Large ADVENT rated as $1000pr by Stereophile

[chadnliz]

I think they sound better than Zu Druids, but my laptop speakers do, as well, so that probably isnt saying much.

No that isnt lol, the Zu speakers are a love/hate speaker.......I dont really get the hype with them either but one of my really good friends who is also a audionerd was whisker close to buying some. A few years ago we flew to NYC for the big Stereophile show and he actually went back a second day just to hear an extended demo of them.......cant even recall why he didnt get them but he now owns Tannoy Glenair 15's.

 

[JohnVF]

Damn...and I've always thought that the $30 I paid for a pair of pristine New Advents was too much :scratch2: I know that they have a following but I've always found them fatiguing, too shrill and lacking midrange.

Heck, the pair I had were given to me...and I gave them back after 6 months. I felt the same as you, but everybody has their likes and dislikes.

 

[rifftrax]

you get a lot of speaker new these days for $1000.

Like a pair of these: http://hometheaterreview.com/paradigm-monitor-7-floorstanding-loudspeakers-reviewed/

I'm thinking that's prolly just a mite better than the 'ole large advents...

So, yes. Definitely a bit of a stretch on that one. There are probably some $500 new speakers that it can hold it's own against maybe.

 

[wwinkler]

$1.00 in 1970 had about the same buying power as $5.73 in 2010.

I purchased my pair of large Advents for $240 in 1970 at a hi-fi store a couple of blocks off campus. I subsequently purchased a second pair that I had connected to a Dynaco quad set up. By 1980, I think it was easy to purchase speakers that exceeded the Advents, particularly for the top end.

By 1990, I was able to get speakers (more expensive) that I felt substantially exceeded the large Advents. I gave my four Advents away because the cones on the drivers had deteriorated.

My rule-of-thumb is that there are substantial advances in speakers every 8-10 years.

 

[reggaenaut]

I know that they have a following but I've always found them fatiguing, too shrill and lacking midrange.

At least I am not alone.

 

[jdrum1]

This all comes down to the reoccurring argument of the merits of vintage verses new electronics. I personally love both. I enjoy finding great sounding deals (like my $40 Large advents) for cheap.

For me, I don’t get caught up in comparing new to old. They each have their purpose in my world of music. Doing so draws me away from the music and the fun of playing with the gear (of any age) that reproduces it.

 

[Andyman]

I just read this yesterday and it definitely raised my eyebrow. I think the claim that they're better than pretty much anything new under $1k is total bs, frankly. Especially after he went on and on about how they sound like the paper they're made out of, as well as numerous other harsh critiques - then he goes and makes a claim like that?! I have five pairs of 'new' speakers that were all under $1k, and none of them sound remotely like how he described these re-foamed Advents.

Well, I have to admit, Art Dudley pretty much put it all out there.....

Quoted directly from page 39..."I can't think of a $500 or even $1000 pair of loudspeakers made today that matches the Advent's very agreeable performance overall"

I like them and listened to a stacked set for a couple years out in the garage, but I'd have to admit that I think Art's being a bit too generous here...:yes:

 

[ybaolywa]

I read the article too and was surprised to see it in the magazine.
Big Advent fan here, and a fan of other vintage speakers such as JBL, Polk, Dahlquist, Realistic, KLH, BA, and so on. If a guy freely gave me 1000 dollars to get a new pair of speakers right now and toss the Advents, I'd tell them I'd rather spend it all on records...:thmbsp:

 

[chadnliz]

Well, I have to admit, Art Dudley pretty much put it all out there.....

Quoted directly from page 39..."I can't think of a $500 or even $1000 pair of loudspeakers made today that matches the Advent's very agreeable performance overall"

I like them and listened to a stacked set for a couple years out in the garage, but I'd have to admit that I think Art's being a bit too generous here...:yes:

Maybe he was trying to help out Stereophiles falling subsciptions by attempting to throw a bone to the Karmites? There is only a couple of explanations of his review.....glowing review. Drinking problem? Naked pics found of him with Fremers wife? Lost a bet?
Its gotta be something

 

[Isotonic]

Writers sometimes like to stir controversy. Look at this thread. More people know his name now, then before the article. And some strong thoughts are now associated with his name. Probably some of us will seek out his articles to see if we agree with him in the future...

 

[automojo]

$1.00 in 1970 had about the same buying power as $5.73 in 2010.

I purchased my pair of large Advents for $240 in 1970 at a hi-fi store a couple of blocks off campus. I subsequently purchased a second pair that I had connected to a Dynaco quad set up. By 1980, I think it was easy to purchase speakers that exceeded the Advents, particularly for the top end.

By 1990, I was able to get speakers (more expensive) that I felt substantially exceeded the large Advents. I gave my four Advents away because the cones on the drivers had deteriorated.

My rule-of-thumb is that there are substantial advances in speakers every 8-10 years.

I agree to a point on the advances. Perhaps better stated as efficiences of design, that enable manufactors to trickle down the higher end technologies to the lower and midrange models, as well as tweaking and correcting small design or implimination flaws.

