ooh's AVI ADM9T Review...
I received these bad boys on Monday morning, they're the AVI demo pair so many people who own ADMs will have actually heard them. The last pair of the old ADMs were sold last week and thus these became redundant as there is now a new and improved model for sale. I got a great deal on them, so a big thanks to Ash and Mart for that..
I'd never heard these speakers before monday morning, but of course am well aware as most are on here, that they have a big reputation, and a very vocal following, so i was expecting them to sound excellent, but, were all the owners that are so smitten by these speakers getting a bit carried away? Are they really that good? Read on to see what i think..
Firstly, i was aware that some have said these speakers are a little bass shy, and that the sub is a must with them, while others say they're plenty bassy enough, that the bass that is there is of very good quality and doesn't overpower or boom. Well i'm in agreement with the latter, they're not quite as bassy as my old Dynaudio DM 2/7s (which are very bassy speakers for their size), but they're bassy enough, that's for sure, and it's tight, very focused bass, very clean, yet there's still a very pleasing fullness to their sound and plenty of slam when required. Plus of course for those wanting more there's the option of a sub.
Vocals on these speakers are simply incredible, they're by far the most realistic i've heard, even when playing very busy tracks, the vocals are so clear and legible, never drowned out by instruments, or bass, they're very well balanced speakers. Listening to Billy Joel - It's still rock n roll to me, remastered, at 2m 5sec Billy lets a roar out and you'd swear he was in the room 
, very impressive.
The highs are also excellent, no sibilance, splashiness or brightness to report, just crisp, clear highs that blend seamlessly with the other frequencies, at least as good IMO as the Adam A5X, which had the best highs i'd ever heard to date, these are just as good in that area, but IME better in all others.
Dynamics? This is one area that these speakers really excel, they're hugely powerful, with one dedicated 275 watt amplifier for each main driver, and a further 75 watt amp for each tweeter, there's just so much range to them. A track i like to use to check out the dynamic range of a speaker is Street Life Serenader, by Joel again, as it ebbs and flows between soft piano and quiet vocals to thundering drums, piano, guitar and vocals, it sounds fantastic on these, and during the crescendos all instruments are easily picked out, these things never lose focus.
The mids are also very very good, the best i've heard in fact, again, never drowned out by bass or lost in the middle of busy tracks, they're clear and present at all times, in fact it's the overall clarity of these speakers that to me, is their biggest attribute, they're crystal clear, very accurate but never clinical or analytical in the sense that some may consider negative, these speakers give you what you put in, they're warm if the recording is warm, they convey emotion when there's emotion in the recording, they're a window into the recording, and the best i've ever heard, i'm also smitten..
Really pleased you like them and a great review. I've had a pair a couple of years now and absolutely love them, IMO they're not just good at the price, they're great regardless of price. I added the sub after about 6 months, not because I thought they were lacking, but because I wanted to find out what a full bandwidth system sounds (and feels) like.
As you've found, you're not missing out too much without the sub, but if you do ever decide to add it, I'm sure you'll be really pleased with that too 
Max, I'm glad you seem happy (for the moment)....IMO. Your next improvement should probably be room acoustics, as your room (as seen in another thread) looks a bit too "live".
Cno
Hey idc, these are staying till they stop working, which'll be more than 6 months i expect
WR, i'm thinking along the same lines, love em as they are but am sub-curious, time will tell 
Cno, i've been advised to get a rug many times now, i'll have to look into it, though there's a big leather couch opposite the ADMs that i'm perched on, and that's likely helping to break up reflections, sounds great to me anyway
Cheers guys...
nice write up max. it's a shame more people don't get to hear these, imo they make traditional hifi look massively overpriced and stupid.
nice write up max. it's a shame more people don't get to hear these, imo they make traditional hifi look massively overpriced and stupid.
"massively overpriced and stupid". That claim is "massively OTT and stupid".
It was only year ago you were preaching at the temple of ATC and backed it to the hilt. But to dismiss conventional systems is very unfair.
If you look at my amp's original retail price - and speakers - and compare that with the AVIs then there's very little difference, especially when you factor in a sub and a laptop or iPad.
