Avalon Acoustics Isis Initial Impressions (pics)

[audioguy3107]

Been out of town all weekend so really haven’t gotten to settle in yet.....spent some time tonight trying them out with the REL subs. They’ve been quite the bear to dial in but I’m getting there. I can tell you this, if you like stringed instruments, it doesn’t get much better than this. Wow.

- Buck

[LarsT]

Congratulations! Very jealous here. They truly produce phenomenal music. I was floored the first time I heard them. All your music will sound brand new. Enjoy them for years to come.

Lars

[2fastdriving]

Really happy for you, buck. Beautiful speakers. I'm sure you are in heaven! Look forward to seeing you at RMAF.

[audioguy3107]

Originally Posted by 2fastdriving

Really happy for you, buck. Beautiful speakers. I'm sure you are in heaven! Look forward to seeing you at RMAF.

Yes! Can’t wait, will be a lot of fun, hopefully we’ll have some more in attendance this year. Maybe I’ll come home with the Stromtank . I don’t know if I’ll be able to hold back.

- Buck

[pete6737]

Those look awesome! I bet they sound amazing. I’ve never heard Avalons before. I may make it to RMAF this year as well. Fingers crossed.

Pete

[W9TR]

Hey Buck,
Ditch the REL’s like a bad date at the prom. Dial these babies in without them, you may find you don’t need them at all.
Tom

[audioguy3107]

Originally Posted by W9TR

Hey Buck,
Ditch the REL’s like a bad date at the prom. Dial these babies in without them, you may find you don’t need them at all.
Tom

Well Tom, that’s what I was thinking too, but it hasn’t worked out like that....
My room sounds very good, but the dimensions make low bass virtually impossible. I was shocked at how little deep extended bass I was getting , so much so I was worried. I’ve done measurements before and after, and without subwoofers, it just doesn’t happen. This is the third pair of loudspeakers I’ve had in here and it’s been the same result with all of them, no subwoofers, no bass. Now of course I’m talking about sub 38 Hz or so, from there up it’s smooth as silk. There’s nothing unusual about my dimensions with the exception of the ceiling.....it’s a tray ceiling probably about 25 feet tall.....I have to think that has something to do with it. I used a mic to measure response out of the Avalons about a foot away just to make sure.....it was virtually flat down to about 25 Hz, so I guess it’s the room I’m in unless someone else has any
Other ideas, but I’ve covered pretty much all my bases.

I spoke to Jim Smith a couple of days ago, I figured I might as well spend a few bucks to make sure everything is a-ok so he may try and come out this week to evaluate everything. Man it’s nice he lives 20 minutes from here! I’m lucky considering he’s probably voiced over 1000 rooms in his career. Believe it or not, even he has never heard a pair of Isis, so looking forward to his impressions. Anyway, my final step may be to get GIK to come on out as well....they’re local as well here on the NE side of Atlanta! and see if there’s anything else. Go big or go home I guess.

- Buck

[audioguy3107]

So I just said enough tweaking for the night, dimmed the lights, turned up the volume and put on the Telarc CD of Boston Baroque’s Hallelujah chorus from Handel’s Messiah. That so far may be the most impressive thing I’ve ever heard out of an audio system. Towards the end you can visually see the choir going from right to left in 4 sections, starting with the baritones and ending with the sopranos on the left of the stage. The walls of the room completely disappeared. My hairs stood on end. Seriously. I’m going to bed now.

[SCAudiophile]

Originally Posted by audioguy3107

Well Tom, that’s what I was thinking too, but it hasn’t worked out like that....
My room sounds very good, but the dimensions make low bass virtually impossible. I was shocked at how little deep extended bass I was getting , so much so I was worried. I’ve done measurements before and after, and without subwoofers, it just doesn’t happen. This is the third pair of loudspeakers I’ve had in here and it’s been the same result with all of them, no subwoofers, no bass. Now of course I’m talking about sub 38 Hz or so, from there up it’s smooth as silk. There’s nothing unusual about my dimensions with the exception of the ceiling.....it’s a tray ceiling probably about 25 feet tall.....I have to think that has something to do with it. I used a mic to measure response out of the Avalons about a foot away just to make sure.....it was virtually flat down to about 25 Hz, so I guess it’s the room I’m in unless someone else has any
Other ideas, but I’ve covered pretty much all my bases.

I spoke to Jim Smith a couple of days ago, I figured I might as well spend a few bucks to make sure everything is a-ok so he may try and come out this week to evaluate everything. Man it’s nice he lives 20 minutes from here! I’m lucky considering he’s probably voiced over 1000 rooms in his career. Believe it or not, even he has never heard a pair of Isis, so looking forward to his impressions. Anyway, my final step may be to get GIK to come on out as well....they’re local as well here on the NE side of Atlanta! and see if there’s anything else. Go big or go home I guess.

- Buck

Buck,..IMHO, the tray ceiling is the culprit plus it is 25 feet tall...Smith should definitely be able to nail things down for you. RELs will prove to be necessary but you will probably have to treat that celing...I have known a couple other guys who faced the same problem with designed rooms that had little bass even with massive speakers, separate sub towers, etc...but looked perfect and beautiful. Fancy ceilings were part of the problem each time, 1 room even designed by Rives and supposedly perfect at the start...

[W9TR]

Buck,
I feel you pain - our old theater was like that - big null where the seating needed to be. Took a couple of subs to straighten it out. Sounds like you are in good hands with Jim and GIK in the neighborhood.
Good luck!
Tom