Nice to see this brand get attention. I've come love my Argon 3s now that I have the right pairing. The Buchardts, which get much attention on UA-cam, clearly borrowed from Amphion argon line in terms of wave guide, passive radiator and industrial design ethic.
im just starting out setting up my new hifi system for over 25 years and this channel is my 1st stop for advice thank you for all your hard work and knowledge, the absolute best in my opinion.
They look and sound gorgeous and having the option of choosing ones grills cover is a nice finishing touch, plus with you explaining how easy and forgiven the AMPHION ARGON 1s are with ones room environment and partnering equipment! Therefore this is one pair of speakers for the shortlist! I've learnt more in 16 minutes about the amphion argon ones then I would have had if I researched it for half a day! Cheers Tarun
I wish to let you know how much I, and the rest of your subscribers, appreciate the work you put into producing these videos. For me, and I'm sure others as well, your videos are a highlight of my YT week. Your videos, because of your style, provide cheerful entertainment much needed these days. BTW, also from Finland, Valtteri Bottas and Kimi Raikkonen.
I have bought a pair of the Amphion Argon 1 and paired them with a Marantz PM7000N streamer receiver 60 watts at 8 ohm and 80 watts at 4 ohm. My room is bad for sound and therefore I bought them. At the moment I’m streaming Spotify premium with my IPad Air with Apple Air play using WiFi. The Amphion sounds natural and classical vocals are very good without harshness and very detailed and not only classical music but also Blues, Rock. In the future I’m going to install my exposure CD player and my Oppo blue-ray player. One thing I find there is a sweet spot and not a great one. I am listening near field. For this price they sound so musical. I love them. Greetings Ludo Belgium
Again, no disappointment whatsoever with this review. Fortunately, of the two Amphion retailers here in Canada, - one is located within a six hour drive. I am dead set on upgrading my current Rotel/Adcom unit to a Hegel. Which Hegel? TBD. Now, I have to admit, this last year I've been all over the speaker-map as to ... which one? Dynaudio? ... possibly, Harbeth? ... be nice, ATC? ... now you're talking. Okay, so ... my guts tell me to check out these Amphions and set in motion a plan to do so. This review has solidified my focus and intent. Tarun, I now have a very clear picture as to what promise these Amphions could offer and potentially fulfill. Now I just have to hear them by packing up my not yet purchased Hegel and setting out on an over nighter to Vernon British Columbia. It's a challenging time with COVID restrictions and all - and I am no spring chicken (late fall) but as Union Admiral David Farragut once said "damn the torpedoes". Thanks for reading this cos I know you do and thank you so much for all of your work in bringing forth your audio findings and presenting them in an interesting and understandable fashion.
Thank you Charles. The Amphions are certainly worth checking out. Cooler in tonal balance than the ATC and Dynaudios. The Harbeths are of course a lot warmer. Please let me know how you get on 😊👍👍
Really enjoy your channel, great to get an insight into many different products. Thank you for posting and yes I’m aware of just how much work goes into filming and editing these vids and appreciate not only your expertise and professionalism but the sheer amount of work this takes. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 thank you.
Another great well informed review. I've always enjoyed listening to a quality stand mount speaker, a lot more flexible in a smaller room I find, looking forward to another review. Keep up the great work my friend.
Saw these at the Bristol show last year, running from a H120 I think. Easily one of the best sounding demo rooms of the show, which included some insane 6-figure rigs! Thanks for the review and very interesting to have the comparison with the S400s.
Thanks Tarun for your detailed and nuanced reviews of audio equipment, including this speaker. I'm an anthropologist and language teacher who has developed an innovative English language program for young leaders around Asia, one that encourages growth in self-awareness as well as of social and ecological challenges. I've found that having a good audio system makes a huge difference in a language classroom, for obvious reasons. One of the qualities of loudspeakers that becomes really important for classroom use is the dispersion pattern. Students are normally sitting in a semi-circle in a medium to large size room, and a wide "sweet spot" really helps in all the listening we do, from online videos, lectures, and poetry readings to news items, films, music, and so on. I'm seriously considering these speakers (or Argon 3s) for this reason. One thing I don't yet understand about these speakers and about speakers in general is this: Do they differ much in the vertical dispersion pattern? This is a practical question for me. In an active classroom we may all be sitting on the floor during one moment, in desk chairs another, and standing and moving about during another. Amphion was very quick to respond to my initial inquires, but I have not yet heard back from them on this issue. So to rephrase, for most speakers does one's ear generally have to be at a particular height to get the best and clearest sound? Or is the vertical sweet spot bigger for some speakers than for others? A quick concrete example: Someone online liked the Amphion Argon 3s, but found the price prohibitive. They ultimately went with the Philharmonic BMR (large bookshelf) speaker. However, I learned that this speaker has excellent horizontal dispersion, but apparently the vertical dispersion is very narrow. Is that narrow vertical band generally true of speakers, or do some have a wider area? And is that area of preferred listening on the vertical axis wider on the Amphion Argon speakers, or is it also best only within a narrow band? I would appreciate it if you could share your thoughts and observations. Thank you!
Thank you Theodore. Most speakers differ greatly in their vertical dispersion and have to be listened to at the appropriate height. I would go for a dual concentric or coaxial design. The Kef LS50 Meta would be worth considering 😊
Spot on Tarun. Your findings pretty much reflect my thoughts of the Argon 1. In isolation (not AB test) the Argons should be the only speaker you need. It's really hard to find a worthwhile fault. I had these on home demo for 2 weeks, while the independent dealer took a holiday -- perfect timing for me. However, as I demoed the Dali Rubicon 2 a few weeks before, these really got under my skin; I heard different speakers around the £1000-2000 but kept referring back to the Dalis. Being a bit cheeky, I phoned Richer Sounds for a 2nd demo of the Dalis and took the Amphions along with me. As my 20 year old daughter hears things I don't I bribed her to come with me. Immediately there was a noticable difference we both heard. That's confirmation my ears are pretty good still. Okay, we are not talking about huge differences: the midrange on the Dalis was a little fuller, there was a slight improvement to vocal and instrument separation, tad more layered; the bass was a tad more extended; the dynamics are a bit better; the detail levels were pretty similar but the subtleties a little more noticable - but it was subtle (obviously). Also the Rubicons are hugely transparent & holographic but never veers into brightness. The Argon 1 are more flexible with placement. All those tiny improvements doesn't sound much but as a sonic whole that's where the uplift is heard. The Argon 1 are in my top 5 small standmounts. Special speakers but not quite as special as the Dali Rubicon 2
Hi! You were asking about the crossover. It is a second order for the midbass driver and first order for the tweeter. Most surprising for a two-way design! One must be careful for fear of damaging the tweeter if too much power (and distortion) is applied to it. Thanks! Very good review!
Thank you for yet another very detailed review. As a ProAc owner for over 20 years its great to see a reviewer using ProAc speakers. A very under rated speaker brand. Keep up the great work. Cheers from Australia.
Hi Tarun , I have been looking at your recent videos and not only they are very informative but very interesting, I also say your attention to detail is extremely good. Your technical input to your products I find extremely good and now always a pleasure to watch your videos. I am looking in the future to purchase complete new hi fi set up and finding your reviews most helpful. Regards mark
@@abritishaudiophile7314 You should definitely review the Technics SB-C700 bookshelf speaker someday homie. It is a) a cutie looks wise b) sounds spectacular c) unbelievable holographic imaging etc etc etc i bought it after John Atkinson started raving about it on stereophile. To put it bluntly, It makes the KEF LS50 sound like it was made by an amateur. This speaker has my jaw dropped and my jaw doesn't usually drop.
Very high level of presentation...nicely balanced and comfortable to listen. I would like to repet this: "weights 8 kilograms per unit"... because "8" was hardly possible to be heared. Kind regards.
Thanks for your review. Specially because i also have a combination of Amphion and Hegel, to be specific Argon 3 and Hegel Rost. And for nearfield listening with my computer i use old Amphion Helium+. For me this is a perfect combination. Because of a hearing problem (tinnitus & hyperacusis) my hearing is very sensitive for high frequencies. And this is the first combination i don't have problems with the high frequencies. A other positive thing i want to share, my personal experience is that my Amphions are not critical for positioning (sweet spot and distance from the wall). You mentioned a few great Scandinavian brands, but i want also mention Electrocompaniet amps (Norway) which i like very much and Supra cables (Sweden). Keep on making great reviews, consider a review of the Argon 3s :-) Greetz from Amsterdam, Netherlands
Thank you Jos. Great to hear from you and I really enjoyed reading about your experiences. I am planning to review the Argon 3s latter in the year. Thank you for watching and sharing 😊👍
My two week audiophile journey has brought me to Subscribe to this excellent channel. These are very appealing as I prepare for my final hi-fi and don't have the cost of a season ticket from Brighton to London to dispose of! Thank you. Great detailed review.
Bang on job, Tarun. This may be my most favorite review of yours thus far. The breakdown and side-by-side subjective comparison of like speakers was brilliant. These are very nice looking speakers. But I have to say that you manage to extend my love affair with the Proacs every time you compare something new and enticing to it. I'm so glad I made the right decision to purchase them 2 decades ago. The midrange magic is what makes me want to turn on the system every day.
