Speaker Asylum: REVIEW: AAD 2001 Speakers by jonbee

Model:	2001
Category:	Speakers
Suggested Retail Price:	$2499
Description:
Manufacturer URL:	AAD
Model Picture:	View

Review by jonbee on June 22, 2008 at 16:18:23
IP Address: 71.231.105.127 Add Your Review
for the 2001

I've been cycling through many smallish speakers in my home office in the last few years. It's much easier to satisfy my audiophilia nervosa with small speakers, and there are many fine ones to choose from. Among the notables I've used are Merlin TSM-M, Joseph RM7si sig. mkii, Monitor Audio GR10, Soliloquy 5.0, KEF XQ1, Revel M20, GR Paradox 1, Sequerra Met 7.7 mk iv, Nohr 9.0 mini, Paradigm active 20, and many, many more. The Merlin were the best, imo.
AAD is the latest company of famed designer Phil Jones. Starting out with the original Wharfedale co, he designed the Acoustic Energy AE1 and 2, Boston Lynnfields, and Platinum reference series. He worked on many of the Soliloquy models as well. Phil Jones has designed some of the very finest small speaker ever made, and has stated that as of 2002, the AAD 2001 was the best.
The AAD 2000 series is out of production. The other models in the series offered more woofers and larger cabinets, with deeper bass and more dynamic range.
I ran across a pair of the AAD 2001 minis, and wanted to try 'em out.
The 2001 has the most solid cabinets I've seen. They have 1-1.5" thick cabinets which are lead lined, and uses anodized and ceramicised aluminum woofer cones. The aluminum tweeter is horn loaded by a horn that is machined out of 1.5" thick steel. Driver magnets assemblies are lead jacketed to reduce resonance further. These 13" high speakers weigh an amazing 44 pounds.
Is all this worth it?
In a word, yes. By summary, these are the finest small speaker I've ever heard, period. They better all the above in the ability to bring music alive.
They are very inefficient, requiring at least 50 strong watts, and will take hundreds of watts without compression. In my 2500 cu ft room they play solidly into the mid 30 hz. range, at around 100 db without stress. It does seem that at those levels the sound is not quite as pristine as their sound in my small office, however.
The sound is amazingly dynamic, a lot like good horns, but with very low coloration, and with top to bottom transparency that is close to 'stats or ribbons.
They are amazingly lifelike, with a big soundstage and a big sound overall.
Downsides? Their low sensitivity may be a problem for many amps. The main sonic complaint is that their response is generally tipped up a bit, so they are balanced on the bright side. This is balanced by their truly amazing full bass capabilities, but care in matchups is required here.
Their lifelike dynamism and transparency is unprecedented in my small speaker experience.
These are no longer produced. Phil Jones' new small speaker, the 7001, is $12,500 and has been highly reviewed. If you find a pair of the AAD 2000 series on the used market, they are definitely worth a checkout. You won't be seeing mine on the resale market, though. They are reference quality all the way, IMO, and a lot of fun to listen to.

Product Weakness:	Very ineffient; Overall, on the bright side of neutral, but very clean. VERY heavy!
Product Strengths:	Fast, dynamic, uncolored. Amazing low bass for the size. Reference quality in a small package.

Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: ps audio gcc250
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): none
Sources (CDP/Turntable): maxed out Modwright/sony 9100
Speakers: VMPS RM30, AAD 2001,Joseph Audio RM7si sig. mkii
Cables/Interconnects: all silver
Music Used (Genre/Selections): lots
Room Size (LxWxH): 19 x 16 x 8
Room Comments/Treatments: room is a bit bright and eats bass energy
Time Period/Length of Audition: 1 week
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner

Amplifier:	ps audio gcc250
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	none
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	maxed out Modwright/sony 9100
Speakers:	VMPS RM30, AAD 2001,Joseph Audio RM7si sig. mkii
Cables/Interconnects:	all silver
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	lots
Room Size (LxWxH):	19 x 16 x 8
Room Comments/Treatments:	room is a bit bright and eats bass energy
Time Period/Length of Audition:	1 week
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner