bruin
Second Unit
- Joined
- Nov 29, 2002
- Messages
- 264
Frank C, this is for your request as well as for those who want to read another positive take on the AV1+s.
Some background info: I mostly listened to Dave Matthews, Michael Jackson, John Mayer, Collective Soul, Moulin Rouge and some techno cds that's I love (ATB, Paul Van Dyk)when I compared The RP3's and AV1+s.
To get to the point! The AV1+s excel in smoothness, accuracy, soundstage,and balance. I've owned the Polk Rt25is, Paradigm 9se's, BOSE 201's and 301s series IV's(oh yeah! those were the days, like the series even matters hehe)...these are mostly commercial speakers then I got the Klipsch RP3's then Near 10M II's. When I bought the Klipsch RP3's I noticed much improvement in dynamics (probably because they can play deeper than bookshelves I've previously owned). I also liked the Klipschs open sound. Basically I loved the RP3's...good vocals and better than previous speakers in many ways (cleaner, high efficiency and clearer). When I got the NEAR's I loved the highs! Oh man they were awesome. However they lacked the mids...a bit laid back in that area and can't be played loud enough without sounding harsh.
Ok so I thought about DIY and opted with the AV1+'s. When I first heard them they were harsh because they haven't been broken in. Now about 2 weeks later...man o man. Do any of you like the Moulin Rouge soundtrack?
Play track 2 loud and the AV1+s sing!!! Go maya, go christina...when they scream they don't sound harsh. With the Klipsch's I've had to turn them down a bit because my ears feel weak. With the AV1+s however, I can enjoy the loudness with ease (I know that whole analysis is subjective but that's how I felt about the harshness). I can't stress this section enough. The louder you play, the more you love to listen to the music. The more instruments and singers meshed in one track (basically most of the tracks), things just don't seem meshed anymore. You can hear the different singers and the weird noises they make (screams, grunts, etc.)
At low and high volumes, the AV1+s are cleaner. Track 3 with Nicole...the very beginning where you hear crackling...with the AV1+'s the crackling is much clearer and seems like the speakers themselves are crackling.
At loud volumes when no source is played, the RP3's have a hissing sound, the AV1's have no such hissing. This is annoying when watching a quiet passage in say, drama movies. The AV1+'s are quiet.
Soundstage...I liked the RP3's at first because they had good vocals but now the AV1's make things sound more refined. By that I mean that they are laid back enough and don't create that in your face type effect. The RP3's now seem forward sounding to me. The AV1+s make the artists seem to be in a plane right where the speakers are...no more no less. So when listening at loud volumes, the sound isn't in your face. I appreciate the AV1+s now because of this effect.
John Mayer CD: If you love that guitar sound...you'll love it more! Enough said. Like a reviewer of the AV1+s stated before, you can hear subtleties that you couldn't notice before.
I dont want to keep ranting here but in summary: The AV1+s are cuts above the RP3's (paid $700 ubid). I can listen to tracks longer and louder. Everything sounds much better.
Downsides to the AV1+s? You need a sub! Well who doesn't have one anyways? My current setup only allows a 100hz xover. In my tests, sub was crossed at 100hz with both pairs.
If anyone has any doubts about the AV1+'s, look to borrowing them from someone for a week. You won't return them! jk, they are really great. I paid about $700 for 3 AV+'s (parts and unfinished cabs). I did the finishing and x-over assembly: both were a lot of fun and a learning experience.
I'm not an audiophile but I love good sound. You don't have to be an audiophile to hear the differences in speakers. I'm not the only one who loves the AV1+s. Thanks to everyone who wrote about the them and offered their perspectives. Thanks to Danny Richie and Danny Wesnor for their help in getting the whole kit together.
Some background info: I mostly listened to Dave Matthews, Michael Jackson, John Mayer, Collective Soul, Moulin Rouge and some techno cds that's I love (ATB, Paul Van Dyk)when I compared The RP3's and AV1+s.
To get to the point! The AV1+s excel in smoothness, accuracy, soundstage,and balance. I've owned the Polk Rt25is, Paradigm 9se's, BOSE 201's and 301s series IV's(oh yeah! those were the days, like the series even matters hehe)...these are mostly commercial speakers then I got the Klipsch RP3's then Near 10M II's. When I bought the Klipsch RP3's I noticed much improvement in dynamics (probably because they can play deeper than bookshelves I've previously owned). I also liked the Klipschs open sound. Basically I loved the RP3's...good vocals and better than previous speakers in many ways (cleaner, high efficiency and clearer). When I got the NEAR's I loved the highs! Oh man they were awesome. However they lacked the mids...a bit laid back in that area and can't be played loud enough without sounding harsh.
Ok so I thought about DIY and opted with the AV1+'s. When I first heard them they were harsh because they haven't been broken in. Now about 2 weeks later...man o man. Do any of you like the Moulin Rouge soundtrack?
Play track 2 loud and the AV1+s sing!!! Go maya, go christina...when they scream they don't sound harsh. With the Klipsch's I've had to turn them down a bit because my ears feel weak. With the AV1+s however, I can enjoy the loudness with ease (I know that whole analysis is subjective but that's how I felt about the harshness). I can't stress this section enough. The louder you play, the more you love to listen to the music. The more instruments and singers meshed in one track (basically most of the tracks), things just don't seem meshed anymore. You can hear the different singers and the weird noises they make (screams, grunts, etc.)
At low and high volumes, the AV1+s are cleaner. Track 3 with Nicole...the very beginning where you hear crackling...with the AV1+'s the crackling is much clearer and seems like the speakers themselves are crackling.
At loud volumes when no source is played, the RP3's have a hissing sound, the AV1's have no such hissing. This is annoying when watching a quiet passage in say, drama movies. The AV1+'s are quiet.
Soundstage...I liked the RP3's at first because they had good vocals but now the AV1's make things sound more refined. By that I mean that they are laid back enough and don't create that in your face type effect. The RP3's now seem forward sounding to me. The AV1+s make the artists seem to be in a plane right where the speakers are...no more no less. So when listening at loud volumes, the sound isn't in your face. I appreciate the AV1+s now because of this effect.
John Mayer CD: If you love that guitar sound...you'll love it more! Enough said. Like a reviewer of the AV1+s stated before, you can hear subtleties that you couldn't notice before.
I dont want to keep ranting here but in summary: The AV1+s are cuts above the RP3's (paid $700 ubid). I can listen to tracks longer and louder. Everything sounds much better.
Downsides to the AV1+s? You need a sub! Well who doesn't have one anyways? My current setup only allows a 100hz xover. In my tests, sub was crossed at 100hz with both pairs.
If anyone has any doubts about the AV1+'s, look to borrowing them from someone for a week. You won't return them! jk, they are really great. I paid about $700 for 3 AV+'s (parts and unfinished cabs). I did the finishing and x-over assembly: both were a lot of fun and a learning experience.
I'm not an audiophile but I love good sound. You don't have to be an audiophile to hear the differences in speakers. I'm not the only one who loves the AV1+s. Thanks to everyone who wrote about the them and offered their perspectives. Thanks to Danny Richie and Danny Wesnor for their help in getting the whole kit together.
I know my username is bruin. I should have used James (my name) when I registered. 
