The Avantgarde Mezzo G3

That’s why they don’t project the same presence, dimensionality and astonishing transparency as the Trios. But adding that extra air to the bottom-end might not be as difficult as you think. Keep the budget reasonable and you probably won’t extend the bass in any meaningful way, but you will reinforce it. I haven’t tried it, but a pair of comparatively modest subs might be just what the doctor ordered if you want to take the Mezzos’ performance up a level. Bearing in mind that the bottom end of the speakers already uses digital amplification and a pair of carefully selected active subs from any number of mainstream brands could easily do the job, although I also find myself casting covetous eyes at a pair of Colibri C18s. They don’t go subterranean but they will move air and that’s the name of the game in this case.

Can anything costing this much represent a bargain?

In many ways, the Avantgarde Mezzo really does exactly what it says on the tin, delivering a healthy slice of high-end performance in a manageable and adaptable package. But what’s just as impressive as its performance is the way it doesn’t so much undercut the competition as chop it off at the knees. If you want evidence of its close relationship to the Trio G3, this is where that DNA hits home. The Mezzo offers way more musical performance than the likes of the Wilson Alexia V or Stenheim A5 SE, yet is way cheaper than the Wilson Alexx V or the Stenheim Ultime 2. And that’s before you factor in the matching amplification! In a world where price so rarely equates to performance, the Mezzo delivers value to match its inimitable style. Just like Jerico, these trumpets could bring plenty of solidly established pillars of the audio community crashing uncerimoniously to earth.

Like a lot of products that perform well beyond their price level, you’ll need to treat the Mezzos with the care and attention to detail that goes with their actual performance potential, rather than what’s written on the sticker. Short-change them in terms of set-up or driving system and they’ll repay you in kind. But treat them like the best speakers on the planet (or at least, the best speakers you can possibly accommodate) accede to their system demands (as far as you can afford to) and you’ll be pleasurably surprised at just how far the Mezzos can take you. This is a full-range horn speaker that’s easy to live with and even easier to enjoy. The Mezzo might have been the last G3 model to arrive but they were, as Sir John Mills so famously (and emphatically) stated, “Worth waiting for!”

 

Price and availability:

Avantgarde Mezzo (with passive crossover) –                   €72,400 / $108,600*

Avantgarde Mezzo (with active iTron amplification) –      €89,700 / $132,800*

*All prices plus local sales tax.

Manufacturer –

Avantgarde Acoustic

Germany

t. +49 (0) 6254 306100

info@avantgarde-acoustic.de

www.avantgarde-acoustic.de