Don't forget to hit the like button to support this channel. Here is the link to check out the sound demo of the Bc Acoustic EX214 with these speakers. Just jump to 13:57. th-cam.com/video/qG0vaDhhYhw/w-d-xo.html
A few years ago I began building my first nice 2 channel system in years. I picked up the T1's from Emotiva and I was blown away by the performance! I immediately got the hifi bug and began moving up to 1k, 3k, and even a 5k set of speakers. After pulling the T1's back out of the closet a few months or so ago , I was still impressed with their performance even after having much more expensive speakers. I actually went back to Emotiva then and purchased the T2+'s for my 2 channel living room system that's mostly TV and Movies with a little music. Fantastic gear for the price, and would probably make most people completely happy for a long time.
@@ThomasAndStereo What would you recommend I have svs prime bookshelf and center and elevations but feel like their lacking in vocals. I use mine for tv and movies 80% 20 percent music also running a pioneer lx505
I have the B1+ "bookshelf" speakers, I'm treble-sensitive, and I agree about the Emotiva ribbon tweeters. They're "lazer-like". I can hear everything above 10khz... but nothing is annoying. Impressive. I was shocked. The B1+'s absolutely require a subwoofer though -- and they're quite precise so I'd suggest a sealed subwoofer.
Like your approach to the reviewing gear. Seems real without any hype and the short demo at the end is a nice touch, because it reinforces a key point (or 2) that you've covered in your assessment of the equipment. Down to earth evaluations are always appreciated.
I really like the way you described the tweeter performance. Buzz words, "sparkly" and such are definitely descriptive, but they can't even begin to fully encapsulate the sonic character of a tweeter
Thanks for the review. I have the T2+ with emotiva xref 12 subwoofer 500 wts, a pair of xpa 1 mono block power amps1000 wts into 4 ohms, xda2 dac, erc3 CD player. I find this setup detailed, open, tight, balanced and satisfying.
I remember about 7 or 8 years ago I heard my first ribbon tweeter, a Jet III on an Elac standmount with a silver metal cabinet. The high frequency detail was incredible, and the bass was really punchy. I was impressed!
@@willisbush956 Hey Willis. I'm right behind you at 71. I've had tinnitus for 15 years or so. Been running Klipsch towers for the last 12 years or so. I'm thinking about new speakers for a while now. Something maybe not to bright or harsh as the klipsch horns. You have any thoughts ?
Thomas, I've had these speakers for a week now and love them. You are correct in your assessment of them. A very detailed high end but not fatiguing . The bass is detailed, double bass a cello are clear and not boomy. The midrange is pronounced but does not overwhelm the high or low end. I'm running these with a Outlaw RR2160 MkII and the sound source is an SMSL DP5 playing FLAC files from a external hard drive, no streaming. I'm using these to play music only and I listen to Jazz 99% of the time. Artists on the ECM label like Keith Jarrett or Marcin Wasilewsli's "January" are crystal clear. Many of the Blue Note Rudy van Gelder remasters sound great too. One thing I must say, these speakers are revealing and unforgiving. If the recording is poor it sounds real bad, good recordings sound great. Before I purchased these I was considering the Martin Logan Motion 60i which sound very similar but about 4 times the price. Years ago I had a set of ESS AMT 1b and loved that sound. These are not dipole like the ESS are but the AMT tweeter sounds close. Couldn't argue with the price of $999; Emotiva also gave me a military discount of 10% off. I also have a 1990's Carver receiver sitting in my closet that I'm going to try these on for fun this weekend.
Thanx for the Review, as always you say so much in a shorter space of time. I bought some Emotiva gear and imported it to South Africa long before they used dealers in the country. I fee you get great value for money if you are on a budget, not to say that their gear is "budget"... Have a great day!
This video helped me understand why there was such a big difference in sound between the Emotiva and JBL 5 series speakers I was auditioning. The JBL had a bigger but less detailed presence at the lower end and the Emotiva had more clarity at the top end. JBL had what I would describe as a more traditional movie theater sound and was more of what I was used to, but for SOME content the Emotiva really impressed me. In the end I went with Emotiva but it was a very hard decision for me.
I completely agree. I was turned on to AMTs by someone with Goldenear Triton Ones because they seem to somehow do a magic trick of being quite detailed but also less fatiguing than many brightly-voiced domes. Tritons are out of my price range, so I got Emotivas, and, while not as good as the Goldenears which cost ~7X as much, I'm delighted by how good they sound for how little they cost.
Hi Thomas, I like the fact you prefer floor standers, so do I. Most channels in hifi only review bookshelf speakers , which don’t fill the room the same sub(s) or not .towers are fuller and sound more dynamic..... at least too me. Thanks for the reviews , appreciate your experience, and high end stuff. 🍻🔊
I have had Monitor Audio gx 200 gold with ribbon tweeters for a number of years now. Love them a lot. Indeed it sounds different, for me everything opoened up compared to regular speakers. Something to experience in person:) when they s2itch during a listening session it was like when you took of in a plane in my ears for a second, the sound just came from everywhere instead of just the tweeter.
“Dryness In the upper mid range” thank you for saying it, I too found the same to be true on my Airmotive B1+, which I may return, because there is simply something significant ( moistness?) definitely missing from both male and female vocals which is entirely present and intact on my old Cerwin Vega 3 ways (Which I’m honestly having a greater appreciation for now that I’ve been comparing them to a few new speakers), and on the Sound Artist LS3-5A’s, which for any of their other foibles, do an absolutely lovely job on voices it seems. Voices just seem to be reproduced with some loss of soulful resonance or clarity, where just how I can really feel the difference between the timber of one persons voice and another in movie dialogs, as well as the character of the soul of a singer..
Spot on @beesdreams9. I love bright speakers but I also found Airmotive B1+ to be boring. Music sounds dull. Poor sound separation between instruments and gets muddy when there are a few instruments playing simultaneously, which is quite often the case in at least one part in most songs. Sound Stage is very narrow. Mids are brilliant, electric guitar, but if its get muddy with the rest of the instruments, whats the point. Overhyped speakers. I too got sold on folded ribbon tweeters, but was very quickly disappointed. Not for those who like to tap their feet with enjoyment while listening to music.
Do you have a recommendation for some speakers that fill out the midrange and vocals better? I just got the B1+ for an arcade/jukebox I made and I need to feel those guitar strings in my soul a little more than the B1+ can provide.
Hi Thomas! I really enjoyed the review. A lot of what you said about the T2+ speakers is what I have discovered with my T1+ speakers. I have had the T1+ speakers for close to a year now. I have had an extremely positive experience with them. My Parasound Halo A23 amplifier is rated at 4 Ohms, and drive the T1+ easily. I have a smaller room, and the speakers are a perfect fit. I have been listening to music on Amazon Music HD in 24bit 96kHz, and 24bit 192kHz. Man the sound is incredible, rich, full, and detailed. I can listen for hours with absolutely no ear fatigue. Have a great one man!
Hello, curious as to what size room you have these in. I’m considering the T1+ for my LR which is 13x13.5 with a bay window area, so right about 200sf total. Thanks
@@marks291 Just measured it. It is almost exactly the same size as yours. You have a bay window, we have a soffit that the entertainment center sets in. Have a great day!
