Speaker Asylum: REVIEW: Aerial Acoustics 5 Speakers by jonbee

Model:	5
Category:	Speakers
Suggested Retail Price:	$2200
Description:	2 way stand mount
Manufacturer URL:	Aerial Acoustics
Model Picture:	View

Review by jonbee ( A ) on May 05, 2004 at 00:03:03
IP Address: 24.19.55.0

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My better half wanted maple finished speakers to match our new cabinetry in our bedroom. So my beautiful beloved red Merlin TSM-Ms went away, and I found a pair of the Aerial 5s in tiger maple. I've been listening to them, and I really like what I hear. I've read a number of reviews of them, and in general I agree with a lot of common points.
First, the range from about 125-10Khz is wonderfully smooth, clean, open and uncolored. The harmonic balance and and image separation in this range is about as good as any, including the Merlins, Revel M20s and VMPS 626R. The mids through the mid-treble just sound smooth, easy, and natural. Dynamically they are a little on the polite side in this range, a bit "'stat-like". Not slow by any means, but not as "in the room" dynamic as the other 3 I've mentioned. The bass is interesting. It is fast and dynamic,and very solid sounding, more so than the Merlin, but has a moderate mid-bass boost, and deep bass is MIA. The Revel also has a midbass bump, although not as pronounced, and goes much deeper, but the Aerial's bass is very lively and solid sounding. Finger snaps on double basses are really fast and clean. I think my wife prefers the bass to that of the others. On the top end, the highs are very extended and airy. It is almost ribbon-like in the definition of detail. Violins have a very attractive "sheen", and there is no grit or grain to speak of. Much better than most metal domes, including the Revel, which had a mid-treble prominence that I noticed. The tweeter does have a rise above 10Khz., which does add a bit of prominence to the highest octave. At times they can sound a bit too airy, with the very top a bit forward of neutral. It is lacking in grit, though, so the effect is not unpleasant.
Overall, I still believe that the Merlin is a step or 2 ahead of the Model 5; which I consider to be on a par with the Revel M20, all things considered. They all have different strengths and weaknesses, but all have overall refinement of sound that I haven't found in anything I've heard at substantially lower price levels.
A couple of other issues: the model 5 needs a bit of juice to come alive, and the cabinetry is first rate, with beautiful veneer, and is amazingly solid and non-resonant. The internal structure of these cabinets is also something to behold. They are not just drivers in a box.
I think Aerial has put togehter a real competitive design in a price zone with quite a few good candidates (Joseph Audio also comes to mind).

Product Weakness: Not as much depth as Merlin or VMPS, a bit of top octave and midbass emphasis, a tad laid back dynamically. No big flaws (other than MIA deep bass)
Product Strengths: Smooth, natural, musical. Refined and uncluttered mids and highs. Good soundstage definition. Solid sounding, snappy bass.

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	HCA2
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	CJ PFR
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Modwright
Speakers:	Merlin TSM-M
Cables/Interconnects:	Goertz TQ, Mapleshade Golden Helix
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	lots
Room Size (LxWxH):	16 x 12 x 8
Time Period/Length of Audition:	6 days
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	Adcom 515
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	Not as much depth as Merlin or VMPS, a bit of top octave and midbass emphasis, a tad laid back dynamically. No big flaws (other than MIA deep bass)
Product Strengths:	Smooth, natural, musical. Refined and uncluttered mids and highs. Good soundstage definition. Solid sounding, snappy bass.