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Review 1 of 3
Price Paid:
$4500.00
from AVD Summary:
An excellent speaker that I was able to purchase at a reasonable discount. I must agree with previous reviews that the titanium dome tweeter makes it a bit strong on the top end. Fortunately, I am able to compesate with a McIntosh C46 preamp with equalizer.
The Aeriel LR5 is very clean and detailed, although perhaps not quite so much as some electrostatic speakers. It has tremendous dynamic authority, however, that no electrostat I have ever heard could possibly match.
The speaker has quite a low sensitivity at 86 db, but has very high power handling. The key to making this speaker sing is lots and lots of power. I tried using a Cambridge Audio integrated amp that delivers 200 watts per channel into 4 ohms and it was beautiful at low volumes, but stressed when trying to drive with authority. The Rotel RB 1090, which delivers 700 watts per channel into 4 ohms (and weights 84 back breaking pounds!) is a far, far better match. Truth be told, I must consider upgrading to monoblocks of 1000 watts or more into 4 ohms. Strengths:
Very detailed, though slightly overemphasized treble. Fantastic midrange and midbass. Excellent bass as far as it goes (38 or 40). Acoustic suspension design makes for very tight and controlled bass, even if it is not terribly efficient. Aerial SW 12 or other good subwoofer helps. Works well with Martin Logan Depth subwoofer.
High power handling. Sealed design makes placement in room a bit easier in my opinion. Works well as a relatively big speaker in a relatively small room. I am sure it plays well in large rooms as well.
Incidentally, beautifully finished and constructed. At 105 lbs you can bet that the cabinets do not resonate very much. Weaknesses:
Low sensitivity for a speaker of its size and weight. Craves lots of current and wattage from a big heavy amplifier or two. Thus, it can require expensive upgrades to the rest of your system.
A little two much treble, but I believe this is not a major problem, or at least something you can adjust for. Not quite a full range speaker in that it can still benefit from a subwoofer for two channel music.
Still the favorite speakers that I own. Similar Products Used:
KEF, Cabasse, Martin Logan, Bowers and Wilkins, Thiel, Focal, Vienna Acoustics, Sonus Faber, Monitor Audio, ADS, Klipsch, Polk, M&K, Bang & Olufsen, and that is just a partial list of the speakers I own (or close members of my family).
Yes, the Aerials are my personal favorites, even though I have some other great speakers.
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