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

I second Lukestr. I have had Sound Lab A-1's, Quad 63 and numerous box speakers. Never has a speaker changed my enjoyment of recorded music like my Trios. They should call Horn speakers "Dynamic" speakers because that is what they do to music. They put the dynamics back in both micro and macro. To me without the dynamics music seems like a 2 dimensional picture and planar speakers can paint the most vivid 2D picture of all. Super high resolution like the finest camera can take but loss of the dynamics. I'd much rather accept some distortion in that picture to be able to see it in 3 dimensions. It's like taking a picture out your window and comparing it to looking through the window. Even if the window is slightly dirty the 3D view is better than the 2D view with the window open.
The dynamics of music are the wow factor yet some people are willing to give that up for tonal accuracy. We each have to pick what turns us on. I only wish I had checked out horns 25 years ago.

hi chris

your room size seems fine for most of the horns out there as all you need is 7foot + from the speaker for cohesive sound stage formation.
I have some AVG Uno's V2 with the upgraded subs which are faster and classed as one of the best possible for the price.
I have heard the newer version of the uno, the nano but prefer the overal sound of the unos as they are generaly larger and made for the job without cutting corners.

Amps: i have tried Musicfidelity Electra 300 tubes which are great but to powerful as you will get hiss issues at low volume. I have now gone to a arcam av top amp which has almost no hiss and a natural sound with out the harshness that people are getting with the other amps.

It all depends what you want from your speakers.
I compose and produce music on mine which is a experience in itself. Albums at www.mattsgallery.co.uk
Music made for Horns on Horns

I own the Duos. I don't hear any horn "shout" and prior to purchase compared them side by side with cone/box speakers and again heard no shout. As to the integration issue I have listened nearfield(6 feet away) and heard problems with integration. However, past 12 feet away I hear no integration problems at all. I have no idea whether I'm sensitive to this or not. Also for such large speakers they completely dissappear in the room(aurally not visually). Sometimes for the fun of it I listen in the dark and cannot locate the speakers in the room with music playing. Your room size seems fine as long as you can sit 12 feet away from the speakers while still having some distance between the speakers and the front wall. My personal feeling is that these speakers are tailor made for SET or OTL amps. SET are usually single ended but some OTL's such as Atmosphere are balanced and should sound good with the Duos. I also made the jump from SS/cone speakers to horn/SET and will not go back. More musical involvement. Hope this helps.

I have had the Duos since my original post aver three years ago..... Still love every minute with them. I don't see myself moving from the high-eff./SET thing anytime soon..... You can check the "My system" link to view the updates.

I think in an ideal world (where I had a lot more disposable income) I'd probably have second system with planars or cones....

Chris