@@abritishaudiophile7314 My latest infatuation is with Rebecca Pidgeon's voice and recordings. If you haven't, you must hear how the Proacs (and comparable speakers) voice her Spanish Harlem. The tone and soundstage are mesmerizing. Which brings me to my suggestion/request, it'll be great if you can also call out some sample passages of recordings you use to make those subjective opinions of the equipments in review or comparisons. This way, we can also listen to the same songs and train/calibrate our ears to hear the same things.
@@abritishaudiophile7314 Just curious. How much sssh and sss do you hear from her? Is it a short sh/ss, or longer sssh/sss? I have a tube amp that can switch between ultralinear and triode mode. In triode it's a short sh. In ultralinear sh becomes ssh to sssh. When the shaker come on, where'd you place it in your setup? I'd put it at 1-2 o'clock, 5-6 feet behind the right speaker, and 1-2 ft above my eye level. Where'd you place her voice? For me she's about 2-3 ft behind the speakers and dead center.
@@cjpriustt I will have to get my ProAcs and Exposure amps back into the rig to get the best performance. Once I have done that I will have to listen to let you know. You may need to remind me in a couple of days 😉
I have had my Amphion 3ls for nearly 3 years now and adore them, I demo’ed the argon 1’s originally which is what got me hooked on the house sound. I have recently switched to a Hegel h390 which is an incredible combination but having tried various amps I didn’t find anything that sounded bad with the amphion’s and surprisingly even a sugden a21sig made a very compelling combination at lower spl’s. Great video as always 👍
Hello Oliver. I was looking at these and also the sugden. Do you mean the sugden was only capable of driving them lower down? Does the sound distort higher up then and how does the sugden compare to the Hegel for overall SQ. Cheers - Paul
Very good review. I have the Aurelia Cerica from Finland. The designer/owner of Aurelia is the previous designer at Amphion so the sound is very related. I have had Anthony Gallo Ref 3.1, LS50, ATC SMC 11, Heco Direkt, Naim Allae.. and so on. I can just say that the Aurelia beats them all for my taste. On good recordings the sound is not just in the air in front of you, they are rather inside your head and can still surprise me with sound coming far wider/on the sides than anything I have heard and even more details and silly quick bass. The only downside for some people is that they want more lows but I would only add that to movies. Perfect for tricky rooms as well.
Thank you Tarun for this review. I was eagerly waiting for this video and you really delivered! The breakdown of the technical aspects of the waveguide and lower crossoverpoint was interesting. With those comparisons, you made me appreciate my own Argon1s even more than I already did :) Still can't be helping but to wonder what the bigger brothers, Argon 3's would bring to table 😏 As many have mentioned already, seeing a new "A British audiophile" upload on UA-cam feed really brings smile to one's face. That said, keep up the good work but don't burn yourself up!
Thank you Antti. Greatly appreciated. It is wonderful having loyal viewers like you. It is a challenge to run the channel during lockdown whilst homeschooling my son and managing my other commitments. Receiving comments like this makes it all worthwhile 😊👍👍
Thank you Will. There just wasn’t enough of an improvement over my 1SCs to justify the change. It will be interesting to see what the SCM 40s bring to the table 😊👍
Tarun, thank you. Your channel is outstanding. I enjoy every minute of it. The reviews are informative, very well structured and comprehensive. Invaluable... I am currently upgrading my 20-year-old system and looking for speakers to match Audiolab 6000a. I loved the tone and soundstage of ATC SCM11, but they may be too demanding for my scenario (50W amplifier, close to walls setup, low level listening). Following your review, today I have auditioned Argon 1 - what a great speaker! Detailed, natural. Violin, piano, Norah Jones, Miles Davis - all sounded like it should. I am choosing between Argon 1 and Neat Motive SX3...
That is great Art. I am very appreciative of your kind words of support. I agree that the SCM 11 will need a beefier amplifier. Please let me know how you get on with the SX3s 😊👍👍
Ok I did it I am getting the Amphion Argon 1's! I am also getting a more powerfulle Belles Aria Signature amp made in the USA and I am looking at getting a little SVS 3000 Micro subwoofer. Yea my kitchen will rock out! My PSB's were not bad but just too "midfi" for my tast at this point in my audio journey and I am selling them to a freind for his bedroom.
It's great you reviewed Amphions. I nearly had forgotten about them until you mentionned the Burkhardts - only then did I realise they were different speakers/makes! The Amphions did predate the Burkhardts indeed but somehow it's the latter that seem to get a lot of publicity and not the former. That's a shame as I think the Amphions were probably the only make at the time exploring this type of design (the only other one I'm aware of are Klipsch with their bookshelf speaker but it's probably at a totally different price range) - of course I'm leaving out any PA oriented speakers!
Waveguides also help to time align the two drivers. When the drivers are time aligned, this allows lower order crossovers to work with minimal comb filtering. Time alignment along with dispersion control between drivers allow for good imaging and more forgiving sweet spot. Sounds like if a sub is added, you have a nice overall system.
Indeed. Thank you for bringing that up J Ked. I had to leave it out. I am trying to keep the technical bit reasonably short as it starts to sound like a lecture. I appreciate you watching and thank you raising that point buddy 😊👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314 Actually, your reviews come across as very thoughtful and organized. Your increase in viewership shows that. I have thought of doing my own channel (not an equipment review channel) but do not feel i know how to keep it organized and interesting. I would probably come off as rambling and lecturing. So i watch people like you.
A lot of you tubers think they have to be "up", almost hyper, all of the time to be engaging and attract viewers. Your calm demeaner shows that is not true. Somehow your enthusiasm comes through even though you are not hyper. That is a natural trait that i believe is difficult to learn. Kerp it up. Dont let success go to your head. Stay humble. It is part of your charm.
Very interesting review - thank you, Tarun! I'd love to see a review of the LS50 from you, just because plenty of people know it and it's a good calibration of preferences.
@@abritishaudiophile7314 yup I wish I hadn't sold them, now that I have a second rig in my office. OTOH I just ordered the Dynaudio Heritage Specials, will let you know what I think of them.
When we talk about how, mid, low, it would be good to build an understanding of these words in your mind relative to a music instrument and your voice. Sit at a piano and find the central A key. Each "octave" is a pattern of 7+1 white keys with 2+3 black keys. An octave is the tonal distance between the two ultimate keys in this pattern. In the modern convention, the piano's central A is tuned at 440 Hz. Each lower (left on the keyboard) key that has the same place in that 7+5 pattern is also an A. The same applies to the right where tones go up. Doing so will demonstrate that 1,600 Hz - the crossover frequency of these speakers is already high and if you think not, try to sing that note.
Thanks! I have the Argon 2's and Helium 2's and really love their neutral sound. I drive them with either my Parasound A21 through a Yamaha RXA-3060 or NAD C368 BluOS. I just wish they were more efficient... say around 90db...
That is a smashing good grill cover color choice. Thanks as I have never heard of this line and while I have to go with the Sensitivity at 98-103 it is good to know such a speaker is out there.
Amphion were more well known and reputed in the Pro market but they are, fortunatelly, gaining more respect in the Hi-End world. I have a pair of Amphion Argon 3L floorstanding speakers in my main system and I couldn't be more pleased. The built quality is excelent, they are very transparent and they have a very artculate and extended low end. The highs are gorgeous and without sibilance. In this price point, is very difficult to get better performance. Other excelent brand that you should put your eyes on is Davis Acoustics, from France. You could try to review the Balthus 30 or the Balthus 50.
A British Audiophile , you're welcome 🙂 I do feel that you have a aproach towards hi-fi that few others have, mixing old and new gear to really evaluate the performance of a system. I thank you for that. You could also, In a near future, to give It a chance to tube amps. Try to review some, apart from Primaluna. There are really good european brands, like the polish Fezz Audio.
Excellent video (again)! To further enhance your comparisons can I recommend you begin including the KEF LS50’s as a reference?It’s a speaker many viewers will be more familiar with. It’s also a benchmark in the audiophile world. Even Stereophile uses it in many of their articles.
I am looking for a speakers for my H95, and I found this video. I feel that my QAcoustics 3030i hooked to the H95 sounds a little bit lazy in my 3x2 tiny non dedicated room. I'll try the Argon 1s for shure. Thank you!
Your review is like your fire..warm and inviting..re speakers and walls! the exception to this are horns, some actually use the corners to extend the horn.. regards.
Morning Tarun. Old video I know but I've just taken a chance on Ebay with a pair of these for £695 without hearing them in person. I know that's not usually advisable but for that price I trust your expertise and taste so I just wanted to say thanks.
I have moved you to #1 in my ratings of video reviewers. Congrats! You focus on the right mid-fi gear, have the correct duration and are blessed with a very good speaking voice. Now if you included 20 seconds of listening I could move you to an A+. I have heard the arguments against including music. To me its like sex without the orgasm.
