I cannot say enough good things about the Onix Srata Mini. Come to think of it I cant say one thing bad about the speaker. Usually a speaker will have its short comings in one form or another. I say this keeping in mind that this speaker was designed for two Chanel sampling only. This IS NOT a home theater speaker by a long shot.

setup was pretty straight forward as far as hook up went but I had to move them around a bit to find a prime spot for them. My first placement was wide by a bit and they sounded flat. I finally situated them at 12′ from my seated position and close to 12′ apart. The sub is crossed over at 150 hz and the gain is up just under 1/4 from off.

Its hard for me to describe the sound of this speaker. If a speaker can have a silky smooth and enticing sound this is it. These speakers really imerese one in there sound. Its easy when listening to these to get lost in them for long periods of time switching from one cd to the next. I remember when I played one track through these I thought the tweeter sounded funny, a little buzzing kind of noise. I replayed the same spot of the track and realized it was the air blowing through the instrument making the noise and not the tweeter! They are that clean and detailed. I played the same track through another pair of speakers and I could hear it, but only because I was listening for it and kneeling pretty close to them. A lesser speaker just does not have this kind of detail.

While playing the minis I realized what it was. This speaker brings everything in line musically concerning voices and instruments. Nothing is lost in the background. The sound can be layered but you will miss nothing in the track.

The Mini also wont work for you if you play a lot of hard rock or alternative. You can get away with it a lower volumes, but that 5 1/4 driver starts to work hard real quick if you get heavy on the volume button. I did play some trance (techno) through these and they did quit well. I actually liked the mini for trance but not anything beyond that. kept it to Jazz, classical, and anything with good vocals, and the Mini was right at home.

I say these are not good for h/t for a reason and it is not a negative at all. In comparison, speakers purposefully designed for h/t are like slamming mad dog 20/20 (I have never done that), where as the mini is like sipping a fine brandy, you let it slowly roll across your tongue and absorb every flavor and aroma. The Mini can work as h/t speakers for some people, roll enough of that brandy across your tongue and it will get you thier too.

Limited Edition – only fifty pairs will be produced per month.
Cabinet: Gorgeous real wood South American Rosewood veneer wrapped around a well-braced MDF frame.
System: Four way, four driver direct-radiating system. Sealed enclosure except for the 8” woofer which is ported via a flared slot.
Drivers: Planar magnetic 1″ tweeter, planar magnetic 8″ midrange, 5.25″ mid-bass coupler, 8″ mass-loaded woofer.
Amplifier: Built-in 350 watt class A/B for the powered woofer. Includes LINK cable so no additional speaker wire is required for connection. Features crossover, gain, variable phase and high level/low level inputs and outputs.
Crossover Network: Includes air core inductors, polypropylene capacitors and non-inductive wire wound resistors. 4th order acoustic slopes on the upper end and 2nd order slopes on the bottom end.
Crossover Points:
8″ woofer : 27 Hz - (user definable)
5.25″ has a 1st order high pass at 80Hz
5.25″ mid-bass coupler to 8″ midrange : 650Hz
8″ midrange to tweeter : 4100Hz
Frequency Response: 27 Hz to 35 KHz (± 3 dB)
Impedance: 8 Ohms nominal
Efficiency: 86 dB (@ 1 watt / 1 meter)
Dimensions: 47″ H x 17.5″ D x 11.5″ W (note on depth: 17.5″ is the deepest point at the bottom of the speaker. Depth reduces to 3″ at the top)
Weight: 94 lbs each (315lbs total shipped/crated/palletized)

Puyallup home audio direct sales and installs. Make an appointment to come by and audition the many products we have on hand for your home audio enjoyment.

Authorized dealer of all products carried.

Short list:
Yamaha
QSC
PSB
Onkyo
AV123
Velodyne
Aperion
Panamax
Emotiva
KEF
Sanus
Crest

Cell:
425-637-1729
Office:
253-447-4163

People are switching from standard to high definition TVs and home theater systems are in high demand. In order to enjoy the big screen many people love to have dlp projection tv at their home. In this increasing competition, the price of flat panel tv is decreasing.

