Yep, monos are a good call. I tried them with Primaluna Prologue 7's (with Gold Lion KT88's) and they sounded excellent, much better than the Aragon 4004 mk (awesome amp, but a less than stellar match). The Vincent was still the one I enjoyed the most though. I had some Antique Sound Labs 100wpc monos that were awesome but got too hot for me too.
Aerial Acoustics 7B Impressions
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DeeCee
"Music is what we like to play..."
Agreed. I got the Aragon since I was "made an offer I couldn't refuse."
Better solid state matches that I heard were McCormack (my leading choice - bang per buck), Jeff Rowland (Model 10 I believe but Wow! - in quality AND price).
Others I heard were tubes: BAT, Gryphon ($$$) & another I can't recall.
Would like to see how Quicksilvers would work; I heard them on other speakers and I was impressed...
OK...I'm probably going to over share a bit here but I thought I'd post up my impression of Aerial Acoustic speakers, specifically the Model 8's, that now grace my music system. Before reading further you should know that when I wrote this I had been a long time Vienna Acoustics owner with all 5 of my 5.1 system speakers made by that firm.
Speaker audition notes
Location: Echo Audio; Portland, Oregon
Speakers Auditioned:
• Vienna Acoustics Strauss
• Aerial Acoustics Model 8 (with the 8B crossover modification)
I recently auditioned two pairs of used high quality speakers and thought I'd share my notes.
Sending the electrons to each pair of speakers was a Vincent SV-236MK hybrid amplifier and a very nice Cary CD-306 transport. The Cary may be a bit dated but was ahead of its time considering the formats it supports and a very highly regarded Burr Brown DSD1792U 24-bit, 192-kHz Audio D/A converter. I was concerned that the Vincent was a bit under-powered for the test but I didn't plan on seriously pushing the speakers to ear bleeding sound levels and I was certain it would be sufficient to demonstrate the sonic differences between the two speakers.
I fired up the Vincent, the Cary and inserted my first disc, Rob Wasserman's "Duets" and fast forwarded to Jennifer Warnes and her rendition of "Ballad of the Runaway Horse", an exquisite piece with subtle harmonies, a definitive bassline and the sweet clarity of Jennifer's voice, all mixed to perfection. It is mixed so well that the track is used to perform what is known as the "Sumiko Master Set", a step by step speaker placement process. All in all, a wonderful track and if you can find the CD, it's worth getting simply for that one song.
Next up was Emmylou Harris and some tracks from her "Luxury Liner" album including "Making Believe", "She" and "Tulsa Queen". Emmylou's band at the time was one of the best out there. The breadth, variation and depth of their sound was truly amazing and they were the perfect backdrop to Emmylou's unique vocal style.
Lastly, I broke out the rock and roll, playing several tracks from Chickenfoot's debut CD, appropriately named "Chickenfoot". The group consists of vocalist Sammy Hagar (ex-Van Halen and Montrose member), bassist Michael Anthony (also an ex–Van Halen member), guitarist Joe Satriani, and drummer Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. An eclectic bunch to be certain, however, some good music came from this group including the raucous "Oh Yeah", the thump of "Get It Up" and the softer but edgy "Learning To Fall". Rumor has it that a third album may be in the works.
First, let's see what the Vienna Acoustics offering brings to the table. A high-performance, large scale floor-standing loudspeaker, the Strauss casts an imposing figure.
The 7" dual midrange drivers are configured so that the upper unit handles the complete mid-band, while the lower driver blends in as the frequency decreases. Lastly, the side mounted 10"woofer is dedicated to producing ultra-low frequencies.
Sensitivity is a respectable 91dB and the recommended amplifier input power range is a versatile 50-400 watts, with the speakers requiring 4 ohms. Providing a wide frequency range of 27Hz to 30kHz, these speakers could very well prove to deliver a full sonic experience.
The pair I auditioned obviously had been well cared for with no obvious damage to the fabric covers, cabinets, cones or bases. One small nick on the back side of the cabinet above the wire connectors was all I could find during a close inspection.
The Strauss is a big speaker compared to my Vienna Acoustic Mozarts, but visually very similar sporting the same beech colored cabinet and the arrangement of the tweeter and dual midrange drivers in the face . The biggest visual differences are the side mounted 10" woofer, the one inch wider face, 5 inch deeper cabinet and an overall height difference of 8 inches.
So how did the Strauss pair do? In a word, "Respectable".
