My Avantgarde Duo XD - simply incredible....

Although we do not know to each other I hope you have nothing against to call you with your first name, you are always so kind for others.
So congratulations Joe, pls be welcome to the Avantgarde Family.

I have had Duo Omega for 7 years, since over 2 years I am very happy with Duo Mezzo XD.
Enjoy your new speakers:)

Mariusz
 
Mr Peabody said:
I'd like to sit down and hear a set of AG's in someone's system. I've only heard them at shows, although I heard nothing wrong with them, I also didn't walk out lusting for a pair. It must be the associated quipment or room, looking at Joe's other speakers and gear I think we like similar sounds. In addition to speakers I really like the Bricasti DAC.

Joe, if you audition DAC's I'd encourage a listen to Lampizator from your comments of what you like about your Duo's. My friend has had a variety of Lampi, moving up the chain, and to me have been consistent with an engaging and lifelike presence. Typically, somewhat larger sound stage and bold, yet the latter holds true.

Congrats on another winner to the stable :)
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I’ve had the Lampizator Big 7 and an early Golden Gate. I know they’ve progressed since then and I need to listen the the GG2 and Pacific. I do love the Lampizator sound. Might be time to revisit them.

I also agree that we probably have similar taste based on gear and previous posts.

I really love my Bricasti but like everyone else, have a roving ear. Balance in a system is key and depending on amps (SET or not) will play a role in which DAC or other source to add.

I think Avantgarde and similar horns are so different from typical box speakers, it might take a little time to fully appreciate what they do. I know coming from speakers like the 4367, it seems to me to be an easier transition. Having 1000wpc of powered bass per channel and DSP control really sets these apart from more passive designs.

My Duo XD are so dynamic, open, smooth, sweet and utterly present in my room, it’s astonishing. There seems to be no distortion. Cranking the volume to experience the music fully, I don’t realize how loud I’ve actually been listening at times. You hear things not normally heard. Singers parting their lips, breath control, even normal room ambiance comes through clearly. Uncanny!
 
Marslo said:
Although we do not know to each other I hope you have nothing against to call you with your first name, you are always so kind for others.
So congratulations Joe, pls be welcome to the Avantgarde Family.

I have had Duo Omega for 7 years, since over 2 years I am very happy with Duo Mezzo XD.
Enjoy your new speakers:)

Mariusz
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Thank you so very much for your kind words. I sincerely appreciate them. Wow, long time Avantgarde owner, I’m excited and happy to be a member of the family. Thank you for posting. Have no fear, Joe is my name.

I think I’ve seen posts about you mentioning your Ayon Crossfire III. I’m sure that’s a wonderful amp. Please tell me more about it.

I can see you have great taste too :scholar:
 
joeinid said:
Thank you so very much for your kind words. I sincerely appreciate them. Wow, long time Avantgarde owner, I’m excited and happy to be a member of the family. Thank you for posting. Have no fear, Joe is my name.

I think I’ve seen posts about you mentioning your Ayon Crossfire III. I’m sure that’s a wonderful amp. Please tell me more about it.

I can see you have great taste too :scholar:
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I have my rig in a big living room with difficult acoustics and when the Polish distributr of AG came to my place for presentation he brought also Crossfire I and Accu E560 , an A Class SS design.
I had then JM Lab Electra 1038 Be driven with Accu E 450, an AB amp.
So first we connected E450 to Duo Omega, I was a bit surprised with what I have heard.
Long story short Crossfire outperformed both Accu’s by a big margin.
It was in 2010 and ever since I tried many good amps, decided to keep SET, swaped only to next iterations of Crossfire, for last 4 years it’s Crossfire III with tube rectifcation.
My preference goes to integrated design because I want to keep 3 sources- sacd player, TT and separete transport and DAC in my living room.
Imho Crossfire is very good value for money- very transparent, fast, dynamic but it’s still a SET with all its magic.
It’s very well described here by Goeff Husband

https://www.tnt-audio.com/ampli/ayon_crossfire_e.html

And yes, the type of presentation offered by AG requires more time if someone listened only to traditional boxes, I fully agree with you.
 
