Just found this today (7/13) on the av123 forum:

Summer Sale Ends on Tuesday!

Good afternoon,

The Summer Sale ends Tuesday morning, July 15 at 8 AM Mountain Time. All the prices will go back up at this time.

You can order by phone all day tomorrow, or over the web 24 hours a day.

http://av123forum.com/showthread.php?t=34428





I'm looking to get a 5.1 set-up for my brother who lives in Pittsburgh. I though I had a few more weeks, and was going to ask if there were any good places to go and audition, etc.

But with the AV123 speaker sale ending, I am wondering if I should "just do it".

His room is about 20 x 15. He's going with an Onkyo 606.

His budget is around $1000 for speakers(5.1 system).

I have been looking at the new encore speakers series (among many others), but it looks like these prices are hard to beat. That is at least until Tuesday.

Any thoughts on which set-up would be best?

AV123 (4 Monitor system)
Front:x-ls encore Monitor -$199
Rear:x-ls encore Monitor - $199
Center: x-cs encore Center - $129
x-sub Subwoofer - $159

total $689+ shipping



AV123 (4 Mid-Tower system)
Front: x-sls encore Mid-Tower $299
Rear: x-sls encore Mid-Tower $299
Center: x-cs encore Center - $129
x-sub Subwoofer - $159

Total $886.00+shipping



AV 123 (Tower/monitor System)
Front: x-mtm encore Tower - $399
Rear: x-ls encore Monitor -$199
Center: x-cs encore Center - $129
x-sub Subwoofer - $159

Total $886.00+shipping


Is the x-sub okay or should I go with something like the Acoustech H-100 for $250.

So what's the verdict?

With their new return policy, there really is no risk to try them out to see if you like them. Worst case is you have to box them up and have them pick up from your place. With the weak dollar and the price increase, I am not sure you are going to get a great bargain again from AV123 for their x series. When I was confronted with that situation last year, I took my chances and that was before the full refund including shipping if I wasn't happy. You can't really lose to try them out. X-sub is great for the money.

I am not sure if this is much of a sale. For example the sale price of the Rocket 850 is 40% higher than the sale price around last Christmas. I know inflation has not been 40% over the last 8 months. This is especially the case for those outside the U.S. where the free shipping doesn't apply.

I believe the OP is referring to the X-series summer sales:
http://av123forum.com/showthread.php?t=33869

These are good prices, IMHO.

I believe the OP is referring to the X-series summer sales:
http://av123forum.com/showthread.php?t=33869

These are good prices, IMHO.

Sorry I should have noticed that.

Forgot to add shipping costs(which will depend on what models I finally order), but it looks the price is only going to go up.

Does any one know how often AV123 has these sales??

A year ago they had the previous generation (non-encore). The x-ls was $219, the new encore version in moho finish is on sale for $219. The x-cs was $139, the new encore version in moho is on sale $149.

So you are effectively getting better speakers (new tweeter) at a higher cost, since I assume that they also had x-series sales last year. I am also not sure whether they had free shipping last year or not.

Overall, a good sale (considering what the greenback has done in the last 12 months), but not outstanding sale. But who knows how long you will have to wait for one of those.

Added --- I can't shake the feeling that the current wood/finish on the encores are lower quality than on the previous generation. Maybe it is not, but it looks cheaper.

Does any one know how often AV123 has these sales??

There is usually a sale once or twice a year, but this is a pretty big chunk taken off an already low-priced speaker. I'm not sure if another sale will give you so much off the x-series. They really vary on which speakers you can save on.

I just sold off my set of x-series and have only some Athena's to hold me over until my Salk's get to me. I MISS THE CRAP OUT OF THE X-SERIES RIGHT NOW. I can't even listen to the other speakers. For the original price, you would be hard pressed to find a better deal. So with this sale you are golden!

If you are looking for a budget system and have the space for these speakers, I can't imagine passing them up.

I would say absolutely the X Encore is a steal at $199 a pair. Worst case (impossible to imagine) you would be able to return them at no charge.

On the other hand I would not get the X-sub - simply put for that sized room the X-sub will not give you the boom. You want earth shaking bass for HT. At least, I do. :D

I would probably pull the trigger these right now if it were not for the uncertainty of the wait time. The x-ls encores seem to favorably compare to other speakers in their pre-sale price range.

Do it. I'd do it for everything from building a new house, a new car, to anything. At the rate oil is going and the ever climbing demand for steel globally, everything is only going to go up. Of course you need to take into account your current budget as well.

Since he lives in an apartment, I am wondering if he could get by with out a sub for now, and add it later when he moves to a bigger place, or if he decides he really needs one.


If I use the x-sls encore Mid-Tower (45db) as fronts would this get him by for now?
Or do these really need to have a sub? What about the x-mtm encore Tower ? Can that stand alone or does it need a sub?


