Avantgarde Duo Mezzo XD's RMAF Write-up

Mike said:
Nick - Doing well thanks! How are you?

I have found the Avantgarde's do best with tubes. I've tried my Pass gear and my Devialet amps, my Lampizator amps and my Air Tight amps. My Air Tight ATM-3's in Triode mode sound wonderful (just ask Sonny!)

Mike
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Have you tried the Avantgarde XA series pre and power amps?

The room at RMAF was using the XA integrated - marvelous sound by all accounts. How do you find the integrated compared to the other amps mentioned above?
 
Ritmo said:
Mike - How are your speakers sounding? :rolleyes:
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Heavenly. Perfect top to bottom. A wall of sound that is so dynamic and lifelike and completely fatigue free with no horn colorations, no "box" sound, that I just don't know where I would go.

I always said that once I found my destination speaker, I would hire Jim Smith to do his amazing setup. Well, I have Jim Smith here right now [emoji106]. Mark (MDP) is also here today which I'm very glad about, and I will let them share their thoughts, but suffice it to say, it's just like everyone else who has heard them.
 
Excellent Mike! Look forward to reading about the experience today. Glad Mark is there for the day with Jim Smith.
 
You guys must be serious about today, only one glass of wine at the table last night...:snicker:
 
Quick update: I cannot tell even begin to tell you how much I'm loving my Avantgarde Duo Mezzo XD's. I've put a lot of hours on them and they are totally seamless and so sweet sounding. They aren't at all what you would think traditional horns sound like.

I look forward to more Audioshark members coming by for a listen.
 
Mike said:
Quick update: I cannot tell even begin to tell you how much I'm loving my Avantgarde Duo Mezzo XD's. I've put a lot of hours on them and they are totally seamless and so sweet sounding. They aren't at all what you would think traditional horns sound like.

I look forward to more Audioshark members coming by for a listen.
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Mike, I will be there two weeks from tomorrow!
 
The airtight integrated 300b 9w amp was way superior to my ears compared to the the Audionote 9w integrated on a trio with bass horns set up. The Airtight was better on all aspects of tone, soundstage, dynamics, transparency, imaging. The AG 150w class A monos were better than the Airtight only on controlling the bass, as expected. Biamping or using a more power Airtight should take care of that. There were 5 of us in the room all who agreed with that.

Demo music was opera and orchestral, heard Mahler 2 longest during an audition
 
bonzo said:
The airtight integrated 300b 9w amp smoked the Audionote integrated on a trio with bass horns set up. The Airtight was better on all aspects of tine, soundstage, dynamics, transparency, imaging. The AG 150w class A monos were better than the Airtight only on controlling the bass, as expected. Biamping or using a more power Airtight should take care of that.

Demo music was opera and orchestral, heard Mahler 2 longest during an audition
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Bonzo - thanks for the feedback. I would have loved to have been at that audition in Germany at Avantgarde headquarters.

I have the Air Tight 300b amp on the way! It should be here today or tomorrow.

I have tried: Pass XS150's, Air Tight ATM-3 EL34 based monos, Lampizator 211, Devialet 400, Triode Corp of Japan TRX-M300's.

The consensus among the 10+ people who have heard my new Avantgarde's, is a tie between the Air Tight ATM-3's and Triode TRX-M300's. Although, to be fair, not everyone got to hear the Lampizator 211's before I sold them. To me, they were also terrific.

The Devialet had a dead quiet background. The Pass played HUGE with great bass control. But man, there is something special about a SET 300b on the Avantgarde's. It's like a layer of veil has been removed. You feel that much closer to the performance.

The Air Tight 300b amp could be the winner.

As for the Avantgarde amps, I'm going to wait a bit and see what they come out with next year.
 
Give Lukasz a few iterations on his amps. You should see the difference between a big 7 and Level 3, then a Level 5 or 6. Then the jump to Big 7. Lukasz will work on his amps till no one comes close. Then I will buy.
 
I tried following amps with my Duo Omega G2: Ayon Crossfire I, II and III which I still own, ASR Emitter II , Accu E 550 , Accu E 450, Avantgarde XA pre/power , Amare Musica Trinity 300B with De Forest pre and some more.
For my ears and in my setup Ayon Crossfire integrated and Amare Musica combo were the best match.
 
I have to tell you guys, I played Hugh Masakela's HOPE album last night at "concert" levels (I actually saw the meters go to 5 watts on my amps...LOL!) and it was surreal. I mean, just one of those listening experiences that haunt you (in a good way) for days. It was like I was right there at the concert. The dynamics, the clarity and the realism were just amazing.
 
Mike said:
I have to tell you guys, I played Hugh Masakela's HOPE album last night at "concert" levels (I actually saw the meters go to 5 watts on my amps...LOL!) and it was surreal. I mean, just one of those listening experiences that haunt you (in a good way) for days. It was like I was right there at the concert. The dynamics, the clarity and the realism were just amazing.
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stop it already :lol: I've been dreaming about acquiring a pair of duos for some time...good to hear the luster hasnt worn off, they sound like long term keepers.
 
Mike said:
The Air Tight 300b amp could be the winner.

As for the Avantgarde amps, I'm going to wait a bit and see what they come out with next year.
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Oh... something brewing at Avantgarde then :)?

Btw, and this is a bit of a left field thing but have you looked at the SPEC Corporation RSA M3-EX integrated amplifier? 60W Class D based but voiced to sound like classic 300B amps. Seems odd but there have been a couple of reviews saying how much they sound like SETs with better treble extension and bass, with a holographic soundstage. I have heard the previous model (RSA M1-EX) back to back with a Nagra 300i integrated at a show and I was rather taken aback by how similar they sounded.

Jeff Day's review in PFO - very long but interesting:

http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue78/spec_realsound.htm

Some thoughts from Yazaki-san, the designer, who also designs SETs for use with horns:

http://jeffsplace.me/wordpress/?p=7858
 
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