passive set up v active set up

[steve_1979]

Well that surprised me ! I really thought the passive speakers would be better .

Why?

 

[lpv]

spot on Andrew.. the other stuff I've played - Mozart, James Blake, Chantae Cann, John Morales, Aphex Twin, Flako, The Internet, Kelela.. if you had more time I wouldn't stop, haha

it was interesting to hear ATC's again with top class amp but it was clear to both of us today that AVI's are crystal clear, smooth, natural, accurate, easy to listen too and simply better then 3 times the price set up.. once the £200 sub was introduced the whole active set up jumped another level higher and put poor ATC's / Hegel to shame.. for those of you that don't know I was a big ATC fan myself ( I owned SCM 11's, 19's and active 40's with Electrocompaniet & ATC own amps) and after hearing smaller AVI DM5's it was obvious who's the king.

 

[steve_1979]

it was interesting to hear ATC's again with top class amp but it was clear to both of us today that AVI's are crystal clear, smooth, natural, accurate, easy to listen too and simply better then 3 times the price set up.. once the £200 sub was introduced the whole active set up jumped another level higher and put poor ATC's / Hegel to shame..

Have you ever heard the DM10s with an AVI subwoofer?

On paper the specs don't look anything special as £800 can buy much bigger, deeper and more powerful subwoofers. But when it comes to playing music the AVI subwoofer matches the quality of the DM10s every step of the way. From what little I've heard of other subwoofers it's obvious that most on them are just big boom boxes made for reproducing movie explosions and are a pig to integrate with the main speakers when listening to music.

 

[steve_1979]

...Believe all the hype.

An interesting write up Andew. Thanks for sharing.

I'm not suprised by the results but it must be difficult to believe the hype until you've heard them for yourself. Every time I post about them here I know how it must look to others reading it but they really are that good. I've lived with the DM10 2.1 system for over a year now and whenever I go to Richer Sounds and hear their multi-thousand pound passive hifi systems they actually sound broken to me now. The DM10s really are that far ahead of the game.

...All this without sub on avi...

It would be interesting to hear how the DM10s sound with the AVI sub compared to the BK sub.

 

[lpv]

it was interesting to hear ATC's again with top class amp but it was clear to both of us today that AVI's are crystal clear, smooth, natural, accurate, easy to listen too and simply better then 3 times the price set up.. once the £200 sub was introduced the whole active set up jumped another level higher and put poor ATC's / Hegel to shame..

Have you ever heard the DM10s with an AVI subwoofer?

On paper the specs don't look anything special as £800 can buy much bigger, deeper and more powerful subwoofers. But when it comes to playing music the AVI subwoofer matches the quality of the DM10s. From what little I've heard of other subwoofers it's obvious that most on them are just big boom boxes made for reproducing movie explosions and are a pig to integrate with the main speakers when listening to music.

did not have a chance ( would love to) to try Avi sub... I can assure you that Gemini II is not a thump and boom making machine and plays bass very well... but as we know it might be only good till you hear better..

 

[Alberich]

Ipv, Andrew and Steve_1979

Can I ask how do the dm10's fare with classical music?
Particularly large orchestral forces with full choir and vocals?

I imagine the dynamics would be fabulously controlled but based on their size alone
is there enough separation
between all the orchestral sections?

As a mainly classical listener I've had my eye on them for a while but have some doubts, possibly unfounded.

 

[lpv]

Ipv, Andrew and Steve_1979

Can I ask how do the dm10's fare with classical music? Particularly large orchestral forces with full choir and vocals?

I imagine the dynamics would be fabulously controlled but based on their size alone is there enough separation between all the orchestral sections?

As a mainly classical listener I've had my eye on them for a while but have some doubts, possibly unfounded.

real instruments and voices - this is the area where DM's excel and where you can easilly hear why these are far ahead of many others.

 

[Andrewjvt]

Ipv, Andrew and Steve_1979

Can I ask how do the dm10's fare with classical music?
Particularly large orchestral forces with full choir and vocals?

I imagine the dynamics would be fabulously controlled but based on their size alone
is there enough separation
between all the orchestral sections?

As a mainly classical listener I've had my eye on them for a while but have some doubts, possibly unfounded.

Classical sounds very real - really suits the dm10s
Amazing

 

[Alberich]

Cheers.
Must make it a priority to get a demo of these.

 

[nopiano]

Thanks for the write ups, guys. I've also been keeping an eye on these, and they had a great review in another mag recently.

Wondering now if I've actually ever heard active speakers, though heard a few Linn isobarik setups with the amps for each unit many years ago, and the recent Audiophoric or some such.

 

[ID.]

Thanks for your impressions.

You our realize that you opinions will now always be dismissed as just another AVI shill, don't you?

Still, I've never heard a bad thing about their products and as they say, the direct sales method means that you're probably getting something that would normally retail for more (albeit still less than your Hegel and ATC setup)

I'd love to hear the AVIs, but it's interesting that the points your praise are the aspects that I find I like in many active speakers I've tried

 

[alchemist 1]

Cheers. Must make it a priority to get a demo of these.

Yes, but where are they available to listen too ?

 

[Alberich]

Cheers. Must make it a priority to get a demo of these.