The detail, depth of sound field and imaging were good but not knock me over good. They speakers never exhibited the spatial imaging that makes a good pair of speakers disappear, leaving you alone with the music. I was always aware of the fact that there was a big pair of speakers in front of me.
They tended to be harsh at the upper frequencies and seemed to lose the detail sounding as if they were having their own sonic war, colliding and competing for space at the tweeter and immediately in front of the speaker. It's as if the smooth electron pipe ended with a perforated nozzle that scattered the notes, creating incoherent and often harsh streams of sound. Suffice to say the Vienna's became fatiguing pretty quickly.
Basically I was listening to a larger version of the speakers I currently own which in the final analysis was not much of an improvement.
I surmised the amp was letting the side down but this wasn't the time to swap amps and invalidate the comparison.
I moved on to the Aerial Acoustics Model 8 speaker pair, another set of large floor standing speakers.
The 8B modification performed on this pair consists of a crossover network built on two large glass fiber circuit boards and upgraded components. The Danish-built cabinets are produced in perfect mirror-imaged pairs using the finest veneers finished to a very high standard. In addition the veneers are book-matched for symmetry on each side which lend to the striking and tasteful appearance. The pair I auditioned was enclosed in rich rosewood, a $600 per pair upgrade. Also included were the substantial bases and adjustable spike kit.
These are a smidgen larger, coming in at just a bit over 1 inch wider and 3 inches deeper. Be that as it may, they would loom over my Mozarts but in a very good way.
Boasting a frequency range of 28Hz to 22kHz and a sensitivity of 86dB, they compare well with their competition but come with a completely different set of material specifications. Starting at the bottom, the 8 features a +10"-diameter woofer incorporating a 2" voice-coil and a large magnet in a 61-liter rear-ported box tuned to 19Hz. The large midrange driver is a 7.1" multi-fiber paper cone unit. The tweeters, a custom built 1" titanium dome design, were sourced from the MB Quart company.
As the 8B's are rated up to 300 watts at 8 ohms, I was still worried about the test results given the rating of the amplifier in use for this listening session. However, I must give credit where credit is due. The Vincent never wavered in its mission to provide usable power. Obviously I'd give the speakers a full 300 watts plus some headroom just to extract their best performance.
And what about that performance? In a word, Outstanding!
Regardless of the music's demands or the power available, the detail, depth and spatial imaging of these speakers is beyond reproach.
These speakers truly do disappear and never intrude on your listening pleasure. Even at higher dB levels, the reproduction of each voice and instrument is distinct and well defined. The 8B's reproduced the sound of Emmylou's voice as if she were standing right in front of me with the band just a few steps behind and to both sides of her. The most amazing aspect of these speakers is the high levels of transparency and clarity they exhibit, some of the best I have ever heard. They render every detail of the music in a very natural and pleasing manner.
The 8B's were able to produce a bigger, deeper and wider soundstage than the Strauss speakers despite what the specifications would indicate. The 8B's produced tight and well defined bass whereas the Strauss seemed to be straining to reach those lower levels and they sounded a bit smothered as a result. The 8B's layering and center fill was rock solid with a presence that brings you in and invites you to listen for hours on end.
I could not find, nor hear, one flaw with the Aerial Acoustic 8B's sonic performance during the test, despite the power limitation.
I was so impressed with the used but well loved pair I found that they now grace my listening area, providing what has proven to be hours and days and years of enjoyment.
Speaker audition notes
Location: Echo Audio; Portland, Oregon
Speakers Auditioned:
• Vienna Acoustics Strauss
• Aerial Acoustics Model 8 (with the 8B crossover modification)
I recently auditioned two pairs of used high quality speakers and thought I'd share my notes.
Sending the electrons to each pair of speakers was a Vincent SV-236MK hybrid amplifier and a very nice Cary CD-306 transport. The Cary may be a bit dated but was ahead of its time considering the formats it supports and a very highly regarded Burr Brown DSD1792U 24-bit, 192-kHz Audio D/A converter. I was concerned that the Vincent was a bit under-powered for the test but I didn't plan on seriously pushing the speakers to ear bleeding sound levels and I was certain it would be sufficient to demonstrate the sonic differences between the two speakers.
