Loudspeaker Suggestions Please – Alternatives to Avantgarde Mezzo

Hear Here

Hear Here

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I’m looking to upgrade my old Avantgarde Duo horn speakers and am almost decided on Avantgarde Mezzo XD or possibly Duo XD.

I love the sound of Avantgarde speakers and their quirky looks. Looks are especially important as the speakers stand in the middle of my large semi-circular room.

With a budget of up to Mezzo price (40-50K) what else should I look at? They must be happy standing mid-room (no back wall), so no Martin Logans please – they just sound poor in my room (I have Expression 13As for sale). This probably excludes other panel speakers, though big Quads sounded remarkably good. What else is there that will sound fantastic and look interesting?

Bayz look the part but way too costly. What else is there out there? UK distribution preferred, but not 100% essential. Thanks for any imaginative ideas

Peter
 
Hear Here said:
I’m looking to upgrade my old Avantgarde Duo horn speakers and am almost decided on Avantgarde Mezzo XD or possibly Duo XD.

I love the sound of Avantgarde speakers and their quirky looks. Looks are especially important as the speakers stand in the middle of my large semi-circular room.

With a budget of up to Mezzo price (40-50K) what else should I look at? They must be happy standing mid-room (no back wall), so no Martin Logans please – they just sound poor in my room (I have Expression 13As for sale). This probably excludes other panel speakers, though big Quads sounded remarkably good. What else is there that will sound fantastic and look interesting?

Bayz look the part but way too costly. What else is there out there? UK distribution preferred, but not 100% essential. Thanks for any imaginative ideas

Peter
Click to expand...

Bayz? Good Lord are those ugly. A plumbing project gone wrong, and yes I’ve heard them - a few times.

Fyne F1-12. Made in Scotland!

Magico M2’s. OMG, what a speaker.

Stenheim Alumine 5

Vivid Giya G2 S2





Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 
I would add Tidal speakers to that group. I heard a pair at Axpona 3 years ago that blew me and some friends away. The electronics were all Bricasti. I think they sold for $35K without the diamond tweeter. Good looking speaker as well.

At RMAF last year, the Boulder Audio room featured Vienna Acoustics Imperial speakers. My son and I thought it was the best sounding system at the show. But, there was about $200K worth of electronics and cables. And 4 subs were used.

I have to agree with Mike, Fyne Audio is definitely worth a look. They are on my shortlist of speakers for my next upgrade.
 
1. Accapella, horns with plasma tweeter
2. Lansche speakers with plasma tweeters
3.Tidal


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Just to let you know, I've ordered new Avantgarde Duo XD speakers to replace my ageing 2006 Duos.

Thanks for all the suggestions, but Avantgarde wins out for me. Peter
 
Hear Here said:
Just to let you know, I've ordered new Avantgarde Duo XD speakers to replace my ageing 2006 Duos.

Thanks for all the suggestions, but Avantgarde wins out for me. Peter
Click to expand...

Congratulations! That makes the most sense indeed. Once you’ve lived with the live sounds of AG, you’re spoiled! The XD is a big step up. Enjoy!
 
Mike said:
Congratulations! That makes the most sense indeed. Once you’ve lived with the live sounds of AG, you’re spoiled! The XD is a big step up. Enjoy!
Click to expand...

Thanks Mike. I'm looking forward to the new speakers.

I'm still likely to modify their appearance. As with my old Duos, I plan to "ditch the scaffolding" as I find it rather unattractive.

I'll do this either by getting a simple cradle made similar to Mezzo and fixing the midhorn tube to the sub enclosure, or getting a bracket made that will support this tube from the rear panel of the sub. A Simpler bracket to the one used in my old Duos.

IMG_0110.JPGIMG_0105.JPG
 
Late to the party also but I am wondering why you didn’t consider Wilson Benesch?

Cheers,
Bernard
 
bernardl said:
Late to the party also but I am wondering why you didn’t consider Wilson Benesch?

Cheers,
Bernard
Click to expand...

I suppose because I'm familiar with Avantgarde and I know they sound good in my difficult room and will work well with my existing system. Wilson Benesch seem to have typically 89 dB sensitivity so it would require a different type of amp compared with the 107 dB Avantgardes. I got my fingers burnt last year after buying Martin Logan (and a Sanders Magtech amp to power it), so I'm maybe playing it safe.

I'm not familiar with Wilson Benesch though I'm sure they are great speakers, but so are dozens of other brands. Better the devil you know, perhaps!

Peter
 
Indeed, if you already know what works that’d the best and by far the safest. Congrats on the new speakers. I love avantgarde speakers!

You are right that the sensitivity is very different.

I happen to think that WB is far from being one out of many brands. Per my many listening sessions it’s among the very very best. At the same level as Magico, YG, Wilson Audio, Avantgarde,... but it has to be driven by suitable amplification.

Anyway, glad that you have found what you were looking for.

Cheers,
Bernard
 
Hear Here said:
Out of curiosity, what are those beasts? Thanks. Peter
Click to expand...