Tags: Speakers by James
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Next to the Onix Reference .5 this is the smallest book shelf speaker I have to date. If you have ever used smallish book shelf speakers before and were not satisfied with thier performance (and I don’t blame you) give the Aperion Intimus 532 a try.

Gotta love a good gloss black finish on a speaker! As with the towers in the series fit and finish of these little bookshelf speakers is bar none. They are heavy to for thier size at 13lbs each. Weight and bracing has a lot to do with cabinet resonance. You want to hear the speaker and not the cabinet built around it. Made of solid 1″ HDF it passes the knuckle test with ease.

As with the Aperion 633 T these need a little time to break in and it helps relax the top end quite a bit. I wont go into the bass response with these because as with all smaller bookshelf speakers there really is none. These have a frequency response of 80 hz to 20 khz, you will need a sub to get any extension like any other of thier size. I mated these in stereo with dual piano rosewood X-subs from av123 and it was a perfect marriage between sub and speaker.

Though my room is fairly good sized I was surprised how well these handled movies and music that were a little more on the aggressive side. I didn’t hit any where near reference level but these got loud enough. I really enjoyed these paired with the subs in two channel, a very sweet, smooth sound. My other well liked bookshelf is the av123 RS250 which is bigger with its 6 1/2″ driver compared to the 532’s 5 1/4″ single driver. The 250 has a silky smooth and enticing top end whee the 532 is a little more forward. I like the clarity and detail of the 532 and though detailed, it never fatigued my ears even with long term listening sessions.

These would make incredible surround speakers due to thier size. If you have a smaller listening environment or don’t care to hit reference levels in bigger rooms, at $360 per pair and free shipping these would be very hard deal to beat.

Specs:
Frequency Response 80 Hz to 20 kHz
Impedance 8 Ohms
Sensitivity 88 dB
Recommended Power 50 - 150 Watts
Amplifier Power N/A
Tweeter 1” Silk Tweeter
Midrange
Woofer 5.25” Poly Mid-Woofer
Driver Configuration 2-Way
Enclosure Type Rear Ported
Dimensions 11.5″ H x 7.33″ W x 8″ D
Weight 13 lbs.

Related:

• Rocket 850’s Tower Speakers
• ONIX AV123 ERT

Onix Rocket 760’s

Aperion Intimus 633-T Tower Speakers

• Aperion 634-VAC Heavy hitter Center Channel
• Onix Reference 100 Cnenter Channel
• KEF IQ3 Book Shelf Speaker
• New addition to Speaker Line Up KEF IQ3 and IQ7 Pictures Included
• Rocket RS 250 MKII and the Omni Mount WB 30
• ONIX REFERRENCE .5 BOOK SHELF SPEAKER
• RSC200 BIGFOOT WITH THE NEWLY DESIGNED CROSS OVER
• JUST GOT THE ROCKET 450S IN DA HOUSE!! THE RIGHT AND LEFT HAND OF BIGFOOT.li>
• THE BIGGINS, UFW-12 POWER HOUSE SUBWOOFER

Tags: Speakers by James
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I have had some pretty large speakers in my possession but the biggest to date are the Onix Rocket 850. Measuring in at over 45″ high without floor spikes, and almost 12″ wide these things are impressive looking from a show off stand point. But retain an elegant look via thier tear dropped shape and of course the real rose wood veneer.

They have decent base extension going down to 36 hz and sound phenomenal for home theater. Using quad 5 1/4″ drivers, one 4″ mid range driver, and a vifa ring tweeter, they are a perfect timber, and sonic match to the RSC 200 (Big Foot) center channel.

As with the other speakers in the Rocket line they treat you well when you feed them well. not these wont do well with a receiver at 91.5 db efficiency rating but they open up with some really good juice flowing to them.

