I have just recently moved from a full Vandersteen setup consisting of 3a signatures and a stereo pair of 2Wq subs with the $1000. M5 HPB high pass filters to Emerald Physics EP 2.7’s. (As mentioned Emerald Physics was Clayton Shaw’s company before leaving to start Spatial) And I can tell you there is no going back for me. These EP’s are the best speakers I have ever heard. They have the open spacious presentation of Maggi’s with the dynamic power and efficiency of pro audio loudspeakers. They load the room much like Maggi’s. And the bass is to die for. It is so coherent with the rest of the sound because the same drivers reproduce the upper and lower bass. It really is "better than subwoofer bass" as one pro reviewer stated. I know what conventional wisdom says about OB bass but that is not the case with these modern open baffle designs. In fact when I first got them I tried them with the 2Wq subs then removed the subs and the bass output actually increased! The EP 2.7’s are rated at 97 db efficient (without DSP and 100 db with) and the subs just could not quite keep up. I was amazed! Now in ultimate terms the subs go lower, down to 19 hz maybe lower and the EP2.7’s are rated to 38 hz without DSP which is how I am running them now. (But they will go to 20 hz with the EP Bass Optimization Module B.O.M or DSP) Most music does not have much content going that deep so I have not missed it at all. The bass that is there is to die for! No box sound at all. I found that to be one of the biggest surprises. You don’t how much sound boxes make until it’s gone.
I agree that the Vandy’s sound a bit flat and dull by comparison. The EP’s are so dynamic, engaging and just plain fun to listen to, much closer to live music. They do invite you to turn it up, even at low level nighttime listening, they just grab your attention, it’s hard not pay attention to the music.
They do require being pulled out from the wall behind them however. Mine are almost 5 feet to the front of the baffle. Fantastic imaging due to the coax 12 inch midbass and compression midtweeter. Crossover point is at 900hz well below the critical midrange region. So smooth and the tone just is addicting, RPaT it’s all there! I really can’t say enough good things about them.
As they relate to the Spatial’s? They are the same basic design so should have similar sound. The EP 2.7’s have two 15" woofers and the 12" midbass coax tweeter. (Mine have been upgraded to the new tweeter from the current top of the line EP2.8’s and the crossover was tweeked to match)
The concept as I understand it regarding bass cancellation is to just overwhelm it with sheer displacement. That’s why the multiple 12 and 15 inch woofers. All I know is that it works!
There are several Spatial and EP speakers for sale here on AudioGon and elsewhere. Take advantage of the discount, give em a try.
Good luck.
I agree that the Vandy’s sound a bit flat and dull by comparison. The EP’s are so dynamic, engaging and just plain fun to listen to, much closer to live music. They do invite you to turn it up, even at low level nighttime listening, they just grab your attention, it’s hard not pay attention to the music.
They do require being pulled out from the wall behind them however. Mine are almost 5 feet to the front of the baffle. Fantastic imaging due to the coax 12 inch midbass and compression midtweeter. Crossover point is at 900hz well below the critical midrange region. So smooth and the tone just is addicting, RPaT it’s all there! I really can’t say enough good things about them.
As they relate to the Spatial’s? They are the same basic design so should have similar sound. The EP 2.7’s have two 15" woofers and the 12" midbass coax tweeter. (Mine have been upgraded to the new tweeter from the current top of the line EP2.8’s and the crossover was tweeked to match)
The concept as I understand it regarding bass cancellation is to just overwhelm it with sheer displacement. That’s why the multiple 12 and 15 inch woofers. All I know is that it works!
There are several Spatial and EP speakers for sale here on AudioGon and elsewhere. Take advantage of the discount, give em a try.
Good luck.