I'm a former owner of AP Tempo 3's and everything you've said about Audio Physic I agree with: they're imaging and detail champions and will deliver whatever your amp commands. This was close to 20 years ago but I will never forget how much I loved living with them and how they would always rise to the recording's occasion. I too am amazed they don't have a deeper cult following (my guess is they probably do but the owners tend to keep low profiles?!).
I've been a panel/planar guy most of my life but when I had to switch to a dynamic-driver speaker due to a listening room move...I hunted high and low for one that would satisfy [as closely to my then Maggies or Martin Logans] would deliver. I found it with the Tempo 3's which, for their modest price point I was absolutely thrilled with. If $$$$ had permitted I would have jumped to Virgos or Scorpios or Avantis... I think the entire product line features winners at every price/performance segment.
If I were you I would jump right in as you're doing and don't second guess at all. BTW I'm also a tube guy and as much as good SS is good with them I found my AP's really brought out the best in my [then] VTL MB125 mono's featuring EL-34's...the mid's were pure bliss and the top and bottom were admirably extended and well done. Congrats on your decision and "Happy Lissn'n" !
Hey Thanks! Oddly enough I'm picking up my new Audio Physic Avantis this coming Friday, the 2nd. I can't wait to get them home.
Yeah, I've auditioned much higher priced speakers, some I could afford, and some I didn't
want to afford, and others I just
couldn't afford, and I went with the Avantis because of the 3D sound, the imaging, but most important, a lot of speakers, at even double the price sound like assembly line, put-together loudspeakers, with very little organic life. "Organic," being the operative word here, because a lot of speakers have life to them; they play the music just fine, and even check all of the boxes, yet not many vibe with me on a personal level, having been a headphone junkie for most of my life. So, in essence these Avantis give a headphone experience, yet with all of the sound waves that you feel in your upper body, head, neck and shoulder areas.
Now, mind you, for the most part I've only auditioned speakers that will play nice in a small to mid-sized room. I wasn't after to fit a square peg into a round hole, by having monster speakers sitting half-way into the middle of the room; therefore, for my criteria, if I hadn't moved into a smaller room (by choice) I might have auditioned some other big name giants...but I just sold my large speakers, so there you go... The Avantis for a smaller room without compromising a bit of sound, tone, timbre, speed, dynamics, and life.
Thanks for the post. I think I might heed your words about some good tube mono blocks to pair with these.