Epos ES14.. opinons ?

Posted by: Greg Bolen on 07 February 2001

Hi

I just picked up a pair of used Epos ES14 at a good price... they arrive Monday. Thought I would try out a new speaker for a change..currently have
Credo's and SBL's..

Any opinons on the Epos ES14 ? How far from the rear wall for placement ? comparions with the ES22
or ES11 etc

Thanks
Greg

Posted on: 07 February 2001 by Philip Pang
They are definitely round earth speakers compared with the flate earth SBLs, but don't quite have the scale of the Naims. I had a pair many years ago at the end of a 72/180, but sold them to upgrade to the SBLs.

One of the main differences would be in the bass -the 14s while tight, don't and can't match the weight of the SBLs, hence they will sound lighter.
But they separate and time very well. Not surprising, since Robin Marshall designed them to partner his 250. The midrange is wonderfully clear, if a bit light for my tastes: I couldn't get Ben Webster to sound full enough till the SBLs arrived. (DBLs!!!) However, there was an occasion when I heard them at the end of a Nait 3, with CD3.5, and they sounded so gloriously musical.

It's true that for the money, they're a steal. Try getting Slate Audio stands for them.

As for the 11s, well, even smaller scale compared to the 14s, but equally musical. Bass is rather non-existent though.

Good listening; the music's still groovin'.

Philip

naimniac for life

Posted on: 07 February 2001 by Jez Quigley
I still use use mine, bought from new many years ago. Romm placement can be a pain but well worth a few days fiddling. They don't need to be a metre out, but they do need a reasonable distance 12" minimum, but getting them away from corners is crucial. I find heavy stout stands filled with sand and topped with blu-tak work well if , like me you have a wife who thinks that the original stands are too ugly to bear. Getting it right will reward you with a better sound than you could reasonbly expect for the price, but the bass will still not match the best modern designs whatever you do. I assume that are using naim power amps so no problem there, a 250 is the one of choice.
Posted on: 09 February 2001 by Martin Payne
Horrible, nasty, thin but overblown at the same time, screechy treble.

Shall I go on?

Martin

Posted on: 10 February 2001 by Jez Quigley
Are we talking about the same speakers here?
They are only screechy with crap CD players, and thin with REALLY crap amps. Overblown in the bass I can go with, but with a 250 and careful placement even this can be moderated.
Posted on: 11 February 2001 by Lloydy
I agree with Ross, I too had a pair of ES11's for a number of years before buying my SBL's. The small Epos speakers gave a wonderful endeeering sound and is definitly better single wired with Naim amps.
I once heard ES14's at a show in London and thought they sounded "bigger" than the 11's.
ENJOY!
Posted on: 12 February 2001 by Chris Metcalfe
"The small Epos speakers gave a wonderful endeeering sound "

I like the sound of that - is that pleasing tonality resulting from good engineering?