REVIEWS FOR SOLO THRU TRIO |
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"... The Avantgarde SOLO gives you an amazingly complete system, of extraordinary capability, in an amazingly compact and convenient package. Considering that you get such an impressive speaker, plus a power amp, plus an electronic crossover, the Solo's price of $3485 each is excellent value. They equal or surpass the sonic capabilities (including dynamics) of most huge tower speakers, using conventional direct radiating cone drivers, that sell for $20,000 or more for just one pair (and also require you to buy an expensive monster power amp to drive them). Put five of these compact Avantgarde Solos in your home theater, and you will have mind blowing sonics, for less than the price of a mere pair of those huge tower speakers..."
Peter Moncrieff, IAR, January 2003 "... Desire sonic lift-off? Admire Avantgarde Acoustic SOLO's new turbine design? Harbor anti-horn notions? The doubts are ungrounded... This baby is the hammer! Outer-space looks, requiring no amp, it simply sounds stellar: Resolved, dynamic, gentle, without typical horn colorations. A massive recommendation for everyone sans rustic-oak floor-to-ceiling entertainment centers..." Holger Barske, Stereo, 8/2002 |
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"... both drivers [of the SOLO] have the characteristic Avantgarde quality - an articulate, crisp and almost tactile midrange, well projected and almost too 'live' sounding. This 'out of the box', exuberant nature grabs your attention and yet doesn't get in the way of the music making. In fact, it makes many other speaker designs sound rather pedestrian..."
Martin Colloms, HiFi News & Record Review, October |
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| "... The SOLO's reproduction caused enthusiasm not just for quantitative but rather qualitative performance: Image outlines were enormously precise. Translation? The virtual stage appeared as though cast in stone, without any drift or confusion. Absolutely brilliant was the latest Kruder & Dorfmeister CD, The K&D Sessions: Sound effects, loops and out-of-phase tricks moved with unbelievable precision between the speakers, as though moons circulated around planet on tightly predetermined orbits... But that's not the only justification for this speaker's unique position. It's easily set up and universally adaptable. It plays loud and merely requires a preamp. It simply defines a compact class of its own ..." Marius Dittert, Stereoplay: 7/2002 |
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"... Time sure flies when you're having fun. Seems like yesterday, but it was about two years ago that I received the Avantgarde Uno Series 2.0 loudspeakers for review. Readers familiar with that review ... may recall that I liked the speakers so much that I decided to buy them... And now Avantgarde's Series 3.0 UNO has made its appearance..."
Robert Deutsch, Stereophile, August 2002 (Vol.25 No.8): |
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"... The SOLO impressed me most positively, especially its line-genetic spontaneity of reproduction that carries the listener deeply into the music, with a huge fun quotient perhaps best described as the hotrodded turbo-charged Porsche among active speaker systems. Extreme dynamics, resolute acceleration out of every gear, generating intense elation with the travelers. The comprehensive facilities leave nothing to be desired. Fit'n'finish is uncompromising. An extra bonus is the ability to successfully employ the SOLO in smaller rooms. Color finishes for the horns are optional. In short, a loudspeaker system concept for listeners who value dynamics, neutrality and the occasional speed rush of live-like volumes to raise the intensity of a full-blown Rock or Classical concert inside the home ..."
Alexander Aschenbrunner, Hörerlebnis Issue 39, 4/2002 |
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"... Never before has a loudspeaker system impressed like this. Never before has music (and to list all I tested would far exceed this review's scope) touched me with such enchanting powers of authenticity as when played back over the DUO. Its strengths lie undoubtedly in this nearly hypnotic, distinctly addictive mien that doesn't suffer the faintest hint of coloration. Especially the critical midrange deserves highest praise. The sound in a nutshell? Pure music in all its facets! The excitement of live music is this system's core signature, thus fulfilling my personal requirements for listening to music in the first place. Accordingly, DUO fantastico: "No màs buscando" - no more searching..."