Like someone said these are Blumenhofer speakers the model is the Gran Gioia 2x10"


[TABLE="class: csv_table, width: 959"]
[TR="class: table_header row0"]
[TH="class: col1"]Gran Gioia MK 2[/TH]
[TH="class: col2"]Gran Gioia 2x10"[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR="class: row1"]
[TD="class: col0"]Material[/TD]
[TD="class: col1"]Birch plywood[/TD]
[TD="class: col2"]Birch plywood[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: row2"]
[TD="class: col0"]Horn Material[/TD]
[TD="class: col1"]HDF-Complex[/TD]
[TD="class: col2"]HDF-Complex[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: row3"]
[TD="class: col0"]Thickness[/TD]
[TD="class: col1"]19mm / 3/4"[/TD]
[TD="class: col2"]19mm / 3/4"[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: row4"]
[TD="class: col0"]Internal Bracing[/TD]
[TD="class: col1"]Structural bracing interaction[/TD]
[TD="class: col2"]Structural bracing interaction[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: row5"]
[TD="class: col0"]Cross over chamber[/TD]
[TD="class: col1"]-[/TD]
[TD="class: col2"]Yes[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: row6"]
[TD="class: col0"]Frequency range[/TD]
[TD="class: col1"]35Hz - 20kHz ± 2dB[/TD]
[TD="class: col2"]35Hz - 20kHz ± 2dB[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: row7"]
[TD="class: col0, colspan: 5"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: row8"]
[TD="class: col0"]Woofer[/TD]
[TD="class: col1"]380mm / 15"[/TD]
[TD="class: col2"]2x 250mm / 10"[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: row9"]
[TD="class: col0"]Material[/TD]
[TD="class: col1"]Paper[/TD]
[TD="class: col2"]Paper[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: row10"]
[TD="class: col0"]Bass Cabinet[/TD]
[TD="class: col1"]HornBass Reflex[/TD]
[TD="class: col2"]HornBass Reflex[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: row11"]
[TD="class: col0"]Porting[/TD]
[TD="class: col1"]Floor[/TD]
[TD="class: col2"]Floor[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: row12"]
[TD="class: col0"]Horn load[/TD]
[TD="class: col1"]Front[/TD]
[TD="class: col2"]Front[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: row13"]
[TD="class: col0"]Cross over frequency[/TD]
[TD="class: col1"]850 Hz[/TD]
[TD="class: col2"]750 Hz[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: row14"]
[TD="class: col0, colspan: 5"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: row15"]
[TD="class: col0"]Midhigh[/TD]
[TD="class: col1"]Compression driver[/TD]
[TD="class: col2"]Compression driver[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: row16"]
[TD="class: col0"]Horn Throat[/TD]
[TD="class: col1"]1,4"[/TD]
[TD="class: col2"]1,4"[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: row17"]
[TD="class: col0"]Membrane dimensions[/TD]
[TD="class: col1"]75mm / 3"[/TD]
[TD="class: col2"]75mm / 3"[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: row18"]
[TD="class: col0"]Material[/TD]
[TD="class: col1"]Titanium[/TD]
[TD="class: col2"]Titanium[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: row19"]
[TD="class: col0, colspan: 5"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: row20"]
[TD="class: col0"]Max power input (RMS)[/TD]
[TD="class: col1"]150 W RMS[/TD]
[TD="class: col2"]300 W RMS[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: row21"]
[TD="class: col0"]Efficiency[/TD]
[TD="class: col1"]100 dB[/TD]
[TD="class: col2"]95 dB[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: row22"]
[TD="class: col0"]Impedance[/TD]
[TD="class: col1"]8 Ohm[/TD]
[TD="class: col2"]4 Ohm[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: row23"]
[TD="class: col0"]Impedance linearization[/TD]
[TD="class: col1"]Yes[/TD]
[TD="class: col2"]Yes[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: row24"]
[TD="class: col0"]Terminal[/TD]
[TD="class: col1"]Bi-Amping[/TD]
[TD="class: col2"]Bi-Amping[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: row25"]
[TD="class: col0"]Material[/TD]
[TD="class: col1"]Gold plated tellurium copper[/TD]
[TD="class: col2"]Gold plated tellurium copper[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: row26"]
[TD="class: col0, colspan: 5"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: row27"]
[TD="class: col0"]Feets[/TD]
[TD="class: col1"]Adjustable Spykes[/TD]
[TD="class: col2"]Adjustable Spykes[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: row28"]
[TD="class: col0"]Dimensions[/TD]
[TD="class: col1"]1335 x 550 x 840 mm[/TD]
[TD="class: col2"]1332 x 482 x 536[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: row29"]
[TD="class: col0"]Weight[/TD]
[TD="class: col1"]100 kg[/TD]
[TD="class: col2"]60kg[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: row30"]
[TD="class: col0"]Packaging Dimensions[/TD]
[TD="class: col1"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: row31"]
[TD="class: col0"]Gross Weight[/TD]
[TD="class: col1"]140kg[/TD]
[TD="class: col2"]90kg[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
 
Hear Here said:
Thanks Mike. I'm looking forward to the new speakers.

I'm still likely to modify their appearance. As with my old Duos, I plan to "ditch the scaffolding" as I find it rather unattractive.

I'll do this either by getting a simple cradle made similar to Mezzo and fixing the midhorn tube to the sub enclosure, or getting a bracket made that will support this tube from the rear panel of the sub. A Simpler bracket to the one used in my old Duos.

View attachment 28260View attachment 28261
Click to expand...

amazing view you have hear hear !!
 
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