Hi Tarun, thx again for a wonderful review. I have always been wondering how my Buchardt S400 would compare to these Amphion Argon 1's, because they look very similar. I also have a desktop/nearfield setup with the Harbeth P3ESR's and I actually like the fact that both my systems (speakers) are so different from each other, almost opposites really. I use them both for different purposes and different music genres. I think the Buchardt's S400 excel in their design, dynamics and soundstage. I like to listen to them loud with big concerts like Hans Zimmer etc. This makes them very suitable for living room/TV setups and people who just want a very clean setup in their modern living rooms. Yes, the highs are rolled off a bit more, but together with the waveguide this actually helps to easy integrate them in very more modern/scandinavian interiors with a lot of flat/hard surfaces. They are also more forgiving for bad digital streaming sources. The dynamics in movies are just incredible given their size and with the passive radiators don't need subs. Also the midrange is still a little warm and very good, so perfect for vocals/speech and imaging is simply stellar with that waveguide tweeter. They are no match of course for the Harbeths in terms of resolution, mid range tonality, treble clarity and low level listening, but for their purpose in my living room they are just perfect. Indeed low volume is it's weakest point, but I have ordered their I150 amplifier with DSP/Low Level Enhancement. I would really consider the Argon if I could just have one setup. It is the better all-rounder I guess than the S400 (without LLE improvement0. Love to here your take on the A500 by the way :)! Because you are into products that fly under the radar I have a new one for you to consider, which I can really recommend: Puritan. They make some excellent power conditioners, like the PS106DC, PSM136 and PSM156. I have tried out the 106DC for more than a week now and just ordered it. This is probably an addition for every revealing system out there (Harbeth/Proacs etc). It made a big difference on my system with the Harbeth P3ESR and Heed Elixir (and Rel t5i). It improved the holographic sound stage pretty dramatically, with substantial more depth, as well as the blackness levels in the background. I think you will really like it. It doesn't take away any dynamics etc or other concerns. The only downside is because the presentation becomes more 3D/forward it also reveals the imbalances in your system even more.
I have just been listening to the two and comparing them. The Argon 1s are quite a bit cleaner but also cooler in tonal balance. Thank you for the suggestion and great to hear about your experiences 😉
How coincidence, I was just looking at the Amphion one18 as candidate for an upgrade :). Sounds like a great speaker for the money this one. Pity it hasn't got the magical mids that I'm looking for. I really want an upgrade and not just a different flavour. Graham LS6 and Harbeth M30.1 are on my shortlist now.' Great educational explanation of the waveguide....Im getting smarter and smarter 😋😊😉
Thank you for reviewing a lesser known product. I have been considering replacing (or adding bookshelf speakers to) my 20 + year old Castle Howard S2s to see if I can improve on the imaging. I have considered ATC SCM1I or Dynaudio Evoke 20. I now know that the Dynaudio Evoke 20 cabinet build and assembly take place in China. I do not buy Chinese products unless absolutely essential for health reasons. The Amphions sound like they are a valid alternative and might float my boat. I will investigate and report. 🤔😊Daniel
Hmm, interesting. Looks like one of the very few contenders that could replace the size and sound factor I love in my Rega RS1's.... These do appear to be happy in near wall placement. The simp!e crossover also mimics the Rega philosophy.... Thx for reviewing these, I would never have found them otherwise.
I’m aware you get lots of requests for videos but I would love to see your take on ribbon speakers such as a Magnepan or a Martin Logan. Great work as usual Tarun 🤠
Hi Tarun. Thank you for another compelling review. I am excited by the Amphion Argon 1. They look to be much better value than the Harbeth p3’s that I was once considering. The p3’s also claim outstanding midrange musicality. I am currently using Wharfdale Denton 85 with a Naim Nait 5si and cd transport into a DAC. Am very pleased with the sound so far. I know you’ve reviewed the superdentons, but perhaps not the Denton 85’s. From your review and others , I expect the Argon 1’s to be a considerably better speaker than the Dentons - Do you agree? Or should I be considering something other than the Argon 1’s if I want to improve my current system?
One of the ways -- definitely not the only way, and perhaps not the best way, but definitely one of the ways -- that a person can gauge the overall positive impression of an audio product on a reviewer, is by noticing how many times that product gets mentioned in the reviewer's subsequent, unrelated reviews. By this measuring standard the Argon 1 is streaks ahead of its supposedly much-more-closely-running competition. I've watched every review on this channel more than once, and I don't believe I've ever heard Tarun say, in a third-product review, "If you compare this to the Buchardt S400...," or, "When paired instead with the comparably priced Naim Nait 5si..." even a single time. But a handful of other specific products seem to come up over and over, and from my chair that makes a huge difference in their subjective ratings. Not even all outstanding's are created equal, it would seem, and by that measure a person who listens to and trusts Tarun's evaluations would be well advised to carefully consider the Argon 1's, the upgraded Willsenton R8, the ATC SCM19s, the Acoustic Energy AE1's, the Exposure 2510 integrated, the Denafrips Pontus II DAC, and the Hegel H95 / H190 amplifiers. (The Pontus II, in particular, seems to make this argument for me very well -- specifically because Tarun clearly and unequivocally said that he preferred the Holo Spring 3, but you'll never hear the Spring 3 mentioned anywhere other than its own review and the relevant year-end roundup. The Pontus II, meanwhile, comes up over and over.) If this suggests a critique -- and I'm not saying that it does, necessarily -- it's that the range of recommendable products might be a little bit artificially constricted with so few class-defining benchmarks like this. I know how just about every DAC on the planet sounds in comparison to the Pontus II (okay not really but you get my point) but the thing is, I could never, *ever* afford the Pontus II. I know how a great many amplifiers compare with the Hegel H190, but I'd have to be in a much better position to consider even it. The Amphion Argon 1's are getting there, but even those might evoke at least a bit of sticker shock by the time one gets done matching them with recommended amplification and sources. It might be as useful, albeit in a different kind of way, for the comps used in other reviews to, themselves, feature more price- and performance variability -- perhaps more price-appropriately matched. If we're auditioning a $500 Cambridge integrated, it might be an idea to pair it, in the review, with a Ghiselli DAC and a pair of Elac Unifi's, and for the amps it's being judged against to come from the likes of Arcam and Integra rather than Willsenton and Exposure. (And yes that's a poor example because Tarun loved the Cambridge anyway, but it's the first example I could think of.) Just a thought.
Very interesting analysis CD. Certainly, my benchmark products should represent the best in class as far as I am concerned. However, there are sometimes restrictions of what I can retain for various reasons. For example, the Holo Audio Spring 3 L2 edged out the Denafrips Pontus II as my DAC of the year in 2021. This was primarily because it has an excellent balanced preamp option. As for sound, they are very close. The Holo a little more resolving whilst the Denafrips has more tonal richness. Post review, Alvin was happy for me to hang on to the Pontus II for an extended period of time where as Magna Hifi needed the Spring back pretty much straight away for another reviewer. That is just the way it works. You are right, in that I will only buy/request a long term loan of a product if I think it represents a best in class 😊
Thank you for your reply comment and best wishes for a joyous holiday season for you and your family. I'd say that I love the channel but you know that by now. ;-)
Great review as always. Would love to see the review from the Scansonic's MB1B's using the Scanspeak drivers. I think they will give your ProAc's a good bit of competition 😄
@@abritishaudiophile7314 Hi Tarun. I have watched every video that you have made since you have started. I watch them not always because I always have a particular interest in the product, but to learn and educate myself. You do have a great way to articulate products, how they sound and give great technical information without it being too complex. You also clearly offer one of the best tonal balance perspectives, and I think this one of the best reference points to have when you don't have the luxury to listen to a product before buying it. Thank you for all the effort that you put into these videos.
Another great review. I'm thinking about the Argon 0's for a smallish living room, placed on a shelf two inches from the back wall. Paired with great electronics. Anyone with experience with the Argon 0's?
Wow. Interesting. My concerns throughout my journey hasn’t necessarily been focused around finding gear that I like the sound of as much as it’s been worrying about finding gear that will work in my less than ideal space. A speaker like this might actually work for my space which is on the border of being near field but probably just big enough to qualify as a small room. I’d rather get the combo right and spend more money on other components (read turntable) than spending time and money trying to Sort out induced room type problems. It might be worth having a demo of the Hegel 120 and these babies perhaps 🤔 Thanks for yet another solid review 👍🏻
Top job Tarun. Those crossovers are pretty decent for standard fitment in £1,200 pair of speakers, particularly that big air cored inductor on the bass driver. Makes the ones in your Proacs look a bit sick I reckon 😉.
I see where you're going with it, keeping it in the region. Could be a special just for them, but the standard Jantzen inductors do have tinned legs. Shame about the resistors, could'a' had a Mills!
@@markcarrington8565 I spoke to Ben Lilly (ATC) about the use of these wire-wound sandcast resistors in expensive speakers. He gave me a very technical explanation of why they use them as opposed to metal film types that are comparatively non-inductive. I didn’t get a chance to make notes so don’t recall what he said. Next time I speak to him, I will have pen and paper at the ready 😉
The Mills are really high quality wire wound resistors as opposed to the sandcast types which are cheap and generally considered to be sonically awful.
Enjoyed the review. Good to hear that the £400 50W Iota was a good match. You seem to prefer standmounts to floor standers. Which is making me wonder if the Quad Z-2s would be a better choice than the Quad S-4s, given that I'm not into loud music or pounding bass, and the room is smallish (as is the budget).
As always your reviews are great although I am still grappling with the technical bits but I get the message. That said,may I suggest for what it's worth the country of manufacture.The Beaucharts are made in China of Danish design, where are these .made,in Finland?Same goes for the Hegels.The review of the Sudgens were unequivocally British.Kindly let us know the country of manufacture too and please remember the new Copland integrated amp.Looking for your view on the amp.Thanks for your succinct offerings.
Thank you Francis. The Amphions are made in Finland. You have to be a bit careful with the “made in” stuff. Some manufacturers just do a basic assembly and claim they are made in their home country. However, I don’t think this is the case with Amphion 😉👍
Thank you for another great video and review! Especially liked the comparison to Buchard S400 which I always have seen as copy cats of Argon 3S, which also have a passive radiator and are similar in size to the S400s. Maybe the Argon 3S could be a future review, comparing against the 1 and Buchard S400?
