Avantgarde Acoustic: horn loudspeakers
The primordial principles of sound transmission
The Avantgarde Acoustic only produces horn loudspeakers, based on the physical laws of Mother Nature. It is governed by the same principle of operation of the human ear: the funnel shaped opening horn type further extends the tiniest deviations of sound pressure.
The horn is the most natural and powerful way to amplify sound waves. With certain outputs the horn speakers have membranes up to 95% lighter. Furthermore, for a given driver size, they have an output sound up to 20 times greater. As a result, the audio signature is most lively, since the membrane only has to perform a fraction of the movement. A horn is the most sophisticated form of any loudspeaker: minimum mass and motion - maximum power - higher fidelity - lower distortion.
Therefore, the Avantgarde only draws columns equipped with horn, constructed with a precision that has never been achieved before.
The crucial element for the development of any speaker is to reduce the number of components to a minimum. Each party is responsible for the deterioration of the signal and the coloring of the response . One of the Avantgarde principles is the philosophy of purist design, thus reducing the elements to those which are strictly necessary.
Nothing is decorative, nothing is superfluous. What is not needed is left out. Moreover, Avantgarde loudspeakers are built without passive filtering the average signal. As such, the electrical signal from the amplifier is sent directly to the reel. This concept has an unbeatable strength: simplicity!
The new XA series
Pre-amplifier and amplifier: against all faults.
Also the concept of amplifier was driven Avantgarde to the next step of evolution by applying the latest research results. But instead of just renovating, Matthias Ruff, Avantgarde designer, has introduced so many new ideas that eventually gave birth to a new model: the Model Three, integrated amplifier.
It is this claim "against all faults" which makes the XA project unique. It is the radical nature of the way it is sought and manifests itself in many ways, as in the craft, materials and design. It becomes even clearer when you see how to overcome innovation with the ubiquitous technological problems in the development of amplifiers: the cross-zero distortion, system contamination by the public and the distortions caused by the vibration of the components.
The balanced inputs allow you to connect sources of the highest quality in the best possible way. With true pre sections and power and pre balanced outputs, the Model Three can also be used as pre balanced amplifier, both for active speakers and for power amplifiers. The "feedback-almost-zero" design and components with quality all were essential to improve the resolution and ease of driving dynamics, allowing detail, medium and treble fluids with a touch of sweetness.
But the real specialty is the cascade circuit. Usually applied to Pres and measuring equipment, this circuit increases the band and its resolution, eliminating the Miller capacity of the transistors. This limits the output to 38W per channel (@ 8 ohms), but the high efficiency of the Avantgarde speakers makes it a game, allowing the most benefit from this circuit.
Avantgarde Zero
Compact horn loudspeakers
02/01/2015
The new Avantgarde Zero, the new compact model of the horn speaker brand, is available for listening on Luz e Som in Porto (please call for appointment). More integrated and compact, they are nevertheless genuine horn speakers, to the last decibel.
See also the report of José Victor Henriques, of the HiFi Club, with auditioning the Avantgarde Zero and assessing the showroom of Luz e Som.
