I just returned from a music store with a new Avanti 2000. I disagree with the reviewer who posted a year ago about the 1000 being more "playable" than the 2000. I tried a rose gold Sonore, an Amadeus, a Dean Yang, and the Avanti 2000. I had it narrowed down to the Amadeus, and the Avanti. The professional flutist who was assisting me with my purchase was very impressed with the way I played and handled the Avanti hands down over the other brands. It was comfortable from the get go, and as one person mentioned in a past post, it plays beautifully in the lower register, and does not go sharp once it warms up. It irritates me when I have to pull a head joint out until it is half way across the room. All in all for the price, this flute is a winner for intermediate or even advanced players. I tried the Avanti because it was within my budget. Even the seasoned pro who help me was impressed with it. Everyone has different experiences with the same flute. I followed the advice of most who told me that the right flute for me would become know upon playing it. I can't wait to unveil it at my next performance.

O I've heard about the Avanti's. They're supposed to be extremely wonderful flutes. Playing like a professional flute instead of an intermediate one. Sucks though that they're kinda expensive....

One thing that I noticed is that these flutes don't have Y-pointed arms. Does this actually affect the playing of the flute or is it just for cosmetic reasons?

<Added>

Sorry I meant these flute don't have FRENCH pointed arms. My mistake.

Well, I am going to be honest with you, my flute teacher has flutes that range from $6,000 dollars to $30,000 dollars and she said if their is a "true" difference with the kind of arms it has, it was not noticeable to her. She thinks they are mainly for decoration, and it also is just one more excuse to raise the price of a flute. When you really think about it, most people who listen to orchestral music are not trained to hear the minute differences from one flute to the other, so I think we are safe with an affordable $2,300 dollar flute. You can even get them for a few hundred cheaper that that, but I wanted to get mine from a local dealer and not the Internet. I am so loving this flute. I can't stay away from it! Thanks for responding.

You need to add $300 bucks if you want the Flute with split E mechanism G, that, plus another $350 for C# trill key makes the flute expensive! That brings the flute to nearly $3000! I would choose the in line model with no other frills!

One thing that I noticed is that these flutes don't have FRENCH pointed arms. Does this actually affect the playing of the flute or is it just for cosmetic reasons?

My take is that they are to help support the key cups from bending through use but you have consider that 5 of the cups don't have the pointed arms anyway because they are where the fingers go. Also, their ability to protect from the limit bending is only on one axis. (As is the Y arms also) You may not hear a difference because of this.

So also, in things that are sold as improvements for sound, one has to actually investigate whether or not they really make a difference and then weigh if this difference is of any value. I'm not suggesting anything about anyone's playing here but sometimes the beginner-intermediate payer isn't able to hear these differences through the way that they play.

~bilbo
N.E. Ohio