What audio system do you have, or plan on getting?

[Fëanor]

"With the Avalon Eidolon Diamond you're not actually listening to the Hifi system, nor to the recording itself, but you're listening directly to the performing musicians."  That stretches credibility close to the breaking point. 

I am sure the reviewer meant well, and that's all that counts

There is no reason to doubt the reviewer's sincerity. But for my part I've given up on purely subjective equipment reviews, (after consulting them for over 50 years).  Nowadays I look to reviewers who do measurements.  Some reviews do measurements without subjective comments, some do both.  I will take either over exclusively subjective reviews.

Worthy of note, IMO, is the review site, 'Erin's Audio Corner'.  Erin does both measurements and subjective evaluations, e.g. for the KEF Blade 2.  Erin's is small-time site that doesn't get nearly as many makers loans as the likes of Stereophile, but he make effort to get a range of speaks and price points.

Also highly recommendable is 'Audio Science Review', although the Amir, owner and the principal review, often omits subjective impressions.

[Harry]

If I am lucky, I can purchase a set of these Avalon Acoustics Eidolon Diamond, Maple speakers second hand in perfect condition, and trade in my Avalon Ceramique speakers. Fingers crossed. They sound the works. So if the first responder changes his mind, which I hope, its mine.

[An Avalon Eidolon Diamond sounds like no other speaker. Even the standard Eidolon doesn't come close. With the Avalon Eidolon Diamond you're not actually listening to the Hifi system, nor to the recording itself, but you're listening directly to the performing musicians. So you're listening to the performance of the musicians. Very special and rarely heard as clearly as here. The Eidolon Diamond cannot be located in terms of position. The enormous sound bubble is built up in the room, and does not seem to come from the Avalon Eidolon Diamond. This is music reproduction at a very high level, and is diametrically opposed to the many loud and exaggeratedly dynamic sounding speaker systems that are often built at the moment./i]

They have finally arrived at the dealer, be it in a different color, Premium Myrtle Cluster Burl, and has a few minor scratches and a small stain on the veneer. As long as it is technical in order. The set I posted was sold from under my nose, and by pure luck this set came along which no one expected. so I will make an appointment to listen and see of course.

See this excellent review.

https://www.hifinews.com/content/avalon-eidolon-speaker

[AnotherSpin]

They have finally arrived at the dealer, be it in a different color, Premium Myrtle Cluster Burl, and has a few minor scratches and a small stain on the veneer. As long as it is technical in order. The set I posted was sold from under my nose, and by pure luck this set came along which no one expected. so I will make an appointment to listen and see of course.

See this excellent review.

https://www.hifinews.com/content/avalon-eidolon-speaker

I hope the listening session will allow you to reach a reliable conclusion.
Is there a way to do something about the scratches?

[Harry]

I hope the listening session will allow you to reach a reliable conclusion.
Is there a way to do something about the scratches?

Yes I think so. if not too deep you can stain them with dye, but that could go horribly wrong, so I must think about it. They will be my last speakers, so I am not to concerned about it, as long as they sound the works, and are technical in order. After all I now have the little brother of the Eidolons, (Ceramique), and I am hugely impressed, so the sound is better in that respect. There is a 11 inch woofer in the Eidolons, and of course that gives a bit more pressure. But I think my listening room is big enough for them. Length is 5.50 meters, height 2.40 and width 3.50.

[Kalevala]

Yes I think so. if not too deep you can stain them with dye, but that could go horribly wrong, so I must think about it. They will be my last speakers, so I am not to concerned about it, as long as they sound the works, and are technical in order. After all I now have the little brother of the Eidolons, (Ceramique), and I am hugely impressed, so the sound is better in that respect. There is a 11 inch woofer in the Eidolons, and of course that gives a bit more pressure. But I think my listening room is big enough for them. Length is 5.50 meters, height 2.40 and width 3.50.

Will you still be trading in your Ceramique speakers?

K

[Harry]

Will you still be trading in your Ceramique speakers?

K

I am not sure, probably not

[Harry]

The Avalon Eidelon Diamond speakers will be delivered coming Wednesday morning, and I have 30 days the time to listen and test it through and through.
The Ceramique's will probably end up next to my TV screen and replace the wall mounted Avalons.

[Kalevala]

The Avalon Eidelon Diamond speakers will be delivered coming Wednesday morning, and I have 30 days the time to listen and test it through and through.
The Ceramique's will probably end up next to my TV screen and replace the wall mounted Avalons.

I thought that you would be auditioning them at the audio store?

K

[Harry]

I thought that you would be auditioning them at the audio store?

K

Yes initially I was planning to do that, but decided against it, for it's better to listen in one's own dedicated room. If it works it works and I know instantly.

[AnotherSpin]

The Avalon Eidelon Diamond speakers will be delivered coming Wednesday morning, and I have 30 days the time to listen and test it through and through.
The Ceramique's will probably end up next to my TV screen and replace the wall mounted Avalons.

