Munich HIGH END Show Report 2016
High End Society Munich Germany

Avantgarde Acoustics Uno XD Powered Hornspeaker

  Avantgarde Acoustics were showcasing their new Uno XD series (starting at €21,900) here at HIGH END 2016. It has an outstanding 107dB at 18 Ohm sensitivity as the woofers are driven by their own power amplification. For drivers, a specialized mesh is filled with a specific coating that is highly dampening to reduce distortions. You also get a customized digital filtering in the bass combined with 500 watt of amplification power per side for the bass. The DSP has 10 parametric equalization settings.

To use this EQ, there is a color display with menu or PC software for tuning. A relatively easy to use setup service is offered that allows Avantgarde Acoustics to run a simulation to help with setting if you feel the need for such things (at extra cost). This works about 90% of the time to get you there, or very close to an excellent setting. For those you enjoy doing this for yourself and having the factory verify things, a data recorder runs test tunes, which are then sent to the factory to provide precise settings.

The hornspeaker systems from Avantgarde Acoustic are an homage to the real and pristine. The new UNO XD Series is a combination of precisely manufactured horns, calibrated driver systems with high impedance voice coils, innovative membrane technologies reducing distortions, powerful 1000 watt bass systems and a new versatile digital sound processing allowing for a seamless integration of the system in your listening environment.

Avantgarde Acoustics' Uno XD Series is a scaled–down version of the classical Duo system, which was reviewed many years ago by Yours Truly. By employing a pair of smaller 10" drivers and by integrating the horns as part of the speaker body, they managed to reduce the cabinet structure considerably. The objective was to accomplish the clarity and power of its physically larger brother in a significantly reduced in size enclosure.

The 500mm spherical midrange horn covers a wide bandwidth down to 300 Hz. The active subwoofer SUB225 XD Series supplements the balance between spherical horn performance and low frequency reproduction. It is actuated by two 10" long–excursion drivers powered by a 1000 Watt amplifier. All horn drivers are equipped with Omega voice coils. With this high impedance technology they improve the interaction of membrane movement and amplifier signal, to realize the full potential of the spherical horn technology. The result is 18 Ohms impedance combined with 107dB/W/m system sensitivity.

Avantgarde Acoustic's employs CDC–technology as they precisely align the frequency response, sensitivity of the driver, the geometry of the membrane and the air chamber at the horn throat to the response curve of the spherical midrange horn. This way the midrange driver has no passive filter components in the signal path. So as you can see, there are less components, less interactions, and less friction that ensures more signal detail.

The tweeter of the Uno XD series is equipped with the patent pending Capacitor–Polarization–Circuit to bypass the structural limitations of capacitors. By applying a polarization current to the conductors of a custom designed capacitor.

You can buy the Avantgarde Acoustics Uno XD in a wide variety of colors and real wood finishes for the cabinet. The horn sections are available is many colors to suit your decor. In fact the company was bestowed a very important design award from a prestigious Germany society! As a reviewer who has written about my assessment of the Uno and Avantgarde Acoustics Duos, looks like they have another winner on their hands!

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