HSU HB-1 vs. AV123 x series

[davetroy]

Has anybody heard both the HSU HB-1 and the AV123 x-ls (or anything in the X-series). The prices are comparable, as are the size of the speakers, but it seems to me, from reading various reviews, that they have an entirely different sound (and the HSU's have much higher efficiency). I'm thinking of auditioning both, but I'd like to hear from anybody who has already done that. What are the differences between the two?

 

[jcPanny]

AV123 X-series

Dave,
The AV123 X-series and all of their bookshelf speakers are risk free so I would recommend an in home demo. They are building an extensive X-series product line including current X-sls and X-mtm floorstander models and X-cs center with several more in the works. I have bookshelf speakers from their high end Refrence line and the build quality and wood veneer are outstanding.

The horn loaded sound is not for everyone, so demo the HSU speakers or listen to Klipsch at a local dealer.

 

[mazersteven]

I have heard and read nothing but positive reviews, and forum posts about the x-series. I have heard and read positive and negative with the HSU's.

Seems to me they are just like Klipsch. You either love them or hate them.

 

[j_garcia]

These are going to be two VERY different speakers. I have auditioned the X-LSs and I like them, though they are a tad laid back. They can handle a ton of power, so if you have a large room, despite their lower sensitivity, they can fill it if you give them enough power. Looks wise, the Ascends are going to win, hands down. Note too that there are a few new finishes available for the X series that may not be up on the site yet, check their forums for some pics and you can call to order a specific one (if available). I see that Palisander is now listed. There are also upgraded versions of the X series that are not listed on the site yet.

 

[mazersteven]

Looks wise, the Ascends are going to win, hands down.

Ascends???

 

[billy p]

Ascends???

He started a new job! Give him a break !

 

[j_garcia]

Ooops The Onix X-series... Not that the Ascends are a bad choice either...

Yes, new job means many more things to multi-task these days.

 

[Seth=L]

I was going to say, sense when do Ascends beat Onix X-Series in the cosmetics department? I guess it is subjective, but I think the Onix X-Series are beautifully crafted for the money.

 

[davetroy]

Thanks again, everyone. Before I bother to go out looking for a Klipsch dealer so I can hear what horns sound like, let me ask this: My speakers for my two-channel system are Vandersteen 2ces. I love them. Am I correct in guessing that horns are the opposite of Vandersteens?

 

[Seth=L]

Haven't heard the Vandersteens, but I will say this. The Reference 7 sounds awesome when properly powered, IMO. I don't really like bright sounding speakers, but I really like those RF 7s because they are crisp.

 

[mazersteven]

Thanks again, everyone. Before I bother to go out looking for a Klipsch dealer so I can hear what horns sound like, let me ask this: My speakers for my two-channel system are Vandersteen 2ces. I love them. Am I correct in guessing that horns are the opposite of Vandersteens?

I can say this. I have auditioned Klipsch Reference, and AV123 Rockets. If this is somewhat similar to the HSU and X-series speakers. They are going to be totally, not even close, different.

 

[davetroy]

Klipsch? No!

Well, thanks for the suggestion of listening to Klipsch for an example of how horns sound. Just got back from Magnolia (Best Buy), where I listened to the Klipsch 61 and 51 bookshelves. Way too bright on music. I can imagine they would get very fatiguing after a while. Better on DVD ("Pearl Harbor"); I thought the imaging was nice but still a bit too bright for my tastes. I also listened to a pair of Vienna Acoustics bookshelves that were $1,100 and found them to be too muddy, almost like there was a veil over the music.

I don't like horns, I guess. Or at least cheap horns, so the Hsu HB-1s are out. And I'm guessing I probably wouldn't like Paradigm Studios, either. Sounds to me like buying the AV-123 x-ls and listening to them for 30 days might be the best move. Either that or biting the bullet and buying Von Schweikert VR-1s, which, from the various descriptions of them that I've read, sound like something I might like. But it's almost impossible to find a dealer.

 

[billnchristy]

Where do you live Dave?

Might I suggest registering over at the av123 forum and seeing if anyone near you has a pair you could scope out?

Of course, they are risk free as well, so you dont have much to lose either.

I, at times, listen to music for 6-8hrs at decent volume, probably mid 80s at the listening position, and can go to bed without my ears ringing...that is what I love about the X series.

I mostly listen to my Jordan full-range now, but I did graphs with both and they have very similar response characteristics, just the Jordans sound better.

 

[davetroy]

I live in South Florida; Plantation, near Fort Lauderdale (so if anybody has a pair of Von Schweikert VR-1s and lives nearby...). I'm probably going to buy a pair of x-ls and listen to them risk free, just so I can hear them in the proper conditions. I think I'm a little spoiled by my Vandersteen 2ces. They're just so natural, so easy to listen to (at least to my ears, which I don't think are great, just average) that I'm never going to be totally happy with a pair of budget speakers. What I guess I'm looking for is a happy medium--something I can live with--in the sub-$500 range because I'm not going to put together two high-end systems in my house (high-end by my budget, at least).

What are Jordans?

 

[billy p]

Having not heard the two speakers in question here? The av123 x series was not intended to compete with the Paradigm studio line or speakers that cost 3-5x's as much. Just based on peoples reveiws, you can't go wrong if you choose them. If your budget is around $500.00 then you should also look into the Ascend Acoustics CBM-170 or PSB B25 monitors, both are good value as well and with the characteristics you may be looking for.

http://www.psbspeakers.com/product.php?pId=15&sId=3

http://www.ascendacoustics.com/pages/products/speakers/cbm170/cbm170.html

The Image B-25's are quite the speaker, especially for the $$$. I am still letting the new ones I just picked up some more "burn in" time, but I already like them better in the mids and highs than the Studio 100 V.3's ... and they are also a tough match for the SVS and Ascend's we have here.

I just got word that the X-LS EX are going to be here within the next week. By 5-10, we should have quite the collection of speakers.

__________________
Making the world a better place, one cocktail at a time

*This observation was made by Craigsub over at AVS*

 

[billnchristy]

Jordans are a single driver full range speaker.

It is a 4" speaker with 9mm of excursion capable of 40hz to 20khz on its own.

They are $390 a pair for the drivers alone.

As far as the X-LS go, they are very refined for their price. They lack the detail of an expensive driver, but response, staging and imaging are great.

Cabinet quality is top notch as well.

Heres a pic of one of my Jordans and a freq. response graph compared to the X-LS.

 

[davetroy]

Okay. I'm an idiot when it comes to the technical stuff. If you don't mind, could you briefly explain the graph?

Thanks,
Dave

 

[billnchristy]

Thats the dB output at whatever frequency is shown.

Same kind of thing mfrs. use but theirs would be accurate, mine was done with a radioshack meter, but since it is comparing two speakers basically the same way, they are accurate in terms of each other.

 

[Seth=L]

From the graph, I would think this was one of the most if not the most refined speaker in its price range. I really, really want to hear some of those. I know, I'll buy some, but not too soon.

 

[billnchristy]

Other than bass response, I have not heard a speaker do much better.