Efter ett välbehövligt juluppehåll så tar jag nya tag med fler högtalare. Idag blir det en engelsk "old-school" högtalare från halvtidigt 90-tal. Det lite speciella med den här högtalaren är frånvaron av traditionellt delningsfilter. Bas/mellanregistret är designat att rulla av mekaniskt uppåt, och diskanten har en enkel kondensator för att skära av neråt. Detta ska ge transparens, detaljrikedom osv, eller helt enkelt bra ljud på svenska. Dessutom så är tydligen kondensatorn till diskanten inte speciellt vass heller, men de som bytt ut denna till bättre har snart bytt tillbaka för att "magin" i ljudet tappades. Mellanregistret är det som ska vara denna högtalares triumfkort.
Epos es11 är väldigt känslig på matchning av elektronik. Den togs fram ihop med naim-elektronik (nait5 om jag inte har fel), Creed ska också vara en bra kombo för att få det som man brukar kalla för synergi. Den är även rätt kräsen på bra inspelningar och kräver orginalstativen för att det ska låta som det är tänkt.
Som av en händelse så har jag ett par hemma exakt just nu som spelar. De har stått i mina föräldrars vardagsrum sedan -94 och har spelats en gång om året på julafton eller så.... Faktum är att jag börjar undra om de ens är inspelade. Om aman ska säga nått om priset så var nypriset dryga femtusingen, vilket får ses som ett mkt lågt pris. Nu kan man hitta begagnade för mellan 2500kr - 3500kr.
Hur låter det då? Nja, ihop med min Copland och LTS-kablage så låter det faktiskt rätt instängt, men mjukt och fint, detaljerat men hoppades att de skulle blomma ut mer här hemma. Det märks att det är rätt låg känslighet, och jag tror att det skulle behövas mycket mer effekt för att få lite fart på´t. Eller en bättre matchning då. Tanken är att man ska bi-wire:a dessa, så jag ska göra lite tester och se vad som händer. Det ska ju också nämnas att mina förhållanden är åt skogen i lyssningsrummet också. Epos ska placeras ca 20cm från bakvägg och minst 50cm från sidoväggar. Jag har inte ens bakväggar och de måste stå nära sidoväggarna....
Ok, lite historia om Epos följt av fakta om Epos es11 specifikt, taget från hemsidan följer här nedan:
"Our History
Originally founded in 1983 by Robin Marshall, Epos continues to be one of those loudspeaker brands people aspire to own.
In 1999, Michael Creek purchased the brand and having had the opportunity to work closely with Robin Marshall for several years, it became apparent to Michael that there was a great synergy between Creek electronics and Epos loudspeakers. The underlying philosophies of both company founders were undoubtedly similar.
In understanding how the company had started, Michael was able to develop a true understanding of the Epos brand and all it stood for. He became acutely aware of its strengths, but also had an insight into its weaknesses and areas where improvements were possible. He contracted the services of one of the original Epos speaker engineers Phil Knight, who has remained closely involved with the development of Epos to this day.
On its release in 2001, audiophile journalists described the M12 as “a thoroughbred, with such fine communication skills it simply sucks you into the music”. Couple this with comments such as “The M12 is a fabulous design that does so much well and nothing badly...” and it is easy to understand why the transition from the original ES models to the new series was so smooth. Of the M15 it was said “resolution is superb, precision is the order of the day, superb timing ensures a fine grip of rhythms...the speaker’s responsive nature means that dynamics are delivered with verve...” It is no wonder then that both the M12 and M15 became recipients of awards the world over.
2003 saw the introduction of several new Epos models. The first was the ELS 3 mini monitor, which moved slightly away from the traditional Epos image. Rather than utilising a real wood veneered cabinet, in order to achieve a lower price point, this speaker featured a vinyl wrap finish. Designed not only for high performance two channel operation, the new competitively priced Epos ELS 3 speaker further satisfied a requirement in the home cinema market. The ELS 3 centre channel immediately followed it. This ensured there was no need to compromise audio quality in a home entertainment system.
