AV123 reviews

[PopDisplay]

Can anybody direct me to a mainstream publication's review of AV123's Rocket speakers?

I can't find anything, anywhere.

I bought the 2009 Home Theater Buyer's Guide. Every Speaker manufacturer I ever heard of is listed. Yet, there is no mention of AV123 in the speaker or subwoofer listings.

Is this company for real? Why is it so challenging to find press on their products?

Does the mainstream media consider AV123 beneath their standards for consideration? Is AV123 an internet version of a "White Van"?

Thanks,

Dave

 

[mazersteven]

http://av123.com/content/category/1/1/147/

 

[Matt34]

Can anybody direct me to a mainstream publication's review of AV123's Rocket speakers?

I can't find anything, anywhere.

I bought the 2009 Home Theater Buyer's Guide. Every Speaker manufacturer I ever heard of is listed. Yet, there is no mention of AV123 in the speaker or subwoofer listings.

Is this company for real? Why is it so challenging to find press on their products?

Does the mainstream media consider AV123 beneath their standards for consideration? Is AV123 an internet version of a "White Van"?

Thanks,

Dave

What do you consider mainstream because I found six with a quick google search? Audioholics, Sensible Sound, Soundstage, 6moons, Stereo Mojo and ultimateavmag among others have done "professional" reviews on their products.

Edit: Or Mazer's link.

 

[PopDisplay]

By mainstream I meant a print magazine or independant website like cnet.

I searched by Google and came up with little; considering the length of time that the Rocket speakers have been available.

Mazur- I discount the "reviews" found on AV123's website as being biased. Would you expect to find a negative review on their own website?

The more I research this company, the more I am concerned that they are the internet equivalent of a "White Van".

How can they discount their products, often and continuously down by as much as 54% and still turn a profit?

With regard to the RS850 5.1 kit :

separate component prices total $3500
recent "sale" prices include $2250 and $1999
current "sale" price is $1700 and it includes a "free" $199 X-head amp

It's just like a "white van" pitch--- "Hey man, this high tech gear sells for $3500. Would you be happy if I sold it to you for $3000? No? How about $2250? Wait, don't walk away! How about $1999? You're kidding!?! Still not good enough? How about $1699 and I'll throw in a headphone amp that normally sells for $199? C'mon, that $3700 worth of gear for less than half price!"

"Deal? Great! You won't be sorry. Hey, I forgot to mention... You don't mind if I take your money now and send you the speakers when the boat from China docks at some point the future, do you? Also, I need to ask for another $300 for freight. Will they deliver to your home? Sorry, for $300 you gotta drive to the truck terminal and get them home yourself.

 

[mike c]

print magazines are useless. they're basically advertisements with articles.

 

[Matt34]

By mainstream I meant a print magazine or independant website like cnet.

I searched by Google and came up with little; considering the length of time that these speakers have been available.

Mazur- I discount the "reviews" found on AV123's website as being biased. Would you expect to find a negative review on their own website?

The more I research this company, the more I am concerned that they are the internet equivalent of a "White Van".

How can they discount their products, often and continuously down by as much as 54% and still turn a profit?

They are not a white van speaker company. It's the owners business model allotting for the number of sales and the margins they sell their product at for better or worse. They are definitely going through some problems but they aren't about to just up and vanish.

I've owned a number of their speakers now and they are a company people should check out when considering new speakers. They would not be my first recommendation however and you should do you research on availability before buying.

 

[clthoma2]

Definitely not white van speakers.

A friend of mine just bought AV123 ELT525s and I can honestly say that the build quality is some of the best that I have ever seen, especially in this price range. I haven't had a chance to listen to them yet, but I have no doubt that they will sound good after reading all of the reviews on audioholics and avsforum. It is always going to be difficult for an internet direct company to break in to "main-stream" publications due to their marketing approach. I think these forums are as unbiased as you can find in terms of reviews and opinions. Just my 2 cents.

 

[PopDisplay]

While I hold Audioholics in high regard, can you be sure that all of the favorable reviews are posted by unbiased members?

An anonymous message board offers an excellent forum for less than honest contributions.

I guess what I'm after is to find an article, written by a reliable and unbiased 3rd party, that sings AV123's virtues and glorifies their products.

Can you direct me to such an article?

 

[mazersteven]

The more I research this company, the more I am concerned that they are the internet equivalent of a "White Van".

How can they discount their products, often and continuously down by as much as 54% and still turn a profit?

With regard to the RS850 5.1 kit :

separate component prices total $3500
recent "sale" prices include $2250 and $1999
current "sale" price is $1700 and it includes a "free" $199 X-head amp

It's just like a "white van" pitch--- "Hey man, this high tech gear sells for $3500. Would you be happy if I sold it to you for $3000? No? How about $2250? Wait, don't walk away! How about $1999? You're kidding!?! Still not good enough? How about $1699 and I'll throw in a headphone amp that normally sells for $199? C'mon, that $3700 worth of gear for less than half price!"

