Hi all,
Finally had a chance to compare these two speakers. Very interesting. The punchline is that I kept the A7s (which I’ve had for about a year, and love).
Our main listening system is an all-rounder, doing a combo of background radio listening, low level stuff, and full on sit-down listening work. My feeling is that low level background listening and serious audiophile type listening are pretty different, and it can be hard to put together a system that does well with both.
Something that isn’t made all that clear in the literature is that the A7.2s do not have the A7/D7.2 rectangular bass port at the bottom of the speaker - instead, the rear bass port is round and up higher on the back of the speaker, like on the A4. This has pro’s and con’s, but based on my listen, mainly cons - there is something addictive to the A7 bass, that flattens out a bit for me on the A7.2s.
The tweeter is larger and also the crossover changeover point is lower hertz on the A7.2s, and you can tell. The highs are better on the A7.2s, more uniform, but all told it really depends on the music as far as how the whole package presents. In lots of music where the core of the tune is midrange and lower, I preferred the A7s as they followed the music better. With other music the opposite was true.
The A7s are acceptable at low levels (I actually miss my Rega RS3s, now relegated to the office, in this situation - they sound great quiet), but the A7.2s are tough low - the woofer is barely activated, and the speakers sound pretty shrill.
I am going to beat Jaybar to the punch and say this thread is not about the D7.2s. I find the D7.2s to be borderline unlistenable based on their shrill, almost painful brightness. I do otherwise think highly of the speakers, in particular appreciating the detail they bring, which exceeds the A7/7.2s. Other than detail, I prefer the A7s.
Plus, I saved some dough on the upgrade. The A7s are special…it will take a fair amount to displace them.
Corrected it…
