Avalon Eidolon Visions in the house


Upgraded from Thiel CS 2.4s (which I think are fantastic by the way). The Eidolon Visions just arrived today.......good lord. I know that this may be old news, but now I understand what the deal is with all the love these things get. Sounds like there is a damn mini version of whoever I'm listening to in the room with me. Full writeup to come.
audioguy3107

Showing 4 responses by audioguy3107

Hi Djanggo......never listened to the diamonds so I have no idea what the comparison would be. I actually bought these sight unseen, took a chance. I've mentioned Atlanta's lack of high end choices, so unless I flew to NYC/LA or Chicago, I really didn't have a choice, and my schedule now wouldnt' allow it. I got an incredible price so there wasn't much risk on my part. They sound incredible so far! Haven't had a lot of time to really spend with them yet.
Thanks Cdj.....they really are smooth as silk so far. I will say that for anyone considering Avalons......I really didn't understand the difference between a speaker sounding "hifi" vs. "realistic". My wife can't believe how much they sound like live music right there in your room......and I don't mean in that "echoey" way. The vocals and the instruments just sound more real than what you're used to hearing. My dealer did say that it could take a little getting used to since they don't sound like a typical loudspeaker and I think he's right. It is also true that they are truly revealing of the recording...I've played tons of stuff I'm familiar with and the recording quality is definitely highlighted more so than with my Thiels. Also, I'm a little surprised at music that I prefer so far, or I should say music that sounds SO much better through the Avalons. What I mean is that if I put Sarah Brightman, Diana Krall, Eva Cassidy....all the typical audiophile fare, sure they sound amazing and better than before. However, I've enjoyed the difference on some of the more mainstream stuff that I listen to, stuff with a lot of guitar play/drums/etc. like The Allman Brothers, Widespread Panic, Clapton, Dire Straits, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Boston, even newer stuff like Coldplay.....I really think the Avalons have made a bigger difference with that kind of music than they did with the typical audiophile vocal stuff, I mean, let's face it, Enya would sound good on tons of mid to high end loudspeakers. We played Viva La Vida on Coldplay's newest album and my wife said it was borderline weird hearing something that she's familiar with sound so real.
The dealer I purchased them from had both as well (the Indras were actually my first choice when I started looking), and I asked him which he thought would be better based on my room. My room is 18 X 24 with really high, about 14 - 16 foot ceilings (they taper down from a vault shape). I was willing to be interested/purchase either. He basically said that if I had a smaller room that wasn't as well treated and was buying both at retail price, he said he would probably opt for the Indras since they would be several thousand cheaper. He said that the Eidolon Visions would be a much better value at the price he was willing to sell, and also that they would most likely sound quite a bit fuller in the bass and maybe slightly more dynamic (I've had some problems with bass in this room before). So far, the bass and "fullness" of the sound has been the biggest difference.