see my review below, with correction of "outstanding" to "relatively good" for price/performance

see my review below

This is a follow up of my previous review.

I recently got my BIC DV 52si speakers tweaked by Ed Frias on their cross-overs (for more information, see my review of the speakers in this site). I hesitate to say this, but Aegis 3 is no match: everything is so amazing with modified DV 52si. For them, it makes no sense any more to talk about price/peformance: it's astronomical. I don't hesitate they are one of a few best sounding speakers I ever had a chance to give a listing to.

I still think Aegis 3 is good speakers, at least a few times better than B&W DM 60x series. But in comparison against modified DV 52si, and probably other speakers Ed did something to, its value has got to be drastically reduced.

So, try out any speaker that Ed Frias designed, made, or tweaked!!!!!! You'll never be disappointed. You can check out rave reviews of speakers he made under EFE Technology label, DIY speakers he desgined under AR.com DIY, and speakes he tweaks under BIC (America) (Venturi).

Good luck on trying them out

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BIC Venturi DV 52si with Ed Frias's tweak on x-overs, in addition to speakers I mentioned in the review below

great midrange, good highs great value

perhaps a bit weak bass, ugly fronts.

Since one of my friends got me interrested in hifi, ive been around audiotioning all kinds of speakers amps and CDplayers. And some month ago my friend asked me if i wanted to borrow his A.E. Aegis thees. I said of course, since they were the so far best sounding speakers i had auditioned. (the only reason he let me borrow them is that his father got himself a new pair of some 1000$ speakers and let my friend use the old ones.) well i set them up in my room with my lousy technics something reciever and not quite so lousy but still not good technics CD player. I was amazed, all the sudden you could hear the music. Of course compared to my 200$ Jamo speakers what would you expect.
but it wasn't untill i paired them up with my fathers NAD amp and CD player the sound reached its.. potential

to cut to the chase.

sound image is great
sound quality is great even if some of my more, bass interrested friends didn't quite agree.. but who cares, what do they know.
they look kinda good too, even if real wood is prettier. i guess they decided to put focus on sound and not finish.

theese are the best speakers ive listend to at this price, I haven't listend to B&W CM 2 yet though, they've recieved some nice reviews. And i hear those nautilus tweeters are good too.

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boston acoustics, b&w 603, dali.

Small footprint, good balance. Good level of transparency.

Nothing signicant at price.

I spent 15 years working with sound on a professional basis, encountering loudspeakers being used for all sorts of purposes, from theatre sound reinforcement (where the public aren't suppose to know loudspeakers are in use), to large industrial tests (approximating the noise levels of Harrier Jets at take off). In between these extremes, there were hundreds of music gigs, and visits to established recording studios. In the early 90's I had one of Acoustic Energy's products described to me by a trusted fellow engineer as 'holographic'. He was refering to the now legendary AE1's, which are still available today in an improved form. (studio monitors).
Since this period I've downsized my lifestyle and income (due to occupational illness).
After a few years with some home made transmission line speakers, I heard someone metion AE. I looked them up on the web, and selected the Aegis threes (budget dictated this model).
And they are absolutely fine for my needs. Music, (and all it means to me), revisited. I haven't got round to bi-wiring these, or indeed getting a modern amp.
Nonetheless, the results are very pleasing. I think that manufacturers who have experience of the recording studio envoironment can often produce good product for home use,
as their knowledge trickles down for use in their lower cost product.
So, if these LS fit your budget, give them a try.
As well as the settling in period mentioned by other reviewers, might I suggest that you keep your Hi Fi powered on, all the time. Some schools of thought think a warm amp sounds better. Happy listening.

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Many, including recording varios studio monitors.

Absolutely well balanced sound from bass to highs. Exceptionnal midrange. Very awesome soundstage effect.

The front covers have to be taken off to enhance spatialization effects.

I am using this Aegis Three for HI-FI as well as Home Cinema. In stereo mode, the sound is absolutely great from bass to highs. It is crisp with a nice impression of air around every instrument. Obviously the amplifier used to drive these babies must be a great one with, if possible very good cables (mine is OEHLBACH Silverstream 1225). We get an impressive sense of power through the complete range of frequencies.

For Home cinema, Acoustic Energy suggests 2 Aegis Three as main left and right speakers, plus an Aegis Center plus 2 Aegis 2 or Aegis One as surround... Forget this configuration, and do prefer the following one :

- 1 Aegis Center as front speaker.
- 4 Aegis Three as front and rear speakers (for a 5.1 cinema, and more for a 6.1)


Be careful to adjust and tighten the little enclosed spikes, which necessary to have deep and solid bass... I also noticed that the highs become then more precise too.

All I can say is that I am absolutely immersed into a very clear and detailed sound. The front to rear effects are absolutely coherent. If you're looking for a very balanced configuration to have an impressive sound, don't look any further... go and listen the configuration I heve made and come back to tell us how quickly you have bought it. :-)

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a lot... (Tannoy, Mission, ...)

Natural, clear sound, classy appearace.

Is there some telephone like emphasis in the mid range or have mine speakers not breaked in yet (purchased one week ago)

Sound is very balanced and accurate, midrange is clear (some emphasis somewhere?). Bass is fast, not housebreaking deep though.
I biwired them yesterday and the results were clear! I listen a lot of female artists like Enya, and after biwiring it sounds like the angels were singing! The treble clarity increased much and bass become even tighter. It certainly pays to biwire these beatiful beasts!
They are top in their priceclass.

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Very big home build speakers, top model at the 80's first half

CLARITY, BASS, MIDRANGE AND IMAGING

NEED BREAKING IN.

JUST GOT THESE BABIES AND BOY WHAT A PLEASURE. LEAPS AND BOUNDS BETTER THAN THE DEF TECH BP6'S. THEY REALLY DO HAVE IT ALL, MIDRANGE, BASS AND CRISP HIGHS. THE ONLY DILEMMA IS HAVING TO BREAK THEM IN FOR A FEW DAYS, ALTHOUGH THEY STILL SOUND AWESOME RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX. IT SEEMS THESE BRITS MAKE GOOD FLOORSTANDING AND BOOKSHELF SPEAKERS.THE BP6'S WERE VERY GOOD SPEAKERS BUT JUST HAD NO MIDRANGE WHATSOVER AND REQUIRED YOU TO TURN THEM WAY UP IN ORDER TO ENJOY THEM.
YOU REALLY DO OWE IT TO YOURSELFS TO CHECK THIS SPEAKER OUT.

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DEFINITIVE TECHNOLOGY BP6

Highly detailed mid range; Tight bass; Beautifully designed.

Could be considered "unexciting" by some.

From the limited research and listening I did before buying the Aegis Three's, I found that you have to almost double your spending to get a better sounding speaker. Of course that is a highly subjective comment. I demoed the Aegis Three's AFTER a pair of Royd's costing much more. To the AE's credit, they didn't sound terrible compaired to the Royd. I was really surprised how a $700 a pair speaker could hang with a $1200 pair. When I got them home, I found that about a week of break-in time was needed before the metal mid drivers really opened up. Now I'm completely in love with them. I use them primarily as home theater speakers, but they are truely music speaker. I think it's important for a home theater to musical. The biggest complaint I've read about the Aegis Three's is that they are "unexciting." I guess that is because the tweeter is not very aggressive and the woofer is not boomy. One of the best "added bonus" features that these speakers look great with their grills off. Luckily I don't have any children or pets that require me to leave them on. I also have a set of Aegis One's for suround and an Aegis Center.

Similar Products Used:

Royd; Infiniti RS; PSB Image; Boston Acoustic; Acoustic Research