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ACI updated the looks of their Force subwoofer last year
and renamed it the Force XL to match their Sapphire XL
monitors. All other features, specifications and performance
attributes of the previous generation. In reviewing the older
Force model I found that it provided a taut, well-defined
foundation that increased the sense of dynamics, fullness and
space while extending my system's response down into the
bottom octave. It is also able to generate incredibly
thunderous and deep bass that fills the room when called into
action, which was quite surprising for such a diminutive
subwoofer based on 10" driver in a sealed cabinet.
Additionally, the Force's dual crossovers and variable phase
allow it to blend seamlessly with your main speakers. The fact
that the new XL model has a much nicer appearance for about
the same price ($799) makes it that much more appealing.
http://www.affordableaudio.org
"Great value and all around performance in a
compact monitor"
Although Audio Concepts, Inc has offered the Sapphire XL since
early 2005 -we feel that it still warrants recognition for
delivering exceptional value and performance in its range. The
Sapphire XL is of a rare breed of loudspeaker that can appeal
to both our hard-to-please audiophile side along with the
music lover within. Their sound is consistently engaging - no
matter the music - no matter the electronics.
http://www.affordableaudio.org
“More than just filling in the bottom octave, the
Force’s dual crossovers and variable phase allow it to blend
seamlessly with my Magnepans so that it never intrudes on
their fantastic midrange and expands the already impressive
soundstage. I expect such will be the case with most any
speaker. While the Magnepans are thoroughly enjoyable speakers
in their own right, I cannot now imagine them without the ACI
Force.”
June Issue, Reviewer Craig Johnson
http://www.affordableaudio.org
Sean Fowler writes a detailed review and tells us why he
ends up buying the Sapphire XLs to use as his ongoing
reference.
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the complete review
"The compact size of the Sapphire XLs end with
their looks. They play with an ease and fullness that belies
their sensible dimensions. The bottom end is rock solid with
the kind of extension that just doesn't happen with monitors,
until now. More musically relevant than its low LF reach is
the sense of speed and pitch precision that the XLs achieve
.
. . All this lets the music float free, regardless of the style of
music you enjoy. The sound stage is expansive without being
diffuse while images are sharply focused without being etched
. . .
Now, I've heard the first great speaker from a fine and solid
company that has proven its dedication to its craft and art
through the Sapphire XL. Though the folks at ACI are too
modest to use the appelation, the Sapphire XL is a true
reference speaker, and that is not a term I use lightly.
Highly recommended for immediate audition."
Paul Cervantes . . . Ultralinear Audio Journal Read
the complete review
"The (Sapphire) XLs are very good at just
disappearing into the room, with their precise imaging
delivering a very big and open sound field."
Regarding the Titan XL "You are
thinking "but I have a pair of Magnepans (or Martin Logans)
and there’s no way that sub can keep up". Well, I gave the
titan a try with my Apogee Calipers and the 2nd
Rethm lowther-based speakers and it did well, especially
considering it has a 12 inch driver.
I think the panel enthusiasts would be
very happy with this woofer. ACI offers a 30 day money back
guarantee, so I would put this one at the top of the list if
you have been considering a reasonably priced subwoofer to
give you speakers a bit more extension. . . . I also had
excellent results mating the Titan XL with the $9000 pair
Penultimate Serenades, adding some extra weight to their
performance as well. "
TONE's Exceptional Value award for 2006
Jeff Dorgay TONE Audio
Download
the PDF for Issue 5 here
"Fast, articulate, clean, and capable of startling
slam for their size.
Using the ACI XL monitors and subs in my AV system was a
revelation. I will confess to being a bass head, ‘cause of
all my years in live music. I do turn the sub volumes up a bit
for movies and down a bit for music. I love the rumbling decay
that pressurizes the house and makes movies like The Core, or
The Abyss such an e-ride, visually and sonically.
The XL Subs, like the XL monitors they were designed to
complement, are extremely high quality/value products that
will appeal enormously to the music lover"
Rick Gardner writing in Positive Feedback. The
complete review
" The Sapphire XLs are a truly meritorious product
and worthy of consideration for discerning audiophiles."
Read
the complete review
Doug Schneider, Soundstage Publisher, reviews the Sapphire
XL
"A high-performance small speaker that can compete
with the best two-way mini-monitors currently available. That
the Sapphire XL costs less than the competition certainly adds
to its allure."
Read
the complete review
Best of 2005 Award "Therefore, for the first time, I award five Blue
Notes, for Excellent Value!
So think early tax refund. It is trade-up time: I am keeping
this one. The Titan is a powerful performer, with good looks
and valuable features. It is a solid and attractive value.
"
A. Colin Flood for EnjoyTheMusic.com
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the complete review
"Within the context of its size, I had to work pretty
hard to find anything to be critical of but within its price
class, it defies serious criticism. As a matter off
fact, when judged against pricier competition, the Sapphire XL
offers a strong argument for saving the money and putting it
toward one of their excellent subwoofers. Did I forget to
mention that ACI makes some terrific subwoofers?"
John Potis for 6moons.com
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the complete review
"We have had a lot of excellent designs through our
listening rooms. The Maestro, however, was immediately a step
above anything we have ever had. The first disc was Steely
Dan, and the Maestro did more than just deliver good bass. It
grabbed everything coming from the disc, and delivered
performance I did not think was attainable for under $5,000,
let alone $2100."
Craig Chase on Home Theater Forum
Read the whole review
"The sub was in perfect lock-step with the nimble
mid/bass drivers of the Titus. Now I must give myself some
credit for the effort expended in properly dialing in the sub,
but that credit would only be the tip of the iceberg. The
majority of the credit would be due to Mike Dzurko and team at
ACI, who designed a product that has a responsive driver and
enough controls to be able to be perfectly mated with this
speaker.
. . . The most concise conclusion I can pass on is that I
have put my money where my pen is, and I bought the ACI Force.
Arvind Kohli for Secrets of Home Theater and High
Fidelity
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the Complete Review
"Consequently, the ACI's give the illusion of making
music with less effort. The music just seems to appear rather
than being reproduced. I guess that's one of the reasons why I
keep using the words relaxed and airy to describe these
speakers.
After spending loads of time with the Emeralds and
discovering their many strong points, I will definitely miss
them. I really like the way they image and the well defined
bass. They are definitely a speaker I could live with for
a long time"
Scott Faller for TNT-Audio
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the Complete Review
A versatile musical performer:
"I was able to pair the Force with my Silverline
Sonata IIs to a more successful degree than I’ve ever been
able to achieve with any other sub, for true 20Hz extension.
Likewise, I was able to match the Force with a pair of
Magnepan MG3.6Rs... the Force succeeded in a chameleon-like
effort to add more meat and deep-bass articulation... This
success indicates considerable performance flexibility on the
Force’s part."
In the theater:
"There were times when the Force so successfully
reproduced the high levels of sustained bass activity that
even I had my doubts whether it would be able to jump to the
transient-rich and intensely powerful explosions -- the kind
that instantaneously energize the room. The Force never let me
down."
John Potis for Soundstage
Read the Complete Review
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