Alexander Aschenbrunner, Hörerlebnis issue 40, 2002 |
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"...The Avantgarde DUOs are far and away the most fascinating and formidable speakers I've yet encountered... If you want the music to grab you by the short 'n' curlies, to commune with you most intimately, these Avantgardes might be your personal hotline to the aural deities. They're for folks who want personal visitations, goose bumps, butterflies in the belly and the occasional heart-stopping scare. In short, they're exactly my kind of breathless fantasy audio device..." Srajan Ebaen, Earmarked!, SoundStage!, October 2001 Based on this review, SoundStage! Editorial bestowed its prestigious Reviewer's Choice Award on the Avantgarde Acoustic DUO 2.0. Click here for the separate intro to the review. |
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| Home Entertainment 2001 - Hearing is believing: "Down the hall in the Madison suite, Avantgarde-USA, Balanced Audio Technology (BAT) and Symposium Acoustics were also demonstrating with a Sony VPH-G90U, the CRT projector with the highest profile at the show (three samples, including one in Sony's own demonstration). But they were using the smallest screen which resulted in an image with more contrast and punch than the others... The biggest surprise was the lack of coloration from the very visible horns, which reproduce all but the extreme low bass in these speakers. And the Avantgardes' ability to play loud with only a few watts means that you don't need a big amplifier to drive them. BAT's amps - VK-6200s for the subwoofers, VK-150SE single-ended triodes for the main speakers - were having no trouble working with the Avantgarde Trios (L/R front). Solo (center and rears), and Pro 225 subwoofers to create an impressively big, dynamic home-theater sound..." |
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| Thomas J. Norton, Stereophile Guide to Home Theater, October 2001, page 54 BEST OF SHOW: "... The two home theaters receiving the most votes for best sound were in the Audio Plus room and the Avantgarde-USA/Balanced Audio Technology (BAT) suite..." - TJN |
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| "... In my listening room, the UNO's unbelievable all-out clarity and immense dynamic capabilities were enough for me to part with my own hard earned cash..." Steve Rochlin, Editor/Publisher, EnjoyTheMusic.com |
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| Based on this review, the Avantgarde UNO 2.0 received EnjoyTheMusic.com's Product of the Year Award. |
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| "... the sense that these singers and musicians had somehow appeared in my listening room and were performing for me was quite spooky... The UNO created the illusion of "liveness" better than any other speaker I've had in my listening room. In fact, I can think of few speakers I've heard anywhere at any price that sounded as convincingly "live" as the Uno... What I do suggest is that anyone who can afford speakers in this price range, and even those who can also afford speakers of the price-no-object variety, give the Uno a serious listen. It is simply that good... Robert Deutsch, Stereophile, September 2000 |
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| Based on this review, the Avantgarde Acoustic UNO 2.0 received Stereophile's coveted Speaker of the Year Award. |
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Based on this review, the Avantgarde Acoustic UNO 2.0 also received Stereophile's prestigious Class A rating - "Best attainable sound for a component of its kind, without any practical considerations; the least musical compromise..." Avantgarde USA's reply as published in the September 2000 Stereophile review issue Editor: |
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| Q. How do you make a small fortune in the loudspeaker business? A. Start with a large fortune, and then introduce hornspeakers to high-end audio! OK, I'm just kidding! But, after all, it's 'Common Knowledge' that hornspeakers can't possibly be any good in serious music systems. That's what my partner Bill & I always said. Then we heard the Avantgardes, and it was a revelation. These horns didn't sound anything like those we'd heard before. But, were we passionate enough to challenge the preconceived notions of other audiophiles just like us? Then we thought about other 'Common Knowledge' mileposts in audio history. Remember the '70s, when Audio Research Corporation, Mark Levinson, Fulton, Linn and Magnepan defined new segments of audio? Until each of them appeared, it was 'Common Knowledge' that:
