Speaker Asylum: REVIEW: Epos Acoustics M12 Speakers by NeuGeo

Model:	M12
Category:	Speakers
Suggested Retail Price:	$895.
Description:	Bookshelf/monitors
Manufacturer URL:	Epos Acoustics
Manufacturer URL:	Epos Acoustics

Review by NeuGeo ( A ) on June 18, 2004 at 23:59:43
IP Address: 172.153.6.34

Add Your Review
for the M12

While making the rounds of Manhattans Hi-End salons one weekend, my audiophile buddy and I happened upon a modest retail depot just north of Soho called: In Living Stereo. The owner operators, Steve and Steve were really great They gave a tour of their listening rooms and demonstrated several components . My buddy was interested in some of the Creek integrateds that were on display, and auditioned them all . It was during that time that I became aware of the Epos M15 that were playing.
The Creek 4330 staggered me with its musical presentation through the Epos. It emerged as the acoustic equivalent of the CJ MV55 I had at home. The M15 sounded larger than life when the program material called for it. We first listened to some synthetic orchestrations, kind of like Yani and John Tesh playing easy listening Trance music . I was not crazy about the selection but it demonstrated the speakers capacity to fill a room( 15â€™ x 25â€™aprox.) with seamless sound, a very vivid tactile presentation. It was like the music was in the room with us, or we were standing amid the music.
My buddy swung his trusted back-pack into position and plucked out a handful of CDâ€™s. We first listened to Brooklyn Funk Essentials â€œCool and Steady and Easyâ€. Deep funk bass flooded the room. Horns and percussions just hung around the front of each speaker while the lead vocal provided center fill. I have a copy of this CD at home and it never sounded anything like what I was listening to at that moment . It was my turn next. I played numerous selections from the Three Moâ€™ Tenors performance (PBS). Its not a great recording, but the eclectic mix of jazz, blues, rhythm and blues, show tunes, standards and opera, backed by a full orchestra is fun to listen to. The vocals which come across as edgy on my system sounded prominent and live.
At this point I started to consider how these speakers would sound in my smallish apartment. The M15 are floor standing and I took note of the reality that I didnâ€™t have suitable floor space for them. My living-room is dominated by a huge three section wall unit. The left speaker would have to be placed in a corner or in front of a balcony door. Bad choices. The DIY bookshelf speakers that I was currently using were on the wall unit and sounded pretty good there. They did the soundstage thing more or less but produced little or no bass under 100Hz.
The M12 was put into play at my request. Damned if it didnâ€™t sound exactly like the M15 minus the last octave of bottom end. Okay! now weâ€™re cookinâ€™. I was able to visualize the Epos in my living-room, sounding great like they did here.
Sade â€œ Love Deluxeâ€ was now playing on the M12, and it was gorgeous. Sadeâ€™s vocals had the effect of touching emotions intimately . The performance, although a recording, seemed to approach the threshold of a physical event occurring. No not like live, more like â€œyou are thereâ€. The Epos consistently presented the music in an uncomplicated, candid very nearly naked manner. This then is the identifiable characteristic that fixed in my aural memory.
These are not the best speakers that I have ever heard. These are the speakers I picked based on my ability to accept a suitable compromise, and love it.
PS: Had a great time listening to Epos and Music Hall at this years Home Entertainment Show. Roy Hall is the â€œsalt of the earthâ€, sincerely enjoyed his wit and wisdom.

Product Weakness: absolute bottom end(buy a sub)
Product Strengths: musicality, bass fundamentals

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Classe CA101
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Conrad Johnson Premier14
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	na
Speakers:	Epos M12
Cables/Interconnects:	DIY
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	all types
Room Size (LxWxH):	x x x x x
Room Comments/Treatments:	na
Time Period/Length of Audition:	n/a
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	na
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	absolute bottom end(buy a sub)
Product Strengths:	musicality, bass fundamentals