I had the opportunity to met Lucien Pichet in person this week - VP of sales - at RMAF, while Lucien has always been a very kind person answering my multiple mails this past months, meeting him in person was a real treat.
I was there listening to the Avalon monitor soeakers with Rowland gear top to bottom (I will post about my impressions of the room sound shortly) - and Lucien was kind enough to invite me to the Avalon Acoustics factory at Boulder (45 min ride from RMAF) and hear the new Compas model for the next day.
We arrived on time and met with other invitees (providers, industry executives and audio enthusiasts) and had the opportunity to salute Neil Patel again after almost 20 years when we met in Mexico.. Neil is as energetic and brilliant as 20 years ago (maybe more since he has acumulated sone additional experience now) and updated the group about the company's new endavours and business goals, all pointing to the same mission since inception, build the best possible speakers available.
After a single malt and some chat, we went thru the facility tour, I was impressed of how clean and neat it looked, taking into consideration that it is mostly a wood cabinetry facility in terms of space - one could feel not just Neil's pride for what happens on a daily basis in there, but also his people passion for execution.
It was great to confirm the hard work that is placed on every single speaker built at Avalon Acoustics, no matter if it is the small Idea or the Isis, they all receive the same attention to quality, handcrafted process and finishing methods, drivers are similar all over the model range (depending on each design of course) and all the electronics, veneers and cabling loops which are hand made, it is really an artisans work!
You won't find here mass produced, factory lines or distracted people manipulating robotics, just dedicated and proud teams devoted to build great loudsoeakers, one at the time.
I will post some pictures that I was allowed to take during the tour, as well as describing my experience at the new listening room including my impressions on the recently introduced Compas model, for now I can surely say that it was a life experience to have the opportunity to visit the Avalon Acoustics factory, meet with their people and of course confirm my view of the very high standards and passion that Neil, Lucien and all the team apply to give the music lover a fine option to reproduce music in a way that the speaker removes itself from the equation, leaving just the drama, message and intention of the artist within each of his/her musical masterpieces.
I was there listening to the Avalon monitor soeakers with Rowland gear top to bottom (I will post about my impressions of the room sound shortly) - and Lucien was kind enough to invite me to the Avalon Acoustics factory at Boulder (45 min ride from RMAF) and hear the new Compas model for the next day.
We arrived on time and met with other invitees (providers, industry executives and audio enthusiasts) and had the opportunity to salute Neil Patel again after almost 20 years when we met in Mexico.. Neil is as energetic and brilliant as 20 years ago (maybe more since he has acumulated sone additional experience now) and updated the group about the company's new endavours and business goals, all pointing to the same mission since inception, build the best possible speakers available.
After a single malt and some chat, we went thru the facility tour, I was impressed of how clean and neat it looked, taking into consideration that it is mostly a wood cabinetry facility in terms of space - one could feel not just Neil's pride for what happens on a daily basis in there, but also his people passion for execution.
It was great to confirm the hard work that is placed on every single speaker built at Avalon Acoustics, no matter if it is the small Idea or the Isis, they all receive the same attention to quality, handcrafted process and finishing methods, drivers are similar all over the model range (depending on each design of course) and all the electronics, veneers and cabling loops which are hand made, it is really an artisans work!
You won't find here mass produced, factory lines or distracted people manipulating robotics, just dedicated and proud teams devoted to build great loudsoeakers, one at the time.
I will post some pictures that I was allowed to take during the tour, as well as describing my experience at the new listening room including my impressions on the recently introduced Compas model, for now I can surely say that it was a life experience to have the opportunity to visit the Avalon Acoustics factory, meet with their people and of course confirm my view of the very high standards and passion that Neil, Lucien and all the team apply to give the music lover a fine option to reproduce music in a way that the speaker removes itself from the equation, leaving just the drama, message and intention of the artist within each of his/her musical masterpieces.
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