The Avalon PM1.2: Colorado Craftsmanship Meets British Listening Rooms

Ex-Demonstration Model Available - £18,000 £20,000

There's something rather special sitting in our demonstration room at the moment. A pair of Avalon PM1.2 Precision Monitors, professionally maintained and barely run-in, offering a rare £2,000 saving on speakers that represent the pinnacle of compact reference design. For one discerning listener, this represents an opportunity to acquire Colorado's finest craftsmanship at a price that rarely graces the UK market.

Why The PM1.2 Matters

After fifty years in the hi-fi business, we've learned to recognise when a manufacturer achieves something genuinely significant. The PM1.2 isn't merely an update to Avalon's successful PM1 - it's a comprehensive reimagining that transfers technology from their £140,000 Tesseract flagship into dimensions that actually work in British homes. Released in 2023, these speakers represent Avalon's response to a simple question: how much reference-grade performance can you deliver in a real-world footprint?

The answer, as Audio Therapy noted in their review, is "a sizeable step forward in performance in every area." This isn't marketing hyperbole - it's the measured assessment of reviewers who've witnessed the PM1.2's transformation of the original design through all-new bespoke drivers, heavily modified crossover topology, and enhanced sensitivity that makes these monitors even more accommodating of different amplification choices.

Engineering Philosophy: The Art of Musical Truth

Avalon's approach has always been about the absence of the speaker itself - creating transducers so transparent that you hear only the music, not the mechanism. The PM1.2 achieves this through their proprietary Silent Inert Cabinet technology, combining time-aligned geometry with constrained-mode damping to create an acoustically invisible platform for the drivers.

Those drivers themselves are entirely new for the PM1.2. The 7.5-inch high-excursion mid-bass units feature enhanced materials and greater excursion capabilities than their predecessors, whilst the 1-inch beryllium tweeter brings the kind of high-frequency extension and effortlessness typically reserved for speakers costing considerably more. The crossover network has been comprehensively revised with upgraded components throughout, extracting every nuance your amplification and sources can deliver.

This isn't just about impressive specifications - it's about creating a window into the original performance. The PM1.2's 94dB sensitivity (improved from the PM1's 93dB) means these speakers will sing with delicate valve designs yet handle powerful solid-state amplification with commanding authority. The non-reactive 4-ohm impedance, ruler-flat below 200Hz, ensures perfect amplifier coupling regardless of your chosen electronics.

The Ex-Demonstration Opportunity

This particular pair has lived a privileged existence in our acoustically treated demonstration facilities, used only for supervised listening sessions with prospective customers. They've been carefully run-in to achieve optimal performance whilst preserving the flawless finish that makes these speakers as visually striking as they are sonically transparent. Before delivery, they'll receive our comprehensive inspection and any necessary adjustments to ensure they perform exactly as Avalon intended.

Some customers initially hesitate at ex-demonstration products, but seasoned audiophiles know these represent the sweet spot of high-end audio acquisition. You're getting speakers that have been professionally maintained, properly run-in, and thoroughly proven - all whilst saving £2,000 on the retail price. In the rarefied world of reference monitors, opportunities like this don't remain available indefinitely.

Living with the PM1.2

The PM1.2's party piece reveals itself gradually. Initially, you'll notice the tonal balance - what reviewers describe as "incredibly even-handed" presentation where treble never shouts and bass extends with texture and control without masking the musical message. But spend time with these speakers and something more profound emerges: the ability to transport you to the recording venue itself.

Whether it's the warmth of Abbey Road Studios or the grandeur of the Berlin Philharmonie, the PM1.2 captures the acoustic signature of the original space with startling clarity. Jazz recordings become three-dimensional events - you can place each musician precisely in space, follow the interplay between instruments, sense the room around the performers. Miles Davis and John Coltrane have rarely sounded more cohesive or compelling.

Piano reproduction deserves special mention. The PM1.2 captures not just the note but the entire mechanical and acoustic event - the hammer strike, the string resonance, the soundboard's contribution, the decay into the recording space. It's this completeness of presentation that distinguishes truly reference-grade monitors from merely good speakers.

Our Comprehensive Support Services

Our approach has always been holistic. These Avalon speakers deserve more than a simple delivery - they require careful positioning, proper system matching, and ongoing optimisation to achieve their full potential. That's why every PM1.2 purchase includes access to our complete support programme:

Professional installation and setup can be arranged separately, ensuring optimal positioning and integration with your existing system. Our team understands the PM1.2's specific requirements and will work with your room's acoustics to achieve the best possible performance.

Through follow-up calls and annual check-ins, we ensure you're extracting maximum performance from your investment. As your system evolves or your room changes, we're here to help you maintain that perfect balance the PM1.2 is capable of delivering.

The Trade-In Programme

We understand that acquiring speakers at this level often means parting with cherished equipment. Our trade-in programme is refreshingly straightforward and generous. We'll provide a fair valuation of your current speakers regardless of their brand or age, viewing them not as old equipment to be discarded but as the foundation that's brought you to this point in your audio journey.

Your existing speakers have served you well, and we respect that relationship. Our trade-in valuations reflect the true worth of quality audio equipment, providing a sensible upgrade path to the PM1.2's enhanced capabilities. Many customers are pleasantly surprised by our offers, finding the step up to Avalon ownership more accessible than anticipated.

Why Choose Martins Hi-Fi

Five decades of experience mean we've seen audio trends come and go, but certain truths remain constant. Quality endures. Craftsmanship matters. The relationship between dealer and customer extends far beyond the initial transaction. As authorised Avalon dealers, we don't just sell these speakers - we ensure they perform at their best in your specific environment.

Our demonstration facilities allow you to experience the PM1.2 in properly treated acoustic spaces, with a variety of amplification and source options to help you understand how they'll work with your existing equipment or guide your future upgrade path. We're not interested in a quick sale; we're focused on ensuring these speakers are right for you, your room, and your musical preferences.

Heritage and Craftsmanship

Built in Boulder, Colorado, each PM1.2 represents Avalon's three decades of acoustic research. The company's commitment to time-and-phase coherent design isn't just technical dogma - it's a philosophy that prioritises musical truth over impressive measurements. The 34kg weight of each speaker reflects the substantial construction required to create an inert platform for those remarkable drivers.

The cabinet work itself deserves recognition. The distinctive faceted geometry isn't merely aesthetic - each angle is calculated to minimise internal standing waves whilst providing optimal driver integration. Available in Polychrome or premium wood veneers with satin or high-gloss lacquer, these speakers make a sophisticated visual statement that complements their sonic excellence.

Making Your Decision

When you invest at this level, you're purchasing the absence of compromise. The PM1.2 doesn't force you to choose between dynamics and delicacy, between analytical precision and musical engagement. At this ex-demonstration price, you're accessing performance that typically requires a considerably larger investment.

The 28Hz to 25kHz frequency response tells only part of the story. The real magic lies in how the PM1.2 presents music - with a coherence and truthfulness that makes extended listening sessions a joy rather than a fatigue. These aren't speakers you admire; they're speakers that disappear, leaving only the music.

Contact Us

To arrange your audition or discuss how the PM1.2 might transform your listening experience, telephone 01603 627010. We're ready to share our expertise and help you discover what Colorado craftsmanship can bring to your British listening room.

Sometimes, the perfect upgrade presents itself at exactly the right moment. For one discerning audiophile, that moment has arrived.