Like always, another great review. However, now torn between NAD M10 + KEF LS50 Meta or Amphion Argon 1 ! Cannot hear for myself but have to rely on reviews.
Excellent review once again. Comparing products puts things in context and helps steer us in the right direction. Maybe I'm biased but for some reason I always expect things to be on the lean side of neutral with Scandinavian gear. BTW - how do you rate current Exposure products?
Thank you Mike. The Argon 1 is a touch on the cool side of neutral but only slightly. A little spoiler, I am hoping to get the new Exposure 2510 in for review soon so hopefully I will be able to answer that question 😊👍
Interesting review! Several good designs have come from Finland - just think of Genelec. I have a pair of Penaudio Charismas, and I will never let them go. Interestingly, they cross over at 4,5 kHz. I love them. I am baffled Penaudio is not better known.
Just an observation. Some of the speakers you've reviewed are difficult to find on this side of the pond. BUT, the passive "Pro" equivalents are available for ATC, ProAc, and Amphion. Although in short supply.
Typical crossover for waveguide loaded tweeters. The resistor over the yellow polycaps means that the tweeter is not DC protected. The use of an RC is common for a waveguide, it flattens out the bump in the 1kHz- 4kHz range, the natural decline of the tweeter is used to increase the slope of the crossover. Flattening the bump means early filtering witch protects the tweeter from overloading. the real life slope of the crossover could be 3 or even 4th order. Not only the crossover dictates the slope, but also the drivers. Wavegudes and crossovers have a delicate relationship; I see room for improvement here. It's amazing what You can do on a budget
Once again, great review. Sorry for my long absence Tarun. I just returned to Philadelphia from a 4 year hiatus in Japan. I want to build a new system. I was looking at the Argon 3LS towers but I am unable to demo them. The other option would be the ProAc Response DT8's. What would you do? Using a Musical Fidelity M5si and Rega Apollo. I hesitate to buy something I can not hear. Already heard the ProAc and loved them. Other option would be Totem Forest. Take care. Eric
I can't help but wonder what diffraction effects are produced by that metal grille on the high frequencies. Maybe that's why they have such a wide 'sweet spot'.
Really appreciate your no b.s. reviews 👍🏻 Any chance you can review Revel bookshelf speakers? Perhaps the Performa3 m106 for starters? It would be fun to compare our (U.S.. AND Canada) speakers from across the pond lol
Hi Tarun, thank you for introducing the argon1. Can i ask, why do you use and love bookshelves such as the proac despite a fairly large listening area ? Many shops i’ve been to recommends floorstanders so long as space permits as cabinet size is everything. I love the look of bookshelves, but am biased towards floorstanders due to such advise. I’m currently using floor standing q acoustics 3050 but am thinking of the argon1s or your pro acs.
Hi Marc, it depends on what you want from your speaker. I tend to value soundstage, imaging and clarity over, dynamics and bass extension. At the price point of the Argon 1 and my ProAcs, those attributes tend to favour standmounts over floorstanders 😊
A fantastic presentation that gives the listener a sense of understanding with regard to the speakers abilities. Not sure if you've auditioned or reviewed the Kef Ls50, but In your opinion, how would the Kef compare with the Amphion?
Thank you Steve. Very kind of you to say. I have heard the Kef LS50 many times but not at home so can’t say definitively. My impression is that the Kef’s are a little cooler in presentation and don’t have the same dynamics and bass extension. Would like to get the Metas in to confirm 😊👍👍
I am a 69 year old non audiophile looking to buy my first and last true hifi for my next birthday. I enjoy all forms of classical music especially piano and violin - I play both badly but I know how they should sound. I am also keen on jazz, gipsy jazz and vocals from the likes of Joni Mitchel through Opera. I suspect this will suit most of the time but I am keen on hearing the lowest piano notes and the highest violin notes as I hear them when playing myself. Although I only hear as high as 14kz for the lower end would I need a sub woofer for piano and if so how easy is it to merge with this speaker (I have no idea how to do it) or should I consider another speaker. I am trying to create a short list for demo purposes. I am British but live in France so finding a retailer might not be so easy.
I've been addicted for 55 years and I learn something of value EVERY time I listen to Tarun.(USA)
Thank you G. Gray. That is very kind and much appreciated 😊👍👍
One of the few UA-camr's that I thumbed up even before I watch the video!🤔🤫😜 And I'm sure I'm not alone because each time he doesn't disappoint!😬😉😇😎
Thank Big Jay. Great to have your support 😊👍👍
I feel the same way,
And I thought I was the only one who did that. Yup, Tarun is simply the best in my books.
I usually do it within the first 10 seconds
Tarun is absolutely great. I always look forward to his videos.
" If you like my approach to hifi"... Mr British Audiophile, You're THE approach to hifi. Really love your work, your style and your reviews.
Thank you my friend. Great to get feedback like that 😊👍
Nice to see this brand get attention. I've come love my Argon 3s now that I have the right pairing. The Buchardts, which get much attention on UA-cam, clearly borrowed from Amphion argon line in terms of wave guide, passive radiator and industrial design ethic.
Thank you for watching and sharing your experiences David 😊👍
im just starting out setting up my new hifi system for over 25 years and this channel is my 1st stop for advice thank you for all your hard work and knowledge, the absolute best in my opinion.
Thank you ELCG. Very kind and very much appreciated 😊👍👍
Tarun is fast becoming my favorite audio reviewer.
Thank you Andrew, Very kind of you to say 😊👍👍
Me too.
They look and sound gorgeous and having the option of choosing ones grills cover is a nice finishing touch, plus with you explaining how easy and forgiven the AMPHION ARGON 1s are with ones room environment and partnering equipment! Therefore this is one pair of speakers for the shortlist! I've learnt more in 16 minutes about the amphion argon ones then I would have had if I researched it for half a day! Cheers Tarun
Thank you buddy. Always a pleasure to hear from you 😊👍👍
I wish to let you know how much I, and the rest of your subscribers, appreciate the work you put into producing these videos. For me, and I'm sure others as well, your videos are a highlight of my YT week. Your videos, because of your style, provide cheerful entertainment much needed these days.
BTW, also from Finland, Valtteri Bottas and Kimi Raikkonen.
Thank you buddy. Having supporters like you is what makes it so worthwhile 😊👍👍
Yeah, but they sound a bit harsh in the upper mids, in my opinion!:)
I have bought a pair of the Amphion Argon 1 and paired them with a Marantz PM7000N streamer receiver 60 watts at 8 ohm and 80 watts at 4 ohm.
My room is bad for sound and therefore I bought them. At the moment I’m streaming Spotify premium with my IPad Air with Apple Air play using WiFi.
The Amphion sounds natural and classical vocals are very good without harshness and very detailed and not only classical music but also Blues, Rock.
In the future I’m going to install my exposure CD player and my Oppo blue-ray player. One thing I find there is a sweet spot and not a great one. I am listening near field. For this price they sound so musical. I love them.
Greetings
Ludo Belgium
Thank you for watching and sharing your experiences Ludo 😊👍
Again, no disappointment whatsoever with this review. Fortunately, of the two Amphion retailers here in Canada,
- one is located within a six hour drive. I am dead set on upgrading my current Rotel/Adcom unit to a Hegel.
Which Hegel? TBD. Now, I have to admit, this last year I've been all over the speaker-map as to ... which one?
Dynaudio? ... possibly, Harbeth? ... be nice, ATC? ... now you're talking. Okay, so ... my guts tell me to check
out these Amphions and set in motion a plan to do so. This review has solidified my focus and intent. Tarun,
I now have a very clear picture as to what promise these Amphions could offer and potentially fulfill. Now I just
have to hear them by packing up my not yet purchased Hegel and setting out on an over nighter to Vernon British
Columbia. It's a challenging time with COVID restrictions and all - and I am no spring chicken (late fall) but as
Union Admiral David Farragut once said "damn the torpedoes". Thanks for reading this cos I know you do and
thank you so much for all of your work in bringing forth your audio findings and presenting them in an interesting
and understandable fashion.
Thank you Charles. The Amphions are certainly worth checking out. Cooler in tonal balance than the ATC and Dynaudios. The Harbeths are of course a lot warmer. Please let me know how you get on 😊👍👍
Really enjoy your channel, great to get an insight into many different products. Thank you for posting and yes I’m aware of just how much work goes into filming and editing these vids and appreciate not only your expertise and professionalism but the sheer amount of work this takes. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 thank you.
Thank you Mike. Very much appreciated 😊👍👍
Another fantastic video,probably the best HiFi reviewer out there......
Thank you Richard. Very generous and kind of you to say 😊👍👍
More than probably. Imho, hands down th best HiFi reviewer on YT. Only rivals are a couple of print reviewers.
@@brown-eyedman4040 thank you my friend. I am humbled by your kind words 😊👍👍
Another great well informed review. I've always enjoyed listening to a quality stand mount speaker, a lot more flexible in a smaller room I find, looking forward to another review. Keep up the great work my friend.
Thank you Paul. Much appreciated 😊👍👍
Saw these at the Bristol show last year, running from a H120 I think. Easily one of the best sounding demo rooms of the show, which included some insane 6-figure rigs! Thanks for the review and very interesting to have the comparison with the S400s.
