[Loftprojection]

I'm quite tempted by the A/V series but where I live I wont be able to demo them before buying.  I would build the A/V-3 for my main stereo music listening.  

So I'd like to at least have an idea of the "house" sound when compared to commercial speakers on the market.  I know each have their own personnality but hey, I would at least have something to reference to.  I've listened to a lot of speakers in the $500 to $2000 range and most of the time, a company has a few caracteristics in it's sound that you get in most of their models.

I'll tell you a bit the speakers companies I've heard through the years, if you have one that really sounds like the A/V but is not listed here then just list it and I'll try to find a store that has them for a listen.

So, I've heard multiple models of Meadowlark, Proac, B&W, Opera, Quad, Totem, Monitor Audio, Triangle and PSB.   I also own NHT 1.3 and 1.1 speakers for several years now.  I really like the sound of most Meadowlark, Proac and Opera models.    I like sweet but detailed highs, a fair presence but not boomy bass and mostly sweet and involving voices.

Thanks much.

[Loftprojection]

Well a lot of people read my post but no reply so I guess either nobody really compared their A/V to commercial speakers or they really sound unique!  haha

Anyway, I've tried all sorts of search criteria and I can't find much reviews either.  The GR-Research page says there are a lot of reviews all over forums so maybe it's just me who is too dumb to get the search criterias right.  It's also difficult to search with "gr /space/ research" or "A/V-3", I mean those are really common words that you find in so many different fields.  

So would anyone be nice enough to point me out a few reviews, either magazines or from owners where I could have a feel of what type of sound characteristics and personality I can expect from the A/V-3 or 2.  I already read one or two writeups in this forum here plus one that Danny pointed out at Home Theater Spot.

Thanks for your help.

[mpauly]

I don't own any GR's yet, but I put in a search for review here on audiocircle and specify the 'GR Research' forum and found the following pretty easilly:

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=23001&highlight=review
http://www.hometheaterspot.com/htsthreads/tech-review.php?rev=68

and then a google search for "GR Research" review (be sure to put the GR Research in quotes) and found these (not just av3's)

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_10_2/gr-research-av1-speakers-5-2003.html
http://www.audiodiycentral.com/r_criterion.shtml
http://www.audioasylum.com/audio/reviews/review.pl?Action=FindCat&CategoryID=Speakers

Good luck

[Loftprojection]

Thanks mpauly, I didn't know that trick in Google with the ""  Please don't laugh, I'm certainly not a reference in internet usage!  hahaha

I had seen two of your links but got some interesting stuff in the others as well.  Too bad there isn't much about the A/V-3, I guess they have similar sound caracteristics to the A/V-1 but it's also a MTM design with a transmission line so they must be still quite different.  

I have to say the A/V kits are very tempting.  However speakers sound is so personal that it is difficult to buy something without listening to it or having a direct comparison to other speakers you already know!  Ho well, I guess this is part of the risk you have to take for paying way less then buying commercial speakers.

[Danny Richie]

Ho well, I guess this is part of the risk you have to take for paying way less then buying commercial speakers.

For whatever it is worth, I know of none that have been disappointed, but stories of A/V series speakers replacing much more expensive and well known speakers abound.

I don't think of them in the terms of a house sound or very many other speakers that have a similar sound. Most of those that you listed I find hard to listen to.

I would characterize the sound of the A/V series in general as being well balance and smooth from end to end. They are probably more known for the lushness of the midrange as much as anything.

If it says anything about me (the designer) I have found some of the Usher models to have a similarly good sound, and I have enjoyed listening to some of them.