170 Clones?

[Mag_Neato]

Has anyone seen the new XLS speakers from AV123? They are obviously aimed at the CBM-170's in size and driver configuration. With a maple veneer finish they are supposed to sell for $189/pr.

How could these possibly compete with the Ascends at that price? Is this a tactic by MLS to lure more market share for his meat-n-potatos products by actually losing money on a fish bait product? The only way these could compete with the 170's performance for under $200, IMO, is that they are a sacrificial lamb, much like Ford's Escort and Chevy's Cavalier/Cobalt.

If anyone was at the recent AV123 get together in Colorado and saw/heard these, what are your impressions?

[bikeman]

I'm looking at the whole "X" line as bait. Nothing wrong with that. Risky strategy but Mark does not seem to be risk averse.

David

[Kurt C.]

Can you post links to more information? Unless they have a 6.5 inch woofer and show as impressively flat a frequency response as the 170s, the price of $189 makes me think they are aimed more at potential Paradigm Atom/Athena AS-B1 buyers.

Assuming a typical listening room without acoustic treatments, both of those speakers have decent sound. In my opinion the 170s are the next logical step up and probably the best speaker under $1000/pair. The new av123s would have to be a hell of a speaker to challenge the supremacy of the 170s in this class.

Yes, you guessed correctly that I'm pooling my meager savings for 3 of 170s.

[Mag_Neato]

Seems like their having problems with their forum, so I can't link to it. When they are back up, it is under the Colorado get together thread.

They were supposedly the hit of the show.

[bikeman]

as impressively flat a frequency response as the 170s, the price of $189 makes me think they are aimed more at potential Paradigm Atom/Athena AS-B1 buyers.

AV123 dosen't post FR graphs. Most companies don't expecially at this end of the market. There are stated and unstated reasons and this has been talked to death on several forums including AV123.
Ascend handles things differently. That's one of the many reasons I chose to spend my money right here.

David

[BradJudy]

I was at the GTG, spent a lot of time with the speaker's designer (Danny Ritchie of GR Research), and actually measured the speakers (near-field and quasi-anechoic). They do measure very flat.

As for the cost, I don't expect Mark is taking a loss given that he doesn't have to pay a middle-man for cabinets and moves enough speakers to get components at good prices.

I'll hold any judgement on relative sound until I can listen to a final pair in my own home, but I will agree that they seem like they will challenge a lot of speakers out there (including more expensive ones in the AV123 lineup and Ascends).

[Quinn]

It is a very wise marketing move going after the entry level Paradigm Atom/Titan or Athena buyer. Don't forget SVS is jumping into the game too.

How are they voiced?

I saw the proto-type photo and the aerogel(?) driver in the pix did not have a phase plug like the 170 does. I'm assuming the 170 will have better detail and imaging just from not cutting that corner.

[MikeAndAnnie]

Here's an FR posted by MLS for the XL-S. its in the av123 forum as a July 11, 9:16am post:
http://forum.av123.com/showthread.ph...578#post165578


Pix:
http://forum.av123.com/attachment.php?postid=165578

Flat, but not super flat...

[Quinn]

If it truly gets into the 30s it is pretty safe to say it will not match the imaging or detail of the 170.

[Mag_Neato]

One mid/woofer producing bass in the 30hz range will definitely hinder the clarity of the midrange and imaging. I'd say even if it "only" hit in the 50hz range it would impair it.

As with any new product aimed at a benchmark, listening tests are mandatory.