Avantgarde..... Still a contender???

Thanks for all of the input on my question (s). I do, in fact, have an audition set for this comming week with a set of Duo's. The dealer is one who I have great confidence in setting these speakers up "right"......... I'll report back. My idea of finding an effecient speaker relates more to my amplifier than to my current speakers. I love the ML Prodigy's and, like the Duo's, think that once they are set-up properly and mated to the right electronics are world class. Right now I live in Texas where it gets extreemly hot for about 9 months out of the year. I will not consider solid state amplification, and a tube amp with enough power to drive the Logans equates to a small rotisserie grill. The dealer I'm auditioning the Duo's at is also offering a good deal on a pair of demos (which is the only way I'm even considering them).

Some of the other speakers people have mentioned look very interesting, especially the Zu's. OTOH, I really don't care for most of the box speakers I have heard. I guess that's why I have Logans along with a pair of Maggies in my second system.

Keep the ideas coming please! BTW, are there any horn users out there who live around Austin, TX that would let me check their system out.......... I'll bring the drinks.

Chris

I went from a Martin logan Prodigy to the Duo 2.2 and the duo was much better.FYI.My buds a ML dealer

I agree with Tubes108. I own a pair of Duos in the UK (the version before the brand new omega drivers) and had them set up in my home by the UK distributor, Graham Tricker from GT Audio, as part of the after sales service. I run mine with Quad IIs, a Tron Meteor tube preamp (you gotta listen to the new model the Syren) and a Platine Verdier/Schroeder Model 2/Allaerts MC1B. My room is larger than yours, and the Duos sound stunning. They disappear and the soundstaging is believable (ie relatively broad images like the real thing, not hi-fi pinpoint images) and the dynamics are fantastic. Listening to some LPs eg the Speakers Corner Ella Fitzgerald Songbook reissues, you really feel as if you're there in the room - wonderful.
If you buy them, you could do no worse than run them off an old pair of Quad IIs - they're cheap and importantly QUIET enough. Sure if you have enough money an excellent 300B SET or PX25 would be great, but you can start really cheaply.
Charlie
PS I know it's normally hot in TX, but I was in San Antonio ten days ago -whoa 28F without the wind chill!!

it never was........time will be the final judge

Chris, I owned ML SL3 for several years and Apogees before that. So, you know I like planars! Anyway, I made a change to an set amp are high eff speakers this year and I'm having a great time listening to music. Your room is similar to mine in general dimension, and I too used tubes on my MLs so we have some similarities there.

I still like the way the MLs sound, and maybe if I can have 2 systems they will be one of them. For one, the MLs present a much taller, deeper stage than non-linesource speakers. But I wanted to try out the set/high eff thang, and so my journey changed direction...

To answer your question, I don't know if you can do better for the money than AGs. The AGs have alot going for them including high eff and built in powered subs. They can be super tough to get seamless sound out of. But, I know it can be done as I've heard them at many shows and at one person's home. If you want a world class system that can do it all, the AG may be just the ticket. Heck, I almost got a pair--believe it or not, my wife liked the way red Unos looked on the website--did I marry right or what?!

Despite this, I went more simple and got Cain & Cain single BENs. They are a different speaker with different priorities. When you get a set amp you have so many choices of system flavors and objectives. As Phil notes above, the Zu is a compelling choice. For one, you get the single driver approach without bass sacrifice. To me, the benefits of set amp design alone are worth changing from push pull. Add in the benefit of going single driver (or "augmented" as is Zu & Cain) and you are really onto something!

As for amps, there are lots of choices. Will depend on speaker to a certain extent. The AGs are supposed to like Audiopax. There are lots of options now--heck, I built a kit!

Enjoy your journey.