Speaker Asylum: REVIEW: Epos Acoustics M15 Speakers by CSF

Model:	M15
Category:	Speakers
Suggested Retail Price:	$1500
Description:	Two Way Floor Stander
Manufacturer URL:	Epos Acoustics
Manufacturer URL:	Epos Acoustics

Review by CSF ( A ) on November 13, 2002 at 02:43:52
IP Address: 139.134.63.153

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for the M15

I'm biased. In my twelve years of hi-fi I've only ever owned Epos speakers. When I saw in the review section that nobody had posted anything on these little babies I though I'd put my two cents worth in. (I guess the reason that nobody has reviewed them is that Wes Philips did such a good job but what the heck.)
A well proportioned speaker, the M15's are essentially the stand mounted M12 with a floor length box. The extra size is used to squeeze another 5-10 htz out of them at the bottom which ends up in my room at about 40-45htz. For me with a young child it means there aren't stands around to be tripped over by an unsteady young hi-fi fan, which is a big plus. You can fill the bottom quarter of the box with sand to tighten the bottom end and as I've never run them without sand I can't tell you how much improvement it actually makes. The fit and finish is very good, and the binding posts are a big improvement over the old Epos's I had.
Supremely musical is the best overall description I can find for the M15's. The bass, although not plumbing the depths of bigger boxes, is tight, very tuneful and capable of surprising impact considering there's only one 6 inch driver covering the bass and mids. Epos's have always been strong in the mids, due possibly to the very simple crossover and the great original driver design of Robin Marshall. This incarnation is no different. There's a very transparent, open, human quality to the midrange that sucks me in time and time again. (I have a weakness for female vocals which plays right into the M15's strengths.) Some people may consider the tops to be a bit polite, however I'll say they're refined. (Anyhow, I'd sooner have the highs forgiving than prominent.) There's very good extension up top but perhaps they lack the last word in air and sparkle. Couple these tonal qualities with very good dynamics, detail and pace and I keep coming back to that overused word - musical.
My long serving ES11's were always very good at laterally placing instruments and voices, but lacked depth. There's no way that you can accuse the M15's of the same problem. In my small room I utilise the Audio Physic speaker placement theory which has the speakers half way into the room (1.8m), approx 2.1m apart and I'm on the rear wall about 1.9m from the speakers. Set up like this and with a good recording the M15's simply aren't there. There is stunning depth, surprising height, and a boxless quality and freedom to the sound that I thought I'd have to buy panels to get. (Don't get me wrong, these things aren't Maggie 1.6's, but in a small room which wouldn't suit panels they do an amazing job.) The odd high frequency will be drawn to the speakers, but generally the soundstage starts half a metre or so behind the speakers and then just keeps on going back and back. An advantage of the modest foot print and weight is that they're easy to move. I have them back against the wall through the day and move them out for serious listening.
To my mind the M15's are a very well balanced speaker with the errors they make being more of omission than anything else (deep bass and the last hint of air and excitement at the top) which is easier to live with than a speaker that has too much of something. For your money you get a speaker with a slightly laid back balance that allows you to just get into the music and forget the hi-fi. Well worth an audition if you're interested in a fairly priced, easily driven, great performing, good looking and musical speaker. You never know, like me you may buy them and just not feel the need to look at speakers again. What a nice place to get to!

Product Weakness: Lack deep bass, maybe too polite at the top for some.
Product Strengths: Communicative, Detailed, Dynamic, Fast, Slighty Laid Back, Amazing Imaging, Easily Driven, Room Friendly.

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Musical Fidelity A3CR
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Musical Fidelity A3CR
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Meridian 508.24
Speakers:	Epos M15's
Cables/Interconnects:	Slinkylinks
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Varied but mainly Jazz/Alt Country/Blues
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	Lack deep bass, maybe too polite at the top for some.
Product Strengths:	Communicative, Detailed, Dynamic, Fast, Slighty Laid Back, Amazing Imaging, Easily Driven, Room Friendly.