Avalon Eidolon or Parsifal Encore

I never said I like the Avalon's better - I heard Avalon Radian HC's a long time ago and liked them a lot (with MIT / Spectral) so I'm intruiged by the idea of giving Avalon a try in my system. This is exactly how I ended up with the Parsifals, and before that Revel Studio's. Heard them in some showroom, liked them and tried them at home.

But I would never sell the Parsifals without first doing an in house shoot out and finding I prefer the Eidolons. The question is, should I even bother to try to buy the Eidolon's cheap on auction allowing me to do this expiriment. The consensus appears to be that it would be a lateral move at best so I should not waste my time and money. Considering this, I will probably refrain from bidding on the pair currently on auction.

As for ancillaries, I will not use tubes for poweramps because of reliability issues. Besides, my class A monos are stellar. Also quite happy with Transparent cabling. I use PS audio AC-12 for powercords with great succes.

Thanks everyone, this has been extremely helpful.

Tom, I was just about to report I'll pass on the Eidolon's but now you got me thinking again - especially since like you the Avalon that really impressed me were Radian HC's 15 years ago.

If I pick up the listed Avalon's cheap my financial exposure is limited (I can easily resell my P/E for what I have into them), but I quite dread the logistics. I'll chew on it and make up my mind Sunday. I may just give them a try (unless I get outbid of course).

I do need to update my system page. I am now using the Modwright 36.5 LS/PS 2 chassis preamp, and upgraded my powerplant premier to 2x Powerplant P5, and I put the new Stillpoint ultras under my P/E and center channel.

OK guys, you convinced me. I will roll the dice and put in a bid on the Eidolon's. If I get them I'll report shoot out results in a few weeks time.

They fetched $9,300. More than I was willing to pay. Too bad, shootout will have to wait...

The shootout will happen after all. Just agreed to buy a pair of used Eidolon Visions.

Gigi, The Parsifals work very well at low playing levels, and I will soon be able to tell how they compare to the eidolon visions. I will either have a pair of parsifals or eidolons to sell shortly (cheap!) so stay tuned.

To me the 5A's our out of contention after having heard them recently (Prefered my parsifals by far). Also, if consider the vandersteen route you should get the 5a carbon's.

Eidolons will be delivered tomorrow. First impressions will be reported before the week-end. In depth shoot-out over the week-end.

First impressions right out of the box - Positioned in the same place as my Verities.

Damn these things are BIG in comparison with the Verities! But absolutely gorgeous. I could live wiht these as a piece of furniture.

Sonics positive:
The Eidolons throw a larger and more holographic image
The timbre of instrumens appears more natural on the Eidolons
There is more "note decay" and air around instruments on the Eidolons
The Eidolons sound more dynamic

Sonics negative:
These speakers are far more unforgiving than the Parsifals. Distortions on some old favorite 70s live recording are ruthlessly exposed, and sound more harsh than on the Parsifals. So do some high notes on brass instruments that are not played perfectly.

I can see these speakers are very sensitive to anxillary equipment. Note that I am playing them with Bel Canto Ref1000m. My Class A monoblocks have been in the shop for months. I got tired of waiting, so I bought the Bel Canto's as a temporary replacement. Very interested to hear what these speakers do with the class A's. I can also imagine these work very well with tubes.

Unexpected bonus points:
I played a multi channel DVD-A (another stoney evening - Crosby & Nash) and found the Eidolons integrate far better with my Kef 204c Center channel. This is a big plus since I have 100+ Multi Channel SACD's that I listen to quite a bit.

I also think I will prefer to play these speakers without my two JL 113s subs - which can then be relegated to LFE channel only duties. I may even sell one. Need a bit more experimenting to decide on that.

Botton line: very unlikely more listening will change initial impression. The Eidolons are keepers - look for Parsifals on Audiogon for sale shortly.

Few more quick observations.

Eidolon has very clear and fast bass. Shines on Jazz ensemble music - very musical basslines.

Lots of depth and great layering of instuments on large orchestral music.

Still some harshness in the treble in particular on old recordings - I suspect this is simply what is on the track.

Nonetheless, the treble is the only area I slighlty prefer the Verities over the Eidolons (may be this is why they build the Diamond). I think my class A's will sound more "liquid" in the highs than the class D's I am using now though. Reluctant to address the issue with high powered tubse because of reliability issues (I blew up a Graaf GM200 OTL amp once and have become a bit gunshy since).

Vocals used to come more pinpoint from the center with the Verities, and seem to be floating in space a but more with the Eidolons (help me out here - is this called "imaging"). I have not done any expirimentation with speaker postioning which I suspect may be the issue here.

First impresssions on playing them with the JL113 two subs (Eidolons at full range subs crossed over at 30Hz) is the subs will probably stay in the stereo system. No discrernable negative impact (i.e. no muddling of the bass) and a tad more foundation (I use Stevie Ray Vaughan's "Tin Pay Alley" from "could not stand the wheather" to test this).

I am not planning to use a cross-over network in the main signal path - I run the Eidolons at full range. I just use a low pass filter for the subs.

I also have a Rives Parc analog bass EQ unit that is designed go into the mains signal path and apply EQ in the 30-350 range. I have not been using this yet since I think it will indeed leave a signature on the Eidolons. I may play around with it first, but in the absence of major room modes that need to be EQ'ed I will probably end up selling it.

I am also wondering if anyone has used any vibration controlling devices under the Eidolons. I currently use Stillpoints on inverted risers under my subs, and have been using stillpoint ultras under my verities (and center channel). To use the stillpoint ultras under the eidolons I would need to put a threaded insert in - which involves drilling holes. Not sure it is worth it. Any experience?