Thorough and comprehensive review Thomas. I have the B1s for just a out a month 3/12/21. I'm riding the fence about returning them for T1s or T2s. I play 2.1 channel stereo music in my basement studio created during COVID pandemic hibernation. I have setup a system which violates audiophilism. A Denon DRA 800H Receiver connected to 1 pair of Elac Debut Reference speakers and 1 pair of Fluance Signature Series Surround HiFi Bookshelf speakers, wired in parralell to the rear of the room, and a IOTA SA3, Emotiva A300 Amp, connected to 1 pair of Elac Debut 6.2 (connected to the IOTA) And 1 pair of B1+ to the A300 Amp. I know...... not the right way to do things, however , I will say, when I play a music source (CD, Streaming music, LPs, Cassettes), with volume controls at a certain level, it sounds fantastic like being in a concert hall. COVID gave me Audiophiliacism......At 69 yo, a music lover, predominately My Era Music, but not exclusively, I have been forced into retirement due to spinal issues, dealing with chronic pain and stiffness for many years, I have returned to playing drums after a hiatus of 50 years!!!! So, should I consider the trade up to T1 or T2s?
Sorry to hear about your situation and glad you are enjoying your system. It depends on the size of your room. Usually, you get more bass and a bigger sense of scale when you move to towers. Forget all the rules, if you are enjoying it, that is what is most important.
I absolutely agree with your take on floor standing speakers . Once you factor in the space required by the mandatory stands , the bookshelf speakers take up just as much space as the floor standers . Why cheat yourself out of better bass performance ?
@@ThomasAndStereo ... I will always welcome the capacity to experience the recording at it's full sonic potential over the illusion that I am actually present when the song was recorded . I can always close my eyes . The lower octaves are an essential element of the recording . If you are willing to delete all of the content below 50 hz you are depriving yourself of the content that the musicians intended you to hear . If it is on the recording , it should be audible when you are listening . That is the point . I believe that an audio enthusiast should strive to experience the recording at it's full potential . I will always spend more on a speaker that will bring me closer to full sonic potential than an expensive stand that will contribute nothing to the reproduction of the recording .
Ah, I have been eyeing emotivas lineup. They seem to offer amazing value at their price point. I have RP600m's and dual SVS subs and have been thinking about picking up towers and shifting the RP600s to surround duty. Only downside about the emotiva lineup for me is the esthetic.
Thomas - AWESOME!!! AWESOME!!! :D I want to thank you for the advise you gave me a year ago now. While my budget isn't great, I ended up getting a pair of Elac F6.2s. They are amazing for what I use them for. Love your videos!!!
I know it's YT, but thanks for the audio at the end. I ended up buying the Sony SSCS5s (and accompanying speakers for my HT) after seeing your video on them. I think I'll upgrade my HT with these when I get the chance. Thanks again for the review.
I got the T1s and I get fatigue but listening around 89db. If I turn them down a bit I’m good. For the short amount of time listening at high levels, it’s worth it. They sound great I want to hear how much better the t2s are.
Thank you for the great review. I am a bit surprised that Emotiva did not design the speakers to be more laid back to match their pre/amp combos. The first separate system I built a few years ago (newbie mistake)was an Emotiva XSP1 pre with an XPA2 amp powering B&W CM10s. It sounded very detailed, but it was a bright sounding setup, with thin mid range and even thinner base. My mistake at the time to match relatively bright speakers with bright electronics. So surprised the Emo speakers would not take that into account to create a more balanced system.
@@ThomasAndStereo yes, and in the past years of upgrades I have been learning more what I prefer in terms of sound signature. I like how you are very, very good at explaining what type of sound you prefer and how the items you review compared to your preferences. This is gold as I like different timbres than you and putting that in perspective make your videos great at steering my choices. Nothing more unhelpful than reviewers who just judge the items per se, this is a subjective hobby.. So thank you! (Looking fwd to your review of the Doge 7 as that will confirm my opinion ;) )
Another great review Tomas. Considering these with the C2+ as an upgrade from Elac Debut 2.0 home theater (B6.2 and c5.2). I find big towers more child friendly also!
I don't remember seeing it in real life. Could be a hair, could be my photo edit where i made a mistake with the clone button. I have to go check to be sure.
Well done. I like your approach. You do a nice job of explaining things and what you a listener may expect. Have you reviewed or listened to Paradigm Premiere or SVS Prime? Curious how you would compare these. I remember about 15 years ago hearing Paradigms and being very pleased with the overall tone, but haven't heard them in years. No experience with SVS outside the subs. The emotiva maybe the best value, but lack in the looks department.
Great review! I have been living with folded ribbons in the Emotiva B1+ and more recently with the Wharfedale EVO 4.4s When I first got the Wharfedale's I thought, why isn't their folded ribbon more like Emotivas. That quickly changed though as the longer I have them the more I am enjoying them.
@@ThomasAndStereo You pretty much nailed it with Emotiva. I like horns and its not bright like that but it does put out some trebble! At first I felt the Wharfedale's were too laid back with the tweeters but after I figured out I had some settings wrong on my pre amp it came to life, still not as bright as the Emotiva but more to my liking. I decided to keep them.
Really enjoy reviews. You reviewed Qacoustics 3050 before which I have in living room and really enjoy laid back sound esp of soft dome tweeters. What other speakers - soft dome - would you recommend that are better with similar tone?
Excellent review as always! You should review the Goldenear Triton series. I don’t see many reviews by TH-camrs. I have the Triton 7 and they are truly remarkable at their price. Their soundstage and imaging is not short of astonishing.
Great review! Im into brighter speakers so this seems up my ally! Looking to put together a “budget” 2.0 for records. If it doesn’t have enough bass in my space my Schiit Lokius should be able to help a bit.
Sir have you ever listened to Sonodyne speakers?They have a few Tallboys in both active and passive categories.Pretty nicely voiced and priced affordably.Made in India.I"m sure you will be taken aback if you ever audition one! Your experience and opinion does make a mighty statement in the pro listener's world.
Great review. Love your channel! Could you maybe do a video on your room treatment and your experience with room treatment since that is a pretty huge deal now? Thanks again!
Hi Thomas, how's work? Glad the channel isn't down. Do you know when the Doge 7 review will be out and do you still have the Musical Paradise Tube DAC to compare it to? Thanks!
I do have it and I will probably delay that review by 4 months. The demand is too high now for their products and they are having a hard time keeping up. If I put a review out, they will get crushed.
A friend of mine has the speaker just below these in the range and while he always was impressed with their presentation, a word of advice from him is to replace the brass jumpers with copper cable ones. The sound loses some of its brightness for a bit more body. Though, that seems to bear out for every speaker out there that can be biamped.
Nice, been waiting for this. I actually ordered a pair of B1+ to use on my desktop setup, they should be here wednesday. Upgrading from Sony SSCS5. Would you say these are a good value for 1k floorstanding? What else would you consider at this price point?
Its good value if you like this kind of voicing. Let me know what you think about the B1+ actually and if what I said in this video also apply to the B1+. I did not try it near field so I don't know if the center image is solid nearfield.
@@ThomasAndStereo Will do! Yea most of my listening is from my desk/nearfield. The Sony's have been great so far, The imaging is nice when toed in correctly, all the sound feels like it's coming straight out from the middle of my monitor. Excited to swap them out and hear something else.
