Anyone have any experience w/ Usher AC-10's?...

I agree about the AC-10 described above. Your are in the front row. Usher also does not recommend them for HT use as the ceramic drivers can crack with very loud SPLs. I did compre them to the Aerial 10Ts (hooked up to different components of lesser quality) and they are a totally different sound more 20th row. The Ushers I heard only had about a 100 hours on them and they sounded clear, dynamic and detailed but too much in your face and they were too much for long term listening, somewhat agressive or bright or forward whatever, long term fatigue. The through a very wide soundstage almost to the point of interferring with the other speakers sound. The associated componets were a Pass X-1 pre, Pass X-250 amp and Audiomeca top of the line CDP.

As for the Vons, the ones worth hearing are the new model VR-4SEs. I will be getting to hear them soon at a local dealer. You also may want to check out the mid priced Talons.

Happy Listening.

Since I posted this I've read some interesting things about Usher and in particular the AC-10. I've read several testimonials from owners who do not think highly of the crossovers Usher uses in the AC-10, in fact they were referred to as "crap". One owner took his Usher's (can't remember the model number) to a local "speaker guy" who rebuilt the crossovers using different parts. In this particular case the owner thought they were incredible once they got "fixed". I'd hate to shell out several grand for speakers and then send them off to someone to upgrade the speaker - especially when you consider the shipping costs on these very heavy speakers.

Along with Von Schweikerts and Usher's I'll also be checking out some Audes models. Should make for an interesting morning. I'll post my thoughts on Monday.

I have bought cp8871 insted of ac-10 upon dealers recomendation,they suppose to sound better.They are using their own scanspeak drivers,friend of mine told me after some resarch that they have bigger magnet then original scanspeak drivers.For same price you are geting bigger speakers and probably better sound.They have best bass I have ever heard,so tight,deep and controlled.But to be honest I am going to sell them because I found them not as good for rock music(I think because they are so clean sounding for dirty rock)Mike

Dawgbyte, that was me with the Usher X-719 model that I had them redone...the original speakers were a little bit too dry and in-your-face presentation...after a lot of work done on the crossovers, the X-719 sound absolutley fantastic!...wide and deep soundstage, with perfect treble and tight bass...for the money i paid ($900 for the speakers with their heavy stands) plus the money for the upgraded crossovers, i got myself a piar of speakers that sounds like $3500 pair...actually, i had them against the Micro Utopias and the Ushers sounded better!

I have to disagree with some of the posts above. My experience listening to the AC10s was that they were not harsh at all. I found them to give a very natural, detailed presentation, with a lot of air and dynamics. They perform well at moderate listening levels and can rock when asked to. Their build quality is as good as it gets. IMO, they compete with speakers costing much more and are a bargain at their price. With the dicounts I see some dealers giving, they are in a class by themselves. In the right setup, always the case, they will make you very happy.