The Apex Club

Great thread, never thought I'd read 45 pages of any thread, but have with this one!

Well Im picking up my Apex system  today (A40 & 4x A10s). Looking forward to a great weekend of listening.

I am upgrading from Mordaunt Short Alumni System, which are very clear and crisp, but too crisp for my liking.

Im going to be running them with a Onkyo 607, because Ive basically done my balls on the speakers!

So just a quickie couple of questions...

How much am I going to loose running them on the 607, also when I eventually upgrade the amp, doubt I will have more than £600 to spend on it.

What do you guys think about that?

Also has anyone heard the MA Shadows? How do they compare to the apex?

Thanks in Advance

Great thread, never thought I'd read 45 pages of any thread, but have with this one!

Well Im picking up my Apex system  today (A40 & 4x A10s). Looking forward to a great weekend of listening.

I am upgrading from Mordaunt Short Alumni System, which are very clear and crisp, but too crisp for my liking.

Im going to be running them with a Onkyo 607, because Ive basically done my balls on the speakers!

So just a quickie couple of questions...

How much am I going to loose running them on the 607, also when I eventually upgrade the amp, doubt I will have more than £600 to spend on it.

What do you guys think about that?

Also has anyone heard the MA Shadows? How do they compare to the apex?

Thanks in Advance

No small feat reading this entire thread Eyes tired much?

I'm confident you'll find Apex to perform substantially better than both the Alumni and Monitor Audio's own Shadows. These speakers are absolute gems, and with the 'right' amp they are remarkably capable at both movies and music! I have not heard your particular Onkyo but this much is certain; the better quality amp you put behind the wheel the more you will discover what Apex are capable of. I have recently heard a demo at my favorite dealer with the Onkyo TX-NR5009 and it was a KNOCK-OUT! I've also heard a demo consisting of high-end Anthem Statement processor + amplifier (5-figure prices) and the Apex continued to reveal more qualities. They are somewhat transparent and thus will show off any upgrade you make. Just start off with what you got right now and down the line you can always upgrade amplification and/or processing. 

Let us know your feedback! Always fun to read!

Just remember these need 100's of hours of 'running-in' (as you may already have read)

So Ricky - is there an AV solution you are tempted with that could see your trusty Denon being switched out?

Feedback...

Well Ive had a couple of demos with them, but nothing beats putting them in your own home, to hear them with the accoustics your ears are used to, with content you know back to front...

And yes I was blown away. As others have said, they sound better then many (not all) highly rated full sized speakers. Its more than that though, for me the most impressive part of the Apex listening experience is the fact that there is so much vivd detail in the sound stage (a beautifully balanced sound stage too), yet its  smooth detail. Not harsh or in your face, more natural and articulate. They also seem to help the sub out when things get hairy, loud and low (Im running a BK XLS200) by merging the frequencies that usually go missing between a sub and satellite speakers.

If the Apex were a girl, she'd be stunningly beautiful, a pleasure to listen to and totally down to earth. But also a complete minx in the bedroom when its time to get loud & dirty.

But enough of my Swiss Tony impressions, suffice to say that it will be a long while before I give up these babies!

Oh and the Amp question I posed earlier...

Had a demo of the Pioneer vjx2021 with the Apex yesterday @ T-Audio. Was good, but I didnt really feel it was that much better than my present amp. It was really hard to put my finger on it. Its like the sounds were sounding better and clearer but not merging into something special.

I possibly was expecting alot more from a £600 amp I think. On the evidence of yesterday Im going to stay with my present setup and get a much higher quality amp at a much later time. The Apex has breathed new life into my old amp, so I will just enjoy it, till I next contract a case of upgraditus.

I'm going to be running my Apex with a Paradigm Studio Sub 15,that's how good they are in my room!!!

Thanks for asking Julian, because it is indeed a good question. Having carried out so many at-home tests of different brands and models the last year I'm still baffled. The in-store demo I had with Onkyo TX-NR5009 was very impressive! But I am also looking at going with separates (Primare or Nuforce poweramp + Onkyo processor). Will definitely post here when/if I test any of these. I'm guessing you are more than pleased still with your Yamaha model?

Hi Ricky - yes still loving the Yamaha with the Apex's - a really great sound with movies and music. Thanks for the tip with music through 5.1 or 7.1 btw. Obviously mine is 5.1 but still terrific.

Am really enjoying the the quality of sound that I'm getting from FLAC files on my Vortexbox Appliance wired through my network and through the DAC's (Burr Brown PCM 1796's) in the Yamaha.

Choosing the right AV/speaker combination is so personal and a bit of minefield sometimes. I've owned a couple of Yamaha's in the past so was familiar enough with the Yamaha sound that I felt I could take the risk in moving away from my old Cambridge AV, without auditioning through the Apex's (no dealer combination available in Singapore though the MA dealer - the only one -  also said there would be no problem with Yamaha). Interestingly, I felt the sound had moved from just 'warm' to a little more forward than that of old - to a place that I like but doubt I'd like if it went much further. I was in my local MA dealer on Saturday and someone who'd just purchased an Onkyo 809 was complaining he had made the wrong choice as the sound was way too forward and aggressive so he tired of listening very quickly. He was thinking through his options....

Wish you luck with your contemplation of an interesting home test - especially given the sound profile you are used too with the Denon is closer to the Yamaha too. So will wait with interest to fuel future upgrade thinking.....

RickyDeg, can you say more comments about tx-nr5009 sound with Apex?Is this amp sounding "warm" or more "neutral"?you think is better sounding than your Denon? :)If so, what advantages you hear in the Onkyo sound?I'm very interesting about this amp, but in my country dealers doesnt have tx-nr5009 for demo..they have 3009 but they can give me to take home to my Apex setup..

Sadly I did not have a sample at home for testing, I've listened to a set-up at my dealer only, thought I've done it twice now with a variety of sourcematerial and I'm much impressed. Can never form a correct opinion unless I've tested it at home though, but I will say this: much thanks to the more advanced Audyssey in this model there are clear benifits over my Denon that only has the simpler version. For one, the subwoofers (they were using two AW-12, just like I do in my livingroom) had real depth and grunt but with zero 'overhang' - the low frequencies had incredible presence and were very well integrated into the entire listeningroom. Also, I noticed an even more lively soundstage with well-spread details over a large listening area. This was evident even during low-medium volume, which was great. Music was brilliant too (in 5-channel stereo). I'd say this one had a more 'neutral' character but it never came off as analytical, which is good for Apex I believe. My Denon may have that 'warmer' character, which I do appreciate aswell. I'm not sure this machine would be as good without Audyssey, but that's just cause I personally like what that system brings to the table (with 'Dynamic EQ' engaged).

I would definitely go for the 5009 if I were you. Slightly more power only, yes, but I believe it also has a better powertransformer and DAC's than the smaller brother. 

Let me know if you buy it how it performs in your home!

(double post)

RickyDeg, thank you for your comments..When i buy my new receiver i'll write about my experience:)I think it will be avr-4311( because now can get at very good price) or tx-nr5009

hello,

 Have had MA Radius 7.1 system for about 5 plus years, 3 x HD250's for front centre ,left and right channels and 4 x HD 90's as rear sat's. Am running a Pioneer LX53 amp and am thinking of upgrading to the lx55. Would it make more sence to upgrade the speaker package to 3x A40's amd 4 x A10's. I already have an RSW12 SUB. Any thoughts ???

Hi,

Cant comment on the amp but I used to run Radius R225HD's and when I upgraded to the Apex it was a massive improvement. The Apex do thrive on top notch amplification but should sound great with what you have.