@@ThomasAndStereo Just got the emo's plugged in. Wow, what a difference from the SSCS5's. Sound is richer, fuller with more bass and mids, cleaner, airy and more separation in the highs, much more detail, better soundstage all around... Feel like I'm more "inside" the music, more holographic? Nice little upgrade! Noticing a lot of fine little details on my music I didn't notice before. They were probably there before, but perhaps just not as defined/noticeable, I wasn't even actively listening for it, just noticed it. Works well on my desktop/nearfield setup. Listening through DACMagicPlus, and HK3390 Stereo receiver, Mogami 2497 interconnects, and 14AWG O2 free pure copper wire. Ready to get more serious with this stuff :D
I have the Martin Logan Motion 60 XT speakers. They have the folded ribbon tweeter. I have no fatigue problem with them. Perhaps they are similar to the Emotiva.
I know I haven't heard them and I have utmost respect for Emotiva for its value products but I just can't get past the cheap looks on this and the quirky angles. It's for the same reason I don't care for the SVS Ultras. I'm sorry, but looks as well as musical quality matters to me as an audiophile. This thing looks like a Sears speaker system from yesteryear
Yeah, it was a talking point in my video actually but edited out to shorten the video. The finisihing is not bad though. I even took close up shots of the cabinet, maybe I should have left it in.
See, I have a different take on this. I have a pair of Adam Audio T7V studio monitors sitting on my desk for my PC set up. To me the appearance of the Emotiva Airmotiv line is very similar to these. The very smooth vinyl finish, etc. In other words, to me they look like studio monitors (ie: well built, but also utilitarian). Personally, I have no problem with this, especially for the price point of the Airmotiv line. They have a perfect look for a blacked out dedicated theater room.
If I were to start a system from scratch that sounds as good as my current system, I'd choose these loudspeakers. BTW, have you tested these speakers with Miles Davis' Kind of Blue album on how close it can sound to a real unamplified drumkit?
Thanks for the review. My room is 26 by 13.5. Which of these do you think would work better for me, the T2+ or T1+ using it with 2 subs and the C2+ center speaker with Emotiva Xpa-3 driving the front stage and an Onkyo rz-50 driving the rest of a 7.2.4 atmos system.
I'm quite inexperienced, but from what I can tell so far, folded ribbon tweeters look like an ideal method. When you say something has been reviewed by a lot of other channels, please bear in mind some people don't watch like 15 other channels. I'm only subscribed to you and one other audio channel because basically, I detect a lot of BS out there.
The problem with AMT, Ribbon tweeters they can't cross as low as regular dome tweeters. Usually the distort much more than good conventional driver. This size ATM tweeter maybe can go to 3.5k without starting to scream. I would take a good Beryllium most of the time. Just depends on the distortions, break-up pattern, off axis freq response. Then different companies voice their speakers differently, Focal being usually a bit bright.
@@pliedtka See I would have thought due to the tight linear design, the distortion would be lower than a cone which has a much larger structurally unsupported surface area.
@@karlp8484 Yeah live in audio isn't easy for tweeters.There's new design from Avantone Pro using AMT that I'm curious. Kind of waiting for review with measurements to see what are their design choices. When their previous monitor with AMT, 5" and 6" sub was going into production a friend of mine was actually present at the factory and during final voicing and his reaction was lukewarm, saying that they went through a few version of AMT before settling in the final one, but it was still too small for they wanted it to do in low highs. The well known Adam monitors using Eton version cross quite high to avoid distortions from the tweeter and at the same time too low for the 7" midwoofer to avoid beaming and cone break-up issues. In the end physics can't be beaten and often designer has to make choices that make most sense. One of my favorite measuring spkrs - D&D C8 with regular soft dome in large waveguide that Erin measured - I hope it sounds as nice as the graphs indicate.
@@pliedtka determining the cross-over point between the tweeter and woofer is hard and very critical. I think you need a perfect understanding of the harmonic characteristics of both.
@@eyeshezzy I don't think it is possible to record a sound demo to reproduce pressure and also, even if I did, if your speakers can't pressurize the room in the first place, you will not be able to hear it. I did put the sound demo of the sopra 2 up, perhaps you can check it out.
Had a pair of ADAM A7x back in the day - didn't really like the top end. Not exactly hissy, but sharp and unforgiving in a way. These days: Blumenhofer Fun13 Mk2 + Croft Audio Integrated = Perfection for me.
Like you said I had already watched a ton of reviews but appreciate your additional points. If someone was running dual subs with a T1 + would there really be much of a point to jump up to the T2+? I did here the T2+ might be easier to drive so there’s that.
Hi Thomas, in most of your videos I see the pathos Can you share your opinion on this Amp, Have you tried use different tubes? I own it the first version connected to SF Cremona Thanks Avner
Yes, it is a great amp and made a big difference when I changed tubes. I do wish it had a bit more power. I might review their newer version in the Fall.
No I have not since it is no longer at home for a long time. My friends are trying it and it will take a while before I get it back. I would say it cannot be the one I reviewed but one that is modified to their new Version B with 30pf caps. Else it will be too bright.
For the record, there is one way to get "detailed" sound in a typical untreated room--narrow/ controlled directivity. Boosting high frequencies is fatiguing and doesn't fix the loss of detail caused by bad room reflections. It just makes people think it is more detailed.
Am looking to buy a full Dolby Atmos set up for my bedroom 12x12x8 Right now I have a 7.1.2 set up klipsch too bright Am thinking of either getting a full Emotiva or Kef Q or Svs still can't decide Also who the artist at the end of your video thanks and thanks for the review
Thank you so much for your great reviews, just yesterday I was watching your review for the RP 800 F Klipsch speakers and was trying to decide between them and the tekton Lore speakers, now I have another one to consider. I’d love to get your opinion comparing the three. I know the Klipch are slightly more expensive.
Email Tekton and ask them to send me the LORE! I think that is a serious challenge to these speakers. RP8000F and these are very very different. RP8000F is more dynamic alive and stronger in the bass. This is less fatiguing and more detail in the bass with a cleaner midrange.
@@ThomasAndStereo thank you for your response, I know some purists would cringe at the idea of an EQ. I'm an old school audiophile and I remember being happy with few different speakers because I knw that although not prefect a decent EQ would not introduce noise and would smooth some pics and valleys or switch to a different memory depending on the type of music I was listening.
Thomas or anyone that could answer. i don't like bright as well. what speaker in the $1-2k range that make the vocals sound like the singer is in the room that goose bump feeling? i know a lot will probably say horns but besides that. Will the ZU's give you that feeling?
Every speaker is aiming to do that so in that sense, just look at $1k to $2k speakers. Even horns like Tyler can be not bright. Once you choose your speaker, then ask around if it is bright or not. Or just look at the measurements and see how it looks at the top end.
I can't answer from first-hand experience, but maybe you should check out the Elac Uni-Fi towers. People say they lean warm but still have great presence and imaging. You'll probably need a lot of amplifier power, though.
Hey Thomas.. Appreciate all your efforts in making sensible videos.. wanted to know if you have plans to review DALI speakers.. I am interested on Option and Rubicon series.. along with DOGE MK3 which I am planning to buy once available..
Do you have a recommendation for some speakers that fill out the midrange and vocals better? I just got the B1+ for an arcade/jukebox I made and I need to feel those guitar strings in my soul a little more than the B1+ can provide.
If it is guitar string, I think you are looking for tweeters that sparkle, like metal tweeters. As I mentioned in the video, AMT tweeter is on the 'softer' side.
I have the T zeros with a Topping Pre 90, running into a pair of Emotiva S8 subs and a bas x a300. The subs have bass management and let me cut the speakers off at 60 here. That, combined with the Pre 90, and the unstressed amp and speakers, I have mine *toed in*! Right at my face, smooth as silk.
