avalon ascent to avalon eidolon

Hi Shubertmaniac, I would like to make some comments about your post. To my ear the Eidolon is remarkably transparent. Before owning both the Radian HC and Eidolons, I had ML CLS2z and the Quad USA 63. Some would argue that within its range the CLS is the most trasparent speaker ever. The Eidolon IMO is every bit as transparent except for in the mid-bass. As with most things in life there are tradeoffs, and decisions to be made. Dynamic woofers give you the extension, weight, punch and authority in the bottom octaves, while panel speakers do have the speed. I guess everyone has to decide for themseleves what gives them the illusion of reality best. I think what you might be confusing for transparency, is that panel speakers breathe. The fact that you mention the magical soundstage you heard when you listened to the Eidolon can attest to its remarable resolution and trasparency. The better component will always give you greater insight into the recording venue along with more palpable images within the soundstage. While the Eidolon is expensive for most of us, compared to some other speakers that I've heard that were much more expensive, I think they are a bargin. As always no two people hear it the same and we all have to decide what sonic virtues are most important to us. Thanks, Tom

I never considered transparency and soundstaging to be the
same. I never considered high resolution either to be confused with transparency. It is like being in a concert hall and the first notes float from the stage to your ears.
You are so taken aback by the sound by the way it wavers
and conjures its magic. Sorry but planars/electrostatics
do that same conjuring magic that most dynamic speakers cannot but the Eidolons have come the closest. Again I am not saying electrostatic/planars are better(not by a long shot) but they have that something magical I crave(even addicted to). I am a musicophile(?) before I am an audiophile. Having said all that, personally if I had to, I will listen to Schubert (merrily I might add) on CerwinVegas before I give up music. As I stated in my previous post the Avalon Eidolons are fantastic speakers! Enjoy them to their fullest! One small question, both places I auditioned them, used Spectral(which I own and respect) but do they get the best out of the Eidolons???

Hello Shubertmaniac, I think we are both trying to describe the same qualities that planers/stats possess but using different words to describe them. I do feel however that soundstage-transparency, high resolution all are interelated. I'm not very technically inclined but I think the word that best desribes the quality we both hear in panel type speakers is "breathe", panel speakers breathe in a way that real sounds do in real life. I'm glad you can enjoy the music that you love on any system, as do I. BTW, I prefer the virtues of good tubes over the virtues of solid/state. To my ear, great tube gear seems to have the magic for me that I have yet to hear from solid/state. All the best, Tom

Tom, I own both tubes and s/s amps/preamps. Spectral and ARC
equipment. However I think solid state would do more justice to the hi rez capabilities of the Eidolons plus better bass response for them to boot. The output impedence of tube amps is usually very high (except the Wolcott amps) which gives it a low damping factor which causes the speaker/amplifier bass response to be less than the speaker is capable of producing. Also I find that the S/S stuff gets the most out of a CD/record, more ambient low level material off the recording which I assume an Avalon owner would crave. Of course this presumes a s/s amp/preamp combo worthy of getting this material off the recording and putting it to good use by the speaker. Though on the other hand, I love the midrange warmth that those tubes throw at you. Dilemmas
I can live with...

Hey Thanks for the thoughtful responses.
I initially got into the audiophile addiction when i heard a pair of maggies. Breathing seems like a good verb to use. I have always found the sound to be nearly liquid as it envelopes you. I have never heard quite that sound from solid state and a cabinet speaker. Still, for my ear I enjoy the great detail and soundstaging that a superior speaker like the eidolons give. By the way for everyone out there, the speakers are mated to spectral monoblocks and spectral preamp. the processor is a theta gen 5 a. I am hoping for some really great sound.
thanks