All these products were 'tweaky' and 'way-out' of the mainstream when they were introduced. Each introduced a 180° shift in direction for the high-end audio industry. They were radical ideas and 'Common Knowledge' didn't accept them at all. I know, because I was there. And now we're introducing the Avantgarde Hornspeakers. Will they be the next milestones? Many are already saying YES, but could the Avantgardes really change audio history? We honestly don't know. We do know that these speakers deserve to be heard. So what to make of this review? Although it must be considered a 'rave' (Robert Deutsch bought the review pair), we want to strongly encourage music lovers to listen for themselves. Please, be sure the Avantgardes speak to you emotionally. If not, then we've missed the mark. Robert commented on the realism and extraordinary emotional involvement he experienced. That's precisely what happened to us! But, where does this emotional involvement come from? Music is an extraordinary gift. It's an amazing 'Attitude Adjuster'. Composers and performers pluck our heartstrings (emotionally) with several tools, but the most effective involves musical dynamics. These dynamic shifts are often very subtle (microdynamics). And it's here that the music takes on life and breath. Ever notice how you feel at a concert as a piece of music ends? Guess what? The composer/performers wanted you to feel that way. Did the piece end very gently, or with a rousing flourish? Either way, you just got an emotional message from the musical dynamics. Why shouldn't we get that emotional involvement at home? Another way of looking at the value of dynamics is to consider how we can absolutely KNOW that music coming from a nearby room is live music. It doesn't have to be loud. It can be a chamber group or a jazz trio. We know before we get in that room that it's 'live'. Although the rhythmic quality & the musical timbres have some effect, it's the dynamics (even on soft music) that identify it as live. Bob's comparison of a big-voiced singer to effortless dynamics was especially apt. Why? Since Bob is a singer, he regularly (and personally) experiences the vital musical difference between pushing hard and effortlessly projecting. Another thing Bob appreciated was that although the speakers were extraordinarily revealing they didn't 'bite' on lesser quality recordings. To his delight, he discovered new treasures in old recordings he had thought were unlistenable. Why do we audiophiles accept the 'Common Knowledge' that as we spend more our systems become so 'revealing' that only a few recordings will really sound good enough to play? Who wants to spend more and enjoy it less? If the end result were that (after spending all that money) you'd rather just watch TV because listening to music isn't pleasurable, why would you continue inflicting pain on yourself? Could this be the very idea that's contributing to the widely reported 'death of high-end audio'?
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"Making an undeniably bold design statement, the Avantgarde UNO "hornspeaker" system stands conventional speaker design on its ear. Starting with the principle that "It's about the music", the German designers decided that horn-type enclosures can reproduce the live-performance experience more accurately than other approaches. The M1 midrange driver and H1 tweeter are mounted at the apex of separate horns that are designed to provide exceptionally even dispersion and wide frequency response. The Nextel 225 CTRL powered subwoofer in the base is seamlessly integrated witht the other drivers, bringing full range of audible frequencies into your home while looking absolutely stunning." AudioVideoInteriors, April 2001 |
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| "... I have tried electrostatics and other planars and gone about as far as possible with cones in boxes (Wilson X-1s). The Avantgardes (TRIO 2.0s) are as detailed, tonally true, fast, and transparent as the best electrostatics and possess exquisitely responsive and wide-ranging dynamics - far better than conventional cones-in-cabinets rigs..." Larry Alan Kay, Recommended Systems, The Absolute Sound, June-July 2000 |
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In his coverage of the British HiFi show 2000, Paul Messenger spotted an early prototype of what is now known as the SOLO but at the time was dubbed the ZERO: "... Those "other" German hornmeisters, Avantgarde, showed (but didn't demonstrate) a dramatic design that bordered on the bizarre. The Zero is a relatively compact stand-mounted active speaker, its front consisting of a 12" dual-concentric driver, each diaphragm having a short horn flare; the rest of the speaker a molded-composite cabinet with classic art deco overtones..." Stereophile, December 2000, VOL23 NO.12, pg. 39 |