@@ThomasAndStereo bright, but no, not in a negative way. And easily tamed with tone controls. However, when I was using the Ta100 (as preamp), into the A300, I had the treble actually at +1 and the bass at +5 in the ta 100. With the Pre 90, yes, its much finer sound quality, but it also had me bringing the bass and treble to flat on both. Detailed, dry, yes, neutral, yet airy and punchy, powerful bass (considering the whole system). I would assume tzero in near field like I have must be something like T2+ in a more spaced out setting. I am now interested to see if Topping creates some monoblocks to go along with this preamp, and of course, new Dac is next.
All the ribbon type tweeters sound dry to me as you describe. I feel they retrieve a lot of details but there are always problems. They never seem to have realistic sounding dynamics, which is weird given the surface area. I think the crossovers must lead to some phase problems as well. Martin Logan's were probably the best I've heard, and I preferred Elac Debut or Definitive audio or Kef's lower end models as examples in the same room at a Best Buy.
I’m generally not a fan of folded ribbon (AMT) tweeters but there are ones that I really liked. The Beyma TPL-150 and Mundorf AMT’s are probably the best I’ve heard. Unfortunately, some of those tweeters cost more than these speakers
Thomas! Still kicking? That's GOOD! TOTL. Sure I prefer the floor standers as well. Oh, oh! Bright top end? Yeah, I'm not there for that. Warm. It's GOT to be WARM, lol!
Hey Thomas I’m looking for a pair of floor standing speakers with some punch I have the focal 826 now and they sound good but no punch at all I need more bass!!! Price range around 5000 a pair....
Thanks for responding you always do I appreciate it! And I did buy a sub I bought the rel but it’s just a little off with the towers. Perfect for movies not so much with music
@@jaurandt3rd Its tough, cause 1028 does not have a lot of punch in the bass. Maybe the 1038 if you can find one used? Bass heavy speakers? Man the earthquake Titan I used to have was bass heavy.
I wish! My friend had the 803 D1 and it was my first experience with B&W. It is good but I remember there was something that 'bothered' me with that gen. Don't get me wrong, it was very good but when he upgrade to the Raidho D3, that something that was bothering me was gone. I like to try it one day and figure out what I was hearing that I feel is worth a conversation.
I have known Emotiva to be great value in regard to their amps and preamps. I haven't heard their speakers. However, knowing Thomas's personality, what I get from his review on this speaker is that he's kindly saying that these are lacking in the bass and bright compared to its competitors, and its efforts in providing a neutral sound has failed and there is better at this price point and lower. Make sure you listen before buying these at this price point. I might be wrong, but I don't get great vibes from this review, and believe me, I wanted to.
I think I was really trying to set a realistic expectations of these speakers. I know people who bought them have emailed me saying they loved it while some say it is not for them. I am more of a Focal guy so I have my bias in that direction but these really have their strengths and should not be overlooked. Check out the last person before you Alex Kerrison who left a comment. He bought the Elac based on my recommendation and also bought this one. He did find my assessment accurate and loved it. All a question of taste.
Don't forget to hit the like button to support this channel. Here is the link to check out the sound demo of the Bc Acoustic EX214 with these speakers. Just jump to 13:57.
th-cam.com/video/qG0vaDhhYhw/w-d-xo.html
InstaBlaster.
A few years ago I began building my first nice 2 channel system in years. I picked up the T1's from Emotiva and I was blown away by the performance! I immediately got the hifi bug and began moving up to 1k, 3k, and even a 5k set of speakers. After pulling the T1's back out of the closet a few months or so ago , I was still impressed with their performance even after having much more expensive speakers. I actually went back to Emotiva then and purchased the T2+'s for my 2 channel living room system that's mostly TV and Movies with a little music. Fantastic gear for the price, and would probably make most people completely happy for a long time.
Nice, thanks for sharing your experience.
@@ThomasAndStereo What would you recommend I have svs prime bookshelf and center and elevations but feel like their lacking in vocals. I use mine for tv and movies 80% 20 percent music also running a pioneer lx505
Also have a svs 2000 pro sub.
I have the B1+ "bookshelf" speakers, I'm treble-sensitive, and I agree about the Emotiva ribbon tweeters. They're "lazer-like". I can hear everything above 10khz... but nothing is annoying. Impressive. I was shocked. The B1+'s absolutely require a subwoofer though -- and they're quite precise so I'd suggest a sealed subwoofer.
Really appreciate you reviewing this floor standing speaker. A lot of reviewers don’t cover them enough!
Thanks, but my comment might be a bit different than other reviewers as I did not want to repeat stuff as much as I can.
Like your approach to the reviewing gear. Seems real without any hype and the short demo at the end is a nice touch, because it reinforces a key point (or 2) that you've covered in your assessment of the equipment. Down to earth evaluations are always appreciated.
I really like the way you described the tweeter performance. Buzz words, "sparkly" and such are definitely descriptive, but they can't even begin to fully encapsulate the sonic character of a tweeter
Yeah, I wish I can write like people at Stereophile so I can describe it better.
Thanks for the review. I have the T2+ with emotiva xref 12 subwoofer 500 wts, a pair of xpa 1 mono block power amps1000 wts into 4 ohms, xda2 dac, erc3 CD player.
I find this setup detailed, open, tight, balanced and satisfying.
I remember about 7 or 8 years ago I heard my first ribbon tweeter, a Jet III on an Elac standmount with a silver metal cabinet. The high frequency detail was incredible, and the bass was really punchy. I was impressed!
Thanks. Whenever a reviewer even hints at “brightness”, I turn off the review. Thanks for being up front and honest.
I find the bass massively strong and prominent while the treble is clear but in no way bright. On the other hand, I'm 73, so my ears may be a factor.
@@willisbush956 Hey Willis. I'm right behind you at 71. I've had tinnitus for 15 years or so. Been running Klipsch towers for the last 12 years or so. I'm thinking about new speakers for a while now. Something maybe not to bright or harsh as the klipsch horns. You have any thoughts ?
@@rickadams9 Q Acoustics 3050i and Elac Uni-Fi towers. I'm sure there are others, but I haven't heard many, only read about them.
@@willisbush956 Thanks for getting back.
Thomas, I've had these speakers for a week now and love them. You are correct in your assessment of them. A very detailed high end but not fatiguing . The bass is detailed, double bass a cello are clear and not boomy. The midrange is pronounced but does not overwhelm the high or low end. I'm running these with a Outlaw RR2160 MkII and the sound source is an SMSL DP5 playing FLAC files from a external hard drive, no streaming. I'm using these to play music only and I listen to Jazz 99% of the time. Artists on the ECM label like Keith Jarrett or Marcin Wasilewsli's "January" are crystal clear. Many of the Blue Note Rudy van Gelder remasters sound great too. One thing I must say, these speakers are revealing and unforgiving. If the recording is poor it sounds real bad, good recordings sound great. Before I purchased these I was considering the Martin Logan Motion 60i which sound very similar but about 4 times the price. Years ago I had a set of ESS AMT 1b and loved that sound. These are not dipole like the ESS are but the AMT tweeter sounds close. Couldn't argue with the price of $999; Emotiva also gave me a military discount of 10% off. I also have a 1990's Carver receiver sitting in my closet that I'm going to try these on for fun this weekend.
Congrats, glad you are enjoying them.
