Avante Garde horn speakers.....

Their home page lists the speakers frequency response but gives no measure of 'flatness'. I am looking forward to a formal technical analysis of them in one of the Audiophile rags. This may seem academic as everybody who has heard them seems to really like them. However; I would want this information before I would be willing to buy a pair as we aren't talking about chump change here. The Avantgarde home office is in Cumming GA. I have asked a buddy of mine who lives in Cumming to check them out. Will let you know what he has to say later.

Boato2 I was hoping that there would be a few more comments. It may be due to the fact that these are relatively new speakers and that not many have experience with them.

I have a question for Jetmech057. When said the lower frequencies do not blend well what do you mean? Are the lower frequencies lower in volume compared to the rest of the spectrum? Your observations point out the importance of having more information on the frequency response in the area of flatness. Jman's comments make since because of the great dynamic range and efficiency of the horns. On a positive note it looks like some speakers are starting to show up on the used market.

I have a question for Jetmech057. When said the lower frequencies do not blend well what do you mean? Are the lower frequencies lower in volume compared to the rest of the spectrum? Your observations point out the importance of having more information on the frequency response in the area of flatness. Jman's comments make since because of the great dynamic range and efficiency of the horns. On a positive note it looks like some speakers are starting to show up on the used market.

Sorry about the double post. What caused it to happen was that I chose the reload option from my browser after I entered my comment. Looks like you need to get all the way out and then come back in after you post a response. Still not sure what members mean by slow versus fast. Is this a level issue? Since a woofer produces low frequencies I don't understand the term fast when applied to them. The active feedback (licensed from Velodyne?) should keep the distortion low. One thing I noticed is that the sub-woofer is being asked to work up to 170HZ in the case of the Duos. The velodynes upper limit is 120Hz. A posible problem may be a mismatch in efficiency between the horns and the subs causing the frequency balance to be shifted up at higher output levels.

It sounds to me like Avantgarde may not have the equalization right between the subwoofers and the horns. With the 10dB gain produced by the horn structure I would expect extra gain would need to be added to the bass frequencies to keep the balance right. As far as quickness I would think that this would not be a proplem for the subwoofers due to the integrated design and active feedback. Hopefully, an impartial third party review with frequency response measurements will be forthcoming.

Carl I was thinking about the Velodyne subwoofers which have low distortion numbers. Have you heard the Avantgardes? I would like to check them out; but, have not had time to do so since I moved to Dallas in early June. I used to live 20 miles from their home office; but, found this out too late. As far as the amplitude match I was thinking that the horns are so efficient that relatively high sound levels for the mids and highs may be achieved before the subs start to kick in. This is pure speculation on my part. As stated previously a frequency response curve would be nice.

Perhaps you are right Carl. More comments by Boato2 and Jman would be appreciated. I wonder what their impressions on the bass response are.

I appreciate your input, but would still like to audition them. My interest is due to the postive reviews by people who heard them at the CES in Las Vegas.

Carl, any chance of talking you into giving these thing a listen? I want to check them out; but, its going to take some time. New city and new job has me working like a galley slave.

Carl, Thanks for the response. Your idea to tape a percussion sound and then to replay it is a damn good idea. I completely agree that if a person is using decent electronics in his system then the speakers are the most important part of the system. From my experience with the Ohm Walsh 300's the lower frequencies are the ones that really put a speaker system to work. I suspect that speakers that do a good job with the midrange and highs mated with dedicated subwoofers such as the Velodynes will provide good dynamic range with low distortion. Current budgetary constraints prevent the purchase of a pair of Avantgardes any time soon. Evidence that the gold market is being held down in the face of a huge supply/demand imbalance plus rising inflation makes me think that any extra money should be used for the purchase of gold and unhedged gold stocks at this time. If I am right these investments should provide capital for audio upgrades in the near future (six to eight months).