Acoustic Zen Adagio, How Good Are They?

I went to the RMAS and heard the Adagio in all 3 rooms that had them,including both the Adagio and Adagio Monitor in Robert's room. I also own a pair of Adagios. All 3 rooms(Triode Corporation, Balanced Power Technologies, and Robert's AZ + ModWright Instruments)shared that natural, organic, sounds like real instruments sound. So, a few more thoughts: These speakers (both floor standing and monitor)sound so good that you simply have to hear them to believe it. I sat to the side in Robert's room and watched the visitors. They were the most toe-tapping, grinning, dancing group you ever saw. In nearly all the other rooms, I would see people straining to answer the question "What am I hearing?" "Is it great bass, mid, treble, dynamics, etc?" In the AZ rooms you just saw grins and body parts moving. They are gorgeous. Again, you have to see them. Pictures don't come close. They compete successfully against all comers at any price point, but especially against some of the megadollar designs that try so hard to be new and innovative, and fail to please because of their extremes. The AZ is very innovative (circular ribbon, hand made by Robert, underhung motors, transmission line cabinets, single crystal AZ wiring, each pair listened to by Robert before shipping) with all of this aimed at natural, undistorted, fidelity. What a bargain.

Tbg: You said earlier that you didn't see Acoustic Zen speakers anywhere at RMAS, but you were in the BPT room twice. It's too bad they weren't playing music while you were in there, but the AZ Adagios were in that room in the new black finish. Maybe you didn't recognize them because of the color. But,this year, at this show, Robert was sharing a suite with ModWright and was providing speakers, cables, and considerable expertise in setting up the room for best sound, which is no small feat. I think Dan from ModWright was providing all of the electronics in use plus a lovely Stillpoints stand. Dan does not sell a power amp at present and was using tubed monoblocs and I don't recall the brand. I don't know what speaker Red Dragon used this year but the sound in there room pretty much turned me back towards the door. I did not see an "Audio Zen" room at RMAS, but I also don't know what that would have to do with Acoustic Zen. Finally, there was a room there that mentioned, among other brands, Acoustic Zen, but I have to assume that they were referring to cables because there were some very large, highly sculpted wooden speakers in there that were being played at painful levels that also turned me right around. They also were NOT AZ Adagios. There was a lot to see at RMAS, everyone I spoke with there was very nice and personable. Very good vibe going on. I find it amazing that you would say that you didn't see the Adagios there. Robert Lee was only showing in 1 room, but two other rooms also used his speakers to great effect.

Tboooe: That's excellent! I'm a little jealous and look forward to hearing about it.

Happy Halloween Tboooe! Enjoyed your post. I'm sure that the ModWright/Response/Acoustic Zen room at RMAF will generate a lot of really positive show reports. The room really sounded fantastic. If there was a weak link, whatever it was, even it sounded great. This is basically to say that I hope that in addition to having a great get-together with Robert, you'll also get to hear his speakers in a suitable setting.

Tbg, when you say "the tube amp of unknown origin that was later put on them", are you talking about the amps used at this year's RMAF? I heard the Adagios at THE SHOW in Las Vegas last January using Red Dragon amps. I also heard it this year at RMAF using Response Audio's amps - Bella EXtreme 100's I believe. Given that the shows were 9 months apart, and that other changes were made, and the venues were different...The sound at this year's RMAF was better. I don't own either Red Dragon or Response Audio products, so I do not have a horse in this race,

Having said that, are there any Adagio owners that want to give feedback on the amps they have tried and/or using?

Response 34: I'm driving my Adagios with an Art Audio PX25. It's huffing and puffing with 6 watts. But, in my small room (12.5' X 15.5') it sounds fantastic! There is a limit to SPL's with this setup, and I am shopping for more juice, but I have to find an amp with just as much majic to go with these super-musical speakers. Not easy. Maybe one of these days I can bring myself to name the excellent speakers that the Adagios are running out of my house. They cost a little more than 4X the AZ's. Robert Lee is a genius, but it also must be said that he has been working on these speakers for many years. It also says a lot about him that he got his design right before he put them on the market.

I have been puzzled that my kids, 18 & 21 would sit in front of their computers and listen to i-tunes through cheap computer speakers. Although I've had pricier speakers, when the Adagios went in, the kids and wife all mentioned, I have never heard it sound so great. Now they come in on their own and listen to music. It helps that I hooked up an apple airport to my dac so they can run their songs off their hard drives. The Adagios are the first time this has happened. Very involving musical experience.