AVI Neutron's.

[southall-1998]

Do all the Neutron speakers have simple 1st order crossovers?

I see the latest Neutron are the MK5's, are they better than thier predecessors?

And do all the AVI Neutron's sound similar to the Linn Kan's?

[colinB]

I own the mk 5s and they have a bigger volume than previous models.
The cross over is different but i cant tell you the technicalities.
I have read descriptions of the engineering by "he whos name cannot be mentioned" over on the HDD forum. The new ones have a better finish and dont do much wrong by me.

[DSJR]

The original neutron was an experiment in using a good small driver wide open, re-inforced by a little Vifa (I think) tweeter at 10KHz upwards. "AVI" don't think much of it, but we sold a few and the clients loved them... Spurred on by this, the Nu-Neutron came along with a better tweeter and more "normal" crossover and these also sold well. The Neutron IV was the real classic model and it sold in huge quantities and won awards as well. They still fetch good money on fleabay despite the fives being cheaper.

Now to the N5's. I also have a set. They're made in the far east using less expensive (but no less good) drivers. The crossovers are second order from memory and use quite good components and the fave finish is the gloss black I understand. They sound great to me, the bass lightweight as one should expect, but the mid and treble are lovely and quite transparent to what they're fed with. For bass, get the dedicated "2.1" sub and ditch your regular amp.

You know, the outspoken Kan lovers out there would do well to hear some Neutrons, as these latter wipe Kans for natural-ness of tone yet update the basic Kan concept so well - IMO.....

[colinB]

The 2.1 system is a clever little unit. I like the fact its got AVI 100w amps on board.

[southall-1998]

The original neutron was an experiment in using a good small driver wide open, re-inforced by a little Vifa (I think) tweeter at 10KHz upwards. "AVI" don't think much of it, but we sold a few and the clients loved them... Spurred on by this, the Nu-Neutron came along with a better tweeter and more "normal" crossover and these also sold well. The Neutron IV was the real classic model and it sold in huge quantities and won awards as well. They still fetch good money on fleabay despite the fives being cheaper.

Now to the N5's. I also have a set. They're made in the far east using less expensive (but no less good) drivers. The crossovers are second order from memory and use quite good components and the fave finish os the gloss black I understand. They sound great to me, the bass lightweight as one should expect, but the mid and treble are lovely and quite transparent to what they're fed with. For bass, get the dedicated "2.1" sub and ditch your regular amp.

You know, the outspoken Kan lovers out there would do well to hear some Neutrons, as these latter wipe Kans for natural-ness of tone yet update the basic Kan concept so well - IMO.....


Are the Neutron IV designed as a near field monitor?

Thanks for the info Dave.

[DSJR]

For small-room listening fairly close up I think.. They won't fill a large room very well.

We've been over this before, but the domestic HiFi market has contracted severely over the last twenty years and many small manufacturers and dealers have had to specialise and find a niche for themselves. For example, my main employer for 17 years went "Solus B&O" shortly after I left in 1998 and I suspect that AVI had to look outside of the electronics it was selling - the fact that the amps they made are holding their value so well must say summat for the basic good quality they offer. The Neutron series has largely escaped the audiophool radar I think, but it doesn't disguise the fact that they're great little babies as long as you take 'em as they are. I can't really dispute the claims made for the ADM's either, as going active with a smaller, less efficient speaker must be the way to ultimately go, as had they been designed as passives (the Pro 9 Plus was the nearest I think), their sensitivity would have been around 10db less than Marco's big Tannoys for example, needing at least three times the power to get anything like the same level output in the midrange.

I'd better leave it there I think ;)

[southall-1998]

Just one last question.

Are the Neutron IV's better than the III's?

[colinB]

I remember the 3s got a three star rating by a certain magazine. When the 4s came out they got very excited and gave them 5 stars.
Some people have a problem with Hi Fi mags but i found the review spot on when i was choosing between Proac 8s and the Neutrons.

[DSJR]

I very much doubt if any of them are inadequate enough to receive three stars. Remember this mag and it's listening facilities seem to favour screamers rather than civilised and "laid back" performers. Why do you think they favoured Monitor Audio metal coned speakers for so long, where the bad crossover/driver artifacts were all too obvious to my ears, at any rate.

[colinB]

I actually thought the neutron was a bit of a screamer when i first got them and even tried a different Amp. I dont think that now.
Either there is a burn in period or you accept Ashley's proposition that you ears get used to the new frequencies , which could be true.

[DSJR]

There is a difference between boom masquerading as bass in small boxes, and a better quality but less "obvious" bass quality, a compromise I've had some fun battling with the Spendors, which were never good at decent bass, although they're in a different league to BC1's of old :)

My little N5's have a light balance, but never screamy. They had been used as demo advanced prototypes for a while, so the drivers were well bedded in. I never could get on with miniatures as main speakers though, so the Bc2's are staying put for now, the N5's going in a little office system one day (I have more than enough kit for one, just no space right now).

[colinB]

Pitty they stopped selling the Amp packs. A pair of them on the Neutrons would have been a great office system.
Wish i had bought a pair.

[DSJR]

I've got the holes tapped and bolts supplied ready to go. That's one separate item they should have kept a bit longer, I agree :(

[southall-1998]

Very interesting info DSJR.

Thanks.