Thanks Cdj.....they really are smooth as silk so far. I will say that for anyone considering Avalons......I really didn't understand the difference between a speaker sounding "hifi" vs. "realistic". My wife can't believe how much they sound like live music right there in your room......and I don't mean in that "echoey" way. The vocals and the instruments just sound more real than what you're used to hearing. My dealer did say that it could take a little getting used to since they don't sound like a typical loudspeaker and I think he's right. It is also true that they are truly revealing of the recording...I've played tons of stuff I'm familiar with and the recording quality is definitely highlighted more so than with my Thiels. Also, I'm a little surprised at music that I prefer so far, or I should say music that sounds SO much better through the Avalons. What I mean is that if I put Sarah Brightman, Diana Krall, Eva Cassidy....all the typical audiophile fare, sure they sound amazing and better than before. However, I've enjoyed the difference on some of the more mainstream stuff that I listen to, stuff with a lot of guitar play/drums/etc. like The Allman Brothers, Widespread Panic, Clapton, Dire Straits, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Boston, even newer stuff like Coldplay.....I really think the Avalons have made a bigger difference with that kind of music than they did with the typical audiophile vocal stuff, I mean, let's face it, Enya would sound good on tons of mid to high end loudspeakers. We played Viva La Vida on Coldplay's newest album and my wife said it was borderline weird hearing something that she's familiar with sound so real.
