[gtpsuper24]

The new Arx A5 towers was just added to the Arx lineup.

http://www.theaudioinsider.com/product_info.php?p=arx-a5-floorstanding-loudspeaker&products_id=216&


Looks like it might be one of the best bang for the buck tower speakers out there. A 3 way tower using planar ribbons, light curvilinear doped cellulose cone with alloy phase plug and cast alloy basket, and 3 XBL2/ Splitgap long throw woofers.

 

[its phillip]

They look pretty good to me. The baseplate or whatever they are on looks dumb though.

 

[Reefdvr27]

I think the guy on a budget looking for a pair of towers should look no further. Allot of speaker for the money.

 

[csgamer]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Reefdvr27  /t/1421120/new-arx-a5-towers#post_22236556


I think the guy on a budget looking for a pair of towers should look no further. Allot of speaker for the money.

The average guy will shy away from these since I don't think there are any professional reviews or measurements available for these speakers. Most don't have money to blow on returning bunch of speakers after trying out at home. Shipping costs add up and then could have used the money to buy a better speaker in the first place.


Most would try one or two brands after narrowing down our selection based on hearing in-store, professional reviews and/or user reviews. If I was the manufacturer and believed in my product, I would want these reviewed right away to get more credibility.. That is if I cared at all about increasing revenue.

 

[vraxoin]



Quote:
Originally Posted by its phillip  /t/1421120/new-arx-a5-towers/0_50#post_22236126


They look pretty good to me. The baseplate or whatever they are on looks dumb though.

I like the simplicity and solidity of it. Much better than many of the cheap plastic feet/bases that end up on budget speakers.

 

[DualMono]



Quote:
Originally Posted by its phillip  /t/1421120/new-arx-a5-towers#post_22236126


They look pretty good to me. The baseplate or whatever they are on looks dumb though.

The base plate is removable.

 

[DualMono]



Quote:
Originally Posted by csgamer  /t/1421120/new-arx-a5-towers#post_22237183

Quote:
Originally Posted by Reefdvr27  /t/1421120/new-arx-a5-towers#post_22236556


I think the guy on a budget looking for a pair of towers should look no further. Allot of speaker for the money.

The average guy will shy away from these since I don't think there are any professional reviews or measurements available for these speakers. Most don't have money to blow on returning bunch of speakers after trying out at home. Shipping costs add up and then could have used the money to buy a better speaker in the first place.


Most would try one or two brands after narrowing down our selection based on hearing in-store, professional reviews and/or user reviews. If I was the manufacturer and believed in my product, I would want these reviewed right away to get more credibility.. That is if I cared at all about increasing revenue.

The Arx has the potential to be a better performer and offer more value than the typical big box offerings. Worth a look.

 

[gtpsuper24]



Quote:
Originally Posted by csgamer  /t/1421120/new-arx-a5-towers#post_22237183


The average guy will shy away from these since I don't think there are any professional reviews or measurements available for these speakers. Most don't have money to blow on returning bunch of speakers after trying out at home. Shipping costs add up and then could have used the money to buy a better speaker in the first place.

Most would try one or two brands after narrowing down our selection based on hearing in-store, professional reviews and/or user reviews. If I was the manufacturer and believed in my product, I would want these reviewed right away to get more credibility.. That is if I cared at all about increasing revenue.

Well theres plenty of happy Arx owners that are more than pleased with their Arx purchase. I value AVSers options on speakers, subs, receivers ect... more so than a pro reviewer or a line on a piece of paper. I bought a brand that was hype and praised countless number of times on a pro review website and now its been a total 180 and now they don't mention anything positive of them. One minute its the greatest thing ever and the next its countless threads/posts about how god awful they are and how the designers are stupid for doing this or that.


If you get the chance Jon Lane wrote up a nice post earlier today about where they stand on the whole measurement debate. Post #13. http://www.theaudioinsider.com/forum/showthread.php?1636-Announcing-the-New-Arx-A1b-arriving-the-first-week-in-August-2012!/page2

 

[Jay1]

These look like a great deal. I cant understand Jon Lane's comments on measurements though. There is WAY to much BS in hi-fi audio to take any manufacturers or users word about anything.... A few simple measurements is all the evidence you need to prove your product (that no one can listen to before buying) is competently designed. Simple as that.

 

[csgamer]

I'm not saying these don't have potential, these could be outstanding bang for your buck, who knows.


The way I see it, internet direct is at a disadvantage, by providing more information, customers feel more confident in their purchase. Some don't care for pro reviews, but others do.

 

[BufordTJustice]



Quote:
Originally Posted by csgamer  /t/1421120/new-arx-a5-towers#post_22237691


I'm not saying these don't have potential, these could be outstanding bang for your buck, who knows.

The way I see it, internet direct is at a disadvantage, by providing more information, customers feel more confident in their purchase. Some don't care for pro reviews, but others do.

I agree....the only downside to Internet Direct. A downside that has not prevented it from being the fastest growing segment of audio-related sales for the last several years running.