The development of the new M series saw the M12 and M15 replaced by the M12.2 and M15.2 late in 2003. The M series expanded to include an M5 with matching M8 centre channel and a new flagship model, the M22. The range had expanded from just two models early in 2003 to seven early in 2004. Custom support stands for all bookshelf models and plinths for the floor standing models were also designed by Epos.
2005 saw the introduction of the first Epos subwoofer and within weeks the first 5.1 system featuring ELS products won a Group Test in the U.K. magazine What Hi-Fi. It went on to win ‘Best Speaker Package’ under £1,000 in the 2005 British What Hi Fi awards. In 2006, it repeated the feat, winning the award once more – but this time as the Best Speaker Package up to £1,500. In 2005 – the ELS 303 floor-standing model was added to the range to provide yet another front speaker choice for this winning cinema system.
Expansion did not slow through 2006 and two further models were introduced late in the year – the M16 floor-standing speaker and the M subwoofer.
2008 sees the introduction of the Mi Series which in effect replaces the earlier M models. More than a year in development, changes, whilst not dramatic, are nevertheless extensive. The result is a truly elegant range with a performance synonymous with the high quality reputation Epos has enjoyed since its inception.
Whilst retaining its reputation as a manufacturer of one the finest ranges of two channel hi-fi loudspeaker systems available today, the inclusion of centre channels, rear speakers and subwoofers guarantees that Epos is equally sought after in the dynamic world of home cinema.
ES11
The ES11 is our compact loudspeaker for music lovers. Many advanced techniques have been brought to bear on its design and development, and much use made of new materials in its construction. But we have not allowed technology to take over the product. For us the ultimate goal is musical enjoyment, and technology is no more than a vehicle which helps us reach that goal.
DESIGN INTENTIONS
Our design brief was simple. We sought to develop a loudspeaker of compact size and affordable cost which would provide a high level of satisfaction for the listener who places music and not 'hi-fi' at the top of his priorities. We set about our task with no notion of making piecemeal advances in loudspeaker technology. Instead, we sought to produce a balanced design, with no undue emphasis on any single aspect of performance. Only by carefully balancing the many conflicting requirements could we hope to ensure that our loudspeaker as a whole would be greater than the sum of its parts.
THE DRIVE UNITS
The ES11 utilises a 165mm bass driver and a 25mm tweeter. Both are brand new designs, developed specifically for the ES11.
The bass driver is built on a remarkably stiff and inert chassis which is injection moulded as an integral part of the loudspeaker's front baffle. The cone is thermo-formed from a stable polymer material and has a profile which was carefully developed to provide well-controlled axial and polar performance characteristics. A synthetic rubber roll surround with a high degree of hysteresis terminates the cone and minimises the generation of standing waves across the cone's surface.
The voice coil is wound on an aluminium former with high-temperature wire. A costly and labour-intensive wet-winding process using an extremely strong resin adhesive is employed in preference to the more common solvent bonding method. By wet winding we can be sure of producing a very rugged voice coil which will provide years of reliable service.
The ES11 has a phase plug protruding from the cone apex, rather than the more usual dust cap. The plug has a precisely contoured form which modifies the diffraction characteristics at the centre of the cone and provides better polar performance than would be possible with a dust cap.
The bass drive unit is completed by a magnet assembly with a centre pole extending considerably forward of the top plate. This serves to linearise the lines of magnetic flux which are cut by the voice coil as it moves outward from its rest position and helps ensure a low level of harmonic distortion.
Like big brother ES 14, the new ES11 bass driver has a precisely controlled bandwidth. The upper frequency roll-out is inherent in the mechanical design of the unit and no external crossover circuitry is required. This provides considerable benefits in control and transparency, with the driving amplifier being connected directly to the bass driver terminals.
