Simply Amazing....
Written: May 25 '00 (Updated Dec 06 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Excellent sound and very solid build. Attractive look.
Cons: none.
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| andruzzo's Full Review: Acoustic Research AR7 Speaker |
First of all, let me start by clarifying one thing...the price that is noted on e-pinions is WRONG!!
These speakers retail for $1850 US a pair. I called a few places
in the US to get some prices and the best I got was $1299 + shipping
from a place in California.
Then I was pointed to www.netmarket.com by someone online. It turns
out that you can get them from NetMarket.com for $750 a pair!!!
At this price...it was a no-brainer. Acoustic Research have a well
respected history of speaker design. Although I never owned a pair
before, all the reviews I had read about these and people's response
when asked about them was always very positive.
My first impression before listening to them: BIG!
My Second impression before listening to them: HEAVY! (70lbs each!)
Turns out that they are magnetically shielded so you can place them
close to your TV etc.
Third impression...look stunning! Very sophisticated, elegant look.
Tall and thin....made possible since the woofer, a whopping 12" sucker,
is mounted on the side!
It has the above mentioned woofer , two mid range speakers and
a tweeter that is "plasma coated with diamond dust". We're talking
serious loudspeaker technology here.
Upon connection, I was left in awe. They sound phenomenal. They don't
have the head bashing bass of some 15" JBL speakers I have heard but
it doesn't matter. The bass that is produced is precise, deep and
clean. The high frequencies are so crisp and clean that you can
hear flaws in your source equipment and CDs...I thought I never would,
but believe it or not I can now. Basically, I have to go out and
get a new CD player...thanks to the AR7s!
Some of my old CDs now come to life since I hear sounds and details
that I couldn't before. This is impressive, especially coming from
someone who does not consider themselves an 'audiophile'. I'm not
the kind of person who believes stuff like "Oh yeah, that $400/foot
monster speaker cable really brought out the mids....and accentuated
the third harmonic".
I'm an electrical engineer and can appreciate technology and know what
is possible and what is not. After hearing these speakers I must say
that Acoustic Research has done an excellent job. I recommend them
to anyone who is looking for an excellent speaker to keep for many
of years to come. It sounds great with a variety of musical tastes
and has enough bass to keep the rockers happy. Plus, if you place
them in a surround system they will make DVD movies sound as if
you were in the theater.
Unless you are the kind of person who hears 3rd order and 4th order
harmonics and have a bottomless pocket to fork over thousands of dollars
on extremist equipment, then these may not be for you....or they may
be if you close your eyes and listen. Simply an excellent set of
speakers.
UPDATE:
After using these speakers for hours, the sound just simply 'opened
up'. The Bass is very explosive, and the treble can make the hairs
on your back stand up.
Also, Acoustic Research customer support is superb. I had a little
mishap in that I blew the tweeters on these speakers...let's just
say that you shouldn't give more power than what is rated for a given
speaker...and never give a treble boost when your driving the speakers
at the max! I called AR and they said they would send me a new pair
or tweeters, at no charge! I explained that it was my fault and that
I was expecting to pay, but they said: "Don't worry about it...we'll
replace them this time, but you'll have to pay for them if it happens
again." Now that's what I call customer support, each tweeter costs
about $70 US. All I had to do was fax a copy of my receipt.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
andruzzo
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Reviews written: 26
Trusted by: 9 members
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