Audiovector R 3 Arreté loudspeaker

[Ron Texas]

$12,900 and it measures terribly. Thank you Stereophile.

https://www.stereophile.com/content/audiovector-r-3-arreté-loudspeaker-measurements

 

[kemmler3D]

Maybe they're doing the same thing as this B&W curiosity: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...s/b-w-804s-quasi-anechoic-measurements.54563/

In the end it seems like the B&W's dip was intentional, where it cancels on-axis but almost exactly fills in off-axis. I speculate that it's a tactic to add "stereo width", but who knows? Either way it does not seem like it could have been an accident.

As for the Audiovector, what does it look like off-axis? Any chance this isn't just plain bad engineering?

 

[BrokenEnglishGuy]

Maybe they're doing the same thing as this B&W curiosity: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...s/b-w-804s-quasi-anechoic-measurements.54563/

In the end it seems like the B&W's dip was intentional, where it cancels on-axis but almost exactly fills in off-axis. I speculate that it's a tactic to add "stereo width", but who knows? Either way it does not seem like it could have been an accident.

As for the Audiovector, what does it look like off-axis? Any chance this isn't just plain bad engineering?

That thing works imho but at the same time it's ''much of a good thing'' is too much
For example On axis my speaker have like 1.5dB les energy at 4000hz to 8000hz but fills off axis, the result is very good. But that is not 1,5dB... in this case

 

[Ageve]

As for the Audiovector, what does it look like off-axis? Any chance this isn't just plain bad engineering?

The 3kHz dip seems to only get worse off-axis, so the reflected sound probably won't even out the in-room response as it does with the 804S.

Also, inverting the tweeter polarity made a huge difference (for the worse) with my 804S, but not with the Audiovector.

From the review:

I initially thought that this suckout might be due to one of the drive units being connected in the incorrect polarity, leading to destructive interference in the crossover region. However, the response with the tweeter connected in inverted polarity was identical to that with it correctly connected.

Audiovector R 3 Arreté loudspeaker Measurements

Sidebar 3: Measurements I used DRA Labs' MLSSA system, a calibrated DPA 4006 microphone, and an Earthworks microphone preamplifier to measure the quasi-anechoic frequency- and time-domain behavior of one of the Audiovector R 3 Arretésserial number 202084in the farfield. I used an Earthworks...

www.stereophile.com

 

[Trondi]

As always, caveat emptor.

Having said that I would like to know from the designer why that 3.5kHz notch was thought to be necessary, especially in light of the rest of the response seeming to be nigh on perfect.

 

[kemmler3D]

As always, caveat emptor.

Having said that I would like to know from the designer why that 3.5kHz notch was thought to be necessary, especially in light of the rest of the response seeming to be nigh on perfect.

My guess (having read the actual review now) is they simply did a bad job. The impedance spec is 8 ohm, in reality it's not even close, the sensitivity is rated as 90, it's more like 87, and there's a problematic cabinet resonance. Meanwhile they have non-functional features like ports right behind the tweeter to "enhance the soundstage" which is apparently barely audible (if at all) IRL.

You can get a much better speaker for a little over 1/10 the money. I give this one a D+ because at least the lows and mids are relatively flat.

 

[Penelinfi]

They probably did it because it can sound easier on the ears especially at lower volume

 

[kemmler3D]

They probably did it because it can sound easier on the ears especially at lower volume

IMO -8dB @ 3khz isn't like, "easy on the ears" tuning, it's like putting a blanket over the speaker.

 

[Pearljam5000]

I wonder how the R11 measures ...

 

[kemmler3D]

I wonder how the R11 measures ...View attachment 371589View attachment 371590

Well, nothing bad ever happens to the response when you put two tweeters right next to each other...

 

[Axo1989]

$12,900 and it measures terribly. Thank you Stereophile.View attachment 371555

Posting material from Stereophile (or other publications) please attribute (you did) and link (you didn't) per their request (and normal good etiquette).

 

[Ron Texas]

Posting material from Stereophile (or other publications) please attribute (you did) and link (you didn't) per their request (and normal good etiquette).

Excuse me, but you don't make the rules around here.

 

[TankTop]

Well, nothing bad ever happens to the response when you put two tweeters right next to each other...

Dali and Dynaudio (previous Confidence version) seem to do ok

 

[VintageFlanker]

Excuse me, but you don't make the rules around here.

Nope, he doesn't, nor do you (nor I).

Still, I remember that John Atkinson expressed this issue quite a few times and asked that every publication of his (own) measurements should ideally be sourced as such.

My two cents: It's just fair.

Now, back to the speakers: definitely some unacceptable performance at this price point. There's no excuse for such a broken design with the crossover. I'm also trying to figure out what they meant by "Arreté". If the plan was to use a French word, then it's quite a failed attempt... First, it would be wrongly spelled, second it wouldn't make any sense in this context. If someone has an explanation, I'm all ears.

 

[8bits]

'm also trying to figure out what they meant by "Arreté". If the plan was to use a French word, then it's quite a failed attempt... First, it would be wrongly spelled, second it wouldn't make any sense in this context. If someone has an explanation, I'm all ears.

I gather you did not read the article right? They explain that it comes from Greek and some other nonsense marketing storytelling...

 

[VintageFlanker]

I gather you did not read the article right?

You're right. I've only red the measurements page from John Atkinson. As I do for any review from Stereophile.

They explain that it comes from Greek and some other nonsense marketing storytelling...

Alright, thanks. Doesn't sound any better, tho...

 

[Ron Texas]

Nope, he doesn't, nor do you (nor I).

Still, I remember that John Atkinson expressed this issue quite a few times and asked that every publication of his (own) measurements should ideally be sourced as such.

My two cents: It's just fair.

Now, back to the speakers: definitely some unacceptable performance at this price point. There's no excuse for such a broken design with the crossover. I'm also trying to figure out what they meant by "Arreté". If the plan was to use a French word, then it's quite a failed attempt... First, it would be wrongly spelled, second it wouldn't make any sense in this context. If someone has an explanation, I'm all ears.

That article was absurdly easy to find. Otherwise I would have linked it.

 

[Pearljam5000]

Someone on the comments said that the tweeters on this €250K R11 are burnt because of the color
Does it make sense ?

 

[Vacceo]

I gather you did not read the article right? They explain that it comes from Greek and some other nonsense marketing storytelling...

Areté is the usual transliteration of ἀρετή. It´s a word used by Aristotle to denote excellency as a habit. Aristotle distinguishes between what can call "talent" or inclination, the natural tendency to do something well, with the trained consistency of doing something well, that is areté.

 

[VintageFlanker]

Areté is the usual transliteration of ἀρετή. It´s a word used by Aristotle to denote excellency as a habit. Aristotle distinguishes between what can call "talent" or inclination, the natural tendency to do something well, with the trained consistency of doing something well, that is areté.

So, it's not Arreté, which doesn't seem to exist. At all.