"Deal? Great! You won't be sorry. Hey, I forgot to mention... You don't mind if I take your money now and send you the speakers when the boat from China docks at some point the future, do you? Also, I need to ask for another $300 for freight. Will they deliver to your home? Sorry, for $300 you gotta drive to the truck terminal and get them home yourself.

This post reads more like a slam on AV123.

There are plenty of member reviews on AV123 products around the audio forum world. Try using the search feature.

 

[mike c]

The more I research this company, the more I am concerned that they are the internet equivalent of a "White Van".

How can they discount their products, often and continuously down by as much as 54% and still turn a profit?

i understand where you are coming from. basically, i wouldn't recommend you force yourself on AV123 with that many doubts.

even hard core fans' patience with AV123 are tried and tested. newbies with doubts from the start would go insane.

look at other brands.

 

[Matt34]

While I hold Audioholics in high regard, can you be sure that all of the favorable reviews are posted by unbiased members?


An anonymous message board offers an excellent forum for less than honest contributions.

I guess what I'm after is to find an article, written by a reliable and unbiased 3rd party, that sings AV123's virtues and glorifies their products.

Can you direct me to such an article?

No, no one can be for certain, but I've read and experienced enough that your tin-foil conspiracy theory doesn't hold water for me.

I guess every professional and consumer article ever written on them is bought and paid for? If your looking for credible 3rd party measurements, that I am unsure of but I do plan on having a member of this forum conduct measurements on my X-LS bookshelves sometime in the near future.

 

[PopDisplay]

My point isn't to slam AV123. While my "White Van" scenario was meant to be taken with a grain of salt, their pricing history, with regard to the Rocket 850 system, is not terribly far from the scene I imagined.

My point is to illustrate how anguished I am with regard to the order I placed yesterday. The more I uncover about their business practices, the more I am concerned that I made a grave mistake.

Do you not find the falling price to be a valid basis for concern? AV123 is now charging less than half of their normal selling price for this Rocket system. And, we're not talking about a discontinued product or B stock.

I guess I'm putting myself through this nonsense. I should just cancel the order and work with another supplier that meets my, perhaps, overly specific requirements.

Dave

 

[shadowlight]

My point isn't to slam AV123. While my "White Van" scenario was meant to be taken with a grain of salt, their pricing history, with regard to the Rocket 850 system, is not terribly far from the scene I imagined.

My point is to illustrate how anguished I am with regard to the order I placed yesterday. The more I uncover about their business practices, the more I am concerned that I made a grave mistake.

Do you not find the falling price to be a valid basis for concern? AV123 is now charging less than half of their normal selling price for this Rocket system. And, we're not talking about a discontinued product or B stock.

I guess I'm putting myself through this nonsense. I should just cancel the order and work with another supplier that meets my, perhaps, overly specific requirements.

Dave

Hi Dave,

I think you should try to get a audition that is local to you and get a feel for the sound and make a decision if you feel they are white van equivalent speaker. If you think that they are white van cancel the order. The other option that you have is to take the risk and return the speakers but it is most likely going to set you back the shipping for the speakers. Some of the other Internet Direct Speaker Companies to try and research are:

Swan / Dana
Axiom Audio
Aperion Audio
ACI Audio
Ascend Acoustics

All of the companies listed have good products (sorry could not post the website links since I have never posted anything before). I have only listened to Axiom Audio M60 with their 350 subwoofer and they did not agree with me due to ear fatigue in my family room. I had them in my house for 20+ days and had to return them back to Axiom on my dime and ended up with Rocket 850 setup with Ref1's as surrounds. For me the best solution is do in home demo/audition for 30 days, with the down side being that if you do not like the sound/build quality you have to eat the shipping cost.

PS: I am going to post the link to the thread on Tweak City Audio/Audiocircle to see if there are any Atlanta folks willing to open up their homes for you to demo/audition

 

[fredk]

Dave. I hear you on the way AV123 markets their products. In my mind, if you sell a speaker for a buck most of the time, its a $1 speaker, even if you list it at $2. That said, if its a good speaker for a buck, its still a good speaker.

Print magazines are no better or worse than online magazines. They have the same business model. Its just the distribution model that differs.

If you're not sure, bring in a second speaker in the same range (your pick, sale price or list) and compare. Keep the one you like and send the other back.

I have never heard of an issue where AV123 refused to refund someone for a speaker that was returned, so you don't really have much to loose by listening to them.

 

[ivseenbetter]

It sounds like you have too many concerns for any ID company to really be a good choice for you. All of them sell speakers at a price that would be cheaper than what they would MSRP for in a B&M situation.

I understand where you are coming from though. It is a concern. However, as they lower prices you should jump on it as a good deal. Then check them out…if you don’t like them, you will get your money back. I bought the 850s and a few other AV123 speakers and although you don’t know me from any other stranger, I can tell you that they sound terrific to my ears. Excellent bang for the buck deal in my opinion.

