New XPA-200 for $379.00! Whaaat???

[paintedklown]

Jun 24, 2014 16:01:07 GMT -5 @chuckienut said:

However when I first received the Airmotiv4 I placed it in my living room (audio/HT room) out from any boundaries and spent about 3 days doing A/B comparisons and frequency response tests.  The Airmotiv4 tweeter has a superb off axis dispersion and sounded great in the dining area at a sharp angle, somewhat better than the ERM-1.  However, the ERM-1 (same as on all Emo Ref speakers) soft dome tweeter does have very good lateral dispersion for in room listening even in the recliner which is outside of the left speaker.  The surprise for me was that i actually preferred the silk dome tweeter ever so slightly over the ribbon tweeter.  The FR was slight better on the silk dome as the ribbon tweeter rolled of very slightly earlier.  Both IMO are superbly smooth and non-fatiguing.

Chuckie, I love your honesty, and the fact that you take the time to do these listening tests. This was a comparison I was hoping would be made on here. The new ribbon tweeters vs. the silk domes Emo previously employed.

Would you say the ribbon tweeters "hold up" with high volume as well? Meaning, they remain relaxing and non-fatiguing?

One of the reasons I am so excited about the new Emo speaker line-up is due to the ribbon tweeters. In my imagination (as I have not heard them) I presume (maybe incorrectly) that Emo's ribbon tweeters will go a long way in smoothing out the harshness on the top end I get from my aluminum domed speakers.

If the ribbons are nice and smooth at high volume (and I can afford the speakers) the new Emo speakers will definitely end up being what I switch to all around (hoping for matching surrounds and center as well).

[garbulky]

It's hard to say if the tweeter holds up at high volume because the AM4 is the smallest and lowest powered AM Emo has. A better test would be coupled with a higher powered amp imo. IMO the AM4 is an excellent performer at its price range. It has a "briliance" to its treble with a certain pleasant coloration. It's not really meant for large rooms. There's only so much a 4 inch driver and tweeter in a small box can do. But in my small living room it was quite nice at realistic volumes.

[paintedklown]

Jun 24, 2014 17:27:22 GMT -5 garbulky said:

It's hard to say if the tweeter holds up at high volume because the AM4 is the smallest and lowest powered AM Emo has. A better test would be coupled with a higher powered amp imo. IMO the AM4 is an excellent performer at its price range. It has a "briliance" to its treble with a certain pleasant coloration. It's not really meant for large rooms. There's only so much a 4 inch driver and tweeter in a small box can do. But in my small living room it was quite nice at realistic volumes.

Thanks Gar. Would you say the top end is smooth and relaxed, or exciting and forward?

I know...I need to listen myself, but I don't have a way to do so, so I must live vicariously through my forum friends.

[garbulky]

Jun 24, 2014 17:30:31 GMT -5 paintedklown said:

Jun 24, 2014 17:27:22 GMT -5 garbulky said:

It's hard to say if the tweeter holds up at high volume because the AM4 is the smallest and lowest powered AM Emo has. A better test would be coupled with a higher powered amp imo. IMO the AM4 is an excellent performer at its price range. It has a "briliance" to its treble with a certain pleasant coloration. It's not really meant for large rooms. There's only so much a 4 inch driver and tweeter in a small box can do. But in my small living room it was quite nice at realistic volumes.

Thanks Gar. Would you say the top end is smooth and relaxed, or exciting and forward?

I know...I need to listen myself, but I don't have a way to do so, so I must live vicariously through my forum friends.

Well this is probably not what you'd want to hear. But it's sort of neither of those. It has a melodic feel to it if that makes any sense. When you listen to it it feels like a large defined picture frame and you are looking through it. Open window to the sound that sort of thing with a mild (pleasant) coloration to the tweeter. If you've ever heard an Adam monitor or a KRK speaker that's prettym uch that feeling.

The bass response has some tricks to it and so you get a few humps. But if you're not playing test tones, you can identify it. Where it loses to the much more expensive axioms are mainly in the bass region and a bit of "tightness" or "speed" in the others.
What I will say is if I had bought these first and then bought the axioms, I would have hesitated as they do deliver something close to the quality of the much more expensive axioms. And the price difference would give me pause.
Now don't go in expecting the world or trying to play it in large spaces. But for what you pay, you do get a very good value, especially considering the amps are included. Other than similar pro audio monitors, I can't think of a better price for amps/speakers combined.

[Deleted]

Garbulky and I agree that we can't make a determination about high volume and high power handling.

I must have forgot to mention that most of my comparisons were at reasonable loudness, maybe 75-85dB's.  I did an audible distortion test with a RS meter and found that audible distortion set in at about 90dB's in the living room, speakers face cross-room in a 13 x 37 x 8.5 open room.  90dB's is very loud for normal use and no more than 85dB's was plenty loud to get a good evaluation for me.  I was surprised at how good they sounded in my living room.  I 'm sure the model 5 (same size ribbon) and 6 (larger) and of course the Stealth's would play louder to much louder.   I can't say whether the silk dome or the ribbon would go louder before audible distortion in an Emo tower or bookshelf.  That is why I myself would try them out in my own room during the 30 day test.  If one has limited funds and you charge them on your credit card just after the monthly close on your account, with most banks you will have about 45-50 days before the credit card bill is due to decide.  That gives one plenty of time to bring them in, maybe one or two speakers first (that's exactly what I did and then bought the rest to make 5 speakers), test them during the 30 day period.  If you love them compared to your current speakers then the old ones immediately go for sale at the Emporium. 

To me the top end is definitely  smooth and relaxed (but not distant) in my living room and also as near field PC speakers.  The only place I disagree with Garbulky is I don't hear any brilliance (which I had presumed I might hear before they arrived).  My FR test showed the high end is quite flat with no peak above 10kHz and then the gentle roll off.  Sorry, I don't have my exact figures here.  I don't have any irritating blat or harshness from brass or female vocalists as I did with my previous metal tweeter speakers from the Great White North.  

Of course we are both in agreement that these are relatively small speakers and not for blowing the walls down.  One thing I have done for many years with a new speaker is to play them quite loud when I'm home alone for many hours and near the room.  I play different genre's of music for at least 6-8 hours straight and fairly loud.  This brings out any fatigue I might not hear in a quick initial test.  With my previous PC speakers and also my main audio/HT speakers, there was noticeable ear strain after some time listening.   You really notice the ear "peace" in new speakers that are smooth and non-fatiguing.   Don't get me wrong here. I'm not a tube guy or warm sound guy.  I love clear, flat, neutral mids and highs that are too often made irritating with a rising high end or edgy sounding drivers.  Both of these tweeters to me are so clean but relaxing and that is why they are here to stay.

My reason for the post above was to not presume ahead of time that the ribbon tweeter will be guaranteed to be better or not based on my experience with the model4.  I hope so but time and my own comparison will tell for me.  Plus I can't predict how the new ribbon tweeter will sound in a passive tower or bookshelf.  I just hope Emo doesn't have a ribbon tweeter like the one in the graph I posted above.

PS:  Sorry, I think I'm repeating myself some here.  That's was happens when you are in the 70th year!