Brian Bunge
Senior HTF Member
- Joined
- Sep 11, 2000
- Messages
- 3,716
OK, Jeff Lam has been on me to provide a comparative review of my GR Research AV-1's vs. my ACI Emeralds. I sat down for about an hour and compared the two using my Dave Matthews Band "Under the Table and Dreaming" CD. I would have used more material but this was sufficient to choose which I preferred.
First off, in case anyone is interested, I'll list associated equipment and state how things were set up. I am using a Sherwood Newcastle R-945 MKII receiver and Pioneer Elite DV-37 DVD player. They are connected via one of my own RAD Cables digital interconnects. I used DH Labs Silver Sonic speaker wires. The speakers were placed atop my dual 25.5" tall SV12 subwoofers that double as stands. For the test the subs were turned off and the speakers were set to LARGE. The speakers were placed approximately 9.5' apart center to center and the listening distance was also approximately 9.5'.
Let's just cut to the chase. IMHO, the AV-1's won hands down. Bass was much more defined and natural. Highs were smoother. Everything just seemed more "airy". The music just seemed to float in space. There was more depth and height to the soundstage. Imagining was much more precise. I just had more of a feeling of being in room with the band. Also, I felt they blended much better with my subs considering my receiver's fixed 100Hz crossover.
Conversely, the Emeralds just didn't mesh as well. Bass was more compressed. They just didn't seem to have the same dynamics. Highs seemed slightly brighter and somewhat smeared. On several tracks the opening is just vocals and guitars. The vocals were in the center and the guitars were coming from the speakers. But there was no blending of the sounds. On more complex passages it was slightly harder to place instruments as they seemed to cover each other up.
Some of my issues with the Emeralds may come down to placement, but I don't have the luxury of experimenting in my room. Both of these are very good speakers and I think you'd have to look into something in the $1K range retail wise to find something equal. But considering the difference in price (the shielded AV-1's kits are $100 cheaper than the Emerald kits) I'd have to stick with the AV-1's. Well, at least until I get my AV-1+'s built!
Brian
First off, in case anyone is interested, I'll list associated equipment and state how things were set up. I am using a Sherwood Newcastle R-945 MKII receiver and Pioneer Elite DV-37 DVD player. They are connected via one of my own RAD Cables digital interconnects. I used DH Labs Silver Sonic speaker wires. The speakers were placed atop my dual 25.5" tall SV12 subwoofers that double as stands. For the test the subs were turned off and the speakers were set to LARGE. The speakers were placed approximately 9.5' apart center to center and the listening distance was also approximately 9.5'.
Let's just cut to the chase. IMHO, the AV-1's won hands down. Bass was much more defined and natural. Highs were smoother. Everything just seemed more "airy". The music just seemed to float in space. There was more depth and height to the soundstage. Imagining was much more precise. I just had more of a feeling of being in room with the band. Also, I felt they blended much better with my subs considering my receiver's fixed 100Hz crossover.
Conversely, the Emeralds just didn't mesh as well. Bass was more compressed. They just didn't seem to have the same dynamics. Highs seemed slightly brighter and somewhat smeared. On several tracks the opening is just vocals and guitars. The vocals were in the center and the guitars were coming from the speakers. But there was no blending of the sounds. On more complex passages it was slightly harder to place instruments as they seemed to cover each other up.
Some of my issues with the Emeralds may come down to placement, but I don't have the luxury of experimenting in my room. Both of these are very good speakers and I think you'd have to look into something in the $1K range retail wise to find something equal. But considering the difference in price (the shielded AV-1's kits are $100 cheaper than the Emerald kits) I'd have to stick with the AV-1's. Well, at least until I get my AV-1+'s built!
Brian