Official AV123/Onix Owners Thread: TECHNICAL TALK ONLY - Page 5

Hmmm... interesting.
Seems one (5 ref's) is geared more towards music and the other is pointed towards theater. Although 5 ref's might lack something in the midbass, that might be made up for by properly set multiple subs.
I'm currently evaluating the 760's with Bigfoot as front sources and ref1's as rears with a 2 ch amp and I immediately need another dedicated amp! Boy do these things love some power! Well, my own fault...
Please tell us what kind of processor/amplifier you are considering and room configuration and that will help the ultimate forgoing discussions.

BTW if you choose one of the rockets, make sure you have plenty of help.
Those things are heavy as SHHIIIIIT!

I am another one with a huge entertainment center and 60" TV in it. It has storage galore for DVDs and other goodies. I have had to put my Bigfoot RSAC200 on top as well. No biggie.. Just tilt it down a good bit and it sounds wonderful and now even better with the ninja upgrade Xover! You won't find a better center for the price anywhere.
Oakie Mike

I'm considering a pair of used RS150s. Since I have no experience with the RS150s, how does this compare this to the Ref 0.5? This will probably be used as mains, 60/40 music/movie. Appreciate any Onix owner input.

If you bought the 450's I doubt you would want to send them back.

You have heard both (Ref 1s and recently RS450s), so which package you suggest from the 2 I posted earlier.

BTW, I connected Ref 1s today and listen to them for the first time since I got them. They do have lot of details. I will give them 2-3 days before doing some critical listening, but they do sound quite good out-of-the-box too.

I took delivery of a UFW-12 in the black piano finish on Thursday. Its incredible finish is truly a work of art. I unpacked it with a friend and have been playing around with it this weekend. I have a bit of ground loop hum but it is no fault of the sub. Damn coaxial cable! I'm in the middle of changing over my HT from big screen to projector anyways so it will be retired for a while soon. I'm glad to hear you think highly of the 450's I originally wanted a 760 package but they sold out. The larger floorstanders were too big so I ordered a pair of 450's for my 12' x 17' HT. I really looked hard at the x series but I figured floorstanders would be easy on the eyes without the bother of stands or mounts. After a few conversations with most of the team at AV123 I also ordered the Bigfoot 200 and the RS300 dipole surrounds. I am really impressed with the customer service the guys at AV123 gave me. I asked many questions via email, phone and pm and they were all answered promptly. I felt like I was probably being a bit of a pain in the ass but I was treated respectfully and professionally at all times. Its good to see and owners thread here. I'll post whenI get my system.

MRL,

If it would not be too much trouble, could you attach some pics of your entertainment center?

Thanks and Regards

I'm not an owner quite yet, but I have pre-ordered a 5.0 x-series system from AV123 as of yesterday. I'm going with the new x-mtm, x-sls, and an x-cs. I didn't realize how big the MTM towers were, held up a tape measure last night and they are bigger than I expected. Should be a good system, looking forward to being an owner.

Mike

I was looking at some of those new x series also they look like a nice loudspeaker. I just bought a 450 Rocket HT setup but I have a lot of rooms in my house LOL. Did you get any idea at all when those MTM and x-sls speakers would be available ?

Chickenmumbo,

By the sounds of it, the new x-series will be shipping in mid-April. I can't say for sure if that will be in all of the finishes or not but I hope they ship my order in a few weeks.

Good pick on the 450 setup, that would be my choice if my budget was a bit higher. At least I'll have a good upgrade path

Mike

Another satisfied Strata Mini/SP3 owner here! A couple of pics of my setup below, but here's what it consists of: (and no, the duck does not jump around)

Strata Minis
SP3 powering the Minis
Csi5 center
Mirage OM10 surrounds
Outlaw monoblocks powering everything else
DUAL SVS PB12 +/2 subs
Yamaha 5990 AVR
Samsunb BDP1000 blu ray player
Denon 2910 SACD/DVDA/CD player
Panasonic 50" plasma
DirecTV HR10-250 DVR

WOW, nice setup. good job!

VERY nice setup!

At the risk of nit picking - is that a table in front of the seating position? I can only assume with the care you have obviously put into setting up the room that when you're doing any critical listening you push that table aside?

wow wow and uuuuuuuuuummmmmmmmm wow Thats all I have to say!!!!

You gotta love the Minis and the best thing is, they sound even better than they look! Great looking setup as well. :-)

Thanks for the nice comments everybody! I thought everybody put the same thought and effort into their listening rooms?! Making the acoustic panels was the biggest part of the job. Bought a couple dozen OC703 panels, framed them in 3/4x3" pine, then wrapped them in fabric (got really good towards the end). In between when that pic was taken and now there is an identical, horizontal panel above/behind the TV and I still need one on the ceiling in front of the seating area. Then I need to make bass traps.

I've moved the table in and out of place but can't discern any difference in sound, to be honest.

Something I found interesting with the Minis is that they energize the room at frequencies my subs don't, I thought I had all of the room rattles/HVAC noises solved until I started using the Minis.

The only further changes I have planned are to buy the matching surrounds and center when they are available. If that takes too long I might get another set of Minis for my surrounds.