Thanx for the Review, as always you say so much in a shorter space of time. I bought some Emotiva gear and imported it to South Africa long before they used dealers in the country. I fee you get great value for money if you are on a budget, not to say that their gear is "budget"... Have a great day!
Thanks, great you are enjoying yours.
This video helped me understand why there was such a big difference in sound between the Emotiva and JBL 5 series speakers I was auditioning. The JBL had a bigger but less detailed presence at the lower end and the Emotiva had more clarity at the top end. JBL had what I would describe as a more traditional movie theater sound and was more of what I was used to, but for SOME content the Emotiva really impressed me. In the end I went with Emotiva but it was a very hard decision for me.
I completely agree. I was turned on to AMTs by someone with Goldenear Triton Ones because they seem to somehow do a magic trick of being quite detailed but also less fatiguing than many brightly-voiced domes. Tritons are out of my price range, so I got Emotivas, and, while not as good as the Goldenears which cost ~7X as much, I'm delighted by how good they sound for how little they cost.
Nice review. Love when you review things in this price category!
Awesome review god bless you
Hi Thomas,
I like the fact you prefer floor standers, so do I. Most channels in hifi only review bookshelf speakers , which don’t fill the room the same sub(s) or not .towers are fuller and sound more dynamic..... at least too me. Thanks for the reviews , appreciate your experience, and high end stuff. 🍻🔊
Cool, thanks
I have had Monitor Audio gx 200 gold with ribbon tweeters for a number of years now. Love them a lot. Indeed it sounds different, for me everything opoened up compared to regular speakers. Something to experience in person:) when they s2itch during a listening session it was like when you took of in a plane in my ears for a second, the sound just came from everywhere instead of just the tweeter.
had been eyeing these, given the low price. have had ribbbons in the past and appreciate the detail and speed. good review.
Thanks for watching!
“Dryness In the upper mid range” thank you for saying it, I too found the same to be true on my Airmotive B1+, which I may return, because there is simply something significant ( moistness?) definitely missing from both male and female vocals which is entirely present and intact on my old Cerwin Vega 3 ways (Which I’m honestly having a greater appreciation for now that I’ve been comparing them to a few new speakers), and on the Sound Artist LS3-5A’s, which for any of their other foibles, do an absolutely lovely job on voices it seems. Voices just seem to be reproduced with some loss of soulful resonance or clarity, where just how I can really feel the difference between the timber of one persons voice and another in movie dialogs, as well as the character of the soul of a singer..
Spot on @beesdreams9. I love bright speakers but I also found Airmotive B1+ to be boring. Music sounds dull. Poor sound separation between instruments and gets muddy when there are a few instruments playing simultaneously, which is quite often the case in at least one part in most songs. Sound Stage is very narrow. Mids are brilliant, electric guitar, but if its get muddy with the rest of the instruments, whats the point. Overhyped speakers. I too got sold on folded ribbon tweeters, but was very quickly disappointed. Not for those who like to tap their feet with enjoyment while listening to music.
Do you have a recommendation for some speakers that fill out the midrange and vocals better? I just got the B1+ for an arcade/jukebox I made and I need to feel those guitar strings in my soul a little more than the B1+ can provide.
Awesome Review, Time to look at the T 3 Plus now !
Hi Thomas! I really enjoyed the review. A lot of what you said about the T2+ speakers is what I have discovered with my T1+ speakers. I have had the T1+ speakers for close to a year now. I have had an extremely positive experience with them. My Parasound Halo A23 amplifier is rated at 4 Ohms, and drive the T1+ easily. I have a smaller room, and the speakers are a perfect fit. I have been listening to music on Amazon Music HD in 24bit 96kHz, and 24bit 192kHz. Man the sound is incredible, rich, full, and detailed. I can listen for hours with absolutely no ear fatigue. Have a great one man!
Nice, thanks for sharing. Yeah, I remember you have the T1 from Sean.
Hello, curious as to what size room you have these in. I’m considering the T1+ for my LR which is 13x13.5 with a bay window area, so right about 200sf total. Thanks
@@marks291 Just measured it. It is almost exactly the same size as yours. You have a bay window, we have a soffit that the entertainment center sets in. Have a great day!
Thorough and comprehensive review Thomas. I have the B1s for just a out a month 3/12/21. I'm riding the fence about returning them for T1s or T2s. I play 2.1 channel stereo music in my basement studio created during COVID pandemic hibernation. I have setup a system which violates audiophilism. A Denon DRA 800H Receiver connected to 1 pair of Elac Debut Reference speakers and 1 pair of Fluance Signature Series Surround HiFi Bookshelf speakers, wired in parralell to the rear of the room, and a IOTA SA3, Emotiva A300 Amp, connected to 1 pair of Elac Debut 6.2 (connected to the IOTA) And 1 pair of B1+ to the A300 Amp. I know...... not the right way to do things, however , I will say, when I play a music source (CD, Streaming music, LPs, Cassettes), with volume controls at a certain level, it sounds fantastic like being in a concert hall. COVID gave me Audiophiliacism......At 69 yo, a music lover, predominately My Era Music, but not exclusively, I have been forced into retirement due to spinal issues, dealing with chronic pain and stiffness for many years, I have returned to playing drums after a hiatus of 50 years!!!!
So, should I consider the trade up to T1 or T2s?
Sorry to hear about your situation and glad you are enjoying your system. It depends on the size of your room. Usually, you get more bass and a bigger sense of scale when you move to towers. Forget all the rules, if you are enjoying it, that is what is most important.
Very nice review. I've been thinking 🤔 about replacing my Energy Veritas speakers. Emotiva has some quality and fair prices. Thank you.
Love my T2+'s with XPA-3 amp, toed out just a little. Good video.
Toed out? Towards the wall for reflection off the wall to the listener?
I absolutely agree with your take on floor standing speakers . Once you factor in the space required by the mandatory stands , the bookshelf speakers take up just as much space as the floor standers . Why cheat yourself out of better bass performance ?
Probably one of the arguement for stand mount is it is easier to disappear in a small room.
@@ThomasAndStereo ... I will always welcome the capacity to experience the recording at it's full sonic potential over the illusion that I am actually present when the song was recorded . I can always close my eyes . The lower octaves are an essential element of the recording . If you are willing to delete all of the content below 50 hz you are depriving yourself of the content that the musicians intended you to hear . If it is on the recording , it should be audible when you are listening . That is the point . I believe that an audio enthusiast should strive to experience the recording at it's full potential . I will always spend more on a speaker that will bring me closer to full sonic potential than an expensive stand that will contribute nothing to the reproduction of the recording .
@@edgarortiz4681 well said!
Ah, I have been eyeing emotivas lineup. They seem to offer amazing value at their price point. I have RP600m's and dual SVS subs and have been thinking about picking up towers and shifting the RP600s to surround duty. Only downside about the emotiva lineup for me is the esthetic.
Thomas - AWESOME!!! AWESOME!!! :D I want to thank you for the advise you gave me a year ago now. While my budget isn't great, I ended up getting a pair of Elac F6.2s. They are amazing for what I use them for. Love your videos!!!
Happy to help!
Excellent review Thomas!! I'm not a big fan of the look but damn you made them look beautiful in your setup!!
Thanks Nemo for your help with this video.
@@ThomasAndStereo #heartemoji
They sound great 👍👍
I know it's YT, but thanks for the audio at the end. I ended up buying the Sony SSCS5s (and accompanying speakers for my HT) after seeing your video on them. I think I'll upgrade my HT with these when I get the chance. Thanks again for the review.