The tweeter has a dome fabricated from aluminium alloy. Epos Acoustics are among the most experienced designers of metal dome tweeters and the ES11 profits from our accumulated knowledge. Every care has been taken to improve the linearity of this tweeter, every useful device employed to advance its performance to the state of the art.
A polyamide suspension locates the aluminium dome and provides the necessary restoring force, while the dome is acoustically loaded by a separate rear chamber. Vents in the voice coil former equalise the pressure on each side of the coil and help guard against asymmetric pressure distortion.
Magnetic fluid is introduced into the magnet gap to provide enhanced thermal transfer from the voice coil to the magnet system. This improves reliability and reduces dynamic compression.
The rugged nature of the tweeter, coupled with its good linearity at the lower end of its passband, enables operation with the minimum of external crossover circuitry: just one high-quality capacitor is present in the signal path. We believe that this approach to crossover network design helps in no small measure to enhance the loudspeaker's ability to resolve fine detail.
THE CABINET
The cabinet is a unique structure which utilises exceptionally rigid and inert injection mouldings for its front and rear baffles. The front baffle is moulded as an integral structure with the bass driver chassis. This ensures that the coupling between the bass driver and the baffle is precisely and consistently defined, unlike conventional systems where the coupling is influenced by the varying tightness of fixing screws.
The front and rear baffles are tensioned by steel rods, with the 25mm-thick MDF cabinet wrap sandwiched between them. The resultant assembly is immensely rigid and free from troublesome resonant modes.
The cabinet is a unique structure which utilises exceptionally rigid and inert injection mouldings for its front and rear baffles. The front baffle is moulded as an integral structure with the bass driver chassis. This ensures that the coupling between the bass driver and the baffle is precisely and consistently defined, unlike conventional systems where the coupling is influenced by the varying tightness of fixing screws.
The front and rear baffles are tensioned by steel rods, with the 25mm-thick MDF cabinet wrap sandwiched between them. The resultant assembly is immensely rigid and free from troublesome resonant modes.
CONNECTIONS
Facilities for bi-wiring are provided on the ES11. Two pairs of high quality solid brass terminals allow separate cables to be used to connect the bass driver and tweeter to the driving amplifier, bringing enhanced control and resolution.
POWER REQUIREMENTS
Amplifiers rated at between 25 and 75 watts into 8 ohms will generally be found suitable for use with the ES11. More powerful amplifiers can be used with caution, but amplifiers capable of less than 25 watts are best avoided.
POSITIONING
The ES11 will give its best performance in most rooms when placed close to the back wall and at least 50cm from the nearest side wall. A space of about 20cm is required behind the loudspeaker to allow proper operation of the rear-firing reflex port.
The use of rigid stands is recommended, and purpose designed Epos stands are available.
SOUND QUALITY
The sound quality available from the ES11 can best be described by words such as revealing and involving. Transparency and definition are an inherent part of the ES11's character. Above all else, however, the ES11 is a loudspeaker with which you can relax. The reproduction of music for your enjoyment is its role in life.
AUDITIONING
The ES11 is available from a small number of enthusiastic and competent retailers who are at pains to demonstrate and sell complimentary equipment. It is most important to realise that combinations of the "best" or the most highly rated equipment do not necessarily make good systems. The advice of a good retailer is invaluable in helping to prevent money being wasted on unsuitable combinations of equipment.
The ES11, like any other piece of precision equipment, needs to be used correctly to achieve its intended performance. A judgement made of a loudspeaker with unwisely chosen partnering equipment, or in a poorly set-up system is no judgement at all.
SPECIFICATION
Power Handling:
75 Watts speech and music.
Frequency Response:
60Hz - 20kHz
Impedance:
8 ohms Nominal
Sensitivity:
87dB/1 watt/1 metre
Finish:
Black Ash or Walnut wood veneer
Dimensions:
375mm (H) x 200mm(W) x 250mm(D)
Weight:
8kg
The ES11 was supplied with an acoustically transparent foam grille."
