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Image AV One LoudspeakerTone Magazine Issue No. 2 - December 1999/January 2000Chris Ball is a unique New Zealander. He makes loudspeakers that look good, sound good and sell well. His Image range of speakers contains thirteen models which have received an enthusiastic reception from both hi-fi stores and buyers. I was recently loaned one of Images more recent speakers, the AV-1, for a listen. It's an unusual speaker in many regards and offers an extremely high value for money. Viewing the Image The first thing that strikes you about the Image AV-1 is the beautiful real wood veneer. Chris Ball has full cabinet-making facilities in-house and more importantly - knows how to use them. The pair I tested were finished in rimu, just one of the many wood veneers available, including jarrah, burr elm, tawa and a beautiful African rosewood. To my eye, the quality of the finish was immaculate, but then I'm not a wood expert. However, a friend of mine who is a cabinetmaker visited me while I had the AV-1 set up. His verdict: immaculately made. He liked the way the speakers sounded as well, but then he's not a speaker expert! The AV-1's are a three-way loudspeaker. On the front are two drive units from Morel, a well-known and respected drive manufacturer. A 140mm plastic cone midrange/woofer sits at the top of the front baffle, with a 28mm soft dome tweeter below it. On the side and at the bottom of the AV-1 is a 210mm woofer. This arrangement of drive units is not common, but makes plenty of sense. The midrange and tweeter are kept high off the ground for good sound dispersion, while the woofer is effectively coupled to the floor for extra and smoother bass response. An added bonus of this arrangement is that the look of the speaker's front baffle is kept small, while the side allows a large bass driver to be used. Inside the beautifully finished cabinet is extensive bracing, to stop its walls 'singing' along with the music. The bottom os each speaker is filled with sand, allowing both a lower centre of gravity and further stopping internal vibrations. The Image AV-1 is 920mm high, 330mm deep and a mere 185mm wide. A high 88dB/watt sensitivity and generous power handling suggest a speaker that should play loud and clean. Placing the Image The Av-1s like a little bit of space around them to breathe. I wouldn't suggest putting them too close to a corner or hard against a wall, which may result in very boomy bass. Bring them out from the walls and the bass will be extended and articulated. The speakers are mirror imaged, with the side-firing woofer on a different side for each of the two cabinets. Keeping a reasonably distance from walls or cabinets will definitely help the sound quality. Listening to the Image My experience of speakers designed for home theatre hasn't been great, as many of them sacrifice traditional hi-fi qualities, to be replaced with a loud, booming bass and squawky midrange. Not these speakers. The AV-1s are a lot of fun to listen to. They feel much like a powerful car - you may not be going fast but you know there's plenty in reserve. The bass is greatly extended and powerful, with only the most committed of bass freaks demanding more. This bass is not just of the `boom boom' type either - instead it adds scale and power to the sound, just as it should. I suspect in some rooms the bass may be a little accentuated, which may require careful positioning to calm down. As soon as I hooked up these speakers, I was impressed by their ability to sing dynamics. I'm not just talking about the gross ability to go loud - although they can do this easily. Dynamics have more to do with the changes in loudness - portraying the different ways the guitar strings are strummed, the way a singer slightly changes the phrasing, the subtle increase in level from a jazz drummer or the shifting moods of an orchestra. In this regard, the AV-1s were great. Good dynamics usually means a good midrange. And so it was with these. They had the ability to portray instrumental timbres very well. Drawbacks? One listener suggested that the lower treble range could sound a little `congested'. He was probably right, but this effect was very subtle. A couple of Image dealers suggested that the similarly priced Image model, the 404, may be a slightly better choice for music-oriented listeners. I haven't heard the 404s but, if you're interested in a speaker of this price, you should definitely listen to both. Verdict Image is on to a winner with the AV-1. This is a highly enjoyable, great sounding speaker at an extraordinary low price. The choice and quality of finishes make the speakers a fine addition to your living space as well. Highly recommended. Michael Jones |
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Image Loudspeakers ltd is the manufacturer and distributor of IMAGE LOUDSPEAKER SYSTEMS. 21 Eric Paton Way, Mt. Wellington, Auckland, New Zealand. Phone: ++64 9 570 8090. Fax: ++64 9 520 6229 Email: |