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  3. 1198362006

Anybody else heard the Avalon Acoustics Isis?

I spent a delightful afternoon on friday listening to the Avalon Acoustics Isis speakers. These retail for $62000.00, so I was expecting a high level of performance, but was still surprised at how wonderful these speakers were at creating the sound of real music.

Even though this was in a store environment with electronics that are not my favorite cup of sonic tea, current Mark Levinson gear, the Isis's offered the following:

1) I'm quite enamored of the type of soundstage and natural layering that planer dipolar speakers provide, my home reference are MG-20's, the Isis was one of the few box enclosure speakers that offered this type of illusion regarding space. They just did not disappear, but offered this very natural 3D imaging without making individual players sound like "cutouts" against a background, but layering in a very natural way that sounds more like live music.

2) Great macrodynamics and resolution without sounding etched or in your face, and this was with electronics that I personnally don't find to be very musical! I would want to hear these speakers with a great tube pre and SS amps like Pass Labs XA's.

3) The whole sonic presentation was seemless, again reminding me of what great planer speakers have to offer, with a quick and rock solid bottom end.

I have listened to Wilson's, Kharma's, B&W's, Magico's, Dali's reference speakers on other occasions, and I was not as impressed as I was yesterday. Am I trading my MG-20's for the Isis's, no but if you have a chance to hear them I think you find it a very enjoyable experience.
teajay

Showing 3 responses by sirspeedy

sirspeedy
738 posts
 
I think the TAD Ref-1 is a nice alternative.Same price range too.It has the distinct advantage of a dual concentric midrange/tweeter,and constructed with berrylium.Stunning clarity and exceptionally coherent.Also,it employs two "ten inch" bass drivers(not beryllium here),which though smaller than the Isis' bass drivers,are constructed in a brilliant way.The rubber surrounds have multiple folds,and allow for very large excursions,with amazing linearity and detail.A MUST to audition,at this price range,and a brilliant design.
Good luck.
sirspeedy
738 posts
 
Branimir,firstly I happen to own,and love my own Avalon speakers.
That being said,please educate me as to what would be wrong with a wide baffle speaker,like the TAD(which isn't all that wide)in the appropriate room.
The HE2007 demo happened to be in a way to small room,but my observations take this into account.I simply assumed it was a seemingly nice design,that would be superb in the correct environment.
sirspeedy
738 posts
 
For those hobbyists stating they feel the Isis is better sounding than something like the Eidolon Diamonds....what specifically are you referring to?
Are you referring to greater dynamics(room volume specifically influences which speaker would perform best,I assume)?Deeper bass?Louder?More palpable?...Most importantly,does the Isis actually "reproduce information that the Eidolon Diamond "DOES NOT"?Or better timbrel/harmonic info(amp/pre influences this alot,amongst other ancillaries)?
I believe that each speaker would serve a different room volume best.Unless the Isis reproduces "more" information than the Eidolon Diamond,than it seems it was designed to serve "music" better in a larger venue!Then and again,many folks prefer louder,and interpret "it" as better!MBL has always overpowered the room,with absurd volumes,and totally incoherent bass at all show demonstrations I have heard,yet many folks love the 101E's.Sorry if this seems harsh.I don't mean it as criticism of any person,in particular.
Just my opinion,and I am in no way trying to be disagreeable.
Best.
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