Oh well, I don’t know what you want people to tell you. You can’t trust anybody on the forums using your logic since any one of us could be somebody who is posting with ulterior motives. You won’t trust the published magazines that are listed on AV123’s site because they are obviously biased…why else would AV123 list them. Oh, and any other magazine that does reviews is just a paid advertisement. SO, with that in mind there is no way for anybody to put your mind at rest. If I was you, I would stay away from any ID company and just fork out the bucks at the B&M stores…it will save you the hassle of being paranoid about all the faulty reviews online.

 

[MatthewB.]

Two years ago, I had never heard an AV123 speaker, then I flew out to Florida to attend a GTG that Mazer was having and he had procured a pair of Strata Minis, that I just feel in love with. In fact I was so impressed with them, that Mazer managed to get me a great deal on the pair he had on loan and I am now the proud owner of em and use them in my office/guest room in a two channel stereo setup. The sound from these speakers is just awe inspiring and I consider them the best pair of speakers I own, and considering I have a full acoustic Research Phantom 8.2 setup that retails for well over 7 grand for the entire set-up, and a DefTech set up that inlcudes a pair of BP7001sc in my mian setup, so sound is very important to me, and I love AV123's and can't thank Mazer enough for getting me the great price on em.

Here's a picture of the Minis in my office/guest room.

 

[Midcow2]

My point isn't to slam AV123. While my "White Van" scenario was meant to be taken with a grain of salt, their pricing history, with regard to the Rocket 850 system, is not terribly far from the scene I imagined.

My point is to illustrate how anguished I am with regard to the order I placed yesterday. The more I uncover about their business practices, the more I am concerned that I made a grave mistake.

Do you not find the falling price to be a valid basis for concern? AV123 is now charging less than half of their normal selling price for this Rocket system. And, we're not talking about a discontinued product or B stock.

I guess I'm putting myself through this nonsense. I should just cancel the order and work with another supplier that meets my, perhaps, overly specific requirements.

Dave

Then cancel the order! Jeez, maybe you shouldn't buy anything! It doesn't sound like anything could meet you requirements!

Wait a minute what are your requirements? How much do you want to spend? Do you have a store where you can audition speakers? What other equipment do you have? how big is your room? How is your room acoustically? Do you pan on any tratments? Whta type of sound is important to you?; what will you use your system for? Maybe you need to push "RESET" annd start over.

Good Luck!

MidCow2

 

[Midcow2]

some good suggestions --especially about auditioning

Hi Dave,

I think you should try to get a audition that is local to you and get a feel for the sound and make a decision if you feel they are white van equivalent speaker. If you think that they are white van cancel the order. The other option that you have is to take the risk and return the speakers but it is most likely going to set you back the shipping for the speakers. Some of the other Internet Direct Speaker Companies to try and research are:

Swan / Dana
Axiom Audio
Aperion Audio
ACI Audio
Ascend Acoustics

All of the companies listed have good products (sorry could not post the website links since I have never posted anything before). I have only listened to Axiom Audio M60 with their 350 subwoofer and they did not agree with me due to ear fatigue in my family room. I had them in my house for 20+ days and had to return them back to Axiom on my dime and ended up with Rocket 850 setup with Ref1's as surrounds. For me the best solution is do in home demo/audition for 30 days, with the down side being that if you do not like the sound/build quality you have to eat the shipping cost.

PS: I am going to post the link to the thread on Tweak City Audio/Audiocircle to see if there are any Atlanta folks willing to open up their homes for you to demo/audition

Some nice suggestions shadowlight!

Good Luck!

MidCow2

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Chill out COW, He has a very nice dedicated room and he is looking for help. He has stated room size and some requirements in a different thread. He has already placed an order for AV123 package but is second guessing himself which in the case, is not a bad idea. Lets continue to help

Here is a link to his HT room.
http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=6664&d=1228602442

Then cancel the order! Jeez, maybe you shouldn't buy anything! It doesn't sound like anything could meet you requirements!

Wait a minute what are your requirements? How much do you want to spend? Do you have a store where you can audition speakers? What other equipment do you have? how big is your room? How is your room acoustically? Do you pan on any tratments? Whta type of sound is important to you?; what will you use your system for? Maybe you need to push "RESET" annd start over.

Good Luck!

MidCow2

 

[Midcow2]

Okay Chilled-out AV123 Rocket 850s are good speakers

Chill out COW, He has a very nice dedicated room and he is looking for help. He has stated room size and some requirements in a different thread. He has already placed an order for AV123 package but is second guessing himself which in the case, is not a bad idea. Lets continue to help

Here is a link to his HT room.
http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=6664&d=1228602442

Okay Dawg, didn't realize it was a case of buyers remorse. AV123s are good speakers ,I guess OP is just looking for reassurance. Thanks for your feedback!

Chilled Out

MidCow2