Howdy
fellows
Now that I
have owned the AVI ADM 9RS (the old version) for a couple of months, and
compared it extensively in different situations and setups, I am better able to
explain its merits and demerits in a more accurate manner.
I won’t talk
about anything but the review, and will keep it to the point, so that you don’t
need to read what you already know.
NOTE:
Lots of
connectors, adaptors etc have been used here and there, mostly local ones, so
please keep note of that.
Also, the
room is untreated, extremely small, like 3m by 3m approx. The positioning is
far from ideal in the sense that they don’t have enough space in the back to
breathe and stuff.
TEST SETUP 1
(TS1)
Speakers:
AVI ADM 9RS (old)
DAC: Inbuilt
Preamp:
Inbuilt
Source: Asus
STX sound card via SPDIF/coaxial
Also, tried
my motherboard inbuilt sound card via SPDIF
Tried on
both desktop stands and wall mounting
TEST SETUP 2
(TS2)
Speakers:
AVI ADM 9RS (old)
DAC: Asus
Essence One Muses Edition
Preamp:
Garage1217.com Project Ember Hybrid Tube Headphone Amp/Preamp
Source: Asus
STX sound card via SPDIF/coaxial
Also, tried
my motherboard inbuilt sound card via SPDIF
Tried on
both desktop stands and wall mounting
TEST SETUP 3
(TS3)
Headphone:
Sennheiser HD 650 (2013 version)
DAC: Asus
Essence One Muses Edition OR Asus STX sound card
Headphone
AMP: Project Ember or Asus Essence One Muses Edition or Asus STX sound card
Source: Asus
STX sound card connecting to PC like in above cases
TEST SETUP 4
(TS4)
Headphone:
Sennheiser HD 598
Setup: iPad
3
SOURCE FILES
Mostly Bollywood
music
Mostly CD
Rip WAVs lossless or FLAC. Occasional MP3/AAC 128-320 Kbps. Occasional Youtube.
Some Movies
OTHER SETUPS
Aktimate
Mini+
Aktimate
Micro
Swan H5
Audioengine
A5
Swan M50W
(with 6.5” sub)
BASS
MISCONCEPTION: Enuf Is Enuf!
First of
all, let us clarify one important misconception. Although these aren’t bass
heavy by any means, but they have more than adequate bass for a neutral
speaker. Anything more would mean that they wouldn’t stay as neutral and clear
any longer.
I used to
use them with my 2.1 Swan M50W (with 6.5” sub) as rear, and the rear setup,
especially the sub woofer only made it muddy and unclear. Besides, it didn’t
add too much quantity of bass either. It did add some, but ruined the quality
terribly.
I have sold
the Swan rear 2.1 and haven’t missed it much ever since. The 6.5” AVIs have
adequate bass for anybody who isn’t a bass head. It has decent quantity of
tight and controlled bass. It isn’t like a discotheque and a 8”/10” sub is
likely to give you some more bass, but not many would match its quality,
tightness and speed.
So, for most
users, it has enough bass and good bass, just not enough to wow you, but enough
for most users who care for more than just bass and partying.
In fact, the
the quantity of bass and tightness is much better with the inbuilt DAC as
compared to my other DACs! It is much louder than way…!
Quantity of
bass: TS3 > TS1 > TS2 > TS4
Quality of
bass: TS1 > TS2 > TS3 > TS4
Overall bass
performance and enjoyability: TS1 > TS2 > TS3 > TS4
So, as far
as bass is concerned, I prefer AVIs over both my headphones, despite HD 650
having more in quantity.
AVIs have
textured and natural bass and not just artificially tight bass like Aktimate
Micro nor bloated loud bass like Swan H5.
I have even
heard Monitor Audio BX2 with Marantz 6005 and I preferred Aktimate Mini+ over
them anyway, so no point in comparing them to AVIs.
TREBLE: Not
harsh, not artificially sweet either!
The treble
isn’t harsh at all, not even with poor quality recordings. And it is extremely
transparent here and presents whatever it is that the recording has.
If the
recording is bright it will show bright without exaggerating and without being
harsh or sibilant.
If the
recording isn’t mastered well, which includes most of my FLAC/WAV lossless/CD
rips lossless then it will appear dull, boring and not worth listening to.
Mostly a problem with old Bollywood movies’s rips and masters. And of course
with some newer movies too which didn’t pay attention to their music mastering.
However, if
the recording is up to par, whether 128kbps AAC or WAV lossless, then it will
play just like that, smooth, detailed, exciting and lively.
So it is
hugely dependent on the quality of the recording. Just because it is a 128KBps
file doesn’t mean it won’t be enjoyable, most itunes rips are decent I think.
But many WAV lossless are crap if the mastering is not up to par. Sadly this
includes a lot of Bollywood stuff.
I am trying
to exaggerate it here, but believe me, it makes a huge difference to the
performance.
On the other
hand, youtube plays okay, better than with most other speakers, though not even
close to ideal compared to blu ray 1080p rips on this same system. But it is
still decent, not great, but worth using as youtube is crap on any system
anyway, and here it isn’t worse than other systems anyway.
The treble
is sweet only when the recording calls for it. It isn’t otherwise, which is
most of the time.
And it is a
bit laidback, to avoid harshness, which may appear dull and unexciting on first
listen, especially with poor mastering. This takes a while getting used to. But
a couple of weeks down, chances are you will adjust to it!
And if you
listen to good quality classical like stuff I guess, then chances are few speakers
in the market would be as good.
Treble
Performance: TS2 > TS3 > TS1 > TS4
All are
good, but the in built DAC is usually on the dull side with my recordings.