As I am the only other person besides Jon lane who has heard the prototype pairs (I am in possession of the other 'mirror' pair), I can verify that I have auditioned several like-priced speakers in friend's houses and I am not aware of another speaker that crams drivers and crossover components of this quality into a box that is under a grand. Their refinement belies their price.


See my review here:

http://www.theaudioinsider.com/forum/showthread.php?1640-Arx-A5-Evaluation


However, the proof is in the pudding. I know there are several members of AVS who are in on the group buy. I'm excited to hear what they have to say once they get the A5's into their living rooms. I don't have the equipment to properly measure them, but I'm sure somebody does and it's only a matter of time before somebody gets some baselines put down on paper.

 

[JEFFREY GTS]

Will these play full range without a sub? I am in desperate need of some new towers but I want them to put out plenty of clean bass output.

 

[alphaiii]

ID is tough for consumers and manufacturers because of the lack of ability to audition without costs involved... Either a company offers no-risk trials and has to build shipping costs both ways into the pricing, and the consumer pays more.... Or, shipping is tacked on, and the consumer pays for that. I think many people see the free shipping both ways as really being free, so if they are ok with the price of the product, it's more enticing.


While I'd love to hear the A5, and other ARX speakers, I can't justify blindly buying knowing that I'm out shipping both ways if I don't like them for some reason. I am fully aware that the prices would be higher if Jon Lane/TAI offered free shipping and no-risk trials... so there is a cost either way.


While everyone has their own opinion on the matter - I for one would appreciate measurements as a starting point to guage my interest in buying something that does come with the risk of substantial shipping fees if it's not to my liking. Of course, even with measurements, there's no way to know for sure without auditioning them, prefereably in my own room.... But again, it provides a starting point, especially when someone has auditioned a number of speakers with published 3rd party measurements available, knows how the speakers that were liked/disliked measure and sound, and can compare that to the measurements of the unheard speaker being considered.

 

[csgamer]

I don't like free shipping both ways, that would drive up the cost of the speakers. So instead of $799 for the pair, they might be $899. In this price range, cost matters a lot.


So since free shipping sucks, it would be best to provide the customer with the most information so they can make a better decision. But it's still early, these are not even out yet. It will be interesting to see some more user reviews at least.

 

[BufordTJustice]



Quote:
Originally Posted by JEFFREY GTS  /t/1421120/new-arx-a5-towers#post_22238917


Will these play full range without a sub? I am in desperate need of some new towers but I want them to put out plenty of clean bass output.

Yes, I run them full range for HT and stereo use. I also have a sub (eD A7s-450 w/ the eQ.2), which they work very well with. The XBL2 motors on these drivers have about 9-11mm of linear one-way Xmax. The Xmech (limit of the suspension travel) is higher than that. They operate more like larger drivers; they move a lot of air.

 

[Ryansboston]

I am in no way affiliated with Arx/ Jon Lane/ Audio Insider other than being a past repeat customer of Audioinsider.com (Through purchasing a Swan D1080mk2 desktop set of speakers, Dana 630i set of speakers, and becoming an Audioinsider forum member due to questions I had about the A5group buy) and am in the first group buy of the Arx A5 towers. I pledge to do my best to provide an unbiased and 100% honest review/thoughts of the speakers when I receive them in August.


-Ryan... a.k.a. ryansboston in AVS, AudionInsider, and other audio forums.

 

[JEFFREY GTS]



Quote:
Originally Posted by BufordTJustice  /t/1421120/new-arx-a5-towers#post_22239635


Yes, I run them full range for HT and stereo use. I also have a sub (eD A7s-450 w/ the eQ.2), which they work very well with. The XBL2 motors on these drivers have about 9-11mm of linear one-way Xmax. The Xmech (limit of the suspension travel) is higher than that. They operate more like larger drivers; they move a lot of air.

What do they play down to? I noticed that the specs say 45HZ-22KHZ but then the Cutoff says 37HZ. What does that mean? Do they go down to 37HZ? I had av123 Rocket RS-450's before and was pretty impressed with the bass output, how will the A5's compare?

 

[gtpsuper24]



Quote:
Originally Posted by JEFFREY GTS  /t/1421120/new-arx-a5-towers#post_22241198


What do they play down to? I noticed that the specs say 45HZ-22KHZ but then the Cutoff says 37HZ. What does that mean? Do they go down to 37HZ? I had av123 Rocket RS-450's before and was pretty impressed with the bass output, how will the A5's compare?

The spec page lists 37hrz at -6db and 45hrz at +/- 3db. Output below 45hrz will start to really drop off volume wise. I think as long as you don't expect SVS subwoofer bass then you'll be pleased with the bass coming from the A5s, from what I've read from Buford. I've been very impressed by the bass from the A2 LCRs and the A5 has and extra woofer plus they don't have to do much except for the midbass/bass.

 

[RicardoJoa]

down -3 db at 45hz, -6 db at 37 but will have a sharp roll by their meaning of cutoff.

 

[gtpsuper24]

Yeah the A5 is a 3 way, A3 tower is a 2.5.