Thank you for watching and sharing your experiences Jonny. I appreciate you watching 😊👍
Thanks Tarun for your detailed and nuanced reviews of audio equipment, including this speaker. I'm an anthropologist and language teacher who has developed an innovative English language program for young leaders around Asia, one that encourages growth in self-awareness as well as of social and ecological challenges. I've found that having a good audio system makes a huge difference in a language classroom, for obvious reasons. One of the qualities of loudspeakers that becomes really important for classroom use is the dispersion pattern. Students are normally sitting in a semi-circle in a medium to large size room, and a wide "sweet spot" really helps in all the listening we do, from online videos, lectures, and poetry readings to news items, films, music, and so on. I'm seriously considering these speakers (or Argon 3s) for this reason. One thing I don't yet understand about these speakers and about speakers in general is this: Do they differ much in the vertical dispersion pattern? This is a practical question for me. In an active classroom we may all be sitting on the floor during one moment, in desk chairs another, and standing and moving about during another. Amphion was very quick to respond to my initial inquires, but I have not yet heard back from them on this issue. So to rephrase, for most speakers does one's ear generally have to be at a particular height to get the best and clearest sound? Or is the vertical sweet spot bigger for some speakers than for others? A quick concrete example: Someone online liked the Amphion Argon 3s, but found the price prohibitive. They ultimately went with the Philharmonic BMR (large bookshelf) speaker. However, I learned that this speaker has excellent horizontal dispersion, but apparently the vertical dispersion is very narrow. Is that narrow vertical band generally true of speakers, or do some have a wider area? And is that area of preferred listening on the vertical axis wider on the Amphion Argon speakers, or is it also best only within a narrow band? I would appreciate it if you could share your thoughts and observations. Thank you!
Thank you Theodore. Most speakers differ greatly in their vertical dispersion and have to be listened to at the appropriate height. I would go for a dual concentric or coaxial design. The Kef LS50 Meta would be worth considering 😊
@@abritishaudiophile7314 Thank you so much!
Spot on Tarun. Your findings pretty much reflect my thoughts of the Argon 1.
In isolation (not AB test) the Argons should be the only speaker you need. It's really hard to find a worthwhile fault. I had these on home demo for 2 weeks, while the independent dealer took a holiday -- perfect timing for me.
However, as I demoed the Dali Rubicon 2 a few weeks before, these really got under my skin; I heard different speakers around the £1000-2000 but kept referring back to the Dalis.
Being a bit cheeky, I phoned Richer Sounds for a 2nd demo of the Dalis and took the Amphions along with me. As my 20 year old daughter hears things I don't I bribed her to come with me.
Immediately there was a noticable difference we both heard. That's confirmation my ears are pretty good still.
Okay, we are not talking about huge differences: the midrange on the Dalis was a little fuller, there was a slight improvement to vocal and instrument separation, tad more layered; the bass was a tad more extended; the dynamics are a bit better; the detail levels were pretty similar but the subtleties a little more noticable - but it was subtle (obviously). Also the Rubicons are hugely transparent & holographic but never veers into brightness.
The Argon 1 are more flexible with placement.
All those tiny improvements doesn't sound much but as a sonic whole that's where the uplift is heard.
The Argon 1 are in my top 5 small standmounts. Special speakers but not quite as special as the Dali Rubicon 2
Great to learn about your experiences Richard 👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314
I've got a couple of pics taken at Richer Sounds with the Dalis. No idea how to post them on here.
Hi! You were asking about the crossover. It is a second order for the midbass driver and first order for the tweeter. Most surprising for a two-way design! One must be careful for fear of damaging the tweeter if too much power (and distortion) is applied to it. Thanks! Very good review!
Thank you Yves 😊👍
Thank you for yet another very detailed review. As a ProAc owner for over 20 years its great to see a reviewer using ProAc speakers. A very under rated speaker brand. Keep up the great work. Cheers from Australia.
Thank you Michael. Mine are 22 years old and still fairing very well 😊👍
Thanks to your review I want to take these speakers for a spin! Quite a chore to locate them in America.
Thank you David. I hope you track one down 👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314 thanks! I may have located a pair.
Hi Tarun , I have been looking at your recent videos and not only they are very informative but very interesting, I also say your attention to detail is extremely good. Your technical input to your products I find extremely good and now always a pleasure to watch your videos. I am looking in the future to purchase complete new hi fi set up and finding your reviews most helpful. Regards mark
Thank you Mark. Much appreciated 😊👍
Novel grille design. I think that would come in handy for households with young children.
Absolutely 😊
@@abritishaudiophile7314 You should definitely review the Technics SB-C700 bookshelf speaker someday homie. It is a) a cutie looks wise b) sounds spectacular c) unbelievable holographic imaging etc etc etc i bought it after John Atkinson started raving about it on stereophile. To put it bluntly, It makes the KEF LS50 sound like it was made by an amateur. This speaker has my jaw dropped and my jaw doesn't usually drop.
@@wa2368 thanks for the heads up buddy 😉👍
Novel but also that steel mesh has been used on many many things for 30+ years including speakers ;p
Very high level of presentation...nicely balanced and comfortable to listen.
I would like to repet this: "weights 8 kilograms per unit"... because "8" was hardly possible to be heared.
Kind regards.
Thank you Hrvoje. Thank you for watching 😊👍
Thanks for your review.
Specially because i also have a combination of Amphion and Hegel, to be specific Argon 3 and Hegel Rost.
And for nearfield listening with my computer i use old Amphion Helium+.
For me this is a perfect combination.
Because of a hearing problem (tinnitus & hyperacusis) my hearing is very sensitive for high frequencies.
And this is the first combination i don't have problems with the high frequencies.
A other positive thing i want to share, my personal experience is that my Amphions are not critical for positioning (sweet spot and distance from the wall).
You mentioned a few great Scandinavian brands, but i want also mention Electrocompaniet amps (Norway) which i like very much and Supra cables (Sweden).
Keep on making great reviews, consider a review of the Argon 3s :-)
Greetz from Amsterdam, Netherlands
Thank you Jos. Great to hear from you and I really enjoyed reading about your experiences. I am planning to review the Argon 3s latter in the year. Thank you for watching and sharing 😊👍
My two week audiophile journey has brought me to Subscribe to this excellent channel. These are very appealing as I prepare for my final hi-fi and don't have the cost of a season ticket from Brighton to London to dispose of! Thank you. Great detailed review.
Thank you David. Very kind of you to say 😊👍
Bang on job, Tarun. This may be my most favorite review of yours thus far. The breakdown and side-by-side subjective comparison of like speakers was brilliant.
These are very nice looking speakers. But I have to say that you manage to extend my love affair with the Proacs every time you compare something new and enticing to it. I'm so glad I made the right decision to purchase them 2 decades ago. The midrange magic is what makes me want to turn on the system every day.
Thank you CJ. Greatly appreciated. I have had my ProAcs a similar time. Whatever I review, I am itching to get back to listen to them 😊👍👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314 My latest infatuation is with Rebecca Pidgeon's voice and recordings. If you haven't, you must hear how the Proacs (and comparable speakers) voice her Spanish Harlem. The tone and soundstage are mesmerizing.
Which brings me to my suggestion/request, it'll be great if you can also call out some sample passages of recordings you use to make those subjective opinions of the equipments in review or comparisons. This way, we can also listen to the same songs and train/calibrate our ears to hear the same things.
@@cjpriustt I listen to that track all time. I have a high res version in my playlist. Thank you for the suggestion 😊
@@abritishaudiophile7314
Just curious. How much sssh and sss do you hear from her? Is it a short sh/ss, or longer sssh/sss? I have a tube amp that can switch between ultralinear and triode mode. In triode it's a short sh. In ultralinear sh becomes ssh to sssh.
When the shaker come on, where'd you place it in your setup? I'd put it at 1-2 o'clock, 5-6 feet behind the right speaker, and 1-2 ft above my eye level.
Where'd you place her voice? For me she's about 2-3 ft behind the speakers and dead center.
@@cjpriustt I will have to get my ProAcs and Exposure amps back into the rig to get the best performance. Once I have done that I will have to listen to let you know. You may need to remind me in a couple of days 😉
Your reviews give great insight into products. Top work.
Thank you JR. Much appreciated 👍😊👍
They seem very versatile. That tweeter shows there are lots of ways to tackle the problem. Thanks Tarun.
It is a very versatile speaker. Thank you for watching Michael 😊👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314 Any chance you could put the Dynaudio Xeo 2's on the agenda?
@@MichaelBrodie68 I am trying to get the Special 40s in but Dynaudio have a supply problem at the moment 😉
@@abritishaudiophile7314 them and the rest of the world. Thanks for letting me know Tarun.
I have had my Amphion 3ls for nearly 3 years now and adore them, I demo’ed the argon 1’s originally which is what got me hooked on the house sound. I have recently switched to a Hegel h390 which is an incredible combination but having tried various amps I didn’t find anything that sounded bad with the amphion’s and surprisingly even a sugden a21sig made a very compelling combination at lower spl’s.