As Chebby - rightly - pointed out on your other thread (in my own words), "one person's steak is another's offal". To say that a traditional system is "overpriced and stupid" is, from a person of your experience, at the very least, disappointing.
I have owned the AVI ADM 9 and did not like them at all, so I moved to seperates and love my sysyem.
Hmm, not so sure about the massively overpriced and stupid comment. Some of it might be, but some of it is incredibly capable for the price paid by return.
Nice to read that someone is happy with their new system.
A good review ooh! It's sure to help some people with their decisions if they are considering ADM9Ts.
From what I can gather, AVI mainly sell direct and they rely heavily on low-cost internet marketing, often it seems, by stirring up controversy.
If the "traditional" brands followed this sales method, their prices would be more competitive.
Nice to read that someone is happy with their new system.
A good review ooh! It's sure to help some people with their decisions if they are considering ADM9Ts.
From what I can gather, AVI mainly sell direct and they rely heavily on low-cost internet marketing, often it seems, by stirring up controversy.
If the "traditional" brands followed this sales method, their prices would be more competitive.
hence my overpriced comment. plus the fact that with most kit the casework is the most expensive part of it, do away with that and you save even more. after purchasing and sometimes adjusting to what can seem a very different sound to their previous kit, most owners seem to lose all interest in 'hifi' as a hobby and just enjoy listening to music through them. as a concept, i think they are a brilliant move, hence the stupid comment.
nice write up max. it's a shame more people don't get to hear these, imo they make traditional hifi look massively overpriced and stupid.
"massively overpriced and stupid". That claim is "massively OTT and stupid".
It was only year ago you were preaching at the temple of ATC and backed it to the hilt. But to dismiss conventional systems is very unfair.
If you look at my amp's original retail price - and speakers - and compare that with the AVIs then there's very little difference, especially when you factor in a sub and a laptop or iPad.
As Chebby - rightly - pointed out on your other thread (in my own words), "one person's steak is another's offal". To say that a traditional system is "overpriced and stupid" is, from a person of your experience, at the very least, disappointing.
just my opinion pp. they're not for everyone otherwise i would own some, i listen to a lot of bass heavy music and they roll off a bit too early - a toddler in the house means a sub is a no go. but, if the sound is to your likeing, value wise they are untouchable. i would guess most people have something with an optical out, that's all they need.
nice write up max. it's a shame more people don't get to hear these, imo they make traditional hifi look massively overpriced and stupid.
"massively overpriced and stupid". That claim is "massively OTT and stupid".
It was only year ago you were preaching at the temple of ATC and backed it to the hilt. But to dismiss conventional systems is very unfair.
If you look at my amp's original retail price - and speakers - and compare that with the AVIs then there's very little difference, especially when you factor in a sub and a laptop or iPad.
As Chebby - rightly - pointed out on your other thread (in my own words), "one person's steak is another's offal". To say that a traditional system is "overpriced and stupid" is, from a person of your experience, at the very least, disappointing.
just my opinion pp. they're not for everyone otherwise i would own some, i listen to a lot of bass heavy music and they roll off a bit too early - a toddler in the house means a sub is a no go. but, if the sound is to your likeing, value wise they are untouchable. i would guess most people have something with an optical out, that's all they need.
If someone describs a product as "stupid" then I tend to feel that person is "stupid" for buying it in the first place. We can't all be "stupid".
FWIW I really embrace active speaker, like I do all-in-ones. We all need choices, so that can only be good for the industry as a whole.
If someone describs a product as "stupid" then I tend to feel that person is "stupid" for buying it in the first place. We can't all be "stupid".
well first off, i did say it was in my opinion, and you know what they say about those... personally i don't think people are stupid for buying seperates at all, as you said it isn't that long since i had some and what are you meant to do if you want to demo something before buying, you have to go with what is available to you. having said that, for someone like myself who isn't in to the 'boxes' anymore, they do, imo, make seperates look ridiculous.
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Ahhh, but do you think they are for keeps? (Keeps for you is more than 6 months
)
Internet - laptop - DAC - amp - lots of headphones.
http://idc1966.blogspot.co.uk/
"A music lover will stop what he's doing and stay glued to a favorite piece of music even if it's coming over a 3" speaker or a public-address system..." - Ken Rockwell