Most folks that have these will say they are one of the better choices for home theater in the Rocket line. Whereas the Rocket 760 is sort of a dual role speaker. At the time I had these I was running a SVS pb12+2 and had the low end covered. The impact detail and clarity for movies was beyond what words can describe. I could get all the volume out of these that I comfortably wanted and they could go a lot further. I noticed a lot of mid base impact and punch, sort of a hit you in the chest during explosions. Nice clean highs with detail and not over bearing at higher volumes. These would be suitable for larger media rooms without a problem, 4000 cubic ft. and up.

Placing these was not demanding at all, although I did use a laser to align them for the sweet spot. When I align for h/t use I don’t usually ping the tweeter between the eyes, but rather 6 to 8″ from the side of the left and right ear. That away I feel you still get a great two channel experience and keep a fairly wide sound stage on and off axis.

Specs:
System: 3-way, six-driver direct-radiating system, vented enclosure with two rear-firing flared ports
Drivers: Vifa Ring Radiator tweeter, four custom 5.25″ long-throw aluminum cone woofers, one custom 4″ aluminum cone midrange
Crossover Points:
Tweeter at 2750Hz
Midrange at 680Hz - 2750Hz
Frequency Response: 36 Hz to 20 KHz (± 3 dB)
Impedance: 8 Ohms nominal
Efficiency: 91.5dB (@ 1 watt / 1 meter)
Dimensions: 45.5″ H x 15.6″ D x 11.8″ W
Weight: Ship weight 100 lbs each; 200lbs/pair

Related:

• ONIX AV123 ERT

Onix Rocket 760’s

• Aperion Intimus 633-T Tower Speakers
• Aperion 634-VAC Heavy hitter Center Channel
• Onix Reference 100 Cnenter Channel
• KEF IQ3 Book Shelf Speaker
• New addition to Speaker Line Up KEF IQ3 and IQ7 Pictures Included
• Rocket RS 250 MKII and the Omni Mount WB 30
• ONIX REFERRENCE .5 BOOK SHELF SPEAKER
• RSC200 BIGFOOT WITH THE NEWLY DESIGNED CROSS OVER
• JUST GOT THE ROCKET 450S IN DA HOUSE!! THE RIGHT AND LEFT HAND OF BIGFOOT.

Tags: Speakers by James
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I am not much for spending money on something that I think might or could improve my audio setup. Things like super high priced audio cables and speaker wires that cost more than my Onix Reference 3’s alone (over 3g). I like adding bigger speakers and power amps which provide an up front in your face difference. You know, improvments that add up quick to a big difference in sound and performance.

I do use and recommend one item though that has changed my thinking on this a little. Its not snake oil and it does work, though it is hard to describe in words the effect this add on can create with your existing speakers. The ERT (Extended Range Tweeter) by av123 si the little unit I am talking about.

The Onix Reference 3’s come with these incorporated and built into the speaker. Before I had the ref 3’s though I had a pair of Rocket 760’s with a Bigfoot (RSC200) center channel all of these came with a tweeter of course (Vifa Ring) but not an ERT. So I purchased three of the ERT’s one for each speaker up front. I didn’t notice much at first, but as I listened to more music and movies the difference with and without became apparent. yes I did do switch outs to see if the differences were real or not and they were. Not a big change but a welcome one at any rate.

Its not like running with and without a tweeter, though you can hear the ERT, but more like a play on the senses. The ERT goes above and beyond what the human ear can hear, but it creates a more open and revealing top end, a complement to your existing tweeter. I did notice them during a scene in a movie, I cant remember which one, where bats came flying out of a cave.Humans can only hear sound up to about 16KHz (that’s 16,000 cycles per second). Bats emit sounds at typically 2 or 3 times higher pitch than we can hear, but with the ERT’s in the mix re creating that ultra sonic sound, it sounded like those nasty little suckers were right there and flying all around chirping.

