Sean Fowler
Living a less than ritzy life-style has been the driving factor for my many acquaintances with speakers in the sub $500 bracket. You could say that the only ‘ice’ I gots’ is in da fridge’. In today’s world of cheap hi-fi, you will find no shortage of toys to choose from. Slam down five Benjamin’s and you will receive a well polished product that will have you singing in the rain Gene Kelly style. So what happens when you have only two Benjamin’s burning a hole in your pocket? The answer is: not a whole lot.
Mark Schifter, the head cheese at av123 decided to enter these stomping grounds with a series of products dubbed simply, “X”. Why this name was adorned to this series is far beyond me, but I got a hunch it has nothing to do with high octane, high performance stunts. Instead, Marks pursuits are even bolder than the risk of a neck-brace; he wants to risk his reputation by entering the ultra affordable market in a way no one has previously dared to before.
Enter the x-ls bookshelf speakers. Audio guru Danny Richie of GR Research was recruited to not only take on the challenge of designing a speaker that embodies everything Mark wants av123 to be known for, but he has also tasked with designing a speaker to set new standards in its class. So when I was given an offer to be one of the first to play with these new x-ls monitor’s, I wagged my tail and impatiently waited for RMAF’05 to end so I could get my fix.
Batten down the hatches Mr. Schmee…
“Wow”. That was the first and only word that managed to roll off my tongue after I hefted Mark Schifter’s new x-ls monitors out of their box. What trickery was this? This ill prepared audiophool was baffled at the sight before his eyes. Surely there must have been a mistake. The sheer size and flawlessly applied white shadow maple veneer suggests a speaker in a different league. Caught off guard, Mark had to re-assure me that the pricing really was $199 for a pair.
This new creature from Onix is an 8 ohm, 87db rear-ported two-way design that tips the scale at just under 18 lbs, with measurements of D x 13.1’’ H x 13” W x 8.4”. It uses a triple dampened 1” fabric dome tweeter crossed over at 2kHz with a custom built 6.5” treated paper cone mid/woofer that rests on a non-resonant polymer chassis. If you are the morbidly curious type and enjoy seeing the insides, you will be pleased to find a cabinet that is well braced with seven dowel rod-like braces per box. Clearly, these are not your ordinary off-the-shelf Wal-mart specials.
While I love to ‘mix it up’ by pairing stratosphere priced electronics with inexpensive speakers and visa versa, my current existence has me saying fare-well to many expensive and shiny gadgets. Never one to be left completely without clothes, I always make sure to have a hidden trick or two up my sleeve. In this case, that trick is the famous and fabulous 30 watt per channel Teac A-L700P chip amplifier, which is bout as close as you can get to av123’s up-coming “X” power amplifier line that will serve to compliment the x-ls’s. While some daring few will pair $199 speakers with their limited run exotic electronics to see the top of the mountain just to say they can, most to-be owners of these speakers will pair this with respectively priced electronics. For purposes of this review, I felt it best to stay in accordance to the target market.
Turn it up!
Having been afforded the luxury of a broken-in pair of speakers, I dove right into my eclectic collection of tunes with a strong peace of mind. Listening to the x-ls made things immediately clear that there was much more to these speakers than pretty looks! Danny Richie and Mark hit the bulls-eye. These are the real deal, which now brings me to a unique situation. I can slam the gavel down and consider this a case closed review with no further commentary and piss off a whole lot of readers. Or I could share my excitement and give others an idea of how good the pie really is. Well, since I do have some extra time on my hands…
The x-ls signature can be best described as coherent and smooth. In fact, the high-end is so non-fatiguing that it took me half of a good day to acquaint myself with sound without bite or grit. Most speakers that offer such a smooth top end sacrifice a great detail of resolution. Alex De Grassi’s contemporary guitar folk music captivates you with every note as you hear his fingers slide over the cat strings in dazzling rhythm. Russia’s popular band, Zemfira, is reproduced in all its glory of cold, gloom and doom melodies, with a unique blend of pop and modern goth riffs. From head-banging hard metal delivered by Metallica’s “Master of Puppet” album to DJ Tiestos addicting pace setting beats from “Delerium”, the x-ls showed no signs of favoritism to any particular genre. What a sensation it is to pull out an old disc you never listen to due to some engineer with a severe case of tinnitus, all the while getting everything you could ask for from ‘little girl with guitar’ audiophile approved recordings without feeling like you are missing something.
Sporting an anechoic 3db response at 55hz with in-room response in the mid to upper 40’s, the x-ls worked very little to push enough air to fill those lower octaves with robust and powerful bass. While the bass did not shock with raw chest pounding ferocity, the performance manages to remind you that it’s all about the goods on the table rather than what’s off. Those in a smaller room may find no real need for a sub.
With lights dimmed I sat there listening, almost forgetting about the review I had to write. Who has time anyway? The soul-full styling of Erykah Badu filled the air, with the promise of an emotional experience from husky vocalist Diana Krall to follow.
I just cannot find anything to criticize. How critical should one be when reviewing a pair of speakers that total $199? Where is the line between a legitimate complaint and recognition of a flaw, and flat out nit-pickiness?
Too good to be true ?
To prevent this review from turning into soggy banter, there are a few non omissible caveats that require attention. The most prolific of which is the absence of shielding around the mid/woofer magnet. Those who plan on placing the x-ls within close proximity of a CRT or computer may have to find a creative alternative.
While Danny Richie has developed a jaw dropping speaker, one should not expect ultimate transparency and tone that you would typically look for in the mega buck systems. Danny also voiced this speaker in such a way that those who like a bit of salsa on their chips may be left wanting something a bit more aggressive on the top end.
The veneer and build quality on the x-ls are immaculate and astonishing for their price. They are also big. Many bookshelf units are not deep enough to accommodate them. One who does not plan on using speaker stands must either own one monsterous bookshelf or have a landing pad set up before placing an order. Mounting these speakers on the wall is not an option.
Having owned products from Totem Acoustic’s for many years, I have become accustom to my speakers singing commando-style. I also have no children of my own nor do I have my stereo equipment in high traffic areas. There are many who cannot afford those amenities. Those in such a position know how a speaker grill can mean the difference between a tweeters life and a tweeters death. As of now, there is no official word on whether or not speaker grills will be included with the x-ls.
The final verdict
AV123’s success and popularity as an online factory-direct operation has grown considerably through the years, becoming highly regarded for their astounding customer support and exceptional products. Really, those are all necessary facets if the majority of your sales travel by word of mouth and repeat business. Mark confided to me that he wants to introduce a series that will forever make a statement on what his company is all about with products that almost anyone can afford. After my experience with the x-ls speakers, there is not much left to say except that I believe this is yet another ambition that will be fully realized.
How pleasantly absurd it is to get so much performance from a pair of speakers costing so little. Danny Richie’s brilliance is crystal clear with these speakers. Whether you are an audiophile or someone who wants something beyond a HTIB, the x-ls can fit perfectly into a bedroom, office, personal gym, study, computer room, or even in a college dorm! With a 30 day trial policy, there is no excuse why anyone even considering their first or second system should not put these on the short list.
What a sneaky devil you are Mark, offering these delicious apples from the audio tree, knowing full well that anyone who dares to take a nibble will forever be intoxicated with the desire to never taste anything less again in their lives!