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| The Absolute Sound Golden Ear Award 2000 for the Avantgarde Acoustic TRIO COMPACT: "... these gorgeous flowers make music and music-makers sound astonishingly realistic. There is no loudspeaker on the planet with better dynamic range and scaling than the Avantgarde TRIO (2.0)... considering that they rival (and in many respects beat) their $ 70,000 competition, at $36,970 they are something like a bargain... you cannot buy a loudspeaker that gives you more 'in the room' presence... Jonathan Valin, Golden Ear Awards, The Absolute Sound, December 2000 - January 2001 |
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Whether you're at home or on the road, today's electronic works of art speak volumes about personal style while guaranteeing streamlined satisfaction. Horn Heaven: "Listen up to the best of both worlds with Avantgarde Acoustic's UNO, which marries the functional elements of a well-designed horn speaker system with a more conventional sealed-box subwoofer. The result is a truly original-looking speaker system capable of jaw-dropping performance. Optional high-gloss automotive lacquer finish available." Mercedes Momentum, Fall 2000, Volume 6 Number 2 " 'C' for yourself" |
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| "...There's no denying that both Avantgarde Acoustic hornspeakers are exceptional performers. Going from the Unos to the Duos is like going from the Ferrari F40 to the F50. While the F40 is known to be a little twitchy yet excellent, the F50 is easier to drive around the track and adds to the F40's already impressive track record... For those looking for the speed of electrostatic/panel loudspeakers, yet with the easy drive and dynamics of horns, the Avantgarde Acoustic DUO should make your must-audition shortlist. Steven Rochlin, Ultimate Audio, Winter 2001, VOl.4, No.4 |
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| "...The healing game, indeed. I've listened enough to 'sound'; I've talked enough about components. Excuse me, but I think I just want to go play another record..." Larry Alan Kay, FI |
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| "... the Avantgarde TRIO... the great depth charger: No other speaker on the global market delves deeper into the stage. Fascinating vocal presence with utmost detail retrieval. Statement finish with sculptural appeal... Why race on the road when you can race listening?..." Andreas Günther, Stereoplay 11/2000 "...The UNO is a top performer, eradicating all dreams of lusting after bigger systems....10.900DM buys you a relatively affordable superspeaker. I'm more than prepared to disavow any erronously held preconceptions and petition for forgiveness. I incidentally recognized something else as well: Beyond the familiar audiophile garden of Eden, there exists another Eden for horn systems, one no less compelling or magical...." Robert Schmitz-Niehaus, Hörerlebnis, issue 33, 10/2000 |
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"...taking into consideration the only criteria that really counts -- the capability to reproduce music -- the TRIO is an offer without any competition in the top end of the high fidelity panorama..." Oliver Corton, Haute Fidelite, Issue 51, June 2000 "...Utterly compelling and intoxicating performance from a system representing high-end technology from two continents. Capital intensive, but the results make for unquestionable value. Musicality rules - and tubes have never sounded this good. Visual presence of the TRIO horn speakers will drop jaws..." Deon Schoenman, Audio Video Magazine, South Africa, Spring issue 2000 |
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| "...I'm afraid that for me, there's no longer any contest. The Germans have it every time... The new UNOs demonstrated those astonishing midrange qualities that had attracted me -- and other commentators of course -- to these Avantgarde speakers in the first place..." Steve Harris, Editor, HiFi News & Record Review, England, Issue May 2000 |
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| "... the UNO presented exactly what music is essentially all about: drive, tangible emotions, crackling tension and authenticity... Owners of good record collections, beware! Exteme danger of addiction! Udo Ratai, Image HiFi, Germany, Issue 5/1999 |
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"... these DUOs are one of the best speaker systems I've ever heard...I would have sworn Joan Armatrading was singing in my living room, but then so was Harry Christophers and his Sixteen, and Louis Armstrong, and Pat Metheny...and... and... and the neighbours kept finding excuses to visit..." Chris Beeching, Audio Quarterly, UK, Issue Q3, 1999 |
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