avantgarde uno & duo

Tubes108

Why do I feel like I'm related to you or something. Anyway, as I have said in the past, I've sat in front of a pair of Trios for a good hour or two and did not get that Live performance you are saying. But this is just my own opinion.

Hey Justubes--we are related, no?? Sorry I was not clear. In part I tried to indicate that the Avantgardes, like all high performance speakers in their class, require care and skill, etc. to achieve their sonic potential. Unless the I's were dotted and the T's were crossed etc with the pair you heard for that hour or two, they indeed would not float your boat or anyone's boat. As you mention you did not hear even a hint of that that live sound, which implies to me that there were some issues with the system you heard.

Another example. There is no doubt that Quads are special speakers. Yet, when I have heard them at CES, at other audio shows, and at most dealers, their sound was nothing special. I have also heard them properly set up in the right room and used with the correct gear, and the sound in some ways was world class.

It is difficult to listen to one installation and make a judgment about any piece of gear. The installation may lack synergy or some colorations may only be noticeable over a longer period of time. Certainly each listener has their own taste and priorities, and I respect it if you heard the AGs properly set up and did not fall in love. Though from the little you mentioned, it does sound as though you did not hear them in an ideal situation. Enjoy them tubes, Justubes!!!

Hi Glai,

I've owned Duos for the last four years and I currently own Avantgarde's new Meta Primos. Prior to owning the Duos I owned the fantastic sounding Hales Transcendence 8 loudspeaker. I have three friends who own Duos, two friends who own Unos, and one friend who owns Solos. I've also listened to three different Trio set-ups. The strengths of the Avantgarde line of loudspeakers are: life-like dynamics, transparency, uncolored, speed, focus, dynamic contrast, dynamic shading, imaging, they bring out all the raw emotion in recordings. The weaknesses are: not easy to set-up, very easy to make them sound bad, very picky about amplification (very revealing of amplifier noise), you almost have to use tube amplification, and bass integration with horns. The Duos better the Unos in the midrange. The Duo horn goes down 170 hz where the Unos midrange goes down to 220 hz. IMHO the Duos are slightly warmer/richer sounding compared to the Unos. If you liked the Duos with a Cary 805C, then you'll love listening to them with a good 45, 2A3, PX25 or 300B SET amplifier. Avantgarde is one of those products that some very vocal people love to hate. Most of it comes from the Do it Yourself (DIY)community and some of it comes from resentment of the high price tag. They are not perfect but I like them. Take care!

Gotta love horns, makes me hornie

the unos and duos are unique and a conversation piece, but not the equal of the khorn or the belle as horns go.