The first impression can be very important, but the second, third, and so on are also very important to have. If there's a chance to keep something for a while and then decide, that's a good thing.

[Harry]

The first impression can be very important, but the second, third, and so on are also very important to have. If there's a chance to keep something for a while and then decide, that's a good thing.

Absolutely true Sergei. I have more than 30 days, for Eastern is in the same period. But I know the Avalon sound, for the Ceramique is de little brother of Eidolon, so the sound I well know. The thing is that the balance and synergy must be spot on. the Eidolons deliver more detail a broader sound stage, and the Diamond tweeter goes high without getting sharp though. The 11 inch woofer goes low, quoted at a deep 26Hz (–1.5dB). The extended high frequency range is also worthy of attention, claimed to extend seamlessly to 34kHz (–1.5dB), sufficient for wider bandwidth sources such as SACD, and further. I am quite curious. The pressure is much higher, but I am quite confident it will work  perfectly.

[AnotherSpin]

Absolutely true Sergei. I have more than 30 days, for Eastern is in the same period. But I know the Avalon sound, for the Ceramique is de little brother of Eidolon, so the sound I well know. The thing is that the balance and synergy must be spot on. the Eidolons deliver more detail a broader sound stage, and the Diamond tweeter goes high without getting sharp though. The 11 inch woofer goes low, quoted at a deep 26Hz (–1.5dB). The extended high frequency range is also worthy of attention, claimed to extend seamlessly to 34kHz (–1.5dB), sufficient for wider bandwidth sources such as SACD, and further. I am quite curious. The pressure is much higher, but I am quite confident it will work  perfectly.

I fear that if we continue our discussion of the technical details, we may incur the wrath of our esteemed forum colleagues, who firmly believe that all audio components sound identical and that high-end equipment is nothing more than a ruse designed to part wealthy fools from their money... 

[DavidW]

The first impression can be very important, but the second, third, and so on are also very important to have. If there's a chance to keep something for a while and then decide, that's a good thing.

It takes me weeks of listening to a wide variety of music at different times, in different moods, to capture in my mind all aspects of new speakers.

[DavidW]

I fear that if we continue our discussion of the technical details, we may incur the wrath of our esteemed forum colleagues, who firmly believe that all audio components sound identical and that high-end equipment is nothing more than a ruse designed to part wealthy fools from their money... 

I think everyone on this forum agrees that speakers and headphones sound different, and are well worth the investment.

[steve ridgway]

I think everyone on this forum agrees that speakers and headphones sound different, and are well worth the investment.

Not speakers for me as my wife would tell me to turn the volume down to useless levels .

[Harry]

Not speakers for me as my wife would tell me to turn the volume down to useless levels .

Divorce is the only option    

[AnotherSpin]

Not speakers for me as my wife would tell me to turn the volume down to useless levels .

My wife eventually reconciled herself to the presence of the largest loudspeakers we've ever owned, and did so with admirable composure, I must say. It helped, no doubt, that I pointed out they were roughly her own height and weight, about 155 centimetres tall, as it happens. She offered no protest even when I positioned them according to the George Cardas formula, which, as you may know, involves drawing them quite seriously toward the middle of the room. The subsequent installation of the enormous contraptions atop a bearing-ball isolation system passed almost without comment, remarkably civilised, all things considered.

Alas, those halcyon days are behind us, and my audio system has now been pared down to the most austere simplicity.

[Florestan]

Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.

[DavidW]

My wife eventually reconciled herself to the presence of the largest loudspeakers we've ever owned, and did so with admirable composure, I must say. It helped, no doubt, that I pointed out they were roughly her own height and weight, about 155 centimetres tall, as it happens. She offered no protest even when I positioned them according to the George Cardas formula, which, as you may know, involves drawing them quite seriously toward the middle of the room. The subsequent installation of the enormous contraptions atop a bearing-ball isolation system passed almost without comment, remarkably civilised, all things considered.

Alas, those halcyon days are behind us, and my audio system has now been pared down to the most austere simplicity.

I tried the Cardas approach once and felt stupid with the speakers in so far!   If I had a dedicated listening room... that would be a different story. But I don't.

[Harry]

My wife eventually reconciled herself to the presence of the largest loudspeakers we've ever owned, and did so with admirable composure, I must say. It helped, no doubt, that I pointed out they were roughly her own height and weight, about 155 centimetres tall, as it happens. She offered no protest even when I positioned them according to the George Cardas formula, which, as you may know, involves drawing them quite seriously toward the middle of the room. The subsequent installation of the enormous contraptions atop a bearing-ball isolation system passed almost without comment, remarkably civilised, all things considered.

Alas, those halcyon days are behind us, and my audio system has now been pared down to the most austere simplicity.

I like her already enormously