Great video as always 👍
Thank you Oliver. Great to hear your experiences. Thank you for watching and sharing 😊👍
Hello Oliver. I was looking at these and also the sugden. Do you mean the sugden was only capable of driving them lower down? Does the sound distort higher up then and how does the sugden compare to the Hegel for overall SQ. Cheers - Paul
Very good review. I have the Aurelia Cerica from Finland. The designer/owner of Aurelia is the previous designer at Amphion so the sound is very related. I have had Anthony Gallo Ref 3.1, LS50, ATC SMC 11, Heco Direkt, Naim Allae.. and so on. I can just say that the Aurelia beats them all for my taste. On good recordings the sound is not just in the air in front of you, they are rather inside your head and can still surprise me with sound coming far wider/on the sides than anything I have heard and even more details and silly quick bass. The only downside for some people is that they want more lows but I would only add that to movies. Perfect for tricky rooms as well.
Thank you Jakob. Sounds like another Finnish brand worth checking out 😊👍
Thank you Tarun for this review. I was eagerly waiting for this video and you really delivered! The breakdown of the technical aspects of the waveguide and lower crossoverpoint was interesting. With those comparisons, you made me appreciate my own Argon1s even more than I already did :) Still can't be helping but to wonder what the bigger brothers, Argon 3's would bring to table 😏
As many have mentioned already, seeing a new "A British audiophile" upload on UA-cam feed really brings smile to one's face. That said, keep up the good work but don't burn yourself up!
Thank you Antti. Greatly appreciated. It is wonderful having loyal viewers like you. It is a challenge to run the channel during lockdown whilst homeschooling my son and managing my other commitments. Receiving comments like this makes it all worthwhile 😊👍👍
Great review per per usual! Me, I kept the ATCs, but all you say of them is true: they will reveal short comings in gear, and sources.
Thank you Will. There just wasn’t enough of an improvement over my 1SCs to justify the change. It will be interesting to see what the SCM 40s bring to the table 😊👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314 If/when I make a move up the ATC latter, it will be for the SCM 40A.
@@abritishaudiophile7314 so you would say these are at least on par with the ProAcs?
@@tikirama8427 the ATC SCM19s are a little more transparent and neutral than my ProAcs. You have to consider my ProAcs are now 22 years old 😊
Tarun, thank you. Your channel is outstanding. I enjoy every minute of it. The reviews are informative, very well structured and comprehensive. Invaluable... I am currently upgrading my 20-year-old system and looking for speakers to match Audiolab 6000a. I loved the tone and soundstage of ATC SCM11, but they may be too demanding for my scenario (50W amplifier, close to walls setup, low level listening). Following your review, today I have auditioned Argon 1 - what a great speaker! Detailed, natural. Violin, piano, Norah Jones, Miles Davis - all sounded like it should. I am choosing between Argon 1 and Neat Motive SX3...
That is great Art. I am very appreciative of your kind words of support. I agree that the SCM 11 will need a beefier amplifier. Please let me know how you get on with the SX3s 😊👍👍
Hello @art and @Tarun, How is the synergy of Argon 1 with 6000A? What would be your best recommended amp with Argon 1? Thanks
Ok I did it I am getting the Amphion Argon 1's! I am also getting a more powerfulle Belles Aria Signature amp made in the USA and I am looking at getting a little SVS 3000 Micro subwoofer. Yea my kitchen will rock out! My PSB's were not bad but just too "midfi" for my tast at this point in my audio journey and I am selling them to a freind for his bedroom.
Cool 😎 thank you for sharing 😊👍
It's great you reviewed Amphions. I nearly had forgotten about them until you mentionned the Burkhardts - only then did I realise they were different speakers/makes! The Amphions did predate the Burkhardts indeed but somehow it's the latter that seem to get a lot of publicity and not the former. That's a shame as I think the Amphions were probably the only make at the time exploring this type of design (the only other one I'm aware of are Klipsch with their bookshelf speaker but it's probably at a totally different price range) - of course I'm leaving out any PA oriented speakers!
Thank you for watching and sharing your experiences Stelios 😊👍
Educational and interesting. Raising the bar on youtube speaker reviews. Thanks
Thank you Scott. Very kind of you to say 😊👍👍
Great review of a top speaker manufacturer. The Seas woofer drivers used are top notch.
Thank you 😊👍
Another very detailed and interesting review! Well done!
Thank you Marios 😊👍
Great review and vindicates my decision to buy these speakers back in 2019 - sound great with my 20 year old Cyrus 7 amp.
Thank you Clive. Great to hear you are enjoying them 😊👍
Waveguides also help to time align the two drivers. When the drivers are time aligned, this allows lower order crossovers to work with minimal comb filtering. Time alignment along with dispersion control between drivers allow for good imaging and more forgiving sweet spot. Sounds like if a sub is added, you have a nice overall system.
Indeed. Thank you for bringing that up J Ked. I had to leave it out. I am trying to keep the technical bit reasonably short as it starts to sound like a lecture. I appreciate you watching and thank you raising that point buddy 😊👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314 Totally understand and agree. You know the formula of your videos better than I do.
@@jked7463 it feels more like I am winging it week to week. Hopefully, I am making changes in the right direction 😉👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314 Actually, your reviews come across as very thoughtful and organized. Your increase in viewership shows that. I have thought of doing my own channel (not an equipment review channel) but do not feel i know how to keep it organized and interesting. I would probably come off as rambling and lecturing. So i watch people like you.
A lot of you tubers think they have to be "up", almost hyper, all of the time to be engaging and attract viewers. Your calm demeaner shows that is not true. Somehow your enthusiasm comes through even though you are not hyper. That is a natural trait that i believe is difficult to learn. Kerp it up. Dont let success go to your head. Stay humble. It is part of your charm.
Hi Tarun thanks for that review it was a pleasure to watch & I like the graphs a nice touch.👍
Thank you Rob 😊👍
Very interesting review - thank you, Tarun! I'd love to see a review of the LS50 from you, just because plenty of people know it and it's a good calibration of preferences.
I would like to review them. Kef said they would let me know when they could send me a pair. I haven’t heard anything yet but will follow up 😊👍
Great review, love the graphs on dispersions.
Thank you GEAR 😊👍
Top-notch review again, thanks Tarun.
Thank you Marc 😊👍
Had the Argon 3S but stupidly sold them on, agree Amphion is a very underrated brand, great value for money.
Are you missing them Michael? Or are the replacements better? Thank you for watching and sharing your experiences 😉👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314 yup I wish I hadn't sold them, now that I have a second rig in my office. OTOH I just ordered the Dynaudio Heritage Specials, will let you know what I think of them.
@@abritishaudiophile7314 the AE500s are filling in nicely in the interim, great speakers for the money as well.
I managed to get pair of Argon 3L on sale few years ago and I have to say that it's been a best audiogear deal i have ever made :)
@@nakkenakuttaja5224 that is great 😉👍
I appreciate all of your videos.... straight forward and honest. I will be purchasing the Argon 1. Thank you. John Washington state
Thank you John. I hope you are enjoying the Argon 1’s 😊👍
When we talk about how, mid, low, it would be good to build an understanding of these words in your mind relative to a music instrument and your voice. Sit at a piano and find the central A key. Each "octave" is a pattern of 7+1 white keys with 2+3 black keys. An octave is the tonal distance between the two ultimate keys in this pattern. In the modern convention, the piano's central A is tuned at 440 Hz. Each lower (left on the keyboard) key that has the same place in that 7+5 pattern is also an A. The same applies to the right where tones go up.
Doing so will demonstrate that 1,600 Hz - the crossover frequency of these speakers is already high and if you think not, try to sing that note.
Thank you JP. 😊👍
Thanks! I have the Argon 2's and Helium 2's and really love their neutral sound. I drive them with either my Parasound A21 through a Yamaha RXA-3060 or NAD C368 BluOS. I just wish they were more efficient... say around 90db...
Cool 😎 thank you for sharing your experiences 😊👍
That is a smashing good grill cover color choice. Thanks as I have never heard of this line and while I have to go with the Sensitivity at 98-103 it is good to know such a speaker is out there.
Thank you for watching Lonnie 😊👍
Thanks for another great review Tarun.
Thank you for watching and your support my friend 😊👍
Very well explained!
Thank you 👍
The lighting in this one is so different for a second it didn't even think it was you!
Apologies, I was getting to learn how to use a new camera at the time 😊
Amphion were more well known and reputed in the Pro market but they are, fortunatelly, gaining more respect in the Hi-End world. I have a pair of Amphion Argon 3L floorstanding speakers in my main system and I couldn't be more pleased. The built quality is excelent, they are very transparent and they have a very artculate and extended low end. The highs are gorgeous and without sibilance. In this price point, is very difficult to get better performance. Other excelent brand that you should put your eyes on is Davis Acoustics, from France. You could try to review the Balthus 30 or the Balthus 50.
Thank you for watching and sharing your experiences Ricardo. I appreciate the suggestion too 😊👍
A British Audiophile , you're welcome 🙂 I do feel that you have a aproach towards hi-fi that few others have, mixing old and new gear to really evaluate the performance of a system. I thank you for that. You could also, In a near future, to give It a chance to tube amps. Try to review some, apart from Primaluna. There are really good european brands, like the polish Fezz Audio.
Thank you, I hope to get some tube amps in soon 😊👍
Excellent video (again)! To further enhance your comparisons can I recommend you begin including the KEF LS50’s as a reference?It’s a speaker many viewers will be more familiar with. It’s also a benchmark in the audiophile world. Even Stereophile uses it in many of their articles.
Thank you Hermant. I would need to have one here to use that as a reference. I hope to get one in for review soon though 😊👍
Never heard of the Argon 1 before. Thanks for reviewing products that are not so well known. Will be adding them to my list to consider.
