salon de la hifi en hollande

[Archi]

je n'ai pas trouvé le prix des Symbol

Moi si et c'est quelque peu plus raisonnable par contre son rendement n'arrange pas les choses, donc pour le prix c'est presque 5000€.
Et pour ceux qui veulent une install HC il y a tout ce qu'il faut:
Attendez ou est la photo encore
Voilà:

avec les Symbol:

[Burndav]

la photo ?
celle ci :
????


En tout cas, le site c'est celui-ci : http://www.avalonmcs.com

Burndav' (qui n'a jamais vu d'enceintes centrales comme celle d'Avalon)

[Archi]

Un p'tit comment maintenant:

The Symbol is designed for both two-channel and multi-channel applications. When used as a two-channel transducer and employing setups similar to other Avalon Acoustics products, the lobe patterns will provide a tightly focused center image and broad stage width. As the speakers are moved further apart and toed in more severely a controlled "hole" will appear in the horizontal dispersion. The vertical and horizontal dispersion of the Center Channel fits precisely into this hole to create a smooth and uniform integration of the front channels. This technique eliminates many of the artifacts of a narrow polar response system that beams information from the loudspeakers as the program material pans through the various channels. We strive for a naturalness of presentation that recreates the ambience of the environment being shown on the screen. This is the first multi-channel system designed holistically to create space with a phase coherent blending of the satellites, and is ready for improvements in digital storage as we approach a purely discrete six or more channel system.

The Symbol Subwoofer is engineered from the ground up to provide prodigious amounts of extremely fast articulate low frequency output (full power to 20 Hz). The amplifier is designed by Avalon MultiChannel Systems with power adequate for the task. The Symbol Subwoofer will contain two Avalon MultiChannel Systems designed 12" drivers in a cabinet measuring approximately 40" W x 20" D x 20" H and weighing 145 lbs. Our amplifier is specifically designed for the system and incorporates single ended as well as balanced inputs. The user interface consists of a large digital display / control center for level matching and selectable room contouring. There is an expansion slot for future (yet to be determined) applications such as optional input/output configurations, adjustable filtration, direct digital input or room correction just to name a few possibilities.

The Center Channel measures 38" W x 9" D x 8" H and contains almost as many drivers as a pair of Symbols! There are three of the custom designed ceramic-coated woofers and two tweeters in each Center. We have also designed a proprietary machined mounting system for the Center. The Mount has been specifically engineered to provide an audible improvement by acoustically isolating it from the environment while at the same time offering a convenient and precise tilting mechanism for calibrating the wave launch of the Center Channel System. The entire assembly weighs approximately 52 lbs.

The key to the system is the integration of all of these elements. A revolutionary concept in polar response blending is at the heart of the superlative sonic that this system is capable of providing. For the first time, a theater system is capable of creating a spherically integrated sound field enveloping the listener. This system is so demonstrative of the edge of the art, that we were invited by the Audio Engineering Society to demonstrate the history of encoding of spatial information from mono to multi-channel using The Avalon MultiChannel System. We are still receiving accolades from the professional engineering community for the resolution and accuracy shown off in Los Angeles last September.

Although we are just beginning to ship the Center Channel and Subwoofer to consumers, the response to the Symbol as a two-channel transducer has been outstanding worldwide. Already reviews in Germany, Holland, Hong Kong and Taiwan have heralded the Symbol's performance for its staging, dynamics and transparency. Nothing in it's price range even comes close! (Their conclusion, not just ours)

Archi


PS: la centrale je la trouve vraiment splendide par contre son prix

[Archi]

Symbol Loudspeaker Review

by J. Pfeiffer (AUDIO Magazine/ Germany) May 2001



Joachim Pfeiffer is recognized around the world as one of the most influential and discriminating writers in the audio press. He is the Senior Editor of Germany's AUDIO magazine and has extensive experience with products from around the world that are at the cutting edge of technology in high-end audio.

Translation of the Avalon MultiChannel Systems Symbol loudspeaker review by Joachim Pfeiffer in AUDIO 5/2001.

I knew this speaker only from pictures and imagined it to be clearly larger, heavier, higher, wider and deeper. Instead of this I looked at a handsome, slim box with less then 16 kg weight a piece - a loudspeaker which at first sight you will never entrust its price quality ratio can be justified (we are talking about 10000 Mark per pair). Sorry, but the Symbol in the end is an Avalon. Created by Neil Patel, one of the few loudspeaker designers for whom my colleagues and myself show deepest respect.

