Help: Epos 14 or Quad 11L

Hi sifu, im interested to get one of this speaker. I saw from review both is good in vocal. I play classical and jazz music and sometimes vocal.

Advice are all welcome, especially Epos and Quad owners.

Thank you!

what amp and source are you pairing it with ?

Now im using AVR, but will get a stereo amp soon after i found some used one.

Classical has also got vocals. jazz also got vocals.
What are you looking for? Bass, mids, highs, details? The more specific you are, the easier to tell you.

If not mistakken, quad is 6ohms <87db and the epos are 4ohms <89db. The more powerful the amp, the better chance of getting the best out of these speakers . So i would suggest maybe getting an amp with a rating >50 watts per channel. The load is 3/4 for 6ohm and 1/2 for 4ohm. I own epos M5 and powering it with primare i20. Works for me.

Further to that, invest in a good source. Amps are not meant to "sound good" or "have this and that". The more neutral, the better the result IMHO.

Hi, if you like vocal... go for Harbeth HL-P3 or any LS3/5a. I only have Quad Amps now & will recommend them anytime. You are welcome to have a listen to this combo, PM if interested. Kind regards.

dheensay wrote: So i would suggest maybe getting an amp with a rating >50 watts per channel. The load is 3/4 for 6ohm and 1/2 for 4ohm.

So 4ohm speaker is easier to drive or 8ohm?

Wataru, the 8ohm speakers are easier to drive. The lower the ohms the harder the amplifier has to work. Which is why for Example, amps have ratings along these lines :
8ohm - 50watts
6ohm - 75watts
4ohms - 100watts
2ohms - 125watts etc.

It means the amp has to produce all the more wattage/energy to drive these low ohm speakers. I hope this helps you.

i'm using the epos ES14 (non biwire). you'll need a powerful amp to get the most out of these beauties. currently using NAC32.5 with NAP250 to drive them. midrange (vocals) are first class. bass will sound mushy with lesser amps. robin marshall designed the ES14s with naim amplification (NAP250 in particular). no experience with the quads.

Shorty, are you using the custom ES14 stands too? I hear they make for a more open soundstage? Currently im using 3-pillar stands for my M5's, but if memory serves correctly, the speakers did better at the dealers with the open 4 pillar design.

yes, i'm using original open stands with the decoupling spikes for speakers to rest on. it is very important that you use the original stands. anything else won't do justice to the speakers.

Wow. And i thought i was already getting superb sound from the m5....guess there is room for improvement.

dheensay, the original, 4 pillar open stands will add a more tight and tuneful bass....and don't biwire the ES14s please.

shorty wrote:dheensay, the original, 4 pillar open stands will add a more tight and tuneful bass....and don't biwire the ES14s please.

Why not ?

I am using Epos ES11, till now still cannot find a pair of original stand for it.

I agree that Classic Epos needs a good powerful amp to get the most out of it. When you do, the vocal is just amazing.

I read from somewhere that This epos old ES series was ideally tune to express female vocal very very well. I agree totally, even without the stand (worst, i placed it on top of a wooden cabinet, due to lack of space).

bro, my first experience with the ES14 was the biwire version (newer model). when biwired the immediate effect is a more solid bass wallop but on continued listening for me it was fatiguing. later, i was fortunate enough to get hold of the older model (no bi-wiring option) with original stands (these open, 4 pillar stands have small spikes - 4 on each stand - for the speakers to sit on). these speakers sound a whole lot better with even more accurate vocals.

rumor has it that if you can get your hands on the initial batch of ES14s (drivers were handpicked by robin marshall himself), the sound is, well, extraordinary.

for me, i won't be changing my speakers any more. just upgrading amps and front end only because with epos ES14 speakers its all about partnering them with amps powerful enough to control them...then sit back and watch the fun!

btw, male vocals are also spot on with these speakers. some people may disagree with me but i enjoy the very good midrange detail above the vocals because you hear more stuff that you never knew was there in the first place. the vocal accuracy and presence, is well, icing on the cake.

Thanks for the sharing. My unit has clocked about 18 years I suspect, after I got it second hand long ago in UK. Now the sound is alittle muddled.

From what I read online, apparent we can upgrade the capacitor and resistors to achieve better sound, or just simply to replace old electronics. Just like you, I am reluctant to let my pair go for the time being.

Sorry for being digress away from the main topics.

hi peter, yes you can change the capacitor in the crossover. i've read that some people claim it improves sound. i wouldn't know and wouldn't dare to try because i love my speakers too much to risk it

an easier tweak would be to tighten the many little screws around the drivers (not too tight please, of course) with an appropriately-sized allen key. it will add a spring into the step of your speakers

hmm... I will do it in the near future. We'll see.

is it save to drive a 4 ohm speakers even though on the amp only stated 8~16ohm speakers?

Shorty any chance of me getting a hold of your speakers stands ? I manufacture m/s and aluminium furniture for a living. Would probably be easy to replicate if i had something to work with.

If cant, maybe i can visit you and just take the dimensions.

Partnered ES 11 with MF 75 watter long ago. Not a good combination. But with the naim, it was fabulous. I got this quad 12L firing it with MF P182 80 watter mosfet. A good combination. So, i presumed partnering is important. Epos and naim would be pretty safe and quad with MF is also right. Both has different sound signature but emphasis is always vocal.