Awesome Review, The new T3 Plus is now out, would like your thoughts on the new king of the line at Emotiva.
I got the T1s and I get fatigue but listening around 89db. If I turn them down a bit I’m good. For the short amount of time listening at high levels, it’s worth it. They sound great I want to hear how much better the t2s are.
Thank you for the great review. I am a bit surprised that Emotiva did not design the speakers to be more laid back to match their pre/amp combos.
The first separate system I built a few years ago (newbie mistake)was an Emotiva XSP1 pre with an XPA2 amp powering B&W CM10s. It sounded very detailed, but it was a bright sounding setup, with thin mid range and even thinner base. My mistake at the time to match relatively bright speakers with bright electronics. So surprised the Emo speakers would not take that into account to create a more balanced system.
Well a lot of people today are going for clarity and transparency. Maye they took that into consideration.
@@ThomasAndStereo yes, and in the past years of upgrades I have been learning more what I prefer in terms of sound signature. I like how you are very, very good at explaining what type of sound you prefer and how the items you review compared to your preferences. This is gold as I like different timbres than you and putting that in perspective make your videos great at steering my choices. Nothing more unhelpful than reviewers who just judge the items per se, this is a subjective hobby.. So thank you! (Looking fwd to your review of the Doge 7 as that will confirm my opinion ;) )
@@ThomasAndStereo I wish that intention for clarity covered the upper mid range- and the way male and female voices are reproduced.
how does these compare to the monoprice encore t6?
Another great review Tomas. Considering these with the C2+ as an upgrade from Elac Debut 2.0 home theater (B6.2 and c5.2). I find big towers more child friendly also!
How did you know we watch and re-watch the same videos over and over again, spending 6 months of viewing "validation" to make sure we save 100$?
Haha, I guess I am not the only one doing that.😁
Thanks for the sound sample. It is very helpful.
You're welcome!
It sounds fantastic. Its always better to have some short demo of sound tracks. Thanks for little sound demo.
Glad you like it!
omg I was just looking at these!
Thanks for the review
Hope you like it!
Thomas a little late to the party here - but what is the rosewood finished tower speaker you have set up in the beginning of your video?
Thanks for a great review! I was ready to pull the trigger and buy these👍
Glad it helped.
Anyone know what the soundtrack was at around the 1:30 mark? Great review. Thanks!
th-cam.com/video/m-pdlZ7VaDE/w-d-xo.html
Thomas just bought a pair, love them, great video, thanks
Glad you like them!
6:01 is that a crack upper right near screw mount on tweeter? What is the front face made of? Manufacture defect or damage in transit?
I don't remember seeing it in real life. Could be a hair, could be my photo edit where i made a mistake with the clone button. I have to go check to be sure.
Well done. I like your approach. You do a nice job of explaining things and what you a listener may expect. Have you reviewed or listened to Paradigm Premiere or SVS Prime? Curious how you would compare these. I remember about 15 years ago hearing Paradigms and being very pleased with the overall tone, but haven't heard them in years. No experience with SVS outside the subs. The emotiva maybe the best value, but lack in the looks department.
Thanks no I hdid not review them. The SVS prime? I recently reviewed the SVS ultra. th-cam.com/video/dKCDtPZo3tM/w-d-xo.html
Great review! I have been living with folded ribbons in the Emotiva B1+ and more recently with the Wharfedale EVO 4.4s When I first got the Wharfedale's I thought, why isn't their folded ribbon more like Emotivas. That quickly changed though as the longer I have them the more I am enjoying them.
Nice, does my description of folded ribbon mirroirs your experience? If not, please share how you find them.
@@ThomasAndStereo You pretty much nailed it with Emotiva. I like horns and its not bright like that but it does put out some trebble! At first I felt the Wharfedale's were too laid back with the tweeters but after I figured out I had some settings wrong on my pre amp it came to life, still not as bright as the Emotiva but more to my liking. I decided to keep them.
Really enjoy reviews. You reviewed Qacoustics 3050 before which I have in living room and really enjoy laid back sound esp of soft dome tweeters. What other speakers - soft dome - would you recommend that are better with similar tone?
Tahnks, You probably need to move up to Dynaudio for a real upgrade but it will not be laid back.
@@ThomasAndStereo yup i reviewed evoke 50
Excellent review as always! You should review the Goldenear Triton series. I don’t see many reviews by TH-camrs. I have the Triton 7 and they are truly remarkable at their price. Their soundstage and imaging is not short of astonishing.
Thanks, sadly I no longer have it. It had very strong bass and interesting soundstage.
Great review! Im into brighter speakers so this seems up my ally! Looking to put together a “budget” 2.0 for records. If it doesn’t have enough bass in my space my Schiit Lokius should be able to help a bit.
Are these brighter than the Klipsch 8000f's, and which do you prefer? Thanks for this review!!!
Sir have you ever listened to Sonodyne speakers?They have a few Tallboys in both active and passive categories.Pretty nicely voiced and priced affordably.Made in India.I"m sure you will be taken aback if you ever audition one! Your experience and opinion does make a mighty statement in the pro listener's world.
P.S. How does the T2+ stack up against KLH model 5?Have you heard the ANDREW JONES MOFI's?What's your take on co-axials vs separate 3-ways?
I am very interested in the speaker. I have the Yamaha A-S801. I think these are a great match.
Great review. Love your channel!
Could you maybe do a video on your room treatment and your experience with room treatment since that is a pretty huge deal now?
Thanks again!
th-cam.com/video/lJyaXdc6RX0/w-d-xo.html
@@ThomasAndStereo ha. Ok. Ooops ! Thanks man
Hi Thomas, how's work? Glad the channel isn't down. Do you know when the Doge 7 review will be out and do you still have the Musical Paradise Tube DAC to compare it to? Thanks!
I do have it and I will probably delay that review by 4 months. The demand is too high now for their products and they are having a hard time keeping up. If I put a review out, they will get crushed.
A friend of mine has the speaker just below these in the range and while he always was impressed with their presentation, a word of advice from him is to replace the brass jumpers with copper cable ones. The sound loses some of its brightness for a bit more body. Though, that seems to bear out for every speaker out there that can be biamped.
Nice, been waiting for this. I actually ordered a pair of B1+ to use on my desktop setup, they should be here wednesday. Upgrading from Sony SSCS5. Would you say these are a good value for 1k floorstanding? What else would you consider at this price point?
Its good value if you like this kind of voicing. Let me know what you think about the B1+ actually and if what I said in this video also apply to the B1+. I did not try it near field so I don't know if the center image is solid nearfield.
@@ThomasAndStereo Will do! Yea most of my listening is from my desk/nearfield. The Sony's have been great so far, The imaging is nice when toed in correctly, all the sound feels like it's coming straight out from the middle of my monitor. Excited to swap them out and hear something else.
@@ThomasAndStereo Just got the emo's plugged in. Wow, what a difference from the SSCS5's. Sound is richer, fuller with more bass and mids, cleaner, airy and more separation in the highs, much more detail, better soundstage all around... Feel like I'm more "inside" the music, more holographic? Nice little upgrade! Noticing a lot of fine little details on my music I didn't notice before. They were probably there before, but perhaps just not as defined/noticeable, I wasn't even actively listening for it, just noticed it. Works well on my desktop/nearfield setup. Listening through DACMagicPlus, and HK3390 Stereo receiver, Mogami 2497 interconnects, and 14AWG O2 free pure copper wire. Ready to get more serious with this stuff :D
@@TyrantTitan. this was my experience. B1+ were in a different league. Returning the Sonys and ordered the T1+ and C1+ now... I'm all in!
