Which Arx speaker should I use for music/strictly two channel audio?

[Jeff Adams]

I already know that pretty much any Arx speaker is going to be outstanding for home theater use, what I am trying to decide on, is which Arx speaker holds an edge over the other one as far as musicality goes? Any opinions on this?

[Chane M&C]

Assuming you don't need max Arx output (think: A5) the A1b is going to be awfully hard to beat. The Dana 630i are still beyond it, but they can't go as loud.

[Vaison]

I would have bet money that you would have recommended the A3. Is the A1b that good?

[Jeff Adams]

Assuming you don't need max Arx output (think: A5) the A1b is going to be awfully hard to beat. The Dana 630i are still beyond it, but they can't go as loud.

Hello Jon,

Thanks for your input. So for music, you think the A1B is going to be the best option? Even over the A2B? And I am sure both the A1 and A2B will play plenty loud. And Jon. as you know, I am very torn between the Arx's and the Dana's. I know the Dana's are an amazing speaker and bring out detail and resolution in music like no other speaker can plus they throw a huge soundstage which I would love for music, I am just scared with the fact that they might not be dynamic enough for action packed sound effects type of movies. It would be a no brainer for me if I knew they could handle movie soundtracks. I just don't know I want to do. Somebody just make a decision for me. lol ;)

[gtpsuper24]

I just don't know I want to do. Somebody just make a decision for me. lol ;)

A5s. Better to have too much speaker than not enough. The A5s will have great output for HT but can be turned down for normal listening. Now if your going with a entire Arx system 5.1+ then you could get the A1b to hold you over till you decide on either of the other models A2b, A3, A5, or whatever else Jon has up his sleeves in the next year or so :D

[Chane M&C]

I would have bet money that you would have recommended the A3. Is the A1b that good?

The A1b may just be a category-killer, Vaison. It's also true I happen to like the A3 so I completely understand your thought, but I think that in Jeff's contect - looking for the purity of a smaller system and some degree of high output - that the A1b is pretty much a fullproof recommendation. I think that for more money he'd be better served with the Dana series, but at $299, the A1b is kind of a high performance volkspeaker.

[Chane M&C]

Thanks for your input. So for music, you think the A1B is going to be the best option? Even over the A2B?

I think we may have spoken by phone and I may have suggested that the A2b will establish a bigger sound, but the A1b, in the class of a simple 5" 2-way, is going to play somewhat louder than the smaller Dana. If I understand your application I prefer the Dana 640i, and unless you really do need at least a tandem set of 5.25" SplitGap woofers (think: Arx A2b or A3) the Dana 640i with it's 6.5" midbass driver is pretty darn magnificent.

And I am sure both the A1 and A2B will play plenty loud.

Yes, but let me add an important new variable: Your electronics. The notion that all consumer-grade stuff sounds alike is incorrect and a really good amplifier choice driving, for example, the Dana 640i will astound you with its degree of room-filling output. The amplifier plays a big part in any high-end setup.

What I'm saying is that there is not a lot of reason to favor one capable speaker over another if neither will be driven well. A great amplifier and clean sources can transform even a modest speaker. This is one reason I'm confortable recommending the $299 A1b if you don't need really high output. If you do, the A5 is the best choice. And for something right between it's output and the smaller-sized precision of the A1b, either the A2b or A3 can stand in.

And Jon. as you know, I am very torn between the Arx's and the Dana's. I know the Dana's are an amazing speaker and bring out detail and resolution in music like no other speaker can plus they throw a huge soundstage which I would love for music, I am just scared with the fact that they might not be dynamic enough for action packed sound effects type of movies. It would be a no brainer for me if I knew they could handle movie soundtracks. I just don't know I want to do. Somebody just make a decision for me. lol ;)

It depends a lot on your room and listening preferences. Let's just say that the 640i is in the same class as nearly all other 6.5" 2-ways in 15+ liter enclosures. If any such design is sufficient for your needs, the 640i certainly is. But if you want a small speaker set up in highpassed at 80Hz, the A1b will play as loudly as the Dana, and if you simply need more speaker than that, we have them.

[Jeff Adams]

I think we may have spoken by phone and I may have suggested that the A2b will establish a bigger sound, but the A1b, in the class of a simple 5" 2-way, is going to play somewhat louder than the smaller Dana. If I understand your application I prefer the Dana 640i, and unless you really do need at least a tandem set of 5.25" SplitGap woofers (think: Arx A2b or A3) the Dana 640i with it's 6.5" midbass driver is pretty darn magnificent.



Yes, but let me add an important new variable: Your electronics. The notion that all consumer-grade stuff sounds alike is incorrect and a really good amplifier choice driving, for example, the Dana 640i will astound you with its degree of room-filling output. The amplifier plays a big part in any high-end setup.

What I'm saying is that there is not a lot of reason to favor one capable speaker over another if neither will be driven well. A great amplifier and clean sources can transform even a modest speaker. This is one reason I'm confortable recommending the $299 A1b if you don't need really high output. If you do, the A5 is the best choice. And for something right between it's output and the smaller-sized precision of the A1b, either the A2b or A3 can stand in.



It depends a lot on your room and listening preferences. Let's just say that the 640i is in the same class as nearly all other 6.5" 2-ways in 15+ liter enclosures. If any such design is sufficient for your needs, the 640i certainly is. But if you want a small speaker set up in highpassed at 80Hz, the A1b will play as loudly as the Dana, and if you simply need more speaker than that, we have them.

Hello Jon,
Yes, we spoke on the phone, a couple of times actually and you were very helpful. As you can see from my posts on both the Dana thread and this one, I am really trying to make the correct decision for my situation. The room is not large and I am only sitting about 8-10ft away from the speakers. The source components are an Integra 7.8 THX Ultra 130 wattsX7 AVR, PS3, XBOX360, DirecTv and most likely one of the Oppo Blu-Ray players for CD playback as well as SACD and DVD-Audio. I will also be using an av123 MFW-15 for the low frequencies but like I told you over the phone, I do listen to a lot of music in "Direct Audio mode" on my AVR without the subwoofer so I would like a speaker that sounds fuller with more oomph and impact to it but it doesn't need to reach down too low. I do play both music and movies loud at times but nothing that I would consider too extreme. So a speaker that can handle high volumes but not distort is important to me but I don't abuse my speakers either.