ERT specs:

Driver: Magnetostatic Super Tweeter
Frequency Response: 8KHz – 45KHz (+/- 3dB)
Crossover Points: 11KHz & 15KHz
Gain: Stepped attenuator for controlling output. Four available output levels: 92dB, 90.5dB, 89dB and 87.5dB @ 1w/1M
Connection: Includes one pair of 5 foot (1.52M) one crystal OFC wires for connecting to your speaker’s binding posts
Impedance: 4 ohms
Sensitivity: 92dB (@ 1 Watt / 1 Meter). Each pair of Onix ERT’s are precisely measured for mutually matched sensitivity.
Dimensions: (WxDxH) 12.0 x 13.0 x 12.8 cm
Weight: 2.0 Kgs / pair

Related:

• Onix Rocket 760’s
• Aperion Intimus 633-T Tower Speakers
• Aperion 634-VAC Heavy hitter Center Channel
• Onix Reference 100 Cnenter Channel
• KEF IQ3 Book Shelf Speaker
• New addition to Speaker Line Up KEF IQ3 and IQ7 Pictures Included
• Rocket RS 250 MKII and the Omni Mount WB 30
• ONIX REFERRENCE .5 BOOK SHELF SPEAKER
• RSC200 BIGFOOT WITH THE NEWLY DESIGNED CROSS OVER
• JUST GOT THE ROCKET 450S IN DA HOUSE!! THE RIGHT AND LEFT HAND OF BIGFOOT.

Tags: Speakers by James
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Shots of the 760’s on the left and the ref 3’s on the right.

The first pair of speakers I purchased from av123 were the Rocket 760’s. I received these with the matching center channel the Big Foot RSC 200. I remember being so nervous placing that order because I had never bought anything online before and was very used to buying compulsively.

I don’t like to wait for things, I want them now. But this time instead of running down to the nearest a/v store to buy something different for my setup, I decided to try a little patience. It payed off in a big way! I have not set foot in a local audio store for two years now, when I used to go just to look multiple times per month. If you are one of those hesitant to buy online because its not the norm or what you are used to, try it, you will like it:) You get more for your money, plain and simple. I have experienced some of the best customer service and support via online shopping through these audio companies. They have to due to reputation with us the buyer. These companies know that to keep a loyal following they will have too serve there customers in a new and different way. After all everyone who takes the plunge into the online buying world, its a different way of shopping.

As with most speakers the 760’s needed some time to “break in” but I was floored by thier performance right out of the box. These speakers have been described as more musical, in the rocket line up, but I found they were perfect for both music and movies. They do have a little darker sound to them. The Rockets are known for being laid back and not bright. I have heard all in the Rocket line save for the 1000’s. The 450’s and the 850’s have the same sound characteristics to them but the 760’s has a meatier bottom end and a darker top end. If you have bright reflective room and think the highs could get shrill this is the speaker I would go with.

One could easily run the 760’s without a sub in a smaller room with a higher end receiver. But if you have a bigger room, a sub may be necessary. These are a power hungry speaker and I would advise with or without a sub you upgrade your receiver if it is rated less then a 100 watts. At the time I was running a Denon 3805 which seemed to handle these just fine with the sub turned on and the internal cross over set at 80hz to the 760’s. I later added a separate amp, the Emotiva DMC-1, and it really juiced things up! So with these you have the option to enjoy them now with whatever you are using to power them but also the ability to upgrade your amplification and gain almost a whole new speaker.

Specs:
System: 3-way, five-driver direct-radiating system, vented enclosure with three rear-firing flared ports.
Drivers: Vifa Ring Radiator tweeter, two custom 5.25″ long-throw mid-woofers, two custom 6.5″ aluminum cone bass woofers.
Frequency Response: 36 Hz to 20 KHz (± 3 dB)
Crossover Points:
Midrange: 180 Hz – 1.75 kHz
XT tweeter: 1.75 kHz – 20 kHz
Impedance: 8 Ohms nominal
Efficiency: 87dB (@ 1 watt / 1 meter)
Dimensions: 43.5″ H x 15.5″ D x 9.5″ W
Weight: 94 lbs./pc shipped

Related:

