Took a punt and drove to Inverness for the one off Avalon beasties that
@andyzeg had in the classifieds on here.
Crated up they filled the back of a van, likely weighing in excess of 300kg. Hence avoiding a courier.
A complete gamble going that far having not seen, heard or even been able to read up on them.
However, having had them plumbed in for a week now, I am certain that they were well worth every mile, minute and £. And then some
I had expected them to perhaps provide a little more precision over my much loved big Tannoys, but they have really surprised me. The accuton drivers have no sharpness at all. So much so that my initial concern was for them perhaps being too laid back up top. This was soon cast aside though once I realised just how well balanced they are.
Highlights are the power and impact that they give to bass guitar and drums (upper bass/lower mids?). Also, that they are properly full range. Mostly though, how the separate strands of the music hang in space between the speakers.
I’m guessing this is down to the high quality drivers coupled to the inert nature of the ott construction. I had expected them to be a downsize from my 250 litre Tannoys. In the flesh though they are even bigger. Another, less welcome, surprise.
I’ve tried all sorts of setups in the last few years. Including active and open baffle systems.
They are mostly comparable to these, other top of the line box speakers, that I have been lucky enough to have in the same system. including:
Focal Utopia (liked, but hyper detailed)
KEF Blade (not for me due to lack of driver integration)
Large Audio Physic (great speakers)
B&W 800 Diamond (beautifully built but my biggest disappointment in hi fi yet, easily bested in my room by speakers at 1/10-1/20th the cost.
Big Tannoys based on current Canterbury’s but theoretically significantly improved (Amazing speakers, my firm favourite by far. Until.....)
These new speakers have slotted straight in at number 1. Easily out performing all but the Tannoys, for me. The power and fullness of their lower midrange and palpable wholeness of delivery makes them addictive and therefore likely to be the keepers that I genuinely had believed the Tannoys to be.
Only time will tell on that one I guess.
Andy was a complete gent to meet as well at the end of my long journey.
So a big thanks to him.