Once you get the subs properly integrated, you’ll hear it in the pace and rhythmic agility of the playing, but also in the coherent sense of space generated by the system. Instruments should step away from and behind/between the speakers, voices should generally gain body/presence and separation from the instruments around them. Too much bass and tempi will slow and dynamic range will collapse. Too little and the horns will start to shout at you as the instruments lose body and weight. In my room, with the subs stood around 40cm forward of the rear wall and with an initial level set, I opted for a subtly equalised downward slope in the output, balanced against moving the sub in and out relative to the side-wall. Adjustment proved surprisingly easy (physically and sonically) and with a final tweak of 0.5dB on the level, I was ready to rock. Over the review period I ended up moving the subs a further couple of cms from the side wall, as with time the bass filled out and slowed, but the glides on which the subs sit make it easy to check whether an adjustment improves things – or not.
Opt for passive Trios and what you can’t do is compensate for the incredible temporal precision, attack and natural rise-time of the iTron amplifiers. I know that there are a lot of Avantgarde dealers and distributors desperate not to upset or exclude customers who already own a favourite, probably seriously pricey amp. Those resellers all demanded a passive option to avoid alienating their existing customer base. What Avantgarde has done is respond to their wishes, but they’ve also allowed those customers the opportunity to hear just what the iTron drive can do. Believe me, in the context of this speaker, I can’t think of a single conventional amplifier, driving the passive crossover, that’s going to match the special qualities of the iTron package, while the only really serious contenders that even get close cost around twice to three times the price!
How you react to that reality depends on how you are approaching the problem. If you really love the amp you have, then the Trio G3 let’s you keep it. But if it is a case of budgetary constraint then the chances are that you’ll be using the amp you already own – or trading it for something more suitable – at least in the short term. Top of the list of alternatives has to be the AvantGarde XA Power (€13,500) although I’m not sure how long that will still be available. Otherwise, more eclectic choices like DNM’s PA3S or the Konus Audio Robusto Mono spring to mind. But spend upwards of €20K – which is hardly excessive for amplification in the context of a €120,000 speaker system – and you’ll be flirting with iTron prices. It’s an acute economic question: how do you realise the necessary quality without busting the budget? Just don’t think that some affordable SET will do the trick. Trios have always responded to quick, clean power (and VERY low noise) and that means solid-state, while the likes of the Lamm’s ML2.2s more than bust the budget. Avantgarde loaned me an XA Power along with the speakers, but I tried a few alternatives too…
