move me. Maybe their older stuff sounded great but, to my ears, today's Kef sounds upper-mid-fi.

I believe the cabinents are sourced from China. The reason I say this is because my dealer and I were talking about the "new" Adagio model and he called AZ to inquire when they would be ready. AZ informed him that they had a container in port waiting to clear customs. By the way, the new models have a slanted baffle to reorient the mid-range drivers (ala JMLAB Mini Utopia) to "focus" the sound toward the tweeter. Additionally, they now produce a monitor version of the Adagio with the same driver layout, about half as high with the transmission line exiting the rear of the speaker. New colors includiing a metallic/graphite.

As far as their provenence, I would say that they are designed and assembled in the US with parts sourced from overseas. Cool! Keep up the great work Robert Lee!

hey Katz, you might try calling AZ and they will likely find an option for you...a dealer or an end user who would let you listen. By the way, I have heard the "new" adagio and they are indeed even better than the originals without the slanted baffles. Not by just a little either...YMMV

A picture of the new monitor version in graphite with the slanted baffle can be found at the link below. Not a perfect picture but it will give you an idea. Good luck. I have NOT heard the monitor, only the floorstanding version.

http://www.audiofederation.com/hifiing/2006/RMAF2006/day2/index.htm

peace, gh

I sometimes get a bit amused at all of our "opinions" and how it may or may not affect a buying decision by someone reading here. But here goes!

In the past year, in my home I have extensively demoed/owned the following speakers: Wilson Benesch Arcs and Zu Tone monitors (both with a REL Storm III), Tyler Acoustic Linbrook, B&W 802d, Zu Druids with a Mini Method sub, Acoustic Zen Adagios (original) and Acoustic Zen Adagio (newest version with slanted baffles and other improvements). With these speakers I have only used integrated amps (BAT VK300XSE, Cary SLI-80 F1, Audio Research, McIntosh MA2275) and always Cary digital with a Wadia thrown in for comparisons sake. Cables by Acoustic Zen, Furutech, Synergistic and Straightwire with power by Running Springs and Richard Grays. Too many combinations to report on each matchup but I will make some general observations that I hope will help someone to make a logical decision.......try for yourself.....It's the only way to know for sure. Don't buy ANYTHING because some scmhoe, me included, says something is great.

As you will see, I have had tubes in the chain in every combo but that is not to say that tubes should float everyone's boat. I have heard most of the above equipment at show conditions, dealer showroom conditions and in my home. This next statement is importnant for those looking for guidance: THERE IS VERY LITTLE CORRELATION BETWEEN SOUND QUALITY WHEN AT A SHOW OR SHOWROOM and that of your HOME......PERIOD! If you don't demo in your own listening environment you are buying equipment for a different purpose than the aural purpose of listening enjoyment.

With all of the above in mind, I did not find either version of the Adagio shrill or tipped up in any way. The new Adagio blends the drivers better than the original, although the original is fabulous in its own right. I'm sure the 802d has found many a happy buyer in different homes and I hope the gentleman that bought mine is enjoying them. The Tylers are a good value and a fabulous on-ramp to our hobby as Bartokfan will likely expouse, although Bartok believes Seas drivers are the ultimate, which they are not. The Arcs were fabulous and I have never heard the larger WB speakers. Both sets of Zus are wonderful in their own right although driver integration was troublesome for me. The Tones REQUIRE a sub and the Druids NEED one.....both Zus will benefit with a better integrated tweeter in my opinion and....here comes the heresy (please no flames) could probably use a crossover to balance the tonal imbalances I heard in my room. The benefits might outweigh the tradeoffs...you never know. The Adagio is a wonderfully balanced speaker, top to bottom. Get it in your environment with your equipment and see for yourself. You may prefer other speakers for your application and likely will! At the end of the day however, this thread asked the question, "How good are they?" and the answer is an emphatic yes, they are that good.......if you think so after trying them in your particular application. Until you have tried equipment in you own home, its a wild guess and an uniformed opinion. But to evaluate a pair of speakers in a hotel room or warehouse with unfamiliar equipment is a shot in the dark. My 2 cents....peace.