Avalon Acoustics PM1 Loudspeakers

The Avalon PM1 is the entry level speaker from the PM series of loudspeakers. PM stands for “Precision Monitor” and there are another 3 models above the PM1  Priced at £18,000 a pair the PM1 are a little larger than the Idea, but not dramatically so (they are 94cm tall and weigh in at 34kg each), perfectly sized for the typical UK room.

The PM1 has the classic Avalon faceting at both the top and bottom of the cabinet, this isn’t just a visual design feature but is specifically to help reduce cabinet baffle refractions, side wall reflections and it contributes more than people realise to giving any Avalon speaker its voice.

They possesses all of the wonderful traits that Avalon have become renowned for the world over, when compared to the Idea the PM1 offers greater dynamics, more transparency, weight and precision. In front of a good system it’s a sizeable step forward in performance in every area. They are an even bigger leap forward over the original mk1 Idea and the older again Ascendent and even the Transcendents.

One of the first things that hits you with the PM1 is the tone and the overall balance of the presentation, it is incredibly even-handed. The treble never shouts at you or pins you to your seat, the bass is clean, tight, extended and wonderfully textured and it never swamps or masks the message the music is trying to convey. The actual cabinet itself is inaudible and it simply disappears into the room which is another great Avalon feature. Coupled with their fantastic imaging and spatial awareness the PM1 really lets you hear the ambience from room or studio where the music was recorded and it really is quite something when you experience it.

All Avalon speakers are perfectly time coherent and linear and this combined with their incredible imaging is for where they really excel and it contributes massively to their overall presentation and how they rise up above so many other speaker brands. It may sound cliched but they let you focus on the music and the performers so you can really hear how they play together, spatial cues and all, Miles Davis, Bill Evans, John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderley, Paul Chambers and Billy Cobb rarely sound this together and at the top of their game on Kind of Blue as they do on a pair of PM1.

Driver Complement:
(1) 1 inch High-energy phase aligned tweeter
(2) 7 inch Nomex-Kevlar Composite Cone Woofers

Sensitivity:
93 dB

Impedance:
4 Ohms Nominal

Frequency Response:
28Hz to 25kHz

Recommended Amplifier Power:
15 to 200 Watts

Wiring Methods:
Two Position Binding Post

Dimensions:
37″ (94 cm) High
10″ (25 cm) Wide
13″ (33 cm) Deep

Weight:
75 pounds (34 kg) each