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In Reply to: RE: You mean the Solos? posted by jusbe on October 08, 2015 at 18:20:50
The Zero 1 is far superior to the Solos...I have heard at length both. However, neither is as good as a passive Avantgarde with really good tube amps.
Follow Ups:
That's good to know (Zeros v Solos). I guess the Zeros are more affordable and easier to accommodate than their more expensive siblings - to be expected.
Question is, are they good enough?
Big J
"... only a very few individuals understand as yet that personal salvation is a contradiction in terms."
For the friend who is thinking convenience as much as sound they are definitely good enough...too good probably. However, for myself I did not find the combination of SS with horns to be convincing enough although the sound was quite impactful and well balanced. Tonally I found it to be less satisfactory. It is an altogether more transparent package than the Solos and more coherent despite the separation of drivers (the DSP time alignment does it's job there).
As for the bigger Avants, well the best setups I have heard were with the Duo model in various forms with tubes. All demos i have heard with Avants own SS amps were far less satisfying. In Munich this year the setup of Duo Omegas with Audiopax amps and Lampizator "Big 7" DAC was one of the best sounds at the show and told what Avantgardes are REALLY able to do.
The guy who had the solos only used them for movies and background music. His main system was with the Lansche Goa (predecessor to their Cubus speaker) biamped with two stereo KR Audio Kronzillas. THAT was a great sounding system.
Morricab has heard both speakers, I have heard only the older ones. If the new ones are much better than the older ones are, I'd say they must be awfully nice. The Solos are the best "small" speaker I've ever heard but, of course, Morricab has heard many more components and speakers than I ever will.You own some very nice speakers. I too would be interested in finding out if the Zeros can beat a few of the better ones residing in your stable.
Edits: 10/17/15
The main letdown in both is the solid state amplification, although the Solos also seemed to be somewhat less transparent and more colored...who knows how much amplification plays a part there?
The Zeros are quite uncolored and very transparent and coherent BUT tonality is not ideal and a bit on the dry side.
I'm keen to try some in the new year, or before if I can. The only thing that is a barrier to me (unfairly perhaps) is the D/S DAC. But is BB, so it may be better than I've heard.
Big J
"... only a very few individuals understand as yet that personal salvation is a contradiction in terms."
Too bad, because it doesn't look like there is an easy way to bypass or replace the Zero's onboard DAC. Maybe Avantgarde will address this potential drawback in future Zero models. Meanwhile, if you get a chance to audition a pair of Solos don't pass up that opportunity...
Edits: 10/13/15
I did get a chance to hear them, shortly after they first came out in the UK. That was in exhibition surroundings, however, so make of that what you will. I was struck by how much more enjoyable their presentation was (to me) over the larger Avantgarde arrays, and at the time, I put this down to their coincident driver arrangement.My experience with single-driver designs has probably shaped my expectations in this space, but there seems to be an undeniable gain to be had - to my ears - by considering driver integration as part of the playback system. Obviously not the only consideration, but a crucial one for me, in terms of value as one spends more.
Hopefully, the modular nature of the Zero will allow for some development, or perhaps a Mark 2 or additional offering in this line. There are R-2R DACs being produced now (like Metrum's Transient DAC, for example, or that offered by Soekris) that might suit an implementation here. Or perhaps the BB PCM4104 integration is too integral to the design to be changed. Don't know.
Big J
"... only a very few individuals understand as yet that personal salvation is a contradiction in terms."
Edits: 10/13/15 10/14/15
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