It’s been few weeks since the delivery of my Emerald Physics 4.7’s. The freight truck arrived at 10a.m. delivering three big boxes on a pallet. I gave the driver a generous tip and he helped me get the boxes downstairs to my music room. There is no way I could do this myself and this gave me the chance to start the unpacking, assembling and connecting the system immediately without waiting for a neighbor to get home from work. All items were well packaged protecting the speaker bases, speakers and crossover boxes. Connectivity had me stumped for a few minutes but a call to Walter explaining the crossover connectivity with my amps for a bi-amped system was quickly resolved. My equipment consist of a PS Audio Directstream DAC, and pair of Emerald Physics EP100.2SE amps all going through a PS Audio P5 Power Plant.
Let me say something about choosing the 4.7’s. Over the Thanksgiving/Christmas Holidays I received emails from Underwood Hi-Fi on amps, speakers and various other items for sale at significant reduced prices. I made up my mind on a pr. of Emerald Physics 2.7’s. Based on a conversation with Walter, on New Years Day, I changed my mind and went for the 4.7’s. Walter advised me the 2.7’s would overwhelm my music room. After unpacking and setting up the 4.7’s, without listening, I knew the right choice was made, the 4.7’s physically fit the room.
Firing up the 4.7’s let me know right off I made the next step up in my system performance. Talking with Walter though the purchase process, he advised me to take advantage of the pair of EP100 amps I already had. My previous setup I used the EP 100SE pair in a mono arrangement to my speakers and DAC. I loved the mono arrangement. But now with the DSP 2.4 and the external crossovers that Walter recommended, I had another avenue for my system. So one of my EP100SE amps is running the woofers and the other amp ,with the crossovers, are running the mids and treble. Walter mentioned early on about a 50 to 60 hour burn in period with the 4.7’s. I agree in the last few days the speakers have gone from great to greater!! I also believe above and beyond burn in is dialing in the positioning for the speakers. Toe-in and distance from walls plays right into speaker performance. I’m sure the next 50 to 60 hours will also give me another positive step forward in speaker and system performance. You read about the 4.7’s imaging, soundstage and holographic effects, from these speakers and all I can say is it is true. The open baffle design just fills the room with sonics. The speakers do disappear in the room, you forget all about them. Playing different pieces of music uncanny effects can take place.One example, Annie Lennox The Hurting Time is not only playing in front of you but also extending beyond the sides of the speakers.You are surrounded in music. Mick Jaggar from The Rolling Stones, on some songs is standing behind the instruments and others he is much more forward from the instruments, true three dimensional sound.
One last item before I go. I was very happy with my previous speakers. I would tell everyone I’m there, I’m done with my system. But what kept eating at me was reading the positive feedback from folks attending attending shows, or comments made on websites or reviews found in audio magazines about Emerald Physics lineup of open baffle speakers. After purchasing the 4.7’, I’m a very happy open baffle owner. Conversations with Walter through this purchase, delivery, setup, burnin placement process has me thinking about next steps. Upgrade the 4.7’s to 4.8’s , add an additional amp for tri-amping, upgrading the DSP and who knows what else. So Walter be prepared for another phone call on News Years Day 2018 on what next steps to take.