I fired up the Vincent, the Cary and inserted my first disc, Rob Wasserman's "Duets" and fast forwarded to Jennifer Warnes and her rendition of "Ballad of the Runaway Horse", an exquisite piece with subtle harmonies, a definitive bassline and the sweet clarity of Jennifer's voice, all mixed to perfection. It is mixed so well that the track is used to perform what is known as the "Sumiko Master Set", a step by step speaker placement process. All in all, a wonderful track and if you can find the CD, it's worth getting simply for that one song.
Next up was Emmylou Harris and some tracks from her "Luxury Liner" album including "Making Believe", "She" and "Tulsa Queen". Emmylou's band at the time was one of the best out there. The breadth, variation and depth of their sound was truly amazing and they were the perfect backdrop to Emmylou's unique vocal style.
Lastly, I broke out the rock and roll, playing several tracks from Chickenfoot's debut CD, appropriately named "Chickenfoot". The group consists of vocalist Sammy Hagar (ex-Van Halen and Montrose member), bassist Michael Anthony (also an ex–Van Halen member), guitarist Joe Satriani, and drummer Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. An eclectic bunch to be certain, however, some good music came from this group including the raucous "Oh Yeah", the thump of "Get It Up" and the softer but edgy "Learning To Fall". Rumor has it that a third album may be in the works.
First, let's see what the Vienna Acoustics offering brings to the table. A high-performance, large scale floor-standing loudspeaker, the Strauss casts an imposing figure.
The 7" dual midrange drivers are configured so that the upper unit handles the complete mid-band, while the lower driver blends in as the frequency decreases. Lastly, the side mounted 10"woofer is dedicated to producing ultra-low frequencies.
Sensitivity is a respectable 91dB and the recommended amplifier input power range is a versatile 50-400 watts, with the speakers requiring 4 ohms. Providing a wide frequency range of 27Hz to 30kHz, these speakers could very well prove to deliver a full sonic experience.
The pair I auditioned obviously had been well cared for with no obvious damage to the fabric covers, cabinets, cones or bases. One small nick on the back side of the cabinet above the wire connectors was all I could find during a close inspection.
The Strauss is a big speaker compared to my Vienna Acoustic Mozarts, but visually very similar sporting the same beech colored cabinet and the arrangement of the tweeter and dual midrange drivers in the face . The biggest visual differences are the side mounted 10" woofer, the one inch wider face, 5 inch deeper cabinet and an overall height difference of 8 inches.
So how did the Strauss pair do? In a word, "Respectable".
The detail, depth of sound field and imaging were good but not knock me over good. They speakers never exhibited the spatial imaging that makes a good pair of speakers disappear, leaving you alone with the music. I was always aware of the fact that there was a big pair of speakers in front of me.
They tended to be harsh at the upper frequencies and seemed to lose the detail sounding as if they were having their own sonic war, colliding and competing for space at the tweeter and immediately in front of the speaker. It's as if the smooth electron pipe ended with a perforated nozzle that scattered the notes, creating incoherent and often harsh streams of sound. Suffice to say the Vienna's became fatiguing pretty quickly.
Basically I was listening to a larger version of the speakers I currently own which in the final analysis was not much of an improvement.
I surmised the amp was letting the side down but this wasn't the time to swap amps and invalidate the comparison.
I moved on to the Aerial Acoustics Model 8 speaker pair, another set of large floor standing speakers.
The 8B modification performed on this pair consists of a crossover network built on two large glass fiber circuit boards and upgraded components. The Danish-built cabinets are produced in perfect mirror-imaged pairs using the finest veneers finished to a very high standard. In addition the veneers are book-matched for symmetry on each side which lend to the striking and tasteful appearance. The pair I auditioned was enclosed in rich rosewood, a $600 per pair upgrade. Also included were the substantial bases and adjustable spike kit.
These are a smidgen larger, coming in at just a bit over 1 inch wider and 3 inches deeper. Be that as it may, they would loom over my Mozarts but in a very good way.
Boasting a frequency range of 28Hz to 22kHz and a sensitivity of 86dB, they compare well with their competition but come with a completely different set of material specifications. Starting at the bottom, the 8 features a +10"-diameter woofer incorporating a 2" voice-coil and a large magnet in a 61-liter rear-ported box tuned to 19Hz. The large midrange driver is a 7.1" multi-fiber paper cone unit. The tweeters, a custom built 1" titanium dome design, were sourced from the MB Quart company.