• Aperion Intimus 633-T Tower Speakers
• Aperion 634-VAC Heavy hitter Center Channel
• Onix Reference 100 Cnenter Channel
• KEF IQ3 Book Shelf Speaker
• New addition to Speaker Line Up KEF IQ3 and IQ7 Pictures Included
• Rocket RS 250 MKII and the Omni Mount WB 30
• ONIX REFERRENCE .5 BOOK SHELF SPEAKER
• RSC200 BIGFOOT WITH THE NEWLY DESIGNED CROSS OVER
• JUST GOT THE ROCKET 450S IN DA HOUSE!! THE RIGHT AND LEFT HAND OF BIGFOOT.
• THE BIGGINS, UFW-12 POWER HOUSE SUBWOOFER

Tags: Speakers by James
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The first set that I received in was the Aperion Intimus 633-T Tower Speaker ($1000)  and the Aperion Intimus 634-VAC  center channel Speaker ($500). I received these in medium cherry for the towers and piano black for the center. Wanted to see what both finishes looked like. I wont go into to much detail about the fit and finish but suffice it to say that I was completely shocked at how good they looked in contrast to the asking price.

I think out of all the speakers I have heard these have to be the best bang for the dollar. Keep in mind that is to date:) Some one is always waiting around the corner to up the anti. The 633s have extremely good bass response and as well they should with the dual 6.5″ drivers and a single front oriented 3″ port. Bass response was not boomy but very well controlled and accurate. the mids were not nasally or chesty but pretty close to spot on. The 1″ silk dome tweeter has a really smooth characteristic to it. you wont lack any detail from this tweeter and yet it will never reach out and bite you at higher volumes like some speakers have the tendency to do.

I might also mention that these do need some break in time. They were a little bright at first but after about 30 hrs they really smoothed out. Out of all the speakers I have had the chance to listen too for an extended period of time, I noticed a difference with break in time on these the most.

I found these very easy to drive with a receiver also. In testing I used the Yamaha RX-v2700 and the Yamaha Rx-v361 receivers. Both did just fine at all volume levels especially with a sub incorporated into the mix covering the low end. With sensitivity rating at 90db you don’t need a power house to get great results.

Here are the specs for the Intimus 633-T Tower Speaker:

Intimus 633-T Tower Speaker
Frequency Response 38 Hz to 20 kHz
Impedance 6 Ohms
Sensitivity 90dB
Recommended Power 50 - 300 Watts Per Channel
Amplifier Power  
Tweeter 1” Silk Tweeter
Midrange  
Woofer Dual 6.5” Carbon Fiber Mid-Woofers
Driver Configuration 2-Way
Enclosure Type Front Ported
Dimensions (Including Base) 41.5″ H x 10.25″ W x 18.25″ D
Weight 70 lbs.

Reviews:
 
Enjoy The Music 633-T Tower Speaker Review
Type: Professional Review
Comments: “I truly enjoyed the time I spent with the Aperion Audio 633T’s. Their clean sound  and drop dead good looks were a welcome addition to all of the systems I had them in. As I stretch my memory banks back to that series of affordable (sub $1k) speakers I wrote, the Aperion 633T’s would have faired extremely well. Top to bottom they take a very even handed approach to music. The are clean and clear without trying to be hyper-detailed. They have way more bass grunt than the vast majority speakers I’ve heard in this price range. And it isn’t bass for bass sakes, it’s done really well. There isn’t an excessive amount of coloration and all but the lowest half octave is reproduced very well. That’s pretty darned impressive for a $1000 pair of speakers.

When it comes to construction and appearance, the 633T’s would definitely landed near the top of the list. The finish on these speakers is spectacular. Couple that with the 1-inch HDF cabinet and you’ve got a speaker that should last a lifetime. The best part of what I found living with the 633T’s was that it let me bring great sounding music back to my main living space. Accurate sounding music has been missing from my living room for almost ten years now since I moved my reference listening system into my basement.

If you are seriously considering a pair of speakers that are truly audiophile quality, you should take Aperion up on their very generous, no risk in home trial offer. Lets face it, in the audiophile world, there isn’t a ton of really good gear to pick from in the $1000 price range, especially when it comes to floor standing speakers.

If you are an audiophile on a budget, looking for the biggest bang for the buck possible, you really need to consider the Aperion 633T’s for your system. Though not perfect, at the extremely affordable entry price of $1000, you likely won’t find much better in a full range speaker.

