Price Paid:  $500.00 from online

Summary:
I picked up a pair of these unusual speakers at a great price. After initially underpowering them, I paired them up with a more powerful amp (120Wx2). When compared to my JMLab Chorus 707's and Vienna Acoustics Haydn's, the Alon's fell clearly short in high-end response. Lower end was noticeably enjoyable, but the overall experience was lacking. I had hoped to keep them as conversation pieces, but I can't justify the investment. I was not impressed.

Strengths:
Lower end compared to smaller speakers.

Weaknesses:
Power drain and mid to high frequencies.

Similar Products Used:
JMLab Chorus 707's and Vienna Acoustics Haydn's.

Price Paid:  $950.00 from Singapore

Summary:
For me it is simple. Can I close my eyes and feel that the band or the singer is there ? Can I feel the emotions that the music delivers. I can live without a thundering bass, but I need airy and detailled mids and highs, it is my bread and butter. I was looking for a pair of intermdeidary speakers while waiting for my Merlin VSM's to arrive when I bumped into these speakers, that I did not even know existed ! They were sitting in a corner, covered with dust, but when I heard them, it was love at first listen. In fact, these intermdeiary speakers are going to stay alot longer than I planned and will be in my living room with my 300 and 845 tube SET, however, this baby needs power and it will get plenty of that with the Manley 250 watt Neo Classic monoblocks. If you are on the market for a great speaker at a great price, give the Alon I Mk II a listen, you may keep it for a long long time.... Happy Listening and always enjoy the music...

Strengths:
Extraordinary value for money, airy mids and highs, holographic performance, lows that you can live with, g

Weaknesses:
upgradability ! The manufacturer nver answers your emails

Similar Products Used:
Silveline Audio Sonata, Merlin VSM, VMPS RM-40, Galante Symphony, Tyler Linbrook Signature, Sonus Faber Amati, Jean Maurer

Price Paid:  $700.00 from Private Sale

Summary:
This is a review update. After living with the Alons for
several years, I'd like to point out some additional observations.

(1) The bass performance is, like everything else, dependent
on room placement. I just moved them to face the side of the room and got a lot more bass re-enforcement. Not too
much, but defintely a richer experience.

(2) Wow, the holography is marvelous. I still listen to new recordings and stuff comes from the sides and behind me. Better yet I can verify in soundtracks that the sounds are placed correctly in 3D space. This is not just an accoustic trick. Its so good its sometimes disconcerting.

(3) When listening to well-recorded movies I can actually detect different 3D soundfields. One soundfield belongs to the actual movie dialog and microphone placement and the background music is presented in a completely different 3D soundstage. Wonderful.

(4) Well recorded piano and vocal tracks are so wonderful that you will just want to lay back and listen all afternoon.

(5) Sometimes I find myself deperately wishing for the high-end sparkle of the Dunlavy SC-1, SM-1 series. I enjoy both
of these manufacturers. Dr. Dunlavy disagrees with the dipole radiator design, but I find it works very well.

I found mind used in Hawaii. Had them shipped to St. Louis. Will never regret that decision.

good luck,

jim burnes

Strengths:
Holographic imaging, liquid bass, transparent midrange

Weaknesses:
Missing a little top-end sparkle, demanding load

Similar Products Used:
Dunlavy SC-1

Price Paid:  $800.00

Summary:
I bought these speakers used, after having auditioned them thouroughly in the shop. It subsequently still is a surprise, of course, how they are going to sound with your own equipment. Suffice to say, I was not disappointed. These speakers are truly amazing when it comes to fine detail and transparency. You end up rediscovering your whole cd-collection, and yes, you notice musicians breathe or shuffling up the stage. It makes the music so much more life-like in every way. The KEF's in comparison are flat and seem to overfocus on the (still muddled) midrange. To be fair, though, the KEF's were only about $400,- new. As was pointed out in other reviews, subwoofer-like thunderous base is absent, but that tends to enhance listening fatigue anyway.

Strengths:
soundstage, clarity

Weaknesses:
anything below 40Hz

Similar Products Used:
KEF K140

Summary:
I passed over the Alon's in my quest for new speakers in the $1-2k range because of the open baffle design, but when persuaded to audition them, they had the opportunity to change my mind.

These are undoubtedly the cleanest, clearest speakers I have ever heard. Voices, cymbals, drums, and everything in the recording is clearly separated in space, and easily localizable. Comparing the PSB Stratus Bronze to the Alon I's side-by-side, the Bronze sounded muddled and confused. I'm telling you, the Alon's throw a huge, expansive soundstage like nothing I've heard before.

OK, so what didn't I like about them? Overall, they sound a bit lean. Don't get me wrong - the bass is there, and tight and tuneful too! It just doesn't go terribly deep (~40Hz?), and paired against a stunning midrange, the overall package comes across a tad lean. I think the best analogy I can give is: imagine the Alon I's as a good pair of open headphones, and you'll have a pretty good sense of how they sound.

I unreservedly recommend this speaker for people who listen to vocals, jazz, chamber music, and general symphonic pieces. They won't find anything close at this price. But for those building a home theater system, listening to contemporary music, and or just want to party, these are not really ideal.

I'd give them 4.5 stars if I could....

Associated equipment:
Sonic Frontiers TransDAC
Acurus L-10
Parasound HCA-1000A
Canare audio interconnects and speaker cables
My 12'x17'x8' living room (home audition)

Strengths:
Transparency, imaging.

Weaknesses:
A bit lean overall

Similar Products Used:
PSB Stratus Bronze