As the 8B's are rated up to 300 watts at 8 ohms, I was still worried about the test results given the rating of the amplifier in use for this listening session. However, I must give credit where credit is due. The Vincent never wavered in its mission to provide usable power. Obviously I'd give the speakers a full 300 watts plus some headroom just to extract their best performance.
And what about that performance? In a word, Outstanding!
Regardless of the music's demands or the power available, the detail, depth and spatial imaging of these speakers is beyond reproach.
These speakers truly do disappear and never intrude on your listening pleasure. Even at higher dB levels, the reproduction of each voice and instrument is distinct and well defined. The 8B's reproduced the sound of Emmylou's voice as if she were standing right in front of me with the band just a few steps behind and to both sides of her. The most amazing aspect of these speakers is the high levels of transparency and clarity they exhibit, some of the best I have ever heard. They render every detail of the music in a very natural and pleasing manner.
The 8B's were able to produce a bigger, deeper and wider soundstage than the Strauss speakers despite what the specifications would indicate. The 8B's produced tight and well defined bass whereas the Strauss seemed to be straining to reach those lower levels and they sounded a bit smothered as a result. The 8B's layering and center fill was rock solid with a presence that brings you in and invites you to listen for hours on end.
I could not find, nor hear, one flaw with the Aerial Acoustic 8B's sonic performance during the test, despite the power limitation.
I was so impressed with the used but well loved pair I found that they now grace my listening area, providing what has proven to be hours and days and years of enjoyment.
DeeCee
"Music is what we like to play..."
Since everyone is writing their Aerial "true confessions" story, I happened to have found my (quick and dirty) notes from the speaker while I was hunting for an upgrade about 20 years ago; my original price point was $2,000 for the speakers. The Aerial 5s were my original choice.
So far in the great speaker chase (using the Internationally Recognized DeeCee Scale) the systems examined and found worthy in roughly best to not so best order are (under $3,000):
1. The Aerial Acoustics Model 7s.
The Good News:
* Seductively natural, unstressed quality of sound.
* Impressive quality/quantity of bass given the size of the box.
* Very good soundstaging.
The Bad News:
* Price ($2800). Still delivers impressive bang per buck.
* Somewhat bright (but not offensively so).
Impressions:
Gave a very good showing with a variety of music from Jazz to Rock to Classical. GOLDEN MIDRANGE that worked well with male and (particularly) female voices. Good harmonic content with piano and strings. *Nicely* extended bottom end.
3. The Aerial Acoustics Model 5s.
The Good News:
* See the model 7s' "Good News" comments.
The Bad News:
* Needs a bass foundation (despite exceedingly good bass given the size of the box.)
* Blatted on EXTREMELY LOUD bass material (when pushed to the limit).
Impressions:
That GOLDEN MIDRANGE again... Highs were tamer in character. I really would like a better bass foundation, although the bass they had was smooth and accurate. Price running at $2000 is in range, but if you add a subwoofer we're back in the Model 7 price range (with perhaps a better bottom end; gotta watch sub integration probs though).
When I bought the 7s it was yet another "offer I couldn't refuse" and I snapped them up.
So far it looks like everyone on this thread are pretty fervent Aerial fans; I can't blame you!
Happy Listening!
DeeCee
P.S., Hi Yamaki - Is Echo Audio located where Corner Audio used to be? It looks very close - don't know if you were around then but Joe Weber owned Corner until he passed.
So far in the great speaker chase (using the Internationally Recognized DeeCee Scale) the systems examined and found worthy in roughly best to not so best order are (under $3,000):
1. The Aerial Acoustics Model 7s.
The Good News:
* Seductively natural, unstressed quality of sound.
* Impressive quality/quantity of bass given the size of the box.
* Very good soundstaging.
The Bad News:
* Price ($2800). Still delivers impressive bang per buck.
* Somewhat bright (but not offensively so).
Impressions:
Gave a very good showing with a variety of music from Jazz to Rock to Classical. GOLDEN MIDRANGE that worked well with male and (particularly) female voices. Good harmonic content with piano and strings. *Nicely* extended bottom end.
3. The Aerial Acoustics Model 5s.
The Good News:
* See the model 7s' "Good News" comments.
The Bad News:
* Needs a bass foundation (despite exceedingly good bass given the size of the box.)
* Blatted on EXTREMELY LOUD bass material (when pushed to the limit).
Impressions:
That GOLDEN MIDRANGE again... Highs were tamer in character. I really would like a better bass foundation, although the bass they had was smooth and accurate. Price running at $2000 is in range, but if you add a subwoofer we're back in the Model 7 price range (with perhaps a better bottom end; gotta watch sub integration probs though).
