Horns & SET amps

Welcome to HFV. In just the two minute video below, I could sense the freedom and dynamics of the Avantgarde Duo Mezzo, listening to them, here :



The Germans produce some fine audio equipment !!!

One of the three best loudspeakers, ever produced in history of audio IMHO, was pre-WW2 Klangfilm.

Today the Germans make a MBL Radialstrayler, which to my ear, at shows, is totally superb. A fantastic and lovely lady - a WW2 survivor, runs the company. With MBL Solid State amps, their system costs about a million USD !!

In the above video, their amp used appears to be just a two stage amp - as I only saw two tubes. I wonder if amps in that video are configured, as two stages and Directly Coupled ( my favorite topology ) ??

How big is your room? Welcome again. Since you are in Mumbai, I would love to have Hari Iyer hear your system, if it is ever possible. He is developing a unique DIY pair of amps that you both might want to evaluate full-range on your speakers, zero NFB, SE DC KT88. Amps were designed on and for ALTEC VOTT A7-8 speakers.

Hari did use 300Bs previously. I'd love to know what you guys think, as it is partially my design and Hari's are the only so-made examples, in all of India and Europe.

Jeff
 
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Welcome to HFV. In just the two minute video below, I could sense the freedom and dynamics of the Avantgarde Duo Mezzo, listening to them, here :



The Germans produce some fine audio equipment !!!

One of the three best loudspeakers, ever produced in history of audio IMHO, was pre-WW2 Klangfilm.

Today the Germans make a MBL Radialstrayler, which to my ear, at shows, is totally superb. A fantastic and lovely lady - a WW2 survivor, runs the company. With MBL Solid State amps, their system costs about a million USD !!

In the above video, their amp used appears to be just a two stage amp - as I only saw two tubes. I wonder if amps in that video are configured, as two stages and Directly Coupled ( my favorite topology ) ??

How big is your room? Welcome again. Since you are in Mumbai, I would love to have Hari Iyer hear your system, if it is ever possible. He is developing a unique DIY pair of amps that you both might want to evaluate full-range on your speakers, zero NFB, SE DC KT88. Amps were designed on and for ALTEC VOTT A7-8 speakers.

Hari did use 300Bs previously. I'd love to know what you guys think, as it is partially my design and Hari's are the only so-made examples, in all of India and Europe.

Jeff
My fieldcoil driver is a klangfilm version.
 
Avantgarde Duo Mezzo, Audionote (Canada) 300B Triod monoblocks made out of kits, Cary SLP05 pre, Border Patrol Dac, Marantz SA10 CD player as transport.
if possible do post a picture of your setup. I have only heard the older AG Duos where it needed placement expertise to get the bass and midrange in coherence . I heard that have overcome than in the newer ranges.
 
Avantgarde Duo Mezzo, Audionote (Canada) 300B Triod monoblocks made out of kits, Cary SLP05 pre, Border Patrol Dac, Marantz SA10 CD player as transport.
Welcome JJM. Those are some fascinating set of components. It would be nice to hear about your audio journey. About your musical preferences and how you reached this point of horn speakers and SET tube amps.

Avangarde is a high-end speaker brand with a heavy price tag. I'm sure it is good. I guess the other option is to try the vintage route. The Altec, Western Electric, Klangfilm and the like. Companies like Admire Audio are combining those vintage methodologies with modern drivers.
 
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Welcome JJM. Those are some fascinating set of components. It would be nice to hear about your audio journey. About your musical preferences and how you reached this point of horn speakers and SET tube amps.

Avangarde is a high-end speaker brand with a heavy price tag. I'm sure it is good. I guess the other option is to try the vintage route. The Altec, Western Electric, Klangfilm and the like. Companies like Admire Audio are combining those vintage methodologies with modern drivers.

Thank you for pointing out this start-up speaker company, Admire Audio. 'Never heard of them. Fun to see.

When we peruse their web site, we see they chose to have us connect to their ( possibly costly ) speaker design with " six female banana plugs. " What does this " tell us " who would consider such a speaker, and who are serious about maintaining full audio performance and high signal transfer efficiency?

Banana plugs truly disturb me.

It certainly leads me to wonder, what else have our good friends from Spain elected to do, unseen, inside their offerings for us ? They even mention their hook-up design on their web pages - as though it is a positive. ' Will have to give it a listen to be fair.
 
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Thank you for pointing out this start-up speaker company, Admire Audio. 'Never heard of them. Fun to see.

When we peruse their web site, we see they chose to have us connect to their ( possibly costly ) speaker design with " six female banana plugs. " What does this " tell us " who would consider such a speaker, and who are serious about maintaining full audio performance and high signal transfer efficiency?

Banana plugs truly disturb me.

It certainly leads me to wonder, what else have our good friends from Spain elected to do, unseen, inside their offerings for us ? They even mention their hook-up design on their web pages - as though it is a positive. ' Will have to give it a listen to be fair.
Sure, a listen would give a better idea. Their re-interpretation of the vintage Western Electric design is intriguing. I haven't checked in detail about the banana plugs or the drivers. I have seen few DIY projects with these type of similar horn/cabinet design. Quite fascinating.

Talking about re-interpretation, you might also have heard about a chap named, Devon Turnbull. He is passionate about the yesteryear Western Electric and Altec speakers and working out to bring those to the modern day audience, even non-audiophiles

 
Yeah, Devon gets a lot of press coverage. Why ?? It all seems to be for his benefit to sell something, and not for mine to learn how to build my own home hi fi, a Horns + SET system, up to a higher performing level.

I really don't care who it is that is discussing audio. If I can learn how to improve things, to obtain higher playback realism, I will listen intently and happily follow, even if it was Donald Duck or Mickey Mouse. :)

I'd like to hear new FM, JJM's own story, as to how he arrived where he has with Avantgarde's, and what tips he has found to be helpful. eg : Indian Ears' questions, excellent !!


I have been thinking of discussing my last eight years with ALTEC, and what I found - set-up tips to get them to really GO well.

Jeff
 
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A beautiful, well-constructed speaker with class-leading soundstage, imaging and bass that is fast, deep, and precise.
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