Acoustic Zen Adagio, How Good Are They?

I have not heard them with the Red Dragons. The amplification I tested with was Cary and McIntosh. The Cary sounded great, the Mac had a death grip on bass control so it stayed.

As to the Kef reference, I mean no offense but I believe the Adagios sound much better as I have not heard any Kefs I could stand for more than 5 minutes. Now I have hardly heard the full lineup but their top line with the Uni-q did not move me. Maybe their older stuff sounded great but, to my ears, today's Kef sounds upper-mid-fi.

Does anyone have any opinions on how the Adagios would do with large scale classical music based on actual listening experiences? I have not heard these yet but plan to. I have had my Magnaplanars 15 years. While they are great speakers I never got the feeling that I was at the symphony. Of course part of the problem is that the I really need large SS amplifiers and I use an Audio Research VT100. My room is 11' X 18'.

Thanks for any feedback.

The speakers will do wonders with classical music, they are very dyamic with a big soundstage and great bass.

If you are in the area come on down for a private demonstration of these wonderful speakers.

Well I have just finished the audition and I have ordered a pair of the Adagios. I was slightly concerned whether the amplifier power I had available would be enough, moving from 94db Living Voice Avatars, to 89 db. I use a 50 watt SS and 22watt SET. I used my Lavardin and a cheap but good Chinese amp with 18watts in triode which the dealer had and the speakers coped well. The Lavardin volume went from my customary 9 o'clock to 12. playing much louder than I usually listen at. I through Wagner and Mahler at it and the speakers coped excellently. As others have said, good transparency and dynamics, but not at the cost of losing full development of the instruments tonal range. Imaging was good, the soundstage not wide, but it was a very cramped room, about 14 by 14 feet. What more can you ask for, well deeper base I suppose, but tight control of the base that is there is was very evident. A demo drum track was excellent, every drum had its own character, clearly differentiated. Oh and it looks more gorgeous than the photos.
So I should be getting the 10th pair to arrive in the UK in a few weeks. Anyone over here wants a listen and is near Oxfordshire, let me know.

I would have liked to audition these speakers but dealer moved me to a room with some Analysis planars which sounded awesome but not quite right with the equipment he had them paired with. I was interested in the VR4 Sr's which also weren't setup sitting in a hallway with the Acoustic Zens. I'll tell you something, these speakers looked very impressive. I plan on an audition of these speakers paired against the VR4 Sr's which the dealer told me would out class the Zens. The comments I've read here have me even more intrigued.