I think the AB-1s have a bit of one-note bass about them.
I get the appeal of the LS3/5a trick, heck I've got a pair of kit-built Stirlings, but their dynamic limitations are such that I'd go to a bigger box if I wanted an upgrade. A 2 cu ft box with an 8", such as the BC1 or LS3/6 or Super HL5 will have worlds more scale and dynamics than the tiny shoeboxes can ever muster.
Hi Yank,
I'm in total agreement in regards to the one note bass from said AB-1's.
But as someone whom is more then capable of hearing the resonance that exist in larger cabinets due to under damped boxes. I'm also very aware of a sense of driver's lack of integration as they become larger with about 3-4" between say a tweeter - midbass driver and actual bass drivers.
There's more to life then dynamics and scale if one isn't able to listen beyond said rattlings of drivers or cabinets. There are plenty of music lovers whom are merely looking to be drawn into the musical event as opposed to being having a false sense of resolution and/or detail thrown into the mix.
I've two Asian friends with extremely deep pockets whom own either Magico or Wilson Audio Sasha or Watt MK XXI's or whatever the newer versions are at present. Yet when other friends and I go for listening sessions at either one of these guys homes - we just look at one another wondering what's all the noise about?.
I mean literally!, these speakers as we've concluded are great at pressurizing a room with the help of something like a 400 w/pc Krell power amp, yet offer very little that attracts any of us on an emotional level. But I guess that why there are so many people whom are in love with said Mini-Monitors or single ended drivers for that matter - maybe, just maybe so are willing to make compromises that are taking away from ones enjoyment of the music from a purely emotional standpoint.
Detailing - Resolution - Size are all nice tricks in themselves. But if one is into delicacy - warmth - purity of notes - greater sense of timbre - tonality and the likes and aren't bother by scale for the sake of it. Then I say vote with ones funds and take notice of where said funds have been spent over the last 23 years............, there doesn't appear to be a shortage of High Quality Mini's as one would've thought. But truth be told - it's far easier to produce a beautifully balanced and musical lunch box sized speaker, then is is to make a larger one with multiple drivers and complicated cross-overs as well as undamped cabinets as I've mentioned above.
There will never be a wrong or right way to select a speaker that works well in one room, but struggles in another. The speakers are the one component that all of us, no matter our means?, where we've to realize had to fit the room and not the other way around. So having scale - weight - bass notes down to 20Hz are beautiful things to pursue, but never at the expense of purity - bass humps and all. But much like the women we have at our sides, you might find your wife beautiful - while I on the other hand might find her to be bland and average at best or you'd feel the same about " My Queen ", but you know what - isn't that what freedom of choice is all about?.
Regards,
scar