Opinion of Avalon Speakers or Alternataives

Which models are you considering?

Hard to make an informed opinion at the shows. Avalon loudspeakers require an extended break-in, upwards of 700 hrs IMO. I would not expect any show to exhibit an Avalon product that is fully broken-in. Also consider the vagaries of the source components (e.g. are they broken-in) and the whole affair can be a real puzzle. Avalons have a sound like no-other and I would suggest that you read Martin Colloms review of the Eidolons in Feb's HFNRR.

After you're done with Avalons try Dyna 3.3. I assume that you've already enough power to drive either one of these.

I heard all of these at CES in January. The Kharma 3.2s were incredible, but they were playing with $130k in associated equipment. The Eidolon Diamonds were very close in sound quality, running off $10k in Ayre equipment (in fact, Michael Fremer mentions that room as one of his favorites in the new Stereophile).

I heard the regular Eidolons and the Opus in other rooms, but they had plasma TVs stuffed between them, and as a consequence had NO depth. The Alon Lotus Elite Signatures were quite good, but not in the same league as the Avaolon Diamonds and Kharams -- but hey, they cost 1/4 to 1/3 as much!

I purchased a complete $60,000 2c3d from Agon over the
last 5 months from MIT cables/power conditioning to Spectral electronics to Avalon Radian speakers for under $16000.00


Holographic, very musical, and once setup properly
very easy to care for and not fussy at all. Wish it was
more transparent like my Acoustats, and the topend is not as
crystal clear either. But over all very satisfied. Would I
do it again; YES!!! Very relaxing system particularly, for my overwhelming interest in chamber music.