Speaker Asylum: REVIEW: Aerial Acoustics 7b Speakers by the analog kid

Model:	7b
Category:	Speakers
Suggested Retail Price:	$5,000
Description:	4-Driver 3-Way Floorstanding dynamic speaker
Manufacturer URL:	Aerial Acoustics
Manufacturer URL:	Aerial Acoustics

Review by the analog kid ( A ) on September 11, 2006 at 16:01:37
IP Address: 24.11.146.201

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for the 7b

Several years ago (now) I posted a review on this site for Totem Forests, declaring that they were my end-all be-all speaker (I still get occasional email from folks asking about the review - you gotta love the online realm). Well, I ended up (two years ago) having to sell my Forests, along with the rest of my gear, to pay for various kid stuff (can't remember exactly what - but the expenses never end with three boys in the house). Pretty much started from scratch, thinking I would eventually move to Forests again. But my best audio buddy in town scored a pair of Aerial 8's off of Audiogon for $1600 (NOT a typo) - mint condition - in gorgeous rose walnut, and I was so impressed with them that I started thinking "Aerial" (although I knew I couldn't go 8's, as they are just too big for my space). I ended up buying the first good pair of 6's that showed up, but similar to the review in TAS awhile back, found them to be just too light in the bass for me to live with in the long run (I listen to everything from cool jazz to prog and classic rock, and I NEED bass). I LOVED everything about their sound in the mid and upper registers; they just dropped off precipitously under about 50hz (my guess) - nowhere near the bass output of my Forests. So I started thinking about the 7b's.
I watched Audiogon for months, and eventually scored a pair of Rose Walnut 7b's for $1750. They arrived in pristine condition, thanks to Aerial's exceptional packaging. And let me say, these babies are HEAVY. Not as bad as my bud's 8's, but they weigh a TON, and are built like a proverbial brick - no audible resonance with knuckle-rap test, except the swearing that came out my mouth because they're so damned hard. Finish was IMPECCABLE - finest quality edges and gorgeous woodgrain. I couldn't BELIEVE - without even hearing them - that I had scored them for under $2K.
I hooked them up bi-wired (shotgun) with two complete runs of Nirvana SL, to my trusty Marsh A400s. Firing them up, I at first was less-than-impressed. It took several hours to "dial them in" in terms of balancing bass response - a consequence of my rectangular and highly reflective listening room. They ended up 44" off my back wall and 7 feet tweeter to tweeter, with significant toe-in (firing past my shoulders). Even small gradations of movement made large sonic differences - for example, changes in toe-in of an inch or two COMPLETELY changed the soundstage. These speakers aren't "fussy," but they do require patience (and STRENGTH) to get them in the spot they should be.
Once settled, I was blown away. Sonically they are simply spectacular. Rich, warm, natural midband, solid and punchy bass, and pristine airy highs. Basically the whole package that you want in a high-end speaker. Especially impressive was the lack of congestion and compression at high volumes - they simply play the songs. Most noteworthy - and markedly superior to the Forests - is the FULLNESS of the midband. There is simply MUCH more information there than with the Forests - which makes sense, given that the 7b's have a midrange driver. The bass is better, and the highs lack that edge and sizzle that sometimes occurs with the Totem driver. VERY smooth tweeter, but still open sounding - especially with cymbals (a point of concern for me, as a drummer).
I have now owned these babies for more than a year, and don't foresee parting with them any time soon. They are GORGEOUS to look at, and never fail to sound fantastic. I can throw ANYTHING at them - Miles Davis, Sarah McLachlan, Rage Against the Machine, Yes, Motorhead, Vaughn Williams - and they sound great. They don't seem to favor one type of music over another. Other speakers I've had over the years include: Totem Arro, Snell E-IV, Snell XA60, Snell D, Silverline Sonatina, Acoustat Spectra 11's - and various others I can't remember right now - and the 7b's are FAR and away the finest sounding. No comparison.
With all this over-the-top raving, are there any caveats, now that I'm out of the honeymoon phase? Yes, two. First, they are NOT good low volume speakers, at least in my room and with my system. Under 80 db, the soundstage tends to collapse a bit. They're NOT one of those speakers you can dial way down and the sound lessens but remains the same. Instead, the sound lessens in quality. I believe this stems from the second limitation - THEY NEED JUICE. I can't imagine running these babies with less than 200 WATTS of high-quality SOLID STATE. I've read reviews from guys who have denounced Aerials in general and the 7b's in particular as having a "rolled off" top and a "warm" sound. In my experience, that is true under 80 db, and with less than 200 watts. But put 200 watts plus into them, and crank them to my normal listening volume of around 85db, and they SING in an open and beautifully dynamic way.
So, all in all, this is an incredible product, and a testimony to designer Michael Kelly's dedication to craft. And although I certainly don't want to advocate robbing him of his just rewards, you CAN score a pair of these incredible speakers for under $2K on Audiogon if you watch, and you will end up with a speaker that easily rivals other speakers in the $5K range (it's approximate list price, depending on finish), and easily betters speakers under that range.

Product Weakness: Needs serious solid state wattage to exact the most performance from it; best when listened to at moderate and higher volumes
Product Strengths: Build and finish quality; prodigous and musical bass, rich and natural midrange; pristine highs - the whole package

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Marsh A400s
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	GNSC Reference ARC SP14
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Basis 1400/Origin Live RB250
Speakers:	Aerial 7b
Cables/Interconnects:	Nirvana SL, Black Sand PCs
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	cool jazz, prog and classic rock, female vocal
Room Size (LxWxH):	22 x 11 x 9
Room Comments/Treatments:	RPG Diffusors
Time Period/Length of Audition:	1 Year
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	Monster HTS5000
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner
Your System (if other than home audition):	Home

Product Weakness:	Needs serious solid state wattage to exact the most performance from it; best when listened to at moderate and higher volumes
Product Strengths:	Build and finish quality; prodigous and musical bass, rich and natural midrange; pristine highs - the whole package