I recently bought all: DAC, amp, speakers - I should not watch your videos anymore - right? what for?
but I still do... ;-)
Lol.
I have the Martin Logan Motion 60 XT speakers. They have the folded ribbon tweeter. I have no fatigue problem with them. Perhaps they are similar to the Emotiva.
Yeah, it could be.
I know I haven't heard them and I have utmost respect for Emotiva for its value products but I just can't get past the cheap looks on this and the quirky angles. It's for the same reason I don't care for the SVS Ultras. I'm sorry, but looks as well as musical quality matters to me as an audiophile. This thing looks like a Sears speaker system from yesteryear
Yeah, it was a talking point in my video actually but edited out to shorten the video. The finisihing is not bad though. I even took close up shots of the cabinet, maybe I should have left it in.
I think there is only so much you can do at the 1000 dollar price point. Seeing how looks are subjective, I think they did a great job.
See, I have a different take on this. I have a pair of Adam Audio T7V studio monitors sitting on my desk for my PC set up. To me the appearance of the Emotiva Airmotiv line is very similar to these. The very smooth vinyl finish, etc. In other words, to me they look like studio monitors (ie: well built, but also utilitarian). Personally, I have no problem with this, especially for the price point of the Airmotiv line. They have a perfect look for a blacked out dedicated theater room.
Hello Thomas, great reviews! Have you had a chance to test the Heco Aurora 700? If so, how do they compare? Thank you!
Unfortunately not
If I were to start a system from scratch that sounds as good as my current system, I'd choose these loudspeakers. BTW, have you tested these speakers with Miles Davis' Kind of Blue album on how close it can sound to a real unamplified drumkit?
No I have not, when I get a chance.
Thanks for the review. My room is 26 by 13.5. Which of these do you think would work better for me, the T2+ or T1+ using it with 2 subs and the C2+ center speaker with Emotiva Xpa-3 driving the front stage and an Onkyo rz-50 driving the rest of a 7.2.4 atmos system.
I'm quite inexperienced, but from what I can tell so far, folded ribbon tweeters look like an ideal method. When you say something has been reviewed by a lot of other channels, please bear in mind some people don't watch like 15 other channels. I'm only subscribed to you and one other audio channel because basically, I detect a lot of BS out there.
I see, thanks for the support.
The problem with AMT, Ribbon tweeters they can't cross as low as regular dome tweeters. Usually the distort much more than good conventional driver. This size ATM tweeter maybe can go to 3.5k without starting to scream. I would take a good Beryllium most of the time. Just depends on the distortions, break-up pattern, off axis freq response. Then different companies voice their speakers differently, Focal being usually a bit bright.
@@pliedtka See I would have thought due to the tight linear design, the distortion would be lower than a cone which has a much larger structurally unsupported surface area.
@@karlp8484
Yeah live in audio isn't easy for tweeters.There's new design from Avantone Pro using AMT that I'm curious. Kind of waiting for review with measurements to see what are their design choices. When their previous monitor with AMT, 5" and 6" sub was going into production a friend of mine was actually present at the factory and during final voicing and his reaction was lukewarm, saying that they went through a few version of AMT before settling in the final one, but it was still too small for they wanted it to do in low highs. The well known Adam monitors using Eton version cross quite high to avoid distortions from the tweeter and at the same time too low for the 7" midwoofer to avoid beaming and cone break-up issues. In the end physics can't be beaten and often designer has to make choices that make most sense. One of my favorite measuring spkrs - D&D C8 with regular soft dome in large waveguide that Erin measured - I hope it sounds as nice as the graphs indicate.
@@pliedtka determining the cross-over point between the tweeter and woofer is hard and very critical. I think you need a perfect understanding of the harmonic characteristics of both.
I have a set of T1 non plus. I love them.
Thomas, what is your subjective perspective on the T2 compared to the 590 JBL's?
I have never heard the 590. If I were to guess, the 590 with it's horn will be more lively and forward, while the T2 will have a more nuance bass.
oh man..that bass tone control set to level 3 i can listen to a whole day!
Nice, also go listen to the sound demo of the Bc acoustic EX214, I also used this Emotiva for the sound demo.
@@ThomasAndStereo will do
@@ThomasAndStereo do you have a demo of the overpressurization of your room with the focals?
@@eyeshezzy I don't think it is possible to record a sound demo to reproduce pressure and also, even if I did, if your speakers can't pressurize the room in the first place, you will not be able to hear it. I did put the sound demo of the sopra 2 up, perhaps you can check it out.
@@ThomasAndStereo i wish i was there to feel it.. Anyway
Had a pair of ADAM A7x back in the day - didn't really like the top end. Not exactly hissy, but sharp and unforgiving in a way. These days: Blumenhofer Fun13 Mk2 + Croft Audio Integrated = Perfection for me.
I see, I was supposed to review the Adam speakers..
Like you said I had already watched a ton of reviews but appreciate your additional points. If someone was running dual subs with a T1 + would there really be much of a point to jump up to the T2+? I did here the T2+ might be easier to drive so there’s that.
Not for me, for me when I upgrade, it has to be 2 levels up else there will be some stuff the upgrade does better but not all.
Hi Thomas,
in most of your videos I see the pathos
Can you share your opinion on this Amp, Have you tried use different tubes?
I own it the first version connected to SF Cremona
Thanks
Avner
Yes, it is a great amp and made a big difference when I changed tubes. I do wish it had a bit more power. I might review their newer version in the Fall.
Hi Thomas-curious how it’d pair with Doge10. Have you had a chance to try?
No I have not since it is no longer at home for a long time. My friends are trying it and it will take a while before I get it back. I would say it cannot be the one I reviewed but one that is modified to their new Version B with 30pf caps. Else it will be too bright.
Its so fun testing out new amps and speakers!
Thanks Thomas 😃
Yeah, always fun.
Are those the factory floor spikes?
For the record, there is one way to get "detailed" sound in a typical untreated room--narrow/ controlled directivity. Boosting high frequencies is fatiguing and doesn't fix the loss of detail caused by bad room reflections. It just makes people think it is more detailed.
Am looking to buy a full Dolby Atmos set up for my bedroom
12x12x8
Right now I have a 7.1.2 set up klipsch too bright
Am thinking of either getting a full Emotiva or Kef Q or Svs still can't decide
Also who the artist at the end of your video thanks and thanks for the review
Thanks, it is in the description
Thank you so much for your great reviews, just yesterday I was watching your review for the RP 800 F Klipsch speakers and was trying to decide between them and the tekton Lore speakers, now I have another one to consider. I’d love to get your opinion comparing the three. I know the Klipch are slightly more expensive.
Email Tekton and ask them to send me the LORE! I think that is a serious challenge to these speakers. RP8000F and these are very very different. RP8000F is more dynamic alive and stronger in the bass. This is less fatiguing and more detail in the bass with a cleaner midrange.
@@ThomasAndStereo Thank you for taking the time to respond. All the best.
I'd love to have a pair of these.
how about a good quality EQ to boost some bass regions?
Sure, you can try that.