When I bought the 7s it was yet another "offer I couldn't refuse" and I snapped them up.
So far it looks like everyone on this thread are pretty fervent Aerial fans; I can't blame you!
Happy Listening!
DeeCee
P.S., Hi Yamaki - Is Echo Audio located where Corner Audio used to be? It looks very close - don't know if you were around then but Joe Weber owned Corner until he passed.
captouch
Addicted Member
I did venture into high power tubes and had MFA M-120B monoblocks. It would have been nice to hear them with the 7B's. Whatever I was using at the time likely didn't have the same resolving power as the 7B's.
But to be practical, I do a lot of background listening and have music on most of the day. Using monoblocks with the heat, cost of 8 power tubes burning all day, etc likely wouldn't have been a good fit for me. I'm interested in trying a tube pre at some point though.
Hiya, DeeCee.
Echo is really close to where the downtown PDX Magnolia Audio store used to be on SW 10th & Washington. I don't remember Corner Audio so am not sure where they used to be.
I really, really like those speakers. Enjoy the audition!
DeeCee
"Music is what we like to play..."
Gotcha. I moved out of PDX in 1999, so my memory is dim... Corner Audio I believe was closer towards the park blocks (can't quite remember where). It was a LONG time ago...
The Aerial Acoustics model 7B is one of the most perfectly balanced speakers I have heard in my house (I’ve owned over 3 dozen pairs of speakers over 30 yrs). They measure ruler flat in the meat of the frequency spectrum (like a phono cartridge) and give you a warm detailed sound you seldom get from other modern speakers (reminiscent of the designer’s ADS/East Coast lineage). A bit laid back on first hearing but so so satisfying over the long haul, and yes, they like to be driven hard. But you have to use the right amp. I’ve had success with VTL, Krell and NAD. I’ve not heard Vincent but some hybrids (Counterpoint, Van Alstine, NYAL come to mind) might not be a good match for this speaker, though the lowly Pyle 990a drives it with aplomb. A lot depends on taste of course.
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DeeCee
"Music is what we like to play..."
You can add Odyssey Khartago to the list. Recently purchased this guy - really nice amp, inky black between notes and effortless oomph.
captouch
Addicted Member
Yeah, some have described them as “dark”, but they suit my tastes perfectly. I like warm/full/musical, but don’t want to give up too much detail in the process.
I’m still very happy with my 7B’s and don’t find myself looking for speaker ads at all. I’m using mine with a recapped McIntosh C35 and MC2255.
I recently got rid of my 7Bs. Finally got tired of their slow thick sound. Granted they have warm musical balance but have to say there is noticeable veiling compared to newer designs sporting more advanced drivers, even much cheaper ones. For example, my friend’s Fluance XL7F which he paid $500 brand new have more transparency and speed when A/B’d with my Aerials. I couldn’t believe my ears. It’s 1/10th the price! The Fluances were missing some of the deep bass and the bass definition wasn’t as good, but I was hearing things in the midrange and highs I never heard from the Aerials which sounded too syrupy and laid back. I have to say these Fluances bested the Aerials and even gave my brother’s prized Revel F32 a run for its money. What a bargain! I still think the 7Bs are great speakers but evidently time has marched on.
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DeeCee
"Music is what we like to play..."
Out of curiosity, what amps were driving the Aerials?
captouch
Addicted Member
I think it also really depends what kind of sound you have a preference for. I'm into non-fatiguing, warmer/fuller/musical sound vs every last bit of detail/transparency, because that can result in some listening fatigue (for me) after either longer periods of listening or at higher volumes. Plus, my listening rooms have tended to be on the harder side (HW floors, less furniture, etc), so something more laid back complemented the room better than something objectively forward/bright.
Aerials do have a reputation as a darker speaker though. So compared to some others, I can see them striking someone as veiled.
Driving my Aerials are two McIntosh MC-501 monoblock amplifiers. When powered with those the Aerials don't sound dark or indistinct to me.
There are a LOT of speakers out there that sound much too "bright" to me but then again, that's what I hear.
We all hear differently so we all have made choices based on that personal aspect and preference
There are a LOT of speakers out there that sound much too "bright" to me but then again, that's what I hear.
We all hear differently so we all have made choices based on that personal aspect and preference