Thank you Sujit 😊👍
Also take a look at the Argon 3s
@@josvanzetten Just had a look. What shocked me most is how similar Buchardt s400's are to them in terms of design and looks.
@@josvanzetten plan to Jos 😊
@@SujitMohanan Different sound but similar approach 😉
another superb review ;-)
Thank you buddy 😊👍
I am looking for a speakers for my H95, and I found this video. I feel that my QAcoustics 3030i hooked to the H95 sounds a little bit lazy in my 3x2 tiny non dedicated room. I'll try the Argon 1s for shure. Thank you!
Please let me know how you get on 😊
Your review is like your fire..warm and inviting..re speakers and walls! the exception to this are horns, some actually use the corners to extend the horn.. regards.
Thank you Mick 😊👍
Morning Tarun. Old video I know but I've just taken a chance on Ebay with a pair of these for £695 without hearing them in person. I know that's not usually advisable but for that price I trust your expertise and taste so I just wanted to say thanks.
£695 for these is an extraordinary deal! How have you been finding them?
@ednewmy They're really good and they look beautiful. I don't feel like I'd ever need to upgrade. I've got them pairee with a Musical Fidelity A1 👌
Thanks Tarun, your delivery reminds me of Barry Norman (that's intended as a compliment!)
Taken as such. Thank you Deepak 😊👍
Love the quality of your reviews !
Thank you kindly 😊👍
Another super product , Well explained as always !
Thank you Anand 😊👍
Thanks for giving Speaker sizes in mm and inches!
You are most welcome 😊👍
I have moved you to #1 in my ratings of video reviewers. Congrats! You focus on the right mid-fi gear, have the correct duration and are blessed
with a very good speaking voice. Now if you included 20 seconds of listening I could move you to an A+. I have heard the arguments against including music. To me its like sex without the orgasm.
That is a great analogy Jeff. 😂 I would love to but there are a few issue. I greatly appreciate your support 😊👍
Hi Tarun, thx again for a wonderful review. I have always been wondering how my Buchardt S400 would compare to these Amphion Argon 1's, because they look very similar. I also have a desktop/nearfield setup with the Harbeth P3ESR's and I actually like the fact that both my systems (speakers) are so different from each other, almost opposites really. I use them both for different purposes and different music genres. I think the Buchardt's S400 excel in their design, dynamics and soundstage. I like to listen to them loud with big concerts like Hans Zimmer etc. This makes them very suitable for living room/TV setups and people who just want a very clean setup in their modern living rooms. Yes, the highs are rolled off a bit more, but together with the waveguide this actually helps to easy integrate them in very more modern/scandinavian interiors with a lot of flat/hard surfaces. They are also more forgiving for bad digital streaming sources. The dynamics in movies are just incredible given their size and with the passive radiators don't need subs. Also the midrange is still a little warm and very good, so perfect for vocals/speech and imaging is simply stellar with that waveguide tweeter. They are no match of course for the Harbeths in terms of resolution, mid range tonality, treble clarity and low level listening, but for their purpose in my living room they are just perfect. Indeed low volume is it's weakest point, but I have ordered their I150 amplifier with DSP/Low Level Enhancement. I would really consider the Argon if I could just have one setup. It is the better all-rounder I guess than the S400 (without LLE improvement0. Love to here your take on the A500 by the way :)!
Because you are into products that fly under the radar I have a new one for you to consider, which I can really recommend: Puritan. They make some excellent power conditioners, like the PS106DC, PSM136 and PSM156. I have tried out the 106DC for more than a week now and just ordered it. This is probably an addition for every revealing system out there (Harbeth/Proacs etc). It made a big difference on my system with the Harbeth P3ESR and Heed Elixir (and Rel t5i). It improved the holographic sound stage pretty dramatically, with substantial more depth, as well as the blackness levels in the background. I think you will really like it. It doesn't take away any dynamics etc or other concerns. The only downside is because the presentation becomes more 3D/forward it also reveals the imbalances in your system even more.
I have just been listening to the two and comparing them. The Argon 1s are quite a bit cleaner but also cooler in tonal balance. Thank you for the suggestion and great to hear about your experiences 😉
Great detailed review. Thanks Tarun.
Thank you PW 😊👍
Heard earlier versions at a hifi show in London. Their easy smooth sound signature stuck in my memory
Thank you for watching and sharing your experiences Justin 😊
Fantastic episode. Thanks!
Thank you Rohit 😊👍
How coincidence, I was just looking at the Amphion one18 as candidate for an upgrade :). Sounds like a great speaker for the money this one. Pity it hasn't got the magical mids that I'm looking for. I really want an upgrade and not just a different flavour. Graham LS6 and Harbeth M30.1 are on my shortlist now.'
Great educational explanation of the waveguide....Im getting smarter and smarter 😋😊😉
Thank you my friend. Great to hear from you and I appreciate you watching 😊👍
Thanks for this review! Excellent information
Thank you for watching JJ 😊👍
Damn, they look fine! Like the fact that the drivers are protected and no choice to take off the grill (to get damaged or lost)
Thank you for watching and sharing Ossie 😊
Thank you for reviewing a lesser known product. I have been considering replacing (or adding bookshelf speakers to) my 20 + year old Castle Howard S2s to see if I can improve on the imaging. I have considered ATC SCM1I or Dynaudio Evoke 20. I now know that the Dynaudio Evoke 20 cabinet build and assembly take place in China. I do not buy Chinese products unless absolutely essential for health reasons. The Amphions sound like they are a valid alternative and might float my boat. I will investigate and report. 🤔😊Daniel
Thank you for watching Daniel. Please let me know how you get on 😊👍
Hmm, interesting. Looks like one of the very few contenders that could replace the size and sound factor I love in my Rega RS1's.... These do appear to be happy in near wall placement. The simp!e crossover also mimics the Rega philosophy.... Thx for reviewing these, I would never have found them otherwise.
Thank you LG. Much appreciated. These are worth checking out 😊👍
Thank you for another interesting and great review! Please review the Neat Motive SX3.
Thank you. I hope to get to the Neats at some point 😉👍
I’m aware you get lots of requests for videos but I would love to see your take on ribbon speakers such as a Magnepan or a Martin Logan. Great work as usual Tarun 🤠
Thank you David. I am sure I will get to them at some point 😊👍
Hi Tarun. Thank you for another compelling review. I am excited by the Amphion Argon 1. They look to be much better value than the Harbeth p3’s that I was once considering. The p3’s also claim outstanding midrange musicality. I am currently using Wharfdale Denton 85 with a Naim Nait 5si and cd transport into a DAC. Am very pleased with the sound so far. I know you’ve reviewed the superdentons, but perhaps not the Denton 85’s. From your review and others , I expect the Argon 1’s to be a considerably better speaker than the Dentons - Do you agree? Or should I be considering something other than the Argon 1’s if I want to improve my current system?
@@romerlaszlo thank you. Plenty of choices out there. The Argon 1s will be a step or two from the Denton 85s 😊
One of the ways -- definitely not the only way, and perhaps not the best way, but definitely one of the ways -- that a person can gauge the overall positive impression of an audio product on a reviewer, is by noticing how many times that product gets mentioned in the reviewer's subsequent, unrelated reviews. By this measuring standard the Argon 1 is streaks ahead of its supposedly much-more-closely-running competition.
I've watched every review on this channel more than once, and I don't believe I've ever heard Tarun say, in a third-product review, "If you compare this to the Buchardt S400...," or, "When paired instead with the comparably priced Naim Nait 5si..." even a single time. But a handful of other specific products seem to come up over and over, and from my chair that makes a huge difference in their subjective ratings. Not even all outstanding's are created equal, it would seem, and by that measure a person who listens to and trusts Tarun's evaluations would be well advised to carefully consider the Argon 1's, the upgraded Willsenton R8, the ATC SCM19s, the Acoustic Energy AE1's, the Exposure 2510 integrated, the Denafrips Pontus II DAC, and the Hegel H95 / H190 amplifiers. (The Pontus II, in particular, seems to make this argument for me very well -- specifically because Tarun clearly and unequivocally said that he preferred the Holo Spring 3, but you'll never hear the Spring 3 mentioned anywhere other than its own review and the relevant year-end roundup. The Pontus II, meanwhile, comes up over and over.)
If this suggests a critique -- and I'm not saying that it does, necessarily -- it's that the range of recommendable products might be a little bit artificially constricted with so few class-defining benchmarks like this. I know how just about every DAC on the planet sounds in comparison to the Pontus II (okay not really but you get my point) but the thing is, I could never, *ever* afford the Pontus II. I know how a great many amplifiers compare with the Hegel H190, but I'd have to be in a much better position to consider even it. The Amphion Argon 1's are getting there, but even those might evoke at least a bit of sticker shock by the time one gets done matching them with recommended amplification and sources.
It might be as useful, albeit in a different kind of way, for the comps used in other reviews to, themselves, feature more price- and performance variability -- perhaps more price-appropriately matched. If we're auditioning a $500 Cambridge integrated, it might be an idea to pair it, in the review, with a Ghiselli DAC and a pair of Elac Unifi's, and for the amps it's being judged against to come from the likes of Arcam and Integra rather than Willsenton and Exposure. (And yes that's a poor example because Tarun loved the Cambridge anyway, but it's the first example I could think of.)
Just a thought.
Very interesting analysis CD. Certainly, my benchmark products should represent the best in class as far as I am concerned. However, there are sometimes restrictions of what I can retain for various reasons.
