STATUS - SOLD
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Description :
The AVI Neutron IV are bookshelf speakers designed by the AVI company which has a passion for making miniature speakers. When miniature speakers are properly designed, they can give better results than much larger and more expensive speakers. The AVI Neutron IV consists of a five-litre traditionally shaped rear-ported enclosure with a Vifa 127mm bass/mid driver and a Scanspeak 28mm doped fabric tweeter which sits above the bigger driver. The driver is a doped curvilinear paper cone with a modified foam surround which replaces the rubber surround on previous models and is claimed to suppress resonances better than its predecessor. At 28mm diameter, the scanspeak tweeter is larger than many, and extends quite far down too, providing most of the upper midrange. AVI uses its own complex second-order Linkwitz Riley crossover which now kicks in at 2.5kHz rather than at 10kHz of the older models. The small loss of sensitivity involved with this type of drive unit is more than offset by the greatly reduced distortion and coloration that they offer. Internal cabinet resonances are damped by a measured quantity of acoustic wadding. The cabinet is designed to appear narrow at the front with greater depth than usual for this size of speaker, so it appears to take up less space in the room. It's still bigger than the average satellite, but noticeably smaller than most hi-fi standmounts.
One of the most impressive aspects of AVI Neutron IV are their versatility. The speakers' wide bandwidth means it's comfortable with more extreme music. When match with the right amplifier, the Neutron seems particularly happy, welcoming the chance to show what it can do with the lower midrange and keeping things well under control. For a small speaker it has a surprisingly full and agile bass . AVI claims the speakers have a bass extension to 60Hz which is pretty decent, and fully believable. Acoustic guitar and voices at the treble is well defined, with only a hint of compression and certainly not enough to worry about. The midrange however is where the Neutron IV excels at, since that's where most of the music is. Searching for deficiencies in track after track prove fruitless, with superb resolution and fine detail throughout. Timing is noticeably emphatic too within a soundstage that is open and broad. The speakers handle themselves well even with heavy electronic dance music or hard rock, and plenty of definition to be able to acquit itself well with complex symphonic passages. While careful system matching isn't really required, the Neutrons may have a tendency to be slightly bright, but AVI disputes this by advising the user to avoid particularly bright or harsh-sounding amplifiers. By experimenting with placement of the speakers reap a few rewards. Nudging them up against a wall certainly seem to give a degree of more bass extension, but as a contra of having less definition as the speakers are pulled out further from the wall. An effective compromise seem to be to have the speakers around 40cm from the wall, which provides the extension, while appearing to lose none of the openness.
Overall. the AVI Neutron IV is a pair of stunning speakers with fine timing, composure and authority. It is one of the best sounding speakers of its price with pure, unbridled quality. They might be pint-sized, but these AVI stereo speakers will leave the listener intoxicated by their sonic brilliance. They set a high standard that will be hard to beat.
Specifications :
Frequency Response...........................100Hz to 23kHz +/- 2dB
Bass Response...................................-6dB @ 65Hz
Bass/Mid Driver...................................127mm doped paper cone with 25mm voice coil
Tweeter...............................................28mm doped silk composite
Crossover............................................12dB/Octave Linkwitz-Riley
Sensitivity............................................87.5dB/W/M
Impedance...........................................8 ohms
Amplifier Range....................................30 - 150 W
Enclosure............................................1.3cm MDF real wood veneered both sides
.............................................5L volume rear ported.
Dimensions(w x d x h)..........................14.5 x 24 x 27.5cm
Weight.................................................4kg per side
Miscellaneous :
Made in................................................UK, England
Condition..............................................9/10
Product Information :
http://www.avihifi.co.uk/legacy_reviews.html (Manufacturer's Website)
Reviews :
http://www.avreview.co.uk/news/article/mps/uan/117
http://www.audiotec.nl/_files/AVI_Neutron_Active_HFC_dec_2006.pdf (AVI Neutron IV Active Version)
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/1996_articles/may96/av1neutron.html |