The exception to this perhaps is the Heil, it seems to have slipped from affordability for many of us in new speakers, but luckily for a few of us who have found at bargin prices, and refreshed some of their classic designs (AMT 3), they still are affodable.

 

[JohnVF]

Writers sometimes like to stir controversy. Look at this thread. More people know his name now, then before the article. And some strong thoughts are now associated with his name. Probably some of us will seek out his articles to see if we agree with him in the future...

His columns are available on line, titled "listening" with Art Dudley on the Stereophile site, I think. He seems like a pretty open minded guy. But, I think that about a lot of the people that write for stereophile and read it regularly.

 

[chadnliz]

His columns are available on line, titled "listening" with Art Dudley on the Stereophile site, I think. He seems like a pretty open minded guy. But, I think that about a lot of the people that write for stereophile and read it regularly.

I just wish like here he would stay away from his polarizing political views.

 

[BT1000]

I never really understood the fascination with the Advents. They are fine, but I think I would take my KLH 17s over them, maybe. The Advents do have nice cabinets, heavy, as does the KLH 17s and several of the other favorite speakers I have here. One thing I stand behind is that you must have a thick heavy cabinet to begin with. If it's thin and flimsy, no bracing, then no amount of money spent on drivers is going to make them wonderful speakers. That's one major difference I see between new and old. The newer models over the years just got thin and light in regards to the cabinets. It costs less to make, and of course less to ship. I have a friend who has EPI mini towers that weigh 95lbs each and have extensive bracing as well. Can you imagine paying shipping today on 200lbs for a pair? The EPI drivers are nothing exotic by any means, yet the audio is tight and detailed. I contribute that a lot to the cabinet. My favorite speakers here are Genesis IIIs from 1980. They are thick and heavy and well braced, as are my EPI 200s. The EPI 200s have a double layer front baffle. The EPI 100 is another favorite and produces wonderful bass for its size. Again, a thick, heavy cabinet.

 

[kermit z]

I never really understood the fascination with the Advents. They are fine, but I think I would take my KLH 17s over them, maybe. The Advents do have nice cabinets, heavy, as does the KLH 17s and several of the other favorite speakers I have here. One thing I stand behind is that you must have a thick heavy cabinet to begin with. If it's thin and flimsy, no bracing, then no amount of money spent on drivers is going to make them wonderful speakers. That's one major difference I see between new and old. The newer models over the years just got thin and light in regards to the cabinets. It costs less to make, and of course less to ship. I have a friend who has EPI mini towers that weigh 95lbs each and have extensive bracing as well. Can you imagine paying shipping today on 200lbs for a pair? The EPI drivers are nothing exotic by any means, yet the audio is tight and detailed. I contribute that a lot to the cabinet. My favorite speakers here are Genesis IIIs from 1980. They are thick and heavy and well braced, as are my EPI 200s. The EPI 200s have a double layer front baffle. The EPI 100 is another favorite and produces wonderful bass for its size. Again, a thick, heavy cabinet.

I like my OLA's much more than my KLH 17's. Both recapped, the Advent sound much better IMHO. Obviously, the writer did not say they are worth 1000.00, but compared to the models in that range. Do they, IDK, but they work for me:thmbsp: And is that not the most important part of this whole hobby?

 

[Andyman]

Maybe he was trying to help out Stereophiles falling subsciptions by attempting to throw a bone to the Karmites? There is only a couple of explanations of his review.....glowing review. Drinking problem? Naked pics found of him with Fremers wife? Lost a bet?
Its gotta be something

I dunno, they did the PS1 review a while back, so they do seem to have some sort of interest in vintage/DIY....

 

[superdog]

I like my OLA's much more than my KLH 17's. Both recapped, the Advent sound much better IMHO. Obviously, the writer did not say they are worth 1000.00, but compared to the models in that range. Do they, IDK, but they work for me:thmbsp: And is that not the most important part of this whole hobby?

Another example of to each their own.I want to take a lot of stock in reviews but have learned that what one may like another may not.With that being I do take some stock in reviews but take it for what it is, one mans opinion.

 

[TOM1040]

I liked what they said about the JBL 1400 Array speakers.:yes:

 

[MeatInStereo]

I like my LA's...don't love them.
The bass is not room shaking by any matter...its average for the woofer size. The highs are ok...not as smooth as others i have heard in the same range.

I got them for 40 bucks on CL...to me they are about a $100 to $150 speaker.

My EPI M150 will blow them away.

My PSB Alpha's I got for $180 new sound way better then them IMO eben thoguht he bass probaly doesn't go as low but the mids and clarity make up for it.

1000 bucks....I don't think so....

 

[ssmith3046]

I love my NLA's. Recapped and refoamed. I play them with my KLH Model 5's and the two sound like they were made for each other. I have nothing against new speakers. I have a pair of B&W 685's for my front left and right speakers for my home theater system and hooked up to a Marantz CD player and they are great speakers. I was thinking about hooking up the B&W's to my vintage system ( Marantz 2265b and Dual 701 with a Shure V-15 III ) to see how they would sound just for the hell of it. Happy listening and be good to your ears.