FAQs

Q: When was AAD started?
A: AAD was founded by Phil Jones in 1998 (an entire biography of Jones is listed on the website).

Q: Everybody "claims" to make the best loudspeaker. With so many companies to choose from on the market today what should I look for in a loudspeaker?
A: First and foremost should be sound quality, in other words "accuracy" across the frequency spectrum. This means dealing with a company that can not only answer, but will ask important questions-associated electronic, room acoustics, room size etc. to help you make an informed decision about what will work best. Our experienced staff can guide you through this process to make sure you purchase the "best" speaker for your system, not just the biggest.

Q: Is there anything about AAD loudspeakers that make them different from other brands on the market?
A: Unlike the overwhelming majority of loudspeaker companies, AAD does not buy drivers and associated technologies from outsiders but instead "build" our own in-house from the ground up. This gives us absolute freedom to try new technologies at will and no need to rely on "price driven" outside subcontractors for parts. It also means that all AAD driver, enclosures and crossover parts are perfectly matched in an AAD loudspeaker for optimal performance for years to come. This allows AAD to give the customer true state of the art loudspeaker performance and build quality without the associated over-inflated pricetags imposed by outsourcing for parts.

Q: What is a crossover network and why is it important?
A: The crossover network is the device inside a loudspeaker that dictates which frequencies go to a particular driver. Think of the crossover network as the traffic cop inside the loudspeaker directing frequencies with maximum precision. A properly designed crossover network is crucial to a speakers performance and is the downfall of many loud speakers designs-some being extravagantly priced-available today. No matter how expensive the drivers and parts used in a loudspeaker, if the crossover is improperly designed and is not up to the task it "will" severely degrade the performance. This not an issue with our loudspeaker since we manufacture everything ourselves. All drivers and crossover parts are matched for seamless integration and long term performance.

Q: Is efficiency important in a loudspeaker?
A: Only in terms of sheer volume, assuming we are talking about a quality amplifier source. The more important aspect of a loudspeakers reaction to an amplifier is having a flat impedance curve (Ohm rating) across the frequency spectrum, remember, an amplifier does not react to loudspeaker efficiency but loudspeaker impedance. A loudspeaker with a high efficiency but an erratic impedance response-in some cases dipping as low as 1 ohm!-will make it very difficult for an amplifier to do its job properly. AAD loudspeakers are engineered to have a very smooth and linear impedance curve across the specified frequency range. This means when you listen to an AAD loudspeaker you will hear the music or movie as it is recorded, not the amplifier doing gymnastics as it struggles to keep up with huge impedance swings.

Q: If I am buying a new amplifier how important are watts?
A: Once again, wattage is only a measurement of volume. There is a large "gray area" with respect to wattage ratings. What one amplifier company may specify as being 500wpc. another amplifier company may specify as being only 100wpc. depending on the testing method. When choosing an amplifier always trust your good judgment and most importantly, your "ears" and go with what sounds good to you. The spec sheet is just a piece of paper at the end of the day and hardly tells the full story. Remember, if the first watt to come out of an amplifier sounds like crap, why would you want 499 more of its friend that sound just like him! Just as is the case when choosing a loudspeaker, bigger is "not" always better...

Q: What does break-in period mean?
A: The break-in period applies not only to a loudspeaker, but to electronics and cabling as well. No hi-fi product will perform its best right out of the box as the parts used inside have virtually "no" time on them. This applies particularly to a high quality loudspeaker as the drivers-the on physically "moving" part of a soundsystem-need to be run in for a period of time to achieve their best performance. This also applies to the parts of the crossover network as well.

Q: Will good cables make a difference?
A: In a word, yes... There are many high quality cables on the market, ranging anywhere from affordable to "not" so affordable. Inability to hear this difference is a surefire sign that something in the system is simply not up to task. AAD loudspeakers ,or any high quality loudspeaker for that matter, will let you easily discern the differences between cables, however, which one is best is totally up to you.

Q: If I buy a really good speaker shouldn't it make everything sound good?
A: That depends on the quality of the electronics used. As the saying goes "garbage in, garbage out" meaning the more accurate, or neutral, your speakers are, the more revealing they will be of the rest of the system. This does not mean you have to spend a fortune on electronics, but we don't recommend using a department store $39.00 DVD/CD player with an AAD product either!

Q: How long do I have to evaluate a pair of AAD loudspeakers in my home?
A: From the day you receive them we offer a 21 day in home trial period. This will allow them time to be broken in-and hopefully time to do some in home comparisons with the competition.

Q: What if I want to return them at the end of the trial period?
A: Highly unlikely. But, If you decide not to keep them at the end of the trial period you are only responsible for the shipping and insurance cost involved in the return. You can choose UPS, DHL, FEDEX or any other recommended courier, but be sure to choose a reputable and reliable one for damages during shipping back will be your responsibility. Please call or e-mail us first prior to shipping speakers back. Be sure to include the original or a copy of the invoice along with returned shipment. NOTE: All packaging and materials including accessories must be returned and speakers must be in "excellent" condition upon return or a restocking fee will need to be assessed.

Q: Is a speakers frequency response a good indication of how it will sound?
A: In a perfect world this would be the case. The reality is far from it. Many loudspeaker companies greatly overstate the number when it comes to this area-usually in the low frequency range-to seduce the customer into purchasing their products. In most cases these number are achieved by using completely unrealistic testing methods. This is why there are so many mediocre sounding loudspeakers on the market today-all claiming to have a 20Hz-20kHz response! When actually measured, ie: anechoic chamber response, most of them don't even come close to their claimed specifications. Once again, let you ears be the judge when it comes to this area. Frequency response alone will tell you nothing about a speakers dynamic range, accuracy or sonic coherence.

Q: What is an Anechoic Chamber?
A: In the simplest terms, it is a chamber designed to be devoid of sonic reflections and resonance, in other words, there is "no" echo. This is the type of environment all AAD loudspeakers are tested in for specified frequency response and is the only way to truly see what a loudspeaker can actually do on its own. AAD is fortunate enough to be one of the very few companies with have the ability or resources to construct one of these rooms. A loudspeaker capable of reaching 30Hz with authority in one of these rooms will be able to generate "frighteningly" deep bass in a typical living room. Another type of test is what is referred to as "in room" frequency response, however, this can be a very misleading specification. In room measuring can cause a loudspeakers frequency response to vary by a much as + or- 18db in the lower frequencies! Unless you happen to have the same listening room as the manufacturer in this case, you will never achieve the same result.

Q: What does a "flat" frequency response mean?
A: Flat response refers to a loudspeakers ability to not have large deviations in sound output-usually no more than 3db.-as is goes across the frequency range. The flatter the response the more true to the recording the speaker will be. The unfortunate trend today is that many companies will deliberately design a loudspeaker with a "boosted" response at certain frequencies to make them "jump out" at the customer on the sales floor. While this trick might impress at first listen, it normally becomes very irritating to the customer over time and they will soon be on the hunt for new speakers. AAD is not interested in such market driven tactics and this is something we will never do.

Q: Is my credit card information secure?
A: Customer data, such credit card information, are processed on our secured server with SSL encryption. Secure Socket Layer (SSL) Certificates, also known as digital certificates, provide a complete security solution between sender and recipient. High-level encryption protects the transmission of data before it passes through the online space.