Congrats on the new AV Duos. I've had my Duos for 16 years (and they were a used pair). So they are closer to the beginning of the line. Had no real desire to change, even though I regularly hear crazy expensive speakers (like the Rockport Lyra and Magico M series). My amps of choice (which actually drove me to the Duos) are a pair of Cary Signature 2A3 monoblocks (about 3.5w per channel). I have been using the fancy Psvane tubes for several years. Love the SET sound with the Duos.

I've had my Lampi GG (bought used this summer) and have made the jump to a Pacific (arrives in a month), with the very generous trade-in that Lampi gives.

But most of my listening is to tape these days.

Larry
 
joeinid said:
Justin,

Thank you, no need to worry. As soon as I can recoup some cash, I’m thinking dacs too. I’m also not unhappy with my Bricasti. Thinking about what the upgrade to it will cost but I need to break in my speakers and just get familiar along with a final setup. I have a way to go but it’ll be fun.
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MSB Ref --> Tube amp --> Duos is the easiest path :popcorn:

Congrats Joe! Hope you finally found a reference speaker to enjoy for years to come
 
astrotoy said:
Congrats on the new AV Duos. I've had my Duos for 16 years (and they were a used pair). So they are closer to the beginning of the line. Had no real desire to change, even though I regularly hear crazy expensive speakers (like the Rockport Lyra and Magico M series). My amps of choice (which actually drove me to the Duos) are a pair of Cary Signature 2A3 monoblocks (about 3.5w per channel). I have been using the fancy Psvane tubes for several years. Love the SET sound with the Duos.

I've had my Lampi GG (bought used this summer) and have made the jump to a Pacific (arrives in a month), with the very generous trade-in that Lampi gives.

But most of my listening is to tape these days.

Larry
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Congrats on your Pacific order, you won’t regret:)
 
KeithR said:
MSB Ref --> Tube amp --> Duos is the easiest path :popcorn:

Congrats Joe! Hope you finally found a reference speaker to enjoy for years to come
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Now that sounds like the winning combination.
 
Congratulations on the Pacific LampizatOr. That’s going to be awesome.

I would love to get my hands on the CARY 2A3 amps. I’ve heard them and love them.
 
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jbtrio said:
Congrats on your wonderful speakers, Joe. They look awesome! Get a nice SET amp and your set.
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Thank you very much. I have a few things that I am thinking about trying. This will be fun!
 
joeinid said:
Ha!
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I attended a presentation put on by Jim Smith eons ago, they were the original Duos. I was gob smacked. Beg, borrow or steal Id have to get me a set but life happened and I never got around to it. Owning Duos (or Unos) is on my short list, just about any Avantgarde would be on that list.
 
puroagave said:
I attended a presentation put on by Jim Smith eons ago, they were the original Duos. I was gob smacked. Beg, borrow or steal Id have to get me a set but life happened and I never got around to it. Owning Duos (or Unos) is on my short list, just about any Avantgarde would be on that list.
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Yes, that is how I felt. Heard them at Mike’s and it took me a year or 2 to make it happen. And some pain along the way in switching paths.

Now I only worry about maximizing this path. I literally have not looked at a speaker review or other speakers with curiosity since. All other components? Sure. But give me AG and let’s go from there.


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Congrats Joe. I tried to listen to the AG's over here but all I got from the distributor was whingeing about me wanting to hear them with a decent tube amp. Well, that wasn't going to go well.
Looks like you're all set for an Aries Cerat ....:audiophile:

p.s. how come you let Mike take the pics ....:P
 
I simply do not understand the fascination with AG and solid state. Have heard them a few times with SS and these speakers are made for tubes.

Someone take my Uno XD’s off my hands so I can get Duos!


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If you just need someplace to send them, put me on the list :)

Justin said:
I simply do not understand the fascination with AG and solid state. Have heard them a few times with SS and these speakers are made for tubes.

Someone take my Uno XD’s off my hands so I can get Duos!


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