Sometimes it is very good with some recordings, and then I prefer to listen
that way for a while. However, I prefer the extra sparkle, liveliness and
lushness of my other setup with these speakers.
The HD 650
setup is livelier, lusher and sweeter despite being darker. So it isn’t just
about tizz of which HD 650 has much less than the neutral champ AVI, since HD
650 are indeed dark headphones.
HD 598 has
more quantity and sparkle than all of the above but not the same naturalness or
realism of any of the above, hence it came last.
VOCALS: The
mids are where it shines
The mids are
the strong part of this speaker system. That is where it shines.
They are not
exaggerated but relatively clear and clean. With no interference or artificial
boost, no extra treble for artificial clarity.
The mids are
natural and real and remain the main highlight even in below par recordings.
It is the
focus of this system and songs with lyrics and movies do well for this reason
with them.
In absolute
terms TS3 is the best, The HD 650. However, I mostly prefer to listen to TS2 because
of the overall performance because I prefer speakers over headphones almost
always.
TS1 is
excellent, and often better than TS2 as well. Often, but not always. It doesn’t
have the same textured realism or naturalness, especially with female vocals.
Male vocals are close in both, but female vocals reach another level with TS2.
TS4 isn’t in the same league but excellent nevertheless.
TONAL
BALANCE: Ruler flat
Very close
to neutral I guess.
Mids are
there, clean and clear, but not artificially pumped up.
The bass is
there, tight and clean, but not in excess.
The treble
is there where called for, but not interfering in every recording, a bit
laidback though so no tizz.
In terms of
neutrality: TS1 > TS2 > TS4 > TS3
In terms of
my taste for enjoying and musicality: TS2 > TS3 > TS1 > TS4
All are good
in their own ways in this particular aspect.
SOUND STAGE:
Huge!
The
soundstage is huge. Excellent performance there. Better than my previous setups
in all dimensions and realism.
TS2 >>
TS1
IMAGING:
Excellent!
The imaging
is the best I have ever heard. Not quite at the same level as headphones, but somewhere
in between. Excellent to achieve for a speaker setup.
I am not
very sure how TS1 and TS2 compare against each other here.
TRANSPARENCY:
Beats HD 650…!
As far as
transparency is concerned it beats the HD 650 as well as HD 598 as well as any
other stereo setup I have heard (though I haven’t heard much anyway, lol). Not
much of a contest. HD 650 is very good and beats the crap out of Aktimates and
Swan speakers in every way. But when you hear AVIs, the HD 650s don’t matter
anymore.
TS1 > TS2
> TS3 > TS4
CLARITY AND
CLEARNESS
AVIs are
clear, clean and not congested compared to other offerings. Better than HD 650
but not always. But preferable to them overall. Of course HD 650 beats the crap
out of most stereo setups and headphones like HD 598 anyway.
TS1 > TS2
> TS3 > TS4
LUSHNESS AND
MUSICALITY: Now…
I prefer
AVIs with my DAC over HD 650s here though the HD 650s are splendid, overall,
they fall short of AVIs with my DAC and the overall experience suffers in some
respect because of that. Partly, because I am a speaker person. The HD 650 have
their advantages too though.
TS2 > TS3
> TS1 > TS4
With TS1 and
TS4 being very different to each other based on the situation.
MY SETUP V/S
The Traditional AVI Setup
AVI
Pros
Cleaner and
faster, slightly
Tighter
bass, more bass
More
transparent
Sometimes
greater articulation in some situations
More
revealing
Cons
Often dull
and boring
Rarely as
exciting
Not as
musical or lush or sweet (unlike even HD 650 which in no way supports tizz
either)
Female
vocals are not at the same level
MY SETUP
Pros
Way more
enormous soundstage in all dimensions, width, height and depth
Better
vocals, both male and female, especially female
Sweeter,
lusher, livelier with more sparkly without being fatiguing at all (neither is
fatiguing)
Sometimes
better articulating depending on the song
Better
treble and vocals, and soundstage
Cons
Bass is
slightly less tight and lesser in quantity
Not as clean
but very close
OVERALL
Both are
excellent. I listen to both, on different occasions. I do prefer my own setup
by a decent shot, but that comes down partly to my personal preference. But
partly to the better soundstage, vocals and treble. Bass is noticeably worse
though.
AVIs V/S HD
650 VS HD 598
Headphones
HD 598 and worse are still a big step up from Aktimates, Swan, Audioengines,
Monitor Audio BX2 etc.
HD 650 are
yet a significant step up with the right equipment.
AVIs are
comparable to HD 650 and often better, especially for a speaker to be so close
in performance to a headphone setup. HD 650s have several advantages over them
but so do the AVIs in turn. I prefer AVIs over HD 650 almost always.
HD 598s
sound slightly distorted and a step below from the above two, so no point
talking about them when you talking of high end stuff.
Previously
my HD 598 had made rendered my Aktimates useless by making them feel distorted.
Hearing HD
650 from HD 598 doesn’t sound a massive leap but a small one.
But once you
are used to AVIs, you can’t use anything worse than HD 650 which just sound
okay and not as good as AVIs, and HD 598s sound like Aktimates felt back then.
So, AVIs
truly compete with headphones. Not at the HD 800 level though.
However, the
sound signature tastes a lot of time getting used to and not everybody would
like it even then. But for those who do, they don’t need to fall for other
stuff after that!
And it isn’t
that you can’t modify the sound to your taste, of course you can, like I did.
At the cost of one mid-hifi setup I actually have 2 setups which are so
different and enjoyable in their own way!
AVIs don’t
stop you from modifying the setup, just like most people never feel the need to…!
