Hi,
This is my first posting in this forum and forgive me if I jump directly to my question.
I use Ikemi, Exotik, 5125 and active Katans (+LP12) but as March is soon gone and I am considering a trade-in for an Akurate DS. I have got very curious about AVI ADM 9 but can't get to hear them in Stockholm.
How good are they with a computer?
I mean if they get close to an Akurate DS and from what I read here the preamp is the same league as a Majik and that is almost as good as my Exotik, well you get my point... :?
AVI ADM-9 with LP12?
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Per A,
I have the USB version of the ADM9 and use them with a Mac Mini. I will not pretend to think it comes close to a Klimax DS, but I was pretty happy with the performance until I recently moved my speakers now I am blown away. They were sounding good before but after pulling them further from the back wall they have gone to a new level. I have had a Karik III/Numerik in the past as well as using the DAC in the 5103 for cd play back. It would not be fair to compare the Mini/ADM performance to those two since it was a while ago, I now have my stereo in a different room. I will say I do not have any complaints about my digital playback, although to be fair I will always take my LP12 first.
I have the USB version of the ADM9 and use them with a Mac Mini. I will not pretend to think it comes close to a Klimax DS, but I was pretty happy with the performance until I recently moved my speakers now I am blown away. They were sounding good before but after pulling them further from the back wall they have gone to a new level. I have had a Karik III/Numerik in the past as well as using the DAC in the 5103 for cd play back. It would not be fair to compare the Mini/ADM performance to those two since it was a while ago, I now have my stereo in a different room. I will say I do not have any complaints about my digital playback, although to be fair I will always take my LP12 first.
I have not done direct comparisons of any CD players with computer files through the DAC but one of my coworkers compared the ADM9s running off a Mac notebook to the AVI CD player and felt it was fairly close with the CD player only being a bit better. Since the AVI CD player is a little behind an Ikemi but not that far behind this is certainly quite good performance although not up to Akurate DS levels.
However, AVI is working on an ADM9.1 that will be even better and will cost a bit more. The 9.1 will not have USB but will have 2 optical inputs. It will use the same Wolfson DACs that the Klimax DS and Akurate DS use and AVI claim it is one of the biggest jumps in sound quality they have ever heard from a DAC. The other features will be similar to the current model although the subwoofer output will be a single mono RCA instead of stereo ones. Supposedly these will be shipping in six to eight weeks. It will be interesting to hear how good they sound on streamed music.
However, AVI is working on an ADM9.1 that will be even better and will cost a bit more. The 9.1 will not have USB but will have 2 optical inputs. It will use the same Wolfson DACs that the Klimax DS and Akurate DS use and AVI claim it is one of the biggest jumps in sound quality they have ever heard from a DAC. The other features will be similar to the current model although the subwoofer output will be a single mono RCA instead of stereo ones. Supposedly these will be shipping in six to eight weeks. It will be interesting to hear how good they sound on streamed music.
I haven't done a lot of stand comparison and they should work well with any good, solid 24" stand (of which the Linn Katan stand is one of my favorites, but might be a touch narrow). I have heard them sound good on some of the better Target and Apollo stands and they sound really good on the Quadraspire QX600 acrylic stands - but they are a bit pricey at $449US a pair.
AVI ADM 9.1
Yesterday I finally heard what the AVI ADM 9.1 speakers could do with a digital signal from a cd transport. They were really very good, we almost had Bob Dylan in the room with us.
Back home I played the same tracks from Modern times and yes my ATCs and don't forget my Sneaky DS and Exotik pre were even more life-like.
But I would say the AVIs can't be beaten for the money.
DAC, preamp poweramps active speakers for just above the cost of a Sneaky. But they don't add very well to a DS. Impressive and attractive. :)
Back home I played the same tracks from Modern times and yes my ATCs and don't forget my Sneaky DS and Exotik pre were even more life-like.
But I would say the AVIs can't be beaten for the money.
DAC, preamp poweramps active speakers for just above the cost of a Sneaky. But they don't add very well to a DS. Impressive and attractive. :)