So far nobody has mentioned this - but you need to consider your listening room. Both speakers are very sensitive to listening rooms but for different reasons.
You need to sit ideally 3m (9ft) away from the Avantgardes. You can get away with 2m (6ft) but if you get any closer the sound will be incoherent. This is because the horns are spaced very wide apart. You will be able to hear each horn as a seperate source. Also, the woofer module is crossed over at 200Hz, very high for a woofer, and high enough to be directional. Because you are sitting so far from the speaker, you will need to place them far apart otherwise your soundstage will be too narrow.
I have heard the Avantgardes in two systems. I was not impressed with the first (listening room too small) but I was impressed with the second. I agree that the Avantgardes are VERY sensitive to quality amplification. They will sound terrible if you use a second rate amp to drive them.
Forget the Avantgardes if your listening room is small.
The Quads are a different proposition. Being a dipole, the speakers can be placed against the side wall with little ill effect. However, you have to deal with the wave from the back of the speaker. You can't have it too close to the rear wall, they should be pulled out into the room. You can't have glass on the rear wall.
The sound of the speakers is completely different. The Quads are exceedingly coherent, have a beautiful midrange, and have fantastic imaging. It is let down by its lack of extension on both frequency extremes. Also, depending on your room - the Quads may not achieve sufficient SPL's to keep you happy.
The Avantgardes have a much more dynamic sound. In fact, incredible dynamics. You will rarely hear better. But if you don't use the right amps, they can sound honky. The sound is nowhere as coherent as the Quads, and the imaging is so-so.
Both speakers have interesting compromises but sound fantastic in different ways. It is up to your listening preferences and which compromises you are prepared to put up with.
You need to sit ideally 3m (9ft) away from the Avantgardes. You can get away with 2m (6ft) but if you get any closer the sound will be incoherent. This is because the horns are spaced very wide apart. You will be able to hear each horn as a seperate source. Also, the woofer module is crossed over at 200Hz, very high for a woofer, and high enough to be directional. Because you are sitting so far from the speaker, you will need to place them far apart otherwise your soundstage will be too narrow.
I have heard the Avantgardes in two systems. I was not impressed with the first (listening room too small) but I was impressed with the second. I agree that the Avantgardes are VERY sensitive to quality amplification. They will sound terrible if you use a second rate amp to drive them.
Forget the Avantgardes if your listening room is small.
The Quads are a different proposition. Being a dipole, the speakers can be placed against the side wall with little ill effect. However, you have to deal with the wave from the back of the speaker. You can't have it too close to the rear wall, they should be pulled out into the room. You can't have glass on the rear wall.
The sound of the speakers is completely different. The Quads are exceedingly coherent, have a beautiful midrange, and have fantastic imaging. It is let down by its lack of extension on both frequency extremes. Also, depending on your room - the Quads may not achieve sufficient SPL's to keep you happy.
The Avantgardes have a much more dynamic sound. In fact, incredible dynamics. You will rarely hear better. But if you don't use the right amps, they can sound honky. The sound is nowhere as coherent as the Quads, and the imaging is so-so.
Both speakers have interesting compromises but sound fantastic in different ways. It is up to your listening preferences and which compromises you are prepared to put up with.