Its always fun finding great sounding, affordable gear. Highly recommended!”

-Scott Faller, Enjoy The Music, October 2006

Professional Review
Comments: “Buying a thousand dollar pair of speakers can be a real crapshoot.  The competition is fierce and there are a number of good products, but I nominate the 633’s for the top of the heap award, as these are one of the best sounding speakers I have heard in this price range.”

- Jeff Dorgay, March 2006
 
Professional Review
Comments: “If you’re shopping in this price range—or even if your budget is two or three times higher—I highly recommend checking them out.”

I could happily live with the Aperion system over the long haul. And the opportunity Aperion provides for auditioning their speakers in your own space and at your own pace is icing on the cake. If you’re shopping in this price range—or even if your budget is two or three times higher—I highly recommend checking them out.

-Thomas J. Norton, Ultimate AV, December 2005

 

Related:

• Aperion 634-VAC Heavy hitter Center Channel
• Onix Reference 100 Center Channel
• KEF IQ3 Book Shelf Speaker
• New addition to Speaker Line Up KEF IQ3 and IQ7 Pictures Included
• Rocket RS 250 MKII and the Omni Mount WB 30
• ONIX REFERRENCE .5 BOOK SHELF SPEAKER
• RSC200 BIGFOOT WITH THE NEWLY DESIGNED CROSS OVER
• JUST GOT THE ROCKET 450S IN DA HOUSE!! THE RIGHT AND LEFT HAND OF BIGFOOT.
• THE BIGGINS, UFW-12 POWER HOUSE SUBWOOFER

Tags: Speakers by James
1 Comment »

My biggest pet peeve with speakers is usually with the wimpy center channel some companies will put out with thier towering tower speakers. The center just wont keep up in bigger rooms, or does so but sounds like poo doing it. I have found two center channel speakers that have really lit my fire. There are other good ones out thier, they cost more.

The flag ship center offered by aperion was, is ,one of the best sounding center I have heard yet for under $500. In fact I did a comparison with another company’s well regarded center which was twice the price and the differences between the two were not worth mentioning. In other words there were hardly any.

I was completely surprised. explosions in movies sounded like explosions, like you were right thier in the middle of the action. The ability of this center to reproduce male and female vocals in movies and music was astounding. This center pushed by a 200 watt amplifier  the MPS-1 by Emotiva is definitely a heavy hitter. At reference levels the Aperion 634-VAC didn’t give up an inch and begged for more. The center was crossed over at 70 hz via the Emotiva DMC-1. Using the Yamaha RX-v2700 was still a thrill even with its less rated power. I think the 634 would do just fine with a receiver power abilities.

Did the knuckle rap test on the side of the 634 and it produced a solid knock, no echo or hollow sound to it. A very solid build. Not sure what Aperion did with this center to keep the price down and yet the quality of the sound so good but they nailed it spot on.

No weak link with the 634-VAC Aperion center. But if you want to spend 1k feel free to do so:)

Below are the specs for the Aperion Intimus 634-VAC Center Channel Speaker.

Frequency Response (+/- 3dB) 68-20,000 Hz, (+/- 6dB) 59-22,000 Hz
Impedance 8 Ohms
Sensitivity 88 dB
Recommended Power 50-200 Watts
Amplifier Power N/A
Tweeter 1” Silk Tweeter
Midrange 5.25” Poly Midrange
Woofer Dual 6.5” Carbon Fiber Mid-Woofers
Driver Configuration 3-Way
Enclosure Type Sealed
Dimensions 8.5″ H x 25″ W x 11″ D
Weight 39 lbs

Reviews:

Professional Review
Comments: “Overall, I am extremely impressed and quite satisfied as an audiophile with the 634-VAC center channel. The frequency response is quite good from top to bottom. The Voice Right circuitry doesn’t appear to detract much from the presentation of music or movies, at least that I’ve noticed. The 634 is a very musical as a center channel to boot. When playing a wide selection of tunes from Jazz to the Blues to heavy Industrial, it performed quite well.”
-Scott Faller, Enjoy The Music, March 2007

