Avantgarde Trio replacing Dunlavy SC-V?


Hi folks, I have big problems with room acoustics. In my listening room there are a few very nasty room modes and I can't get rid of them. My current speakers are Dunlavy SC-Vs (sealed d'Appolito design). I'm contemplating to replace them with designs with less bass output capability, like electrostats or... horns! In the later case the Avantgarde Trios come to mind. Maybe I could do a set up without subwoofer(s), so there would be far less bass (I think in case of the AG, there is a natural bass roll off from 100Hz, which should be better for my room). What do you think? I'm aware I'm comparing apples with pears, but do you think the AG Trios could be the solution? Thank you in advance.

Chris
dazzdax
Before making expensive system changes why not consult with a professional acoustic engineer? It could potentially save you a good deal of money and get the great, full range sound you seek. Mix has an extensive set of article and links in there Facility Design section.
Ah yeah, well you are looking at possibly the 2 most opposite ends of the audioworld spectrum when it comes to speakers, better audition them somehow first, you will be in for a shock at what avantgardes will do vs. your current speakers. However they will not be any easier to place or get tuned so better look into doing major Room evaluation to get the best out of any of these large speakers.
I agree with Onhwy61 and they will like prescribe ASC tube traps to alleviate your bass problems.

I've only heard the IV/A but those speakers when driven properly do have huge macrodynamics/bass that requires room management but on the other hand if you can swing the Trios with bass horns (not the ctrl subs) then that moves you closer to that elusive goal of sounding like music and you could save a bit by using less room treatments.

Good Luck!*>)
Rives Audio PARC may be the solution you are looking for. It will help you get rid of the bass modes.
I have the same bass node problems in my room (18x13) with SoundLab speakers. A change to electrostatics will not guarantee that your problem will go away. I have a huge peak (13db) at 30 hz and two smaller peaks (6-8db) at 110hz and 250 hz. All the shuffling of speakers and other things in the room only reduced these by a few db at best.

Unfortunately ASC tube traps did not reduce these bass peaks like I had expected. With 5 ASC columns, 6 and 7 feet tall, 11", 13" and 16" diameters, the improvements in the clarity of mids and trebles was very impressive and unexpected...but no luck with the bass.

I then tried a Rives Audio Parc and this allowed me to bring down all 3 peaks; the result was mightily impressive. There was much more clarity again in the mids especially due to the bass no longer being so overpowering. The unfortunate side-effect was a reduction in dynamic contrasts due to the added box and additional set of ICs in the chain.

There is a company here in the Minneapolis metro area that makes acoustic panels with tuneable cavities. I understand these work incredibly well to control bass nodes. This is the next thing I investigate compared to the Parc solution. Send me an email and I will pass on the site to you once I find the brochure at home.

John
You can't just toss a pair speakers in the room and expect them to work - especially AGsz or big Dunlavys. Have you done a lot of experimenting with speaker placement? You could maybe improve your room drasically by simply setting the speakers up differently.

Once you have done that, you can fix the rest of the problems at the source by treating your room or compensating for the imbalances digitally or with an analog EQ. I chose the last one and it works better than room treatments I have tried. It will be much cheaper and easier than choosing speakers by trial-and-error. Arthur
Thanks for all your responses. Maybe I should try another speaker placement first. Those Dunlavies are heavy mfs though.

Chris