Keep the New Large Advents or get new modern speakers?

[JimSC]

Always thought my advents sounded pretty good but there seems to be many that feel modern speakers are much better. I am powering them with a WiiM Amp Ultra. The room is 12’x24’ and I listen about 8’ from the speakers. I think my acoustics are pretty good. Carpet with a wood ceiling (7’) Leather chairs and sofa.

Since I listen from the 12’ side of the room about 8’ from the Advents I don’t think I need anything bigger. I normally listen to smooth jazz in the 60-70 db range, probably closer to 60db most of the time.

There are so many speakers out there I am overwhelmed where to start. I do know I don’t like bright speakers and I like good bass, which the Advents have. Price is no object, but prefer not to spend lots of money on a system that I only use occasionally to stream music from the WiiM.

Any advice appreciated.

 

[Joe Smith]

If the woofer surrounds are in good shape, and the crossover is OK, in my opinion you are probably still getting very good sound from the Advents. Smooth jazz at the listening level you mention is not terribly demanding of speakers. I checked memory, and the NLAs have a 10" woofer, correct? Your room size is moderate. Yes, there are a lot of modern options, I'm sure you will get some suggestions here. The only speakers really tempting me at present, with my moderate budget view of life, are the Philharmonic Audio monitors, but demand seems to be outstripping production capabilities there for the moment, many versions are not available.

If you did anything, given your bass focus, it would be to experiment with newer speakers with 8 - 10" woofers and adding a sub. I don't use subs, so can't give advice there.

I don't know what's in the Advent crossovers, but that would be another way to go. Refresh the components there. Might help more with preserving the high end than anything else...

 

[Power Pop 23]

Welcome to ASR !

For your usage case, you may have all you need already - I assume you are using the 'RoomFit' room correction feature of the WiiM Ultra Amp.

Adding a powered subwoofer can extend the bass output.

Consider options where you have return privileges.

 

[Robin L]

I've owned three pairs of Advent speakers, two large, one smaller. I've heard systems where large Advents can really 'sing' though I never got there myself. One belonged to an opera buff who later reviews extremely high-end audio for Stereophile. The other was a system using stacked pairs—a quartet—of large Advents. That system imaged like big planar speakers.

My complaints about my Advents would be that the high frequencies are somewhat rolled-off and there's a muddy character to the lower midrange. However, it looks like you have a near-ideal system for smooth jazz at low to moderate listening levels, seeing as you don't like "bright" speakers. Adding a powered sub wouldn't hurt but it also wouldn't add all that much to the music you listen to at the volume levels you use.

My system happens to be very different compared to yours. I'm listening to Infinity Primus 250 speakers in a nearfield arrangement, about three feet away, with a powered sub. Really more than the small room requires but very analytical, really good for orchestral music.

 

[RobL]

Are these the same speaker?

The New Advent Loudspeaker Review (Vintage Speaker)

This is a review and detailed measurements of the "The New Advent Loudspeaker" vintage speaker, circa 1977. The sample under test was kindly provided by our own @Dennis Murphy. He has looked it over and replaced a crossover capacitor to make sure it has the value it originally had. The woofer...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[Matt_Holland]

If you want modern (and you might even say state of the art) performance alongside retro looks I would recommend the Audio First Cadentia 3.

There is a development thread on ASR here.

Edited to add: the Cadentia is known for extremely smooth tonal balance and very good bass.

The Mo-Fi Source Point models might also fit the bill for the Retro look.

 

[mhardy6647]

Get some new loudspeakers.

 

[Joe Smith]

You could order from Crutchfield, do a quick comparison to your current speakers, with something in your desired price range. Crutchfield service is good and I think they make returns fairly easy to accomplish?

But I just read your other thread here...seems like you have tried that already? With speakers up to a $500 price point?

A reasonable next test would be with something like the ELAC DBR62, maybe...see if you like the sound via a smaller driver but ported...?

 

[phoenixdogfan]

I think you should treat yourself to some new loudspeakers. Advents are a venerable design with outdated drivers. Even if you only listen to cool jazz you can do better for a reasonable amount of money. I would recommend a short list of Ascend Acoustics Sierra 2, Kef Concerto Meta, or Asci Lab C6b. Any one of those speakers will go for l.t. $1500 pr and will make you very happy.

 

[goodvibrations]

Hi Jim, I have a similarly sized room for both music enjoyment & movie viewing.

Here's my setup:

• Yamaha surround amp (older RX-V377)
• Advent Legacy II speakers (purchased used, refoamed the woofers a decade ago)
• Rythmik L12 sealed sub x-over at 90Hz
• Yamaha center & rear speakers (good enough for the space)

Input is via HDMI. Music files are mostly FLACs backed up from CDs and enjoyed via 2.1 sound. Jazz is a staple among other genres. We also have a vinyl collection and turntable.

Friends with more "tuned" ears than mine have been shocked at how clean the sound is, esp. considering the low total investment. Listening sessions turned up to around -15 db include clear instruments &/or vocals with deep bass that is controlled but seemingly without a floor. Normal music listening is in the -50-35 db range. Movies are typically turned up a little louder.

My rectangular room allows placing the Advents and sub about 3/8" from the wall opposite the sectional seating (spacing due to moulding thickness). The Yamaha has a mic and setup process to dial-in the speaker levels. I've found this aligns well with what I hear when making manual adjustments. In placing the sub, we first ran it in our typical seating position and crawled around the room listening for sweet spots, between the main speakers was it. The Legacy IIs tweeters are roughly inline with our ear holes when seated.

Based on your WiiM Amp, in your shoes, I'd probably pickup these Advent Prodigy IIs and add either the same Rythmik 12" sub (I got mine open box from another audio enthusiast site) or this 10" RSL Speedwoofer (I'm interested hearing in person).

Those Prodigy IIs have smaller tweeters (3/4") and woofers (8"), however as those can be shipped and with adding a sub, that may be inconsequential. If you want the 1" tweets and 10" woofs of the Legacy IIs, this set looks tip top, however you'll have to send a freight forwarder to pick them up (unless you have reason to be in CT). Bonus is the replaced crossover caps.

Otherwise, if you have a pile of cash burning a hole in your pocket, I often visit the ASR All Speaker Review list. As this can be sorted & filtered, it may help you find what you're looking for!

Good luck & happy listening whichever way you go

KC in Vermont

btw: been lurking here for years, huge thanks to Amir & everybody for all your insights!

 

[mhardy6647]

Even though those Recoton-era Advents (e.g., the Legacy line) are held in pretty low esteem, the tweeters in them are certainly more extended in response than Henry's cone drivers were -- and they sound better to me overall, too, than the real, Kloss-era Advents.


(that's actually a Legacy II, FWIW)

 

[goodvibrations]

M. Hardy, good points. I recalled the origin of my Legacy IIs predated the Recoton era. The tags show: International Jensen, Inc. Schiller Park, IL 60176. Some internet sleuthing indicates the Recoton consolidation didn't occur until 1996. How that relates to the quality of the drivers is outside of my sphere of knowledge.

Happy to host ASR members who find themselves in NW Vermont to give this setup a listen : )

 

[mhardy6647]

M. Hardy, good points. I recalled the origin of my Legacy IIs predated the Recoton era. The tags show: International Jensen, Inc. Schiller Park, IL 60176. Some internet sleuthing indicates the Recoton consolidation didn't occur until 1996. How that relates to the quality of the drivers is outside of my sphere of knowledge.

Happy to host ASR members who find themselves in NW Vermont to give this setup a listen : )

You're right, I forgot Jensen! I should know better than to trust my memory.
Hmm... we should cross paths sometime (if we haven't already).