Related:

• Onix Reference 100 Center Channel
• KEF IQ3 Book Shelf Speaker
• New addition to Speaker Line Up KEF IQ3 and IQ7 Pictures Included
• Rocket RS 250 MKII and the Omni Mount WB 30
• ONIX REFERRENCE .5 BOOK SHELF SPEAKER
• RSC200 BIGFOOT WITH THE NEWLY DESIGNED CROSS OVER
• JUST GOT THE ROCKET 450S IN DA HOUSE!! THE RIGHT AND LEFT HAND OF BIGFOOT.
• THE BIGGINS, UFW-12 POWER HOUSE SUBWOOFER

Tags: Speakers by James
1 Comment »

I had placed myself on the preorder list for the Onix Reference 100 about a month ago but was told I was #15 in line to get one of ten. Didn’t think I would get one beings they are in high demand now that the new strata mini has just come out and folks are picking these up for the center.

Well I get sent tracking info today and low and behold….the ref100 is on its way! Now I previously had one of these beauties in my possession and let it go with the idea of changing up the system in home. Well I decided to snag it again.

Beings I already have a pair of the AV123 Reference 1s and Reference 3s this will be a matched center for either set.

Like the AV123 RSC200 this center can belt it out for movies but is incredibly at home for music, DTS audio and DVDa. The ref 100 is just plain beautiful to listen to. It does have fairly good bass extension but really excels in the mid to high frequencies. Very smooth mid range and detailed highs. Male voices sound like, well men, and the same for female vocals. The sound is very realistic, not bloated nor is it lost among the mains.

Though this is not the biggest center on the block its no wimp either. At $850 this center sounds better than its price. The ref100 can go toe to toe with either the ref1 or the burly ref3 and not skip a beat.

The reference 100 does not lack anywhere unless you have a really large room. Then it is time for the 70″ wide ref200….but that will be another post:)

Specs:
System: 2-way dual rear-vented center channel loudspeaker
Drivers: (2) Atohm 5.25″, (1) Vifa XT Concentric Ring Radiator
Crossover: 4th Order
Finish: Birds Eye Maple or Piano Black Lacquer
Frequency Response: 40Hz - 35kHz (+/- 3dB)
Impedance: 4 Ohm
Efficiency: 88 dB (@ 1 Watt / 1 Meter)
Bi-Wire: No
Dimensions: (WxDxH) 22″ x 10.75″ x 8.75″
Weight: 40 lbs. / each

As the technology is developing every day, demand of standard color tv is decreasing because most of the people are switching to home theatre systems. The digital audio cable is used in sound system and the demand of this cable is very high.

Tags: Speakers by James
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I am not a big fan of book shelf speakers though I do own a few pair, I prefer towers. I just picked up a couple pair of speakers from the KEF line for an audition.

The KEF IQ3 is a rather large bookshelf. In comparison to the X series from AV123 it has a more lively top end. Some like that sound as do I but I get a hankering to listen to the XLS from time to time and do enjoy them equally as much.

I found the IQ3 to to be great for both music and movies and I actually liked it better then the IQ7 for music. The IQ3 have the edge over the 7 in musicality. They have a more refined and accurate mid to top end. With a sub they would do well for movies in a smaller room but I would go with either the KEF IQ7 or IQ9 if you are a serious movie buff.

Using the Yamaha RX-V361 I was able to play these at pretty high volume without any distortion and they never sounded fatiguing did however when playing movies start to struggle through some heavy passages. As with any smaller speaker they do have thier limits and if you have a large room or are really serious about h/t get the towers.

I took a few shots of the IQ 3s and though you cant see it they are also like the rest of the IQ line up vinyl wrapped. KEF did a good job of making them look like a real wood veneer so they don’t look tacky. The IQ line comes in three different colors, maple, walnut,and black. A nice variety to match ones home decor. All Iq series speakers come with Bi-wire or bi-amplification terminals and Oxygen free copper audiophile linking wires.

