I think the Opus Ceramique sensitivity should be very similar to the Ascendant II. Probalby rangning from 87-89 dB. The results of your current dynamics and SPL should be similar. The Opus Ceramique will be more refined however and you should get increased holography and better soundstaging. Believe it or not, however, the Ceramique version of the Opus may be a little bass-shy. Maybe more bass-shy than the Ascendant. |
Hello Mm622.
You won't have any problems driving the Opus with your amp. I've heard the regular Opus numerous times driven to nice listening levels by the Tenor OTL. The ceramic version of Opus is reported to be tighter, quicker, & more accurate in the bass vs. the regular ported Opus. It's a great speaker! Hope it works out for you. |
I know your amp, it is a very musical amp. I sold Avalon for over 6 years of time. We also had this speaker in our shop. It is no problem with your amp to be driven. i even think it is a good match. Because they work better with musical amps.
The bass unit is very fast. But...you need to be careful. We blew it up several times. Even with heavy amps. |
Many thanks for valuable information! I also have these questions:
1)Do you think if any big improvement in sound quality if I switch from Ascendant II to Opus Ceramique?
2)Does Opus Ceramique sounds more like Ascendant II or Indra?
Just one bad thing about the Opus Ceramique in my personal opinion (also other older Avalon speaker for me), it need to lay down to connect the speaker cable, this is not convenient for those people who like to try different speaker cable from time to time. |
I do think it will be a noticeable improvement and a actual upgrade for you.
It's kind of a mini-Eidolon. The imagining of Opus is really something when set up properly.
Enjoy! |
It is more precise in the low, mid and high freq. Better timing! |
Ceramique very limited in bass extension. Suitable for small rooms with construction material that traps bass energy (concrete). Bass is insufficient for medium size room. May work if listening position has large bass modes (e.g. chair close to wall behind listener). |
It is not a big speaker. The bass unit is not thst big, so it does not go that deep. But what makes this speaker different to other Avalons, is timing! |
Glai, have you done any experimentation with other speaker footers such as decoupling devises or other spikes? |
I am dealer of Still points. They are F. awesome!!
I owned and tested many, these are the best I tested sofar! |
I'm considering Stillpoints, they provide a noticeable improvement under my turntable. Avalon Acoustics included spikes with my speakers. Even so, I'm questioning newer designs and considering an in home comparison between Stillpoints and Sistrum Apprentice spikes.
http://www.stereotimes.com/post/sistrum-apprentice-series-spsa103-platform/ |
I use Cerabase from finite element which yielded better results than the fairly nice stock cones.
I have not tried stillpoint for speakers. I have stillpoint racks under my amps and they are nice improvement.
I used to own the Opus Ceramique, then the Eidolon Diamond and finally the Isis.
Opus Cera is fairly easy to drive and so is the Isis. Your amps have no problems.
If the bass modes are properly addressed, there is no timing problems with all the Avalon models. If room modes are not addressed, the bass excitation can spoil the midrange + timing. I suspect the opus cera is designed for closer to wall placement, smaller rooms in asia or europe.
The ceramic bass drivers is limited in output. The bass alignment of the Indra is slightly suppressed as measured by stereophile. This would yield a even bass response with some boundary reinforcement. You are looking at a speaker with less bass output than the indra.
I would sway the opus cera is the most coherent because drivers are of similar material. It provides a taste of the Avalon imaging and resolution. Ulimately, It sounded too restrained in macro dynamics. |
Spikes are like limitations under your speaker. The Avalon spikes look nice, but they are still spikes.
I am stillpoint dealer. When you test and compare you understand how worse a spike works. A lot of the energy of the speakers units gets lost by the use of a spike. There stays a lot more energy when you use the Stillpoints.
You hear more air, instruments and voices get a sharper individuel focus. And they become even more physical. Beside this the overall sound gets more authority. Low freq. get a much better timing.
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?ddgtl&1402683335&openmine&zzBo1972&4&5#Bo1972
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?cspkr&1412459690&openmine&zzBo1972&4&5#Bo1972
I was amazed how much is lost when you use spikes! |
Glai, what did Expedit do? |
The vinyl on the shelfs absorb too much high frequencies and shelfs extended reverb in the lower midrange and upper bass. This lead to significant sonic degradation subjectively. The changes are also reflected in reverb time (RT60) measurements and in the waterfall plot. There is minimal difference in the frequency loudness curve. |
Thanks Glai. Just reviewed your system comments. Very interesting
detail regarding loudspeakers you considered. Would you care to
elaborate on the differences between the ones you mentioned. |
bo bo, why dont you keep your fn fs to yourself-and your dearest friends. You'd certainly seem more pro-fessional. But I know--it's just not u. |
Psssssssssssssssssst.....just compare them and then you will know the difference.
It is as it as............ |
Ptss,
I don't mean to hijack so I posted the response on my system page. Thank you for your interest.
Gordon |
I just bought a pair of very good condition beautiful Walnut burr Opus Ceramique last week. Yes, my Electrocompaniet AW-180 power amp can handle it very well, it sound very nice, I'm enjoy it every night now. |
