gerenidsmith

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
4.50 of 5, 2.00 votes

Price Paid:  $400.00 from audio excellence

Summary:
Amazing ! What a superb purchase these have turned out to be. I was not expecting this sound quality and performance for this amount of money ( price is in pounds BTW ) This is a very high quality loudspeaker that has a very substantial build quality and weight for a standmounter. It has to be one of the best in it's class for the price. The sound communicates the emotion and rhythm in the music in a way that most other similarly priced speakers just do not get close to. The sound is warm and involving but not at the expense of clarity and transparency. I even preferred the A1s to the A2s and virtaully everthing else that I tried under a grand including the Quad 2L. I just do not feel the need to spend anymore now that I have these fantasticly involving speakers. Five stars no question.

Strengths:
As above

Weaknesses:
None.

Similar Products Used:
All the hyped up stuff, B&W, Mission etc

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
To reply to that review about not being able to get parts for the celestion speakers, it is partially true. I have talked to the celestion rep for america and celestion has limited "A" series parts. For example they had 7 of the tweeters left as of 5 months ago. Next time try calling them directly its more effective than emails. I would also like to comment on how I've always talked up my "A" series speakers to everyone in the home theater community, along with my friends, to see that now Best Buy sells celestion. Now there goes thier credibility.I have a pair of A2's, A1's, A compacts and A6s subs along with the A4 center channel. If anyone is interested in buying them let me know and I will post them on the classifieds. I want them to go as a 7.1 (+an addditional sub so 7.2) package.

Strengths:
Great sound

Weaknesses:
I move from apartment to apartment. they are too big to keep moving thats why im thinking of selling them.

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
I had these speakers for over a year now and I thought a review would be in order. I feel that this is the speaker to keep for life. Its hard to find fault in this speaker because it does things so well more than the other speakers I have tried. My speaker search is over! I'm done. I just have to buy more cd's to enjoy my system. Weaknesses: placement can be a bit tricky if placed near walls. Best for free space ala not near the side walls and back walls.

Strengths:
seductive midrange, holographic soundstage and imaging! the ability for the speakers to disappear, superb bass

Weaknesses:
placement can be a bit tricky if placed near walls. Best for free space ala not near the side walls and back walls.

Price Paid:  $600.00 from Girona, Spain

Summary:
Beginner's luck? This is my first set of researched speakers. I had previously inherited speakers from friends and family. This time, I searched and spent $$! I must say I am thrilled with them. I am running them with a NAD 317, 110w @ 4 ohms and am very happy. I also auditioned the speakers with an ACM 3030 hybrid amp that sounded amazing with jazz, but lacked umph with live stadium rock. These monitors have more volume (are bigger) than many other monitors I checked out (B&W 6 and 8 series, JM Lab, Jamo) and it definately comes through in the sound. I think the bass is impressive for the size of the box. It feels like a lot of energy comes through these speakers. So far, they have sounded great with every type of music I have - but I think that piano pieces stand out as exceptionally great. These speakers are very handsome, and solidly built. The technical stuff you can look up. Having read other reviews, I concur that the soundstage is not high, and there is a noticeable difference (better) when listening at the level of speakers.

Strengths:
Great sound, volume. Handsome and solid build. Versatile - sounds great with all music. Great bargain for price. I got them used @ 600 bucks.

Weaknesses:
None yet

Price Paid:  $710.00 from Audiogon

Summary:
My search for my first “Higher End” speakers was about 3 months. My parameters were, 1) Compact size, 2) they could be also used in a home theater system, mainly as rears, 3) had clear, but not bright highs smooth midrange and decent bass for the size, 4) Handle higher power (75-150 watts), 5) craftsmanship and refined looks. They also needed to be within my budget for this years’ system purchases. I have always had, more mid-fi equipment. I have used a Denon integrated amp and CD changer, with Allison Acoustic speakers. I have always wanted to get into high end, but was never in a position to do so, until this year. I have had friends that have great systems, and have quite a long passion for music, and stereo equipment. Over the years, about 20 actually, I have refined my system ideas as well as my awareness for certain nuances. To make a long story short, I used much of my budget on the amps and preamp this year. I found on the used market, a Threshold S300 II, Threshold S1500 II and an Audio Research LS3. These may not be cutting edge pieces, but they are excellent choices today still, and quite affordable. I knew my speaker choice would come from the used market, and that finding these may be hard. I auditioned many speakers in stereo salons in new and used condition. Paradigm Reference 40, B&W 602 and the Celestion A1’s. Remember, these were to be speakers to get me started and then move them to my home theater. The B&W were a little too bright for me. They well made, excellent speakers, but in the solid-state system I had acquired, they were a little much. The Paradigm’s were very close to being the ones. They were smooth, clear and articulate. Then I stumbled into the A1’s. They were excellently smooth. That is what simply hit me first. Smooth. Bass extension was very good for their size, which was considerably smaller than the Paradigms. The craftsmanship of these speakers are absolutely first rate. I found a pair on Audiogon, and when they arrived, was I surprised. Using my old Denon CD changer, the LS 3, and the S300 II, I was total impressed. I was overwhelmed by their clarity, transparency and unflappability. They were smooth in my house and I was happy. Here is the kicker, BI-AMPING! I spent some time making a set of home brew Cat5 speaker cables, in a “Bi-Wire” configuration (can’t afford expensive cables this year, an

Strengths:
Transparancy, detail and craftsmanship.

Weaknesses:
The binding post could be of a little better quality, they don''t accept banana plugs, for example.

Similar Products Used:
B&W and Paradigm