IQ3

Power Handling: 15 - 120 Watts

Nominal Impedance: 8 Ohms

Tweeter: One KEF UNI-Q Array — 0.75″ Aluminum-Dome HF Driver At Acoustic Center Of 6.5″ Titanium-Coated, Mid-Range Cone

Crossover Frequency: 2.8 kHz

Frequency Response: 45 Hz - 40 kHz

Magnetic Shielding: YES

Sensitivity: 89 dB (2.83 Volts @ 1 Meter)

Maximum Output: 110 dB SPL @ 1 Meter

Two-Way Bass Reflex System

Dimensions (Each): 14.4″ H x 8.7″ W x 12.9″ D

Weight (Each): 14.8 Pounds

Car enthusiasts want quality car stereos for their cars. Proper terminals optimize the quality of these sound systems. Combination of capacitors should be used in these systems according to professional guidance. In the manufacturing of these systems, different types of adaptors are also used.

Tags: Speakers by James
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We recently picked up KEF speakers to carry through our Bonney Lake home theater installation company. Speakers from Aperion and AV123 were the first two lines that we actively sold and installed. We at times ran into issues with folks not familiar with Internet home audio products and decided to jump into a more known by name speaker brands.

I have since been able to audition two sets from KEF, the IQ 7 floor standing tower and the IQ3 book shelf. Below are the specs for the IQ7.

Specifications:
iQ7

Power Handling: 15 - 150 Watts
 
Nominal Impedance: 8 Ohms
 
One KEF UNI-Q Array — 0.75″ Aluminum-Dome HF Driver At Acoustic Center Of 6.5″ Titanium-Coated, Mid-Range Cone
 
One 6.5″ Long Throw LF Bass Driver With Ultra-Low Distortion Motor System And Natural Fiber-Loaded Paper Cone
 
Crossover Frequency: 250Hz - 2.8kHz
 
Frequency Response: 40Hz - 40kHz
 
Thermally-Formed, High-Density MDF, Elliptical Enclosures With Massive Internal Bracing Minimize Distortion
 
Magnetic Shielding For Video Applications
 
Fully-Shrouded Terminals With Oxygen-Free Copper Wiring
 
Luxurious Wood-Veneer Finish
 
Sensitivity: 90 dB (2.83 Volts/1 Meter)
 
Maximum Output: 111 dB
 
Dimensions: 37″ H x 8.7″ W x 12.9″ D
 
Weight: 36.6 Pounds

 I am used to the AV123 rockets and reference series speakers. The AV123 products are built like tanks and weigh in as much. The equivalent Rocket speaker to the KEF IQ7 weighs twice as much, but does cost more. The IQ7 is also a very short standing speaker. Even with spikes inserted it doesn’t quite get the tweeter up to ear level from the seated position.

A far as sound quality goes, I was very happy with the sound of the KEFs. I thought that they might sound boomy or tiny but they didn’t. Even though they don’t have the heft to them that some speakers do, you don’t hear it when playing them. No cabinet resonance noise at all. 

One welcome feature that I readily took advantage of was the ability to plug the ports, and KEF supplies the port plugs. I have played around with sealing up other speakers before and have always liked the sound of sealed speakers to ported. The KEFs are not boomy by any means but it really helped to tighten things up. Quick and snappy were the base response. Though these would work well for home theater use they really excel when playing classical or jazz.

My only dislike of the KEFs were the Vinyl wrap around instead of a real wood veneer. But this is not a knock to the speaker beings you wont find real wood veneers in this price range anyway. The sound is what matters the most and I was was very pleased.

Check these pictures out.

 Related:

• Rocket RS 250 MKII and the Omni Mount WB 30
• ONIX REFERRENCE .5 BOOK SHELF SPEAKER
• RSC200 BIGFOOT WITH THE NEWLY DESIGNED CROSS OVER
• JUST GOT THE ROCKET 450S IN DA HOUSE!! THE RIGHT AND LEFT HAND OF BIGFOOT
• THE BIGGINS, UFW-12 POWER HOUSE SUBWOOFER
• USED AV123 ONIX REFERENCE 3 HOME THEATER SPEAKERS FOR SALE $2000

Tags: Speakers by James
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