For example, the Holo Audio Spring 3 L2 edged out the Denafrips Pontus II as my DAC of the year in 2021. This was primarily because it has an excellent balanced preamp option. As for sound, they are very close. The Holo a little more resolving whilst the Denafrips has more tonal richness.
Post review, Alvin was happy for me to hang on to the Pontus II for an extended period of time where as Magna Hifi needed the Spring back pretty much straight away for another reviewer. That is just the way it works. You are right, in that I will only buy/request a long term loan of a product if I think it represents a best in class 😊
Thank you for your reply comment and best wishes for a joyous holiday season for you and your family. I'd say that I love the channel but you know that by now. ;-)
Great review as always. Would love to see the review from the Scansonic's MB1B's using the Scanspeak drivers. I think they will give your ProAc's a good bit of competition 😄
Thank you. I appreciate you watching and the suggestion 😊👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314 Hi Tarun. I have watched every video that you have made since you have started. I watch them not always because I always have a particular interest in the product, but to learn and educate myself. You do have a great way to articulate products, how they sound and give great technical information without it being too complex. You also clearly offer one of the best tonal balance perspectives, and I think this one of the best reference points to have when you don't have the luxury to listen to a product before buying it. Thank you for all the effort that you put into these videos.
Another great review. I'm thinking about the Argon 0's for a smallish living room, placed on a shelf two inches from the back wall. Paired with great electronics. Anyone with experience with
the Argon 0's?
Thank you Patrik 😊
Wow. Interesting. My concerns throughout my journey hasn’t necessarily been focused around finding gear that I like the sound of as much as it’s been worrying about finding gear that will work in my less than ideal space. A speaker like this might actually work for my space which is on the border of being near field but probably just big enough to qualify as a small room. I’d rather get the combo right and spend more money on other components (read turntable) than spending time and money trying to
Sort out induced room type problems.
It might be worth having a demo of the Hegel 120 and these babies perhaps 🤔
Thanks for yet another solid review 👍🏻
Thank you 👍
I had the Argon 3 and wish I hadn't sold them. Fantastic speakers.
Thank you for watching and sharing Gary 😊
Top job Tarun. Those crossovers are pretty decent for standard fitment in £1,200 pair of speakers, particularly that big air cored inductor on the bass driver. Makes the ones in your Proacs look a bit sick I reckon 😉.
It is an impressive inductor isn’t it. I wonder if it is a Jantzen?
I see where you're going with it, keeping it in the region. Could be a special just for them, but the standard Jantzen inductors do have tinned legs. Shame about the resistors, could'a' had a Mills!
@@markcarrington8565 I spoke to Ben Lilly (ATC) about the use of these wire-wound sandcast resistors in expensive speakers. He gave me a very technical explanation of why they use them as opposed to metal film types that are comparatively non-inductive. I didn’t get a chance to make notes so don’t recall what he said. Next time I speak to him, I will have pen and paper at the ready 😉
The Mills are really high quality wire wound resistors as opposed to the sandcast types which are cheap and generally considered to be sonically awful.
Cant wait for the kef reviews.
Working on in Benjamin 😊👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314 sounds good.
Another great review 👍
Thank you Dave 😊👍
Enjoyed the review. Good to hear that the £400 50W Iota was a good match. You seem to prefer standmounts to floor standers. Which is making me wonder if the Quad Z-2s would be a better choice than the Quad S-4s, given that I'm not into loud music or pounding bass, and the room is smallish (as is the budget).
Thank you Jeremy. It is normally a trade off between clarity and imaging vs bass extension and dynamics. Horses for courses buddy 😊👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314 well said!
As always your reviews are great although I am still grappling with the technical bits but I get the message. That said,may I suggest for what it's worth the country of manufacture.The Beaucharts are made in China of Danish design, where are these .made,in Finland?Same goes for the Hegels.The review of the Sudgens were unequivocally British.Kindly let us know the country of manufacture too and please remember the new Copland integrated amp.Looking for your view on the amp.Thanks for your succinct offerings.
Thank you Francis. The Amphions are made in Finland. You have to be a bit careful with the “made in” stuff. Some manufacturers just do a basic assembly and claim they are made in their home country. However, I don’t think this is the case with Amphion 😉👍
Thank you for another great video and review! Especially liked the comparison to Buchard S400 which I always have seen as copy cats of Argon 3S, which also have a passive radiator and are similar in size to the S400s. Maybe the Argon 3S could be a future review, comparing against the 1 and Buchard S400?
Thank you SB. I was hoping to do just that 😊👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314 I'm sure that could happen;-)
Like always, another great review.
However, now torn between NAD M10 + KEF LS50 Meta or Amphion Argon 1 ! Cannot hear for myself but have to rely on reviews.
Thank you Rajshekhar 😊👍
Hi Tarun, would a Rega Io be a good match at 30W /ch for these in a smallish room? I can get these speakers at 600 pounds in Helsinki..
On paper, yes but no way to know unless trying 😊
Excellent review once again.
Comparing products puts things in context and helps steer us in the right direction.
Maybe I'm biased but for some reason I always expect things to be on the lean side of neutral with Scandinavian gear.
BTW - how do you rate current Exposure products?
Thank you Mike. The Argon 1 is a touch on the cool side of neutral but only slightly. A little spoiler, I am hoping to get the new Exposure 2510 in for review soon so hopefully I will be able to answer that question 😊👍
A great objective review!
Thank you Mark. much appreciated 😊👍
Great review! The product looks like promising...
Thank you Cesar 😊👍
Interesting review! Several good designs have come from Finland - just think of Genelec. I have a pair of Penaudio Charismas, and I will never let them go. Interestingly, they cross over at 4,5 kHz. I love them. I am baffled Penaudio is not better known.
I haven’t come across Penaudio either. Thank you for the heads up 😉
Just an observation. Some of the speakers you've reviewed are difficult to find on this side of the pond. BUT, the passive "Pro" equivalents are available for ATC, ProAc, and Amphion. Although in short supply.
Thank you Richard. Some of the US stuff is difficult to get here too 😉
Typical crossover for waveguide loaded tweeters. The resistor over the yellow polycaps means that the tweeter is not DC protected. The use of an RC is common for a waveguide, it flattens out the bump in the 1kHz- 4kHz range, the natural decline of the tweeter is used to increase the slope of the crossover. Flattening the bump means early filtering witch protects the tweeter from overloading. the real life slope of the crossover could be 3 or even 4th order. Not only the
crossover dictates the slope, but also the drivers. Wavegudes and crossovers have a delicate relationship; I see room for improvement here.
It's amazing what You can do on a budget
Thank you Frank. That is very interesting and informative 😊👍
Once again, great review. Sorry for my long absence Tarun. I just returned to Philadelphia from a 4 year hiatus in Japan. I want to build a new system. I was looking at the Argon 3LS towers but I am unable to demo them. The other option would be the ProAc Response DT8's. What would you do? Using a Musical Fidelity M5si and Rega Apollo. I hesitate to buy something I can not hear. Already heard the ProAc and loved them. Other option would be Totem Forest. Take care. Eric
Great to hear from you Eric. The DT8s will have a warmer sound than the 3LS. I guess it will come down to personal taste 😊
I can't help but wonder what diffraction effects are produced by that metal grille on the high frequencies.
Maybe that's why they have such a wide 'sweet spot'.
The waveguide is likely to be more significant 😊
Really appreciate your no b.s. reviews 👍🏻 Any chance you can review Revel bookshelf speakers? Perhaps the Performa3 m106 for starters? It would be fun to compare our (U.S.. AND Canada) speakers from across the pond lol
Thank you BA. I reached out to Harman International but didn’t hear back. Must try again 😉👍
Hi Tarun, thank you for introducing the argon1. Can i ask, why do you use and love bookshelves such as the proac despite a fairly large listening area ? Many shops i’ve been to recommends floorstanders so long as space permits as cabinet size is everything. I love the look of bookshelves, but am biased towards floorstanders due to such advise. I’m currently using floor standing q acoustics 3050 but am thinking of the argon1s or your pro acs.
Hi Marc, it depends on what you want from your speaker. I tend to value soundstage, imaging and clarity over, dynamics and bass extension. At the price point of the Argon 1 and my ProAcs, those attributes tend to favour standmounts over floorstanders 😊
A fantastic presentation that gives the listener a sense of understanding with regard to the speakers abilities. Not sure if you've auditioned or reviewed the Kef Ls50, but In your opinion, how would the Kef compare with the Amphion?
Thank you Steve. Very kind of you to say. I have heard the Kef LS50 many times but not at home so can’t say definitively. My impression is that the Kef’s are a little cooler in presentation and don’t have the same dynamics and bass extension. Would like to get the Metas in to confirm 😊👍👍
I am a 69 year old non audiophile looking to buy my first and last true hifi for my next birthday. I enjoy all forms of classical music especially piano and violin - I play both badly but I know how they should sound. I am also keen on jazz, gipsy jazz and vocals from the likes of Joni Mitchel through Opera. I suspect this will suit most of the time but I am keen on hearing the lowest piano notes and the highest violin notes as I hear them when playing myself. Although I only hear as high as 14kz for the lower end would I need a sub woofer for piano and if so how easy is it to merge with this speaker (I have no idea how to do it) or should I consider another speaker. I am trying to create a short list for demo purposes. I am British but live in France so finding a retailer might not be so easy.
It is tricky to put together a system but starting with a speaker that you think you will enjoy is a good idea 😊