Another idea I was thinking about was matching all 3 fronts(L/C/R) using 3 center speakers.

The x-cs encore Center (65db) would definitely need a sub, but it has 2 (6.5in) woofers in it. Which would be 6 across the front.
http://**********/component/page,shop.product_details/flypage,shop.flypage/product_id,174/category_id,21/manufacturer_id,0/option,com_virtuemart/Itemid,37/

Would there be any problem mounting the center horizontally, and the L/R speakers vertically?

If he goes for the x-ls encore Monitor as fronts he is also subwoofer bound.


Many possibilities....little time..

Thanks for the input.

Added --- I can't shake the feeling that the current wood/finish on the encores are lower quality than on the previous generation. Maybe it is not, but it looks cheaper.

Try shaking a few more times. :)

I previously owned Classics and currently have Encores in my office, and the quality of the cabinet/finish has not gone down. They are beauties in person and that might be an understatement. I personally feel the quality has home up a bit as Cali has had some time to get comfortable making them. IMHO of course.

carolinablues, if you want some opinions on "is sub necessary" you've got to tell us how your brother will use speakers. Mostly music then I would say you can skip the sub for now, and go for x-sls fronts (L&R) and x-cs center. x-ls for surrounds. If there will be any significant HT use at all the I would include an x-sub. x-ls or x-sls or x-cs for fronts w/x-cs center. x-mtm has gotten the least love of any of the x stuff - I'd avoid that one given the other choices. I'd even skip surrounds (or add something really cheap) for now if the money doesn't work with a sub.

As far as "how good is this sale?" - it is the best sale on x series stuff ever. av123 had only had prices this low on B-stock, iirc. This sales is A stock, and with the new zero risk return policy.

In terms of finish, the quality w/x series stuff is pretty much unmatched in price class.

Sorry to sound so fan-boyish, but I really think with this sale that the decision is an easy one. At "normal" prices the x stuff was a pretty strong value. The sale is just goofy-good.

"x-mtm has gotten the least love of any of the x stuff - I'd avoid that one given the other choices."

Interesting. I was actually leaning toward this:
Front - x-mtm (tower)
surround - x-sls (mid-tower)
center - X-cs (center)

With no sub (for now). this is going to be a multipurpose system. He's probably not going to be watching a ton of movies. The sale for the sub is only $50 off, so if he decides he wants more bass, he can upgrade then.

The reason I was leaning toward the x-mtm, is because it looks like it is a little better match for the center channel (both have 2 woffers, and both have 90.5 sensitivity)

Any one else has thoughts on the mtm's as fronts?

My friend has x-MTM's for front and rear surrounds with an x-CS for the center. I really like how they sound. We had a couple of demos a few weeks ago for some other guys that wanted to hear av123 speakers and subs. We listened to several DVD-Audio tracks. All five channels matched seamlessly and provided incredible immersion. Some of the DVD-Audio tracks were from AIX Records (http://www.aixrecords.com/) and these have a "stage" mix. They put you right in the midst of the musicians and a these speakers really made everything blend properly.


I also listened for over an hour to a pair in my own house. They were a little large for my room, but I was very impressed with their soundstage, clarity, and impact. I decided to get the new ELT525 towers due to my room size.

His room is about 15x20. Do you think the x-MTMs are too big for this room?

bump

The x-MTMs were only too big in my room due to furniture locations, etc. They should be perfect in a 15 x 20 room. That is similar in size to my friend's room.

Well I placed the order. I want to that everyone for the feedback.

I went with:
Front: x-mtm encore (Towers)
Surround:x-ls encore (Monitors)
Center:x-cs encore (Center)

total $897 (including $170 shipping charge).

No sub for now. This is his first stereo system, so I'm sure he'll enjoy it. The plan is to get him a sub when he goes to a bigger place, or if he misses the bass we can pick one up anytime.

I can't wait to hear this system myself. I won't be up there until September.

Ps. If it was my own system, I probaly would have got the x-cs across the front (with a sub), but bro wanted floorstanders.

It's bad you know....

I just couldn't wait until september to hear these av123s. So I just ordered a pair of x-ls encores (Moho Satin) for myself. Can't wait to give them a listen.

http://**********/component/page,shop.product_details/flypage,shop.flypage/product_id,172/option,com_virtuemart/Itemid,37/

I am actally loving my new Kef iQ3s I ordered 3 weeks ago. But, curiosity got the best of me here.

Now, I have too many speakers. Actually, I've had too many speakers for years. Just ask the wife!!!!!

...Another idea I was thinking about was matching all 3 fronts(L/C/R) using 3 center speakers....

That is what I did. Just bought 3 x-cs's in SB for the front. Just got in before the end of the sale. Wondering how long it will take to get them, as they showed ETA TBD when I ordered them.