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Choice: Avantgarde Duo Omega or JBL K2 s9800


Am now able to get both of these speakers at abt the same price albeit both in demo condition.

Am now using a pair of Vandersteen 2CE Sig2 and Harbeth M30 and really wanting to try the other end of the spectrum. Heard the Quad ESL which may not be the ones for me where now decide to go the way of the horns.

A/B audition is not possible where i am attracted to JBL K2 s9800 primarily becos its (correct me if i m wrong) a mix of HORN and monitor (best of both worlds?) and also being the 2nd highest in teh line of JBL. Wld tis not make a more sound/safe investment? Same time not really sure of its dynamics as compared to the avantgarde ....

i want to stay with my BAT pre/power (vk32/vk55) ....

any comments welcomed!!!
art80342
triode
263 posts
 
One thing I forgot to mention above, for what it's worth to the OP...at one time (and it may still be the case), a couple of the 3 principals in BAT reportedly had Avantgardes in their home systems. So even with higher-powered BAT amps, there may be a synergy.
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
7,068 posts
 
Art80342, I spent about a week listening to the K2, in a very controlled environment. My opinon comes from listening to both speakers, both with amps that I know and also those that I do not.

Either way, the K2 is an easier setup (it can be close to the rear wall), with greater coherence between the bass and the rest of the speaker (not surprising since the woofer is driven by the same amp that the midrange is). I found the speaker very easy to drive for 'only 93 db'. I think JBL is being conservative. The impedance curve is also easy for lower-powered tube amps. I found 60 watts to be nearly impossible to clip- literally so loud earplugs were required.
triode
263 posts
 
Atmasphere, I have no doubt that your K2 observations are accurate. But the ability to place them close to the wall is not a point of differentiation; AGs have sealed subs with the ability to adjust level and crossover point, and phase is easily reversed. Very flexible and adaptable.
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
7,068 posts
 
Triode, what is important about that is that the speaker does not have to be out in the room to image well.
triode
263 posts
 
Atmasphere, again, not a point of differentiation. However, I must admit that although I find the AGs image well in my setup near the wall, that sonic parameter is about 27,592nd on my list of sonic priorities.
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