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MORDAUNT-SHORT Aviano 8/5/2/7 Speakers Test

The Aviano Series is a step up from the Avant i. MORDAUNT-SHORT designers managed to make a genre universal speaker, equally suitable for music reproduction and for use in a CC. But for all their many advantages, the original, somewhat detached sound character of the Aviano speakers will not suit everyone.

MORDAUNT-SHORT Aviano 8/5/2/7 Speakers

Acoustic systems

TEST RESULTS

CONSTRUCTION: The new MORDAUNT-SHORT series under the Aviano name was launched in the second half of 2009 to replace the Avant i. Aviano draws heavily from the company’s top-of-the-range Mezzo and Performance speakers. The line includes seven versatile loudspeakers: floor models Aviano 8 and 6, shelf models Aviano 2 and 1, “center” Aviano 5 and active subwoofers Aviano 9 and 7. The squeakers of this line use 25 mm aluminum domes, high-temperature voice coils with ferrofluid cooling and shielded neodymium magnets. Outside, the dome is inserted into a shallow horn that controls the directivity of the tweeter. The same “acoustic lens”, which was designed using computer modeling, is also used in the speakers of the flagship Performance series.

The Aviano’s bass/midrange drivers are the familiar old CPC Continuous Profile Cone aluminum diaphragms that feature a concave profile, no center “cup” and short radial ribs at the very edge of the diaphragm to increase cone rigidity. The driver surround is variably thick V-Form technology for improved control of cone piston movement in all driver modes. The drivers that act as woofers now use stronger Y30 ferrite magnets.

Selected elements are used in the speakers’ crossovers: saturated inductor coils, increased resistors. The circuits use low-order filters, which reduce phase distortion. Besides, the proprietary DVP Dual Value Parallel technology operates in Aviano crossovers: two capacitors of different capacity are incorporated into the circuit in parallel instead of one and this, according to the developers, also improves the work quality of separation filters. The crossover is assembled on a separate PCB in close proximity to the terminal block equipped with original bullet-shaped connectors.

The Aviano speaker cabinets have a new curved front, reducing direct, listener-directed sound reflections from the front panel. Cabinet strength is increased by internal spacers, which are available even for bookshelf models of the line, damping is achieved through the use of new sound-absorbing mats. The exterior of the Aviano cabinets are finished in black ash, dark walnut or rosewood vinyl.

In the tested set, the front speakers were presented by the flagship Aviano 8 Series – a 3-way speaker system equipped with a separate subwoofer and two bass drivers, all 165 mm in diameter. The speaker cabinet is equipped with a rear reflex port and mounted on a wooden pedestal with sockets for metal studs. The center speaker Aviano 5 is made in the rear ported reflex port housing and is equipped with two 133 mm tweeter/midrange drivers. For the rear speakers in the kit, the larger of the two bookshelf speakers in the range, the Aviano 2 models, with 2-way crossover, 165mm midwoofer and bass cabinet with port on the back panel were used.

The woofer of the Aviano 7 set has a phasoinverter cabinet with a 255 mm CPC woofer on the front panel. The unit has a built-in D-Class amplifier with 175 watts of power. The range of settings is traditional for MORDAUNT-SHORT subwoofers: 0/180 degrees phase switch, level and cut-off frequency regulators 50-200 Hz , automatic switch-on system and Notch bandpass filter. It can even out the bass in a problematic room that has standing waves at a certain frequency. In addition to the Notch filter the manufacturer encloses a special disc with test signals that help to test the room for unpleasant resonances. Aviano 7 is switched by line inputs and outputs. Aviano 7 has no high-level connectors – for them one should address to the “older” subwoofer of the Aviano 9 line, which is equipped with a pair of high-level inputs.

SOUND

The set has a measured sound with an abundance of bass, a clear top, naturalness of the basic timbres in the middle frequencies. I liked a good elaboration of the treble and absence of noisy loops, in the upper middle the Aviano does not annoy the listener with tense protrusion of sibilants. This set sensibly builds the panorama of surrounding sound, which is distinguished by excellent uniformity in a circle, good localization of objects and sharpness of contours. Though the ideal scale of the sound field is still not there, as the panorama is noticeably covered with a fog on the distant planes. Action movies special effects are reproduced with commendable details, low-frequency splashes demonstrate solid bass depth and not bad relief of the lower register. The Aviano speakers aren’t the fastest down low, though, so the most dynamic moments are a bit lacking in drama. In stereo the fronts of the Aviano 8 set made approximately the same impression: evenness of tonal balance, solid bass depth, general timbre neatness, clarity of the treble and very good transparency of the music scene. However, the speakers not always have enough “spark”. As some speakers not always have enough tact and ability to tame their exuberant temper at the right moment – they sound too bright, so there are speakers with the opposite temperament. Aviano 8 to the author’s taste rather concern the latter, they often sound melancholic: at times lacking in expression of vocals, discreetly reproduced jazz brass, softens the attack of the hi-hat. So, on the one hand, Aviano 8 have a very comfortable sound, which does not tire at all, on the other hand – unrestrained drive and unbridled emotionality is not their style.

79 335 Dollars.

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John Techno

Greetings, everyone! I am John Techno, and my expedition in the realm of household appliances has been a thrilling adventure spanning over 30 years. What began as a curiosity about the mechanics of these everyday marvels transformed into a fulfilling career journey.

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Comments: 2
  1. Rhiannon

    Are the MORDAUNT-SHORT Aviano 8/5/2/7 speakers worth investing in? Can anyone who has personally tested them provide an honest review and share their experience?

    Reply
  2. Benjamin Martinez

    I would like to know if anyone has personally tested the MORDAUNT-SHORT Aviano 8/5/2/7 speakers. How is the sound quality? Are they suitable for both music and movies? How is the bass performance? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

    Reply
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