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Choice: Avantgarde Duo Omega or JBL K2 s9800


Am now able to get both of these speakers at abt the same price albeit both in demo condition.

Am now using a pair of Vandersteen 2CE Sig2 and Harbeth M30 and really wanting to try the other end of the spectrum. Heard the Quad ESL which may not be the ones for me where now decide to go the way of the horns.

A/B audition is not possible where i am attracted to JBL K2 s9800 primarily becos its (correct me if i m wrong) a mix of HORN and monitor (best of both worlds?) and also being the 2nd highest in teh line of JBL. Wld tis not make a more sound/safe investment? Same time not really sure of its dynamics as compared to the avantgarde ....

i want to stay with my BAT pre/power (vk32/vk55) ....

any comments welcomed!!!
art80342

Showing 3 responses by atmasphere

atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,567 posts
 
Art80342, this one is easy: go with the JBL! The K2 is an excellent speaker well beyond the Duo, though less efficient. You will have plenty of power though.
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,567 posts
 
Art80342, I spent about a week listening to the K2, in a very controlled environment. My opinon comes from listening to both speakers, both with amps that I know and also those that I do not.

Either way, the K2 is an easier setup (it can be close to the rear wall), with greater coherence between the bass and the rest of the speaker (not surprising since the woofer is driven by the same amp that the midrange is). I found the speaker very easy to drive for 'only 93 db'. I think JBL is being conservative. The impedance curve is also easy for lower-powered tube amps. I found 60 watts to be nearly impossible to clip- literally so loud earplugs were required.
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,567 posts
 
Triode, what is important about that is that the speaker does not have to be out in the room to image well.
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