AVI ADM9.1 or QUAD 11L Active or something else?

westerniser

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Apr 8, 2010
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Hi

I currently have an entry level NAD CD/amp with B&W 686 but I'm not really enjoying the sound. The treble needs pushing up and the bass needs taking down, otherwise it sounds dull and boomy (in a bad way). I tried the ports with no real improvement. Positioning very tricky, too.

Also, I mostly listen through iTunes these days and thought to go active - to reduce the clutter. I am looking for some great active lounge speakers that can be versatile for engaging listens and referencing alongside background (longer term) listens and the occasional movie.

I tried the ADM9.1 this week and they sounded pretty good to me, although quite expensive as I have always existed in sub £1000 for an entire setup in the past. I have seen the Quad 11L Actives but have not found anywhere to try them. They are quite a bit cheaper (seen them for as little as £450) so compared to £1100 it's quite a difference.

What's the view on either of these? Which would you go for? I can afford the ADM but wondered if the extra cost is really worth any potential difference over the Quads?

Alternatively, would you suggest another speaker over these two? My music tastes are broad, the room is about 4.5 x 4.5m.

Any help is much appreiated - it's my first hi-fi forum and the exchange seemed very knowledgeable on previous threads!

Thanks.
 
Well we're conducting an Active Speaker Group Test at this very moment - results to be published in our June issue; on sale 5th May (with subscribers from 29th April). Plenty of options at a range of price points in that....
 
The ADM9.1s have a built in DAC and pre-amp (plus an analogue input) and a remote so all you need as a source is your iTunes.

The Quads would require a good DAC (with volume control) and/or preamp so that would narrow the gap in price a lot.
 
westerniser:I tried the ADM9.1 this week and they sounded
pretty good to me, although quite expensive as I have always existed in
sub £1000 for an entire setup in the past. I have seen the Quad 11L
Actives but have not found anywhere to try them. They are quite a bit
cheaper (seen them for as little as £450) so compared to £1100 it's
quite a difference.
That's a bit of an unfair comparison as the ADM9.1 has DAC and Preamp included. Having said that, the Quad 11L Active + Beresford Caiman + quality interconnects still comes in under £800.

Plus you get two coaxial inputs and a pretty good headphone amp too. Although no analogue input like the ADM9.1.
 
thanks guys...

and does anyone know of any alternatives that would rival the ADMs?

Alternatively, would I be better spending a similar amount of money on an amp (say £600) and some speakers (say £600) ?

From what I have read, the ADM9.1s would outperform conventional kit in a similar price bracket?
 
The publication date of the test is still a month away, and as far as I know testing is still being carried out. We're unlikely to tell you the results of a test a month in advance...
 
fair enough.... in that case, I will have to rely on the field of experts currently out there before the official test happens!
 
Yes, I read about them, they sound good.

It's just the look that puts me off - they look very industrial, as they are probably aimed at more music industry use, I guess.
 
Well, that was the magazine review's take. The reality could be that you might be able to tame some of that with judicious kit choices. The looks are different, bold and work well I thought. Nice to see something a little different but which delivers too!
 
True, they could look great with some well chosen kit, although in my case it's going to be just the speakers, some furniture and a laptop.

On the other note, do you know about how the ADM9.1s would compare to a similar priced conventional 'amp and passive speaker' set up?
 
westerniser - I have the 9.1s (they replaced some B&W 805s) and have not regretted the purchase. My room is now decluttered - the speakers have a number of analogue and digital inputs, inbuilt pre and power amps and DACs so all you need is a source to feed them (I use a Sonos device that streams over 1000CDs that I've stored on a computer without compression). Sound is incisive but can show up poor recordings. Bass is roughly on a par with my older 805s - and they can benefit from a sub if you play a lot of bass-rich music (and I mean notes below 60Hz). On the down side it's difficult to find them for an audition without travelling to a handful of dealers and they're not as nice looking (ie curvy) as my 805s. But I think they are very good value for money.
 
westerniser:
and does anyone know of any alternatives that would rival the ADMs?

Not for their price. Obviously I think they are excellent speakers and I would certainly recommend them. Maybe try and arrange another deal and try some comparisons against other kit to see what you think. Will be interesting to read the outcome...
 
I have the 12l Active and ADM9.1.

I would be very happy with the Quads if I hadn't heard the AVIs. The Quad 12l Active play lower and really do not need a subwoofer unless you are bass head but the 9.1s do everything else better. They are much more open and transparent and it would be very difficult for me to go back to the Quads in my main rig at this point.

I think you are headed down the right road by going active. Focal, Adam, Dynaudio, Genelec and ATC are others to consider.
 

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