 Yes, but where are they available to listen too ?

Ipv must have an open door policy after this.
Until Andrew gets his.
No complaints

 

[lpv]

Cheers. Must make it a priority to get a demo of these.

Yes, but where are they available to listen too ?

Ipv must have an open door policy after this. Until Andrew gets his. No complaints

if you show up at my door with something I want to listen.. *i-m_so_happy*

 

[thewinelake.]

I had exactly the same question and asked on the Avi forum if there was anyone in my area prepared to let me visit. Got a couple of offers but then an opportunity to buy came up that didn't give me enough time to take up the offer....

they're a friendly-sounding bunch ;-)

 

[plastic penguin]

Still, I've never heard a bad thing about their products and as they say, the direct sales method means that you're probably getting something that would normally retail for more (albeit still less than your Hegel and ATC setup)

Interesting you say that. About a decade ago I heard the AVI Laboratory Series amp at a dealers and I was very impressed by it. Also the Neutron speakers, again, had a very good rep so it isn't surprising the actives make an impression.

 

[Alberich]

Cheers. Must make it a priority to get a demo of these.

 Yes, but where are they available to listen too ?

Ipv must have an open door policy after this. Until Andrew gets his. No complaints

if you show up at my door with something I want to listen.. *i-m_so_happy*

You name it I'll bring it

 

[luckylion100]

I've been mulling over going active for a little while now, for several different reasons Primarily I can't afford the amplification I need to take my system to the next level and I'm fed up of endless black boxes dominating.. In fact I've already prepared my ebay advert for my PMC Twenty 23's and am just waiting to do the pictures then will be uloading the ad on Sunday evening. I'd all but decided to go for the change before reading this. Now it's a given. The AVI's were mentioned in another post recently by Davedotco and I need to reply and thank him there but have been rushed off my feet and totally forgot. But since he mentioned them I went onto the AVI forum and the feedback was similiar to that mentioned in this thread. I was wondering how biased it was... Anyway, I was thinking of getting a system along the lines of Steve1979's, still keeping the Technics but the rest can basically go.

Great reading and this has installed a sense within me that I'm not making the mistake of all mistakes.

 

[radiorog]

Great review. Can't beat personal experience.

How does the depth and size of bass compare in the two set ups, without the sub being on?

Thanks.

 

[Andrewjvt]

 Great review. Can't beat personal experience.

 How does the depth and size of bass compare in the two set ups, without the sub being on?

 Thanks.

The out right bass on the atc is slightly bigger as a larger cab but comparable still.

 

[lindsayt]

Thanks for your impressions.

You our realize that you opinions will now always be dismissed as just another AVI shill, don't you?

Still, I've never heard a bad thing about their products and as they say, the direct sales method means that you're probably getting something that would normally retail for more (albeit still less than your Hegel and ATC setup)

I'd love to hear the AVIs, but it's interesting that the points your praise are the aspects that I find I like in many active speakers I've tried

Except that AVI sell via dealers - eg Fiveways - at the same price that they sell direct. This simply means that when AVI sell direct they keep the margins that the dealers would have to add on.

This is in contrast to companies that sell direct only. Where you may be getting something that would retail for more.

 

[lindsayt]

In terms of cost yes my set up much more expensive but in terms specs no as the avi is a 4 seperate mono power amp 2 x 75w for hf, 2 x250w for lf. Hegel 2 x250. The avi also has pre amp and dac built in.

That is a misleading statement.

The Hegel H360 produces 250 watts into 8 ohms continuous.

The mid-bass amplification on the AVI speakers can not do that. They produce somewhere in the region of 70 watts into 8 ohms continuous.

 

[chebby]

In terms of cost yes my set up much more expensive but in terms specs no as the avi is a 4 seperate mono power amp 2 x 75w for hf, 2 x250w for lf. Hegel 2 x250. The avi also has pre amp and dac built in.

That is a misleading statement.

The Hegel H360 produces 250 watts into 8 ohms continuous.

The mid-bass amplification on the AVI speakers can not do that. They produce somewhere in the region of 70 watts into 8 ohms continuous.

I don't think Andrew is intending to mis-lead us. It's just what anyone can read from the manufacturer's website in both cases.

I also don't think Andrew is going to care given his previous comments on the performance.

 

[thewinelake.]

I think we are all interested to understand the significance of it. Does it mean that the bang of a drum will lack slam?

 

[davedotco]

Their speakers are unusual in that they are an integrated active system deliberately designed for hi-fi use. There are many such designs but most are made for the pro/home studiomarket.

The industrial looks of such speakers tend to put a lot of people off and, in my view, contributes a lot to the percieved sound quality, often in a negative way. I am fortunate in that my actives, like the AVI's are very acceptable domestically (slim piano black columns) and it is interesting that they seem much more acceptable to others because of that.

I have had, on occasion, much better speakers at home that have been recieved less well possibly because of their 'studio' looks, I find that quite interesting. The point being that, for those who do not wish to spend the £1600 or so for the ADMs, or for that matter the £700 for the diminutive DM5, there are some very decent active designs (some dross too, beware) available at budget prices, starting with the Presonus Eris 5, still available around £200pr if you look around.

Assuming you can live with the 'studio' looks of course.