@@ThomasAndStereo thank you for your response, I know some purists would cringe at the idea of an EQ. I'm an old school audiophile and I remember being happy with few different speakers because I knw that although not prefect a decent EQ would not introduce noise and would smooth some pics and valleys or switch to a different memory depending on the type of music I was listening.
Do they sound ok
at low volume ??
Thanks for the great videos
I don't remember but usually bright speakers are good for low volume because you can still hear the details at low volume.
Hey I'm curious about that Pathos integrated amplifier in the background. Have you or are you going to review it?
I have not reviewed it yet, perhaps later this year and I might want to get the latest version if I do instead since I have access to one.
@@ThomasAndStereo oh ok thanks!
Thomas or anyone that could answer. i don't like bright as well. what speaker in the $1-2k range that make the vocals sound like the singer is in the room that goose bump feeling? i know a lot will probably say horns but besides that. Will the ZU's give you that feeling?
Every speaker is aiming to do that so in that sense, just look at $1k to $2k speakers. Even horns like Tyler can be not bright. Once you choose your speaker, then ask around if it is bright or not. Or just look at the measurements and see how it looks at the top end.
I can't answer from first-hand experience, but maybe you should check out the Elac Uni-Fi towers. People say they lean warm but still have great presence and imaging. You'll probably need a lot of amplifier power, though.
Wharfedale Evo range....3 way with separate midrange driver!
Thank you both much appreciated ☺️
For that price I would choose the Wharfedale Linton 85th with stands.
On this musical selection I like the bass at +3. It sounds richer & fuller. Minus the +3 bass, it is clearer, but lacks impact.
Yup, I agree
Hey Thomas.. Appreciate all your efforts in making sensible videos.. wanted to know if you have plans to review DALI speakers.. I am interested on Option and Rubicon series.. along with DOGE MK3 which I am planning to buy once available..
I am very curious too and would love to try a Dali speaker, I don't have a connection though.
Do you have a recommendation for some speakers that fill out the midrange and vocals better? I just got the B1+ for an arcade/jukebox I made and I need to feel those guitar strings in my soul a little more than the B1+ can provide.
If it is guitar string, I think you are looking for tweeters that sparkle, like metal tweeters. As I mentioned in the video, AMT tweeter is on the 'softer' side.
@@ThomasAndStereo nah. Looking for a recommendation for speakers with more midrange than the B1+.
Ordered mine today. It will be powered by an Outlaw RR2160 MkII
I have the T zeros with a Topping Pre 90, running into a pair of Emotiva S8 subs and a bas x a300. The subs have bass management and let me cut the speakers off at 60 here. That, combined with the Pre 90, and the unstressed amp and speakers, I have mine *toed in*! Right at my face, smooth as silk.
Thanks for sharing. Yeah, they are bright but not as 'aggressive' like the other bright speakers.
@@ThomasAndStereo bright, but no, not in a negative way. And easily tamed with tone controls. However, when I was using the Ta100 (as preamp), into the A300, I had the treble actually at +1 and the bass at +5 in the ta 100. With the Pre 90, yes, its much finer sound quality, but it also had me bringing the bass and treble to flat on both. Detailed, dry, yes, neutral, yet airy and punchy, powerful bass (considering the whole system). I would assume tzero in near field like I have must be something like T2+ in a more spaced out setting. I am now interested to see if Topping creates some monoblocks to go along with this preamp, and of course, new Dac is next.
@@ThomasAndStereo to the point, can listen for hours, no fatigue, very pleasant
@@Audfile congrats, then you did a good purchase.
@@ThomasAndStereo yeah, I would have sent them right back otherwise! I have plenty of speakers:)
I like the speakers behind you Thomas while unboxing the Emotivas : 0:30
Silverline Sonata.
@@ThomasAndStereo Thx they are very beautifull .
All the ribbon type tweeters sound dry to me as you describe. I feel they retrieve a lot of details but there are always problems. They never seem to have realistic sounding dynamics, which is weird given the surface area. I think the crossovers must lead to some phase problems as well. Martin Logan's were probably the best I've heard, and I preferred Elac Debut or Definitive audio or Kef's lower end models as examples in the same room at a Best Buy.
I find Raidho and Monitor Audio GX 300 don't have any hint of dryness.
What is your favorite speaker for under $2000 ? Thanks
I’m generally not a fan of folded ribbon (AMT) tweeters but there are ones that I really liked. The Beyma TPL-150 and Mundorf AMT’s are probably the best I’ve heard. Unfortunately, some of those tweeters cost more than these speakers
You know you can put standmounts on active subs & integrate the bass perfectly. That's what I do & I think its maybe the best setup.
Thomas! Still kicking? That's GOOD! TOTL. Sure I prefer the floor standers as well.
Oh, oh! Bright top end? Yeah, I'm not there for that. Warm. It's GOT to be WARM, lol!
Cool cool, warm speakers? Last one I heard was the Triangle Trios.
Hi thomas, can you tell us your room dimension?. I also plan to buy floorstanding speaker but fear my room is too small.
I think 12x16 feet. I mentioned it in this video. I forgot since it has been so long. th-cam.com/video/lJyaXdc6RX0/w-d-xo.html
@@ThomasAndStereo Thanks for the info. Great honest video right there.
Hey Thomas I’m looking for a pair of floor standing speakers with some punch I have the focal 826 now and they sound good but no punch at all I need more bass!!! Price range around 5000 a pair....
Why not add a sub? Could it be possible that your amp is not having enough power to bring out the bass?
Thanks for responding you always do I appreciate it! And I did buy a sub I bought the rel but it’s just a little off with the towers. Perfect for movies not so much with music
Also I have a jc5 amp so plenty of power I would think
@@jaurandt3rd Its tough, cause 1028 does not have a lot of punch in the bass. Maybe the 1038 if you can find one used? Bass heavy speakers? Man the earthquake Titan I used to have was bass heavy.
Hi thomas have you review the svs ultra towers ?
No, I have the SVS ultra standmount in for review.
@@ThomasAndStereo cool 😎 thanks
What sounds better elac UniFi uf5 or the emotiva
Thomas thank you for all your videos, can you please review the B&W 802 D3 someday ? Thank you!!
I wish! My friend had the 803 D1 and it was my first experience with B&W. It is good but I remember there was something that 'bothered' me with that gen. Don't get me wrong, it was very good but when he upgrade to the Raidho D3, that something that was bothering me was gone. I like to try it one day and figure out what I was hearing that I feel is worth a conversation.
@@ThomasAndStereo thank you for your replay 👍👌
I have known Emotiva to be great value in regard to their amps and preamps. I haven't heard their speakers. However, knowing Thomas's personality, what I get from his review on this speaker is that he's kindly saying that these are lacking in the bass and bright compared to its competitors, and its efforts in providing a neutral sound has failed and there is better at this price point and lower. Make sure you listen before buying these at this price point. I might be wrong, but I don't get great vibes from this review, and believe me, I wanted to.
I think I was really trying to set a realistic expectations of these speakers. I know people who bought them have emailed me saying they loved it while some say it is not for them. I am more of a Focal guy so I have my bias in that direction but these really have their strengths and should not be overlooked. Check out the last person before you Alex Kerrison who left a comment. He bought the Elac based on my recommendation and also bought this one. He did find my assessment accurate and loved it. All a question of taste.
How do these compare to Ascend Towers which are much more expensive?
Sorry, no idea.
Who’s here now because Thomas complained about this review not getting enough love? 😂🤣😂