Well I finally set up for the shootout between the Emotiva B1s and the Elac B5s. I have been toying around with the Elac B5s for the last couple of days waiting for the B1s to arrive. I also have to go on record that I am a fan of Magnepan speakers. (To each his ears.) While I think the Elac represent a very good value for $230, in a vacuum I just couldn't warm-up to them even before the B1s arrived. I also admit my set up is not the best in terms of chosen input source being an older Panny bluray. I just didnt feel like pulling out my Oppo 103 out of my main system. I connected my older, mint condition Carver AVR100 (150 wpc, yes I was careful). Besides, I will be utilizing the speakers ultimately with the Martin Logan Dynamo 300 and a Yamaha RX-V2700 140 wpc, not on site for the shoot out since they are at the cabin and I am at my primary residence. Hope this makes Chuckienut happy! Well you're probably thinking by now well is SHE (yes, I'm a she) going to get to the shoot out or not?!? LOL
Being a Jersey girl , we are known for our directness some may call it blunt, I prefer to think of ourselves as more honest and forthright., So I will get down on it. Finally you say!
I LOVE THESE SPEAKERS! I chose many of my favorite artists' albums on cd where I was extremely familiar with the recordings. Norah Jones, Frank Sinatra, Neil Young, Rolling Stones, just to name a few. I did this to hear a wide variety of musical sources to hear of the differences between piano, guitar, harmonica, string and horn instruments and voice types. I've only been at it for two hours this morning so this is just a preliminary review.
The speakers have to be some of the most satisfying bookshelf speakers I have ever heard and they are not broken it yet. The ribbon tweeter and woofer are so well integrated it is truly amazing. The soundstage could not make me happier. I swear to god I thought I heard Nora Jones' mouth open and close on the recording. Yes we all know what a great recording Come Away With Me is, but we are talking small bookshelf speakers here!
With the B ones I really feel like the artist is in the room and believe me the set up that I put together was less than optimal due to my anxiousness with getting things up and running in the most expeditious manner in a very large living room.
So you probably want to know how do the B1s sound compared to the Debut B5s? Honestly I found them superior in every way possible, but the most important difference in my mind the quality of the tweeter. The Elac seems a little dull to me and not as present or airy or well integrated as the Emos. Physically the B1s are smaller than the Debut 5s, with size and looks being immaterial to me. I never let that get in the way of what my ears are hearing. Looks only matter if the speakers are equal in terms of sound quality, but are they ever? What about the wife approval factor? I AM THE WIFE! 😎 Check. Check. These are just a few of my preliminary thoughts. I am going to go get my other favorite music, pour myself another cup of coffee and enjoy these speakers some more. More to come after I get these gems to the cabin.
Maybe some day I will own a tshirt that says "This Jersey Girl ❤ Emotiva."
Being a Jersey girl , we are known for our directness some may call it blunt, I prefer to think of ourselves as more honest and forthright., So I will get down on it. Finally you say! 
