Have your say & ask the experts

JohnDuncan:

JohnDuncan:

Never mind that, I'd like to know where the digital input is on my iMac.........

And never mind me, found it. though doesn't really help me record analogue sources, of course....

Hmm same/similar predicament here. I was thinking of NAD PP-3 MC/MM/USB Phono stage connected to the analogue input of the ADM9.1 and the USB from the NAD PP-3 connected directly to the Mac for download/ripping LPs.

The iMac could then be connected via the "audio out/optical digital out" to one of the ADM9.1 digital inputs.

The NAD PP-3 could be a bit of a quality 'bottleneck' if using a high-end turntable (given it only costs about £75) but I cannot think of any other MM (or MC) and USB equipped phono stage off the top of my head.

http://whathifi.com/News/Record-your-LPs-to-a-PC-with-NADs-PP-3-digital-phono-preamp/

Oops no, there is another one....

http://www.project-audio.com/main.php?prod=phonoboxusb&cat=boxes&lang=en

Well, lets hope the What hifi group can put together a thorough evaluation of these speakers and see how they compare to the likes of ATC, PMC, harbeth, spendor, ProAc around their price range and let us know if the ADM9.1s are as revolutionary as the makers claim.

And also how much ahead they get compared to the established Audioengine A5 from USA(this is modestly priced at GBP200)....

Cheers
 

Well, if we get a pair for review, we'll get our verdict up online ASAP if we can

Clare Newsome:

So, Ash, you have time to write yet another lengthy missive about how brilliant your products are, but still no answer to my very simple request....

Reminds me of the famous Paxman/Howard Newsnight interview...

TIP

So Ash, when will we get one of your fabulous, brilliant, mould-breaking speakers to test please? Promise we'll give it 5 Stars and a Best Buy.

JoelSim:

TIP So Ash, when will we get one of your fabulous, brilliant, mould-breaking speakers to test please? Promise we'll give it 5 Stars and a Best Buy.

JS, I thought better of you. Agreed, I think a review would be helpful to both punters and AVI but why join the bickering?

Its a good product and I may yet buy it but there are difficulties involved in reviewing it. Yes, they (WHS&V) can judge it simply by its sound (and a very distinctive one it is compared to conventional passive speaker/amp combinations) but what to compare it with?

There is, to my knowledge, no other product like it. You can compare it to other active systems such as Acoustic Energy's (which I believe has no RCA inputs, something that makes it very incompatible to a lot of people unless they have a pre-amp with balanced outputs and which I believe Whathifi failed to mention but perhaps I'm wrong there) or other active speakers from Dynaudio etc but they dont have a quality DAC/Pre-amplifier or the multi hundred watt amp modules built in. I said it before, its an amazing technical achievement at the price and a tour de force for studio quality playback, whether you like that kind of sound or not.

I think it would be good to have them reviewed by this publication if done so fairly with some yardstick of what else you could expect/alternatives for the same price.

 

DM, I've an open mind about this (seeing as I haven't heard the speakers!) but I have to say they should be judged not only at their price point but in relation to speakers more expensive too - reason being he claims they are that much better, in fact, superior to speakers (with passive xovers) costing many times the price. Not being difficult but if this were true, then from a sound quality perspective anyone spending 2-3 grand on passive speakers then another 2-3 grand on amplification should be certified insane - I mean, there would and could not be any justification (whether or not you like using a pc hard drive as a transport). Ash is saying with a standard transport/quality DAC + 1000 active speakers will beat the 'high end' passive/pre/power alternative. If true this would be such an extraordinary achievement that it should spark off a new wave of active speaker production to further develop this 'new' technology instead of the still current trend of hifi seperates. Why hasn't this happened? It's not because the hifi industry has its head in the sand, I'm sure of that. AVI are good but if the claims are even half true then the rest of the industry better cotton on quick or be prepared to look very ridiculous very quickly!! I bet the truth is somewhere in between - A new technology that has enormous potential but in outright performance is somewhere in amongst the (very good) pack.

JoelSim:

TIP

So Ash, when will we get one of your fabulous, brilliant, mould-breaking speakers to test please? Promise we'll give it 5 Stars and a Best Buy.

What a stupid thing to say.

It's called sarcasm Andrew as he is willing to sell the speakers on the forum, but ignores the request for a model to demo.

Exactly, we'd be daft to pander to manufacturers like that - if they don't want to supply products for review, that's their problem.

And yes, we're keeping a close eye on how close to the wind manufacturers and retailers sail when it comes to offering 'advice' to forum users.

Andrew Everard:

Exactly, we'd be daft to pander to manufacturers like that - if they don't want to supply products for review, that's their problem.

And yes, we're keeping a close eye on how close to the wind manufacturers and retailers sail when it comes to offering 'advice' to forum users.

Glad to hear it. I think he's overstepped the mark

Your opinion is noted.

I'm a massive AVI Neutron IV fan, think they are excellent speakers but this leaves a sour taste. It's not what the forum is all about which is independent people's opinions and UNBIASED advice from the experts

Thanks for the tutorial on what the Forum is about.

I'm quite happy for manufacturers/retailers to offer their opinions, provided they do so with an open acknowledgement of where they're coming from, and I think most Forum users are intelligent enough to take a manufacturer's comments about his or her own products with more than a pinch of salt.

But on a commercial level, if a manufacturer thinks the Forum, or any other part of the site, is an ideal platform on which to promote his or her products, our advertising department is of course waiting for that call, and will be happy to discuss ad positions within the pages.

JoelSim:

I'm a massive AVI Neutron IV fan, think they are excellent speakers but this leaves a sour taste. It's not what the forum is all about which is independent people's opinions and UNBIASED advice from the experts

We're all biased and I'm not an expert but there are ways to go about it such as go and listen to the them (AVI's) yourself and then form an opinion. You're a big boy, most of us are (claire and Hughes123 excluded of course ) and can make your own mind up. You dont need to join the pack and contribute to the cheap shots. I hope a product review of the 9.1 will take place and go some way to back up AJ's claims and views.