Even my wife is going nuts over the Mini/SP3 combo. She often suggests we go listen to music! Never did that before. The Minis really do make simply listening to music and doing nothing else really enjoyable. No other speaker I've had as adult has done that.

Has anyone heard the AV X-CS speakers yet? I am interested in using three of them up front for a friends system. I wonder if they are a better value in both looks, construction and sound to a pair of Polk Monitor 40 with a matching Center channel.


Schwingding, that room of yours is a gallery of both video and audio pleasure. After you and your wife work your rear ends off, it looks more relaxing to enjoy the fruits of your labor there at your leisure instead of running around trying to reeeelaaaaxxxxx.

When your wife agrees that it both looks and sounds great, then you hit the grandslam. What is a national disgrace is what people are willing to put up with for sound quality. One listen and your friends must wonder why they have shortchanged themselves so much.

PKinSFLA

Question for the X-LS / X-CS owners:

Is anyone using these in a near-field setup? I sent off an email to Mark earlier about the suitability of using the X-LS for PC listening but I've been doing some more looking around and it seems like a pair of X-CS might actually be a better choice due to the sealed design. The 20" tall speakers might look a little silly next to the 15" tall widescreen, but oh well

Also I know this isn't supposed to be a comparison thread, but has anyone upgraded from Athena to Onix and had positive/negative impressions? You can PM comments if you'd rather not say here.

I listen to my X-LS nearfield. They're fantastic. Bass response and stereo imaging is great.

Thanks Mike!

Ordered a pair of X-LS in piano rosewood today after getting some helpful feedback from mls and a few others. If all goes well they should ship on the 15th!

Now to play the "waiting patiently" game...

Today I order the Rocket RS760's B-Stock today!!! Got them for $1100.

Pair of XLS-1 on a pair of matching X-Subs. Driven by 12w 211 SET amps, if you can believe that. Last picture, Danny Richie himself getting his listen on (middle chair, blue shirt).

Photos from the last Lonestar Bottlehead meet at my house.

Cheers,
Russ

I am assisting a coworker of mine in setting up a nice plasma HT set up in his home. Three AV123 X-cs were ordered with the idea of a seemless front end. One choice for fronts were Polk monitor 40s with a matchcing center channel. When people ask how an ID company can compete with a B/M company in something like speakers, I offer the following.

The B/M companies are getting so bad that they have lowered the bar so much that any business they lose is their own fault. going to a few CC stores found it impossible to hear the Polks as they had them either set up as surrounds or not at all. A critical site like this can offer a lot of info and comments which can carry more weight in making decisions.

The AV123 X-CS seem to have very solid cabinet construction and a price/value ratio which
makes them very competitive with many bookshelf designs. At 33 lbs, it is not a cheap and flimsy box one step above cardboard.

When the speakers arrive and are hooked up we will see and hear if the AV 123 reputaton is well deserved. If they stink you will hear it from me and if they shine you will hear it as well. THe current price with their moving sale and shipping came out pretty fair.

This brings up the only question I would raise with the owner of the company. Since it costs the same to ship a similar size and weight speaker, the price per speaker does make a difference for consumers.

In other words. if I choose a $1,000 dollar speaker or a $139 X-CS, the cost for shipping is the same if they weigh the same. Doesn't it make more sense to price the $139 speaker at $169 and include shipping? When shipping becomes a 20% added cost vs a 3 % added cost, the cheaper speaker can lose luster. From everything I have read about the AV123 X-CS, it is a tremendous value and sonic wonder for people.

Mr. Schifter, some people have written that the grille cover pins have broken on some of the X-CS shippments. Has that been addressed in packaging? Also, is each speaker tested thoroughly before shipping to purchasers to assure high Q/C?



PKinSFLA

Just joined the club. My 850s and 300s should be here Monday with my 200 being sent when they get the new batch in around the 23rd.

Woohoo!

BTW, I have this feeling I went overboard on the mains. My room is 13x22x9, not large by any means. I just didn't want to have any doubts.

Not at all!

I got the Strata Minis in a 12x11x8 room!

Please don't let my wife hear that, I'm seriously looking at the Ref 3 for my theater room which is only 19x14x8. But I have no good sense I'm also replacing my sub from the Velo fls15 to the submersive or bmf1, obviously I like sound that kicks you in the chest.

Hi guys, not an owner yet but am on the fence. Was thinking about purchasing the Memorial Day Special Sale:
1 Pair Strata Mini
1 Single Ref 100
1 Pair Ref 1LE
All in Rosewood

Anyone have this setup and would be willing to provide some feedback?

For $2999 plus free shipping I may find this hard to pass up.

Thanks in advance!

For reference I have been auditioning Focals and B&W so far. I have not heard the above speakers yet so would need some input from those that have them.

I was thinking of trying the X-LS & X-CS combo for my fronts & center. My ceiling was prewired for in-ceiling speakers. Any recommendations on in-celings that may match? Someone mentioned GR Research (I think that's the name) but they seem like components or something I need to put together.

I only have the Minis and you can look up my review in this forum...in a word, I love them. They are amazing for music and for HT...lets say I find it harder everyday NOT to use them for HT as they are great for that as well.
The deal is really good cause shipping alone is a lot so if I were you and had the money, I would jump on it.
Also, try posting at av123 forum for other members opinions.

Regards