[Jon L]

AV123.com - x-statik Open Baffle Loudspeaker

I can't imagine better-sounding speakers at their $699/pair price (satin black) as this thing sounds KILLER! They are also proving not to be a weak link at all, even using VAC Renaissance 30 300B push-pull tube amps.

 

[grandenigma1]

Ive been considering a quad of those for my HT but wasn't sure how much abuse and how hard they could be pushed. Enjoy!

 

[Jon L]

Quote:

Originally Posted by grandenigma1 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Ive been considering a quad of those for my HT but wasn't sure how much abuse and how hard they could be pushed. Enjoy!

These sound too good NOT to be used in dedicated 2 channel system IMO.

One of the great things is the easy 90.5dB/8ohm sensitivity/impedance. The 30 WPC VAC is shaking the whole house with these speakers, and despite what the official spec says, I can clearly hear the Sterereophile Test CD 31.5 Hz bass tone (much down in level of course). The sub in the picture is not hooked up, nor do I have any desire to for 2 channel music.

As I was hoping, the sealed bass alignment sounds extremely punchy, defined, and dynamic, and the double midrange drivers in open baffle sound effortless even when pushed.

These speakers are incredible deals. Get'em before they come to their senses and price them at market value!

 

[soundfreq]

congratulations on your new speakers. how long usually is the burn-in time for those? or speakers in general?

 

[NicolasKL]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon L /img/forum/go_quote.gif and despite what the official spec says, I can clearly hear the Sterereophile Test CD 31.5 Hz bass tone (much down in level of course).

The specs say that output drops to zero by 31.5 Hz?

 

[happyangryhappy]

Congratulations on a really nice pair of speakers! I have not heard the X-Statiks, but I have been very impressed with all the AV123 speakers I have heard. I am a bit of a DIY speaker nut myself, but AV123 really seems to be producing some amazing gear for prices that anyone would be hard pressed to build themselves.

Congrats again on a fantastic setup.

Beautiful amp too BTW...

 

[Wodgy]

Nice that they use both an open baffle mid and a waveguide tweeter. Looks like a very cool speaker.

 

[TheAnomaly]

very nice speakers

i myself have been on the fence about making an av123 purchase, though i'm looking at something more like T-amp + X-LS encore, or maybe x-statik + mfw 15 + dual x-amps (a number of months down the road, that is).

how do you like their bass response? the specs page only has them down to 65 hz.

 

[soloz2]

they look great. I considered a pair a few months ago but decided I didn't have the room for a floorstanding speaker. As it is my Ref 1's are a little cramped

 

[Jon L]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheAnomaly /img/forum/go_quote.gif i'm looking at something more like T-amp + X-LS encore, or maybe x-statik + mfw 15 + dual x-amps (a number of months down the road, that is). how do you like their bass response? the specs page only has them down to 65 hz.

Their bass response totally caught me off guard, since I knew about the "-3dB at 65Hz" spec. I thought I would need a sub for sure, but that sub in the photo above is still not hooked up b/c I don't feel the need at all.

For my usual music, which is pretty much everything except for deep organ music, there is plenty of quantity and quality of bass in my room. Coupled to the corners (not too close), the room/speaker has tight, clear bass response down to low 30's, though obviously much lower in level compared to say 80Hz, proving that sealed bass does indeed roll off much less steeply. Combined with the fact most music simply does not have much content in the last octave, I won't be using a sub for 2-channel music listening.

Home theater maniacs need not reply b/c some of these guys don't think four 15" subs are not "enough."

In addition, I just plugged in my 5 watt/channel Almarro A205a MkII single-ended pentode amp, and I'm not feeling like I'm deprived of power or performance. I tend to listen to music on the moderately loud side! I put in some Mundorf silver/oil coupling caps in this amp a while back, and with some tube rolling, Almarro/X-Statik combo is simply beautiful sounding.

New retail for Almarro/X-Statik is $800/$700, and for $1500, you get an awesome speaker setup, but the Almarro sounds incredible with K1000 and electrostats (via SRD-7 MkII) also. This is a dream setup for somebody like me who wants to simplify yet not compromise on speaker/K1000/electrostat, which happens to be very affordable!

 

[Budgie]

Looks like alot of speaker for the money!

 

[yepyep_]

Really nice, these just might be my next speaker purchase. I just got the x-sls encores as my first mid-fi speakers less than a month ago and loving them. Same finish as yours too! On the other hand, I probaby wont purchase these because of the unbelievable shipping costs from us to finland. Shipping for my x-sls was $420 ( + the taxes), which is more than the speakers. Can this be right ? I think I could've gotten better speakers for the total price from europe but it's done and I'm not complaining.

 

[gotchaforce]

Quote:

Originally Posted by yepyep_ /img/forum/go_quote.gif Really nice, these just might be my next speaker purchase. I just got the x-sls encores as my first mid-fi speakers less than a month ago and loving them. Same finish as yours too! On the other hand, I probaby wont purchase these because of the unbelievable shipping costs from us to finland. Shipping for my x-sls was $420 ( + the taxes), which is more than the speakers. Can this be right ? I think I could've gotten better speakers for the total price from europe but it's done and I'm not complaining.

the x-statics are way more shipping than the x-sls would probably be, they are much bigger afterall.

definitely just get something local

dali or a jamo probably exists in finland and would be a way better buy...

 

[Jon L]

Quote:

Originally Posted by yepyep_ /img/forum/go_quote.gif unbelievable shipping costs from us to finland.

Dang, what made you buy speakers from U.S. to Finland?? There are very good speaker companies in Europe.

Having said that, IMO the X-SLS is the sweet spot in the price: performance ratio. X-SLS is one sweet speaker, even the non-Encore versions. I may pick up some X-SLS used here locally just for the ridiculous performance for the money. It's insane...

For you cheapskates, I just discovered that the cheap Panny SA-XR55 all-digital receiver is a great match for X-Statiks. X-Statik+Panny=$700+$250. For under a grand, you've got a KILLER system that will put many multi-thousand $ combos to shame. And you don't even have to buy a separate DAC

----------------------------------

The Panny is basically a DAC with strong enough output to drive speakers, and the pure digital path lends itself to seriously great sound competitive with many thousand $$$ separates, but one has to make sure:

1. The digital signal/transport is very high quality. Feeding the Panny with cheapo DVD players' (though some are good) digital output is a sure way to ruin the whole thing at the source.

2. One must ditch the nasty power cable. Use an adapter+decent cable. I highly recommend Black Sands Violet Z1 power cord.

3. Good supportive feet/cone. I like BDR (Black Diamond Racing) cones under mine.

4. Damp the light, clangy chassis with something. I use a couple of hammers.

5. Nice speaker cables. I know the speaker terminals don't accept spades, but use an adapter if you have to. I use a DIY Ubyte-2 speaker cable using cross-connected silver foil and copper coax in foamed teflon.

6. Use highish-sensitive speakers that will synergize well sonically with Panny. Surprise, surprise. X-Statiks simply KILLS with the Panny

d

 

[JMcMasterJ]

Those are some nice looking speakers. I might have to pick up a pair after the summer.