In conversations with other loudspeaker designers, this name is mentioned more and more frequently. His sound tunings are a case study. How, for instance, he is able in the far more expensive model Eidolon N (test in our sister magazine AUDIOphile 2/2001), to conjure holographical, touching, acoustical pictures into the listening room, deserves unlimited respect. In contrast with other American super loudspeakers, like the sculptures from Wilson Audio, loudspeakers from Avalon haven't seemed to polarize customers. This applies to the sound, the building quality and the looks.

The first creation, which engendered this - from the stated foundations in the opening words - was the Symbol. A pure two-way system with two ceramic treated base-mid drivers and the famous titanium inverted dome from Focal for the imaging of the highest flute tones. Less wood, less cabinet for a lot of money. The competitors offer just over the magic 10000 Mark-hurdle grown up floor standers, which also descend into the deepest frequency fields. And already in the 4-digit range offerings are tempting, which are at first sight more promising then the Symbol. Knut Isberner, who took in the previous AUDIO issue a closer look at loudspeakers around 6000 Mark (page 30 onwards), joined my skepticism, when we at first tested the Symbol against exactly these speakers. There it stood, the dwarf, the expensive one, surrounded only by Goliaths - and was able to stand on its own.

Test criterion number one: Neutrality. Oh, how seductive the Symbol was shaking off the unequal competitors. It painted exemplary sound colors with a fine stroke, from soft pastel tones to powerful earthy colors. Even loudspeakers which proved to us a high level of neutrality in the listening room, which were also excessive in loss of tonal color, seem to "absorb" information in contrast with the small Avalon. With them, one could at most suspect a fine differentiation in the vocal range, with the Symbol the voices just were naturally there. It was no surprise that this candidate at the second test criterion, precision, had the upper hand again.

Limited by its construction's size, it's true the Symbol did not let you bathe into the lowest low frequency experiences. However, it showed the instruments in this spectrum in a very credible way. Something like a mighty percussion section intro (ca. 30 seconds), to be experienced on the otherwise unnecessary CD "Heart Beat" (42 minutes, 12 seconds) on track 6 (Don Johnson). Objectively the competitors reached lower regions when the base drums went into action, objectively the Avalon portrayed the event more subtly. And what about when the police call?

Third criterion: airiness. Here the Symbol "knocked" everything, which had been gathered in the listening room, simply "out". Not only that it was impossible to point out the location of the speaker source anyway, it knows how to build a stage as well, which was truly staggering in depth and width. I found it truly sensational how the small Avalon celebrated the portrayal of the height, how it was able to throw interpretations at a grand-size level with its modest height of 109 centimeters. No, not exaggerated - just right, realistic!

Liveliness: fourth touchstone and moreover one, which explains the qualities and quantities of a loudspeaker. A loudspeaker sounds "Lively" when it's able to sweep acoustically all around, cleverly and under control, and when it's not just murmuring on out of pure boredom. The Avalon Symbol has been fortunately and absolutely blessed with this virtue. With AUDIO this criteria includes also how loud a loudspeaker is able to play. That the Symbol can't obtain dream notes in this discipline is not surprising concerning its construction principles.

Measured at the mentioned conditions however, it just played flawlessly. It was able to fly at high volumes without compression effects, which will be branded as disturbingly loud by many neighbors. (Imagine, when they will actually call the police. The officers will enter your room and when they discover the supposed cause, Symbol, they will be sure they have made some mistake, and will mumble some apologies and will leave). What can be said about the fifth criterion, low frequency fundamentals, stems from the words aforesaid: The Avalon didn't go down as deeply, but it acted as if it was able to. So you won't miss anything. So, you must just BUY IT; The Symbol.

EXTRACT: Unbelievably refined constructed loudspeaker with excellent sound and Exemplary sound-staging combined with beautiful sound colors; radical uncritical positioning, does everything, apart from reproducing ultra low bass and playing ultra loud.

FINAL RESULTS: The Avalon Symbol knocked me out completely. Such a refined loudspeaker, graceful from its size and to that so "correct" sound from its reproduction qualities. I have rarely experienced before, and when I did, I had to pay a much higher amount for it. At picture from bottom side: Tradition- The connection board with screw binding posts is located - like with all Avalon models - at the bottom plate. It only allows cables, which are terminated with spades. Here its connection is ultra stable. Who wants, may screw spikes under the feet - they are included. At picture from base driver: Nothing will be spared on valuable materials: The cone-mid-base driver has a ceramic treatment. Two identical of these drivers are busy at work together in every Avalon Symbol.

Archi


En tout cas ça a l'air très prometteur