Amphion: What’s The Word About Them?

[nqikz]

Don’t see much said about the amphions on here. On Gearspace there is 300 pages worth of stuff said about how great these speakers are, but on here, not much info.

Looking for some people who have mixed or tried these speakers and to give me their perspective of these monitors. They look pretty, but do they measure well? and how do they compare to Neumann KH line?

 

[JSmith]

Measurements for speaker Amphion Argon1

www.spinorama.org

Amphion Argon1 Quasi-Anechoic Spinorama and Measurements (Updated)

I recently got the Ampion Argon1s in for review. Though I haven't had time to run the full suite of measurements (hard to find the time to run 70 sweeps without annoying my SO) I did run some horizontal measurements today. I'll probably redo them as they were a little more rushed than I'd...

www.audiosciencereview.com

JSmith

 

[nqikz]

Measurements for speaker Amphion Argon1

www.spinorama.org

Amphion Argon1 Quasi-Anechoic Spinorama and Measurements (Updated)

I recently got the Ampion Argon1s in for review. Though I haven't had time to run the full suite of measurements (hard to find the time to run 70 sweeps without annoying my SO) I did run some horizontal measurements today. I'll probably redo them as they were a little more rushed than I'd...

www.audiosciencereview.com

JSmith

I’m talking about the pro monitor line

 

[JSmith]

I’m talking about the pro monitor line

Sorry, I should have realised same based on the sub-forum, I only read your post. Hopefully other members can chime in...


JSmith

 

[RexrothPigeon]

There's this, but the images are broken, may have to click through to the original source. Seems like people aren't very impressed by the measurements.

Measurements of Amphion One18 and Amp500

From Sound & Recording. Those are/were quite popular with audio professionals - even hyped. Can't quite see why. Price is 2700€ for the speakers and 1560€ for the amp. A pair of Neumann KH310A costs about 750€ less and is much more accurate. Similarly, a pair of Genelec 8350 with GLM kit costs...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[Grotti]

I own the Argon 3s which is a One 18 basically and they have their flaws, which I got used to over some years. But the price is about the price of a pair of KH150 today and technically they are no match: the KH 150 is superior in every way and sounds better (at least to me). Some measurements of the Argon 3s:

Amphion Argon 3S Bookshelf Speaker Review - HomeTheaterHifi.com

The Amphion Argon 3S is a compact but weighty stand-mount loudspeaker from Finland.

hometheaterhifi.com

 

[JiiPee]

You can find the freq response and impedance measurements for one18 from Amphion's web site:
One18

 

[JiiPee]

In defense of Amphion Argon 3: It has a reasonable WAF (wife's acceptance factor), whereas Neuman's rank roughly on par with full-size paintings of husband's ex-girlfriends.

 

[Curvature]

The lack of comprehensive measurements is itself a sign not to buy.

 

[Grotti]

In defense of Amphion Argon 3: It has a reasonable WAF (wife's acceptance factor), whereas Neuman's rank roughly on par with full-size paintings of husband's ex-girlfriends.

That's why I couldn't replace them with a pair of KH310......sigh

 

[nqikz]

I own the Argon 3s which is a One 18 basically and they have their flaws, which I got used to over some years. But the price is about the price of a pair of KH150 today and technically they are no match: the KH 150 is superior in every way and sounds better (at least to me). Some measurements of the Argon 3s:

Amphion Argon 3S Bookshelf Speaker Review - HomeTheaterHifi.com

The Amphion Argon 3S is a compact but weighty stand-mount loudspeaker from Finland.

hometheaterhifi.com

Not sure if I would call the Argon 3 similar to the One18. One18 is a monitor intended for professional use. Argon is more for fun listening.

 

[nqikz]

The lack of comprehensive measurements is itself a sign not to buy.

But I read on here that the One15’s translate amazingly well and show your mix flaws really well.

 

[RexrothPigeon]

But I read on there that the One15’s translate amazingly well and show your mix flaws really well.

This forum is dedicated to empirical, objective evaluation of audio equipment. You don't have to care about that, of course. You are free to read subjective claims everywhere else and believe whatever floats your boat. But that stuff doesn't really carry any weight here.

 

[nqikz]

This forum is dedicated to empirical, objective evaluation of audio equipment. You don't have to care about that, of course. You are free to read subjective claims everywhere else and believe whatever floats your boat. But that stuff doesn't really carry any weight here.

I mix music that’s why I care about translation. Maybe it doesn’t carry any weight for your goals and that’s fine. But for me translation is very important.

 

[Curvature]

But I read on here that the One15’s translate amazingly well and show your mix flaws really well.

It's easier to lean on evidence when making buying decisions instead of taking others' word for it. If you aren't comfortable with measurements, it's better to read before buying.

Sound Reproduction: The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers, Rooms and Headphones

This fourth edition of Sound Reproduction: The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers, Rooms and Headphones explains the physical and perceptual processes that are involved in sound reproduction and demonstrates how to use these processes to create high-quality listening experiences in...

www.routledge.com

 

[Grotti]

Not sure if I would call the Argon 3 similar to the One18. One18 is a monitor intended for professional use. Argon is more for fun listening.

And what objective characteristics qualifies the One18 as a "monitor for professional use" and sort of disqualifies the Argon 3s as a speaker for "fun listening"? They share the same drivers and measure quite similar with the Argon 3s arguably tuned a little bit deeper and different material for the equally shaped waveguide.

I am absolutely sure, that you get the same "professional results" from both speakers.

 

[RexrothPigeon]

I mix music that’s why I care about translation. Maybe it doesn’t carry any weight for your goals and that’s fine. But for me translation is very important.

I do too and anyone in our shoes is well served by seeking input a bit more reliable than “guys on gearslutz said so.”

 

[nqikz]

The lack of comprehensive measurements is itself a sign not to buy.

Yeah, honestly.. it's already an expensive speaker in itself + the cost of the passive amp it requires it adds up even more. The one15s almost cost more than the kh310

 

[Curvature]

Yeah, honestly.. it's already an expensive speaker in itself + the cost of the passive amp it requires it adds up even more. The one15s almost cost more than the kh310

We have complete measured characterization, more or less, of a lot of pro monitors. Genelec and Neumann come up on top consistently.

On the cheaper, passive end, there is really no beating what Ascilab is producing. Of course right now availability is an issue since they are a small manufacturer.

On the expensive end, Dutch & Dutch studio versions are excellent, as are Kii and JBL speakers.

There are a lot of excellent choices. Budget and knowledge of speaker designs and room interactions end up being the best guides.

 

[nqikz]

We have complete measured characterization, more or less, of a lot of pro monitors. Genelec and Neumann come up on top consistently.

On the cheaper, passive end, there is really no beating what Ascilab is producing. Of course right now availability is an issue since they are a small manufacturer.

On the expensive end, Dutch & Dutch studio versions are excellent, as are Kii and JBL speakers.

There are a lot of excellent choices. Budget and knowledge of speaker designs and room interactions end up being the best guides.

Now I know you might have a different taste, but what do you think of Barefoot? Footprint 02 seems like a nice deal to me honestly. The close cabinet design and the capable low end is appealing to me. This is from a mixing perspective.