New Airmotiv T2 towers - dual 8 inch

[novisnick]

May 19, 2017 16:36:51 GMT -5 @roryb said:

May 19, 2017 16:02:30 GMT -5 geebo said:

So they should be at Emofest?

Without committing to anything in stone, I think they should be.

                               RoryB?

[SynRG]

I live in Franklin, TN and I am in the market for a set of studio monitors and also a set of towers. I've been into audio and speakers since I was a child, and have also been in and around several studios in Nashville off and on since my college days. As a lover of music, I have always appreciated the ability of a sound system to accurately represent the original musical event, whether that took place in a studio or live venue. As a result of study of speaker design and acoustics through the years, I consider myself to be a bit more knowledgeable and discerning than the average listener, but then don't most of us .

While in college at MTSU majoring in Recording Industry Management I had an internship at WMOT-FM in engineering, and was a student member of AES, and had occasion to hear Paul Klipsch speak at the opening of a Westlake studio in Nashville that incorporated two inverted Klipschorns in the control room. After that very memorable experience I've tended to migrate toward Klipsch products, and my current home theatre uses Klipsch Reference speakers along with a JL Audio Fathom sub. The great efficiency of that system makes the dynamics of home theatre effortless, and adds incredible realism to music. My biggest kudo to that system is that whenever I enjoy it, I just appreciate the event, and am unaware I am listening to a sound system. I've never really had any desire to change it for that reason. Klipsch then was the logical first place to look for my current needs. So, all that just to give you a reference point and perspective on my preferences for the context of my following experience at Emotiva yesterday...

I called Emotiva to see if I could come by and listen to some product, and Damon Steele was gracious enough to arrange for that. Everything about the three-building campus demonstrates that these folks are professional, and deliberate about doing things the best they can. We first went to the studio where the podcasts are recorded, and I was able to directly compare the Airmotiv 4S, 5S, 6S, and Stealth 8 side-by-side in the environment they were designed for, and one I am familiar with. Very interesting comparison, and I'll just summarize by saying the Stealth 8's are indeed all that. Absolute accuracy, pinpoint differentiation of instruments and voices within the mix, no discernable coloration in any spectrum. Unlike some other highly regarded monitors I have heard, the Stealth 8's represented the music with lifelike accuracy, without sounding dry, clinical, or lifeless. These speakers were voiced by someone who is very serious about music and about being able to use these as an effective and objective tool.

Next we went to another building to hear the B1 and T1. I first heard the T1's and was frankly stunned at their accurate performance across all octaves. The soundstage was broad and well defined, and imaging was precise as expected. But most surprising was the low end performance. Damon had already told me there was no sub connected, but had I not known that I would have sworn there was one, and a very good one at that. For serious music listening in any but the largest rooms, or perhaps for HT listening, for many folks, a pair of these T1's will find a sub unnecessary. Next I heard the B1's and was very impressed with how well they performed in a large room with well done acoustic treatment. The midrange and upper end of the B1 and the T1 were virtually indistinguishable from each other. But of course, per Hoffman's Iron Law, the lowest octaves were represented, but rolled off as expected the deeper you go. For those whose room negates the possibility of towers, a set of the B1's with an appropriate sub for the room size will be a great solution with little or no compromise.

While I was listening to the B1's, Damon left and returned with a pre-production version of the T2. He placed it beside the T1 and switched the speaker wires over to the T2 (a pair of monoblocks was powering the speakers in all cases by the way). I've become pretty jaded over the years with all of the smoke and mirrors, and esoteric BS (homage to Paul Klipsch) in the high end audio world. But what I heard next was one of the most impressive listening experience I have had.

Again, the mid and top end of the speakers was such that you' have to ask which model was currently playing, all exceptional. The AMT tweeter is especially a delight, accurately showing just how good the recording is, with lifelike clarity. But again according to Hoffman's law, the presence of the larger eight inch drivers made itself known. Far beyond just frequency response though, was the way in which the lowest octaves are reproduced. I've heard my share of subs for many years, and many can give good response into the lowest octave, often with visceral impact. But I have never heard a sub that could accurately resolve the low end in the same way we are accustomed to hearing accuracy, transparency, and definition in the mid and upper frequencies. Further, sub frequencies are often
heard separate and apart and its difficult to integrate a sub with mains. In the same way that the T1's have clear and well defined bass into the lowest octaves, the T2 do it with even more added clarity and impact, fully integrated into the top-to-bottom spectrum. To hear these lowest octaves done with such clarity, definition, and integration is something that I had not experienced before except with the best upper end headphones. And even that lacks the visceral presence you feel in a room. For a serious, pure stereo, music listener I feel it would be hard to beat the experience of listening to the T2's and they represent a solid value; you would have to spend exponentially more to get any better speaker, IMHO. For HT use these would be a rock-solid foundation off of which to build your surrounding sound stage. Use of a sub in some smaller rooms may be superfluous, and if a sub is used you would need to be careful in its placement and tuning to make sure you didn't degrade the excellence of the T2's reproduction.

The only area I would be concerned about in comparison to Klipsch would be the efficiency. I might have been able to detect just a bit of acoustic compression relative to the Klipsch's proficiency for efficiency and dynamics. The factory ratings show a significant 9 db difference between the T1 and the comparable RP-260F. But the tradeoff for that efficiency for me in the Klipsch would be a slightly degradation in the octave-to-octave balance the T2's are able to achieve. And though a bit more dynamic, the Klipsch tweeter even in its revised iteration used in the Reference Premier version can occasionally be slightly sibilant, where as the AMT is just a sweet sounding tweeter.

Damon could not have been more patient, courteous and accommodating, but boy did he muddy my water. Before I went I had just about decided that I would go Klipsch again, and I thought the visit to Emotiva would be a formality in the process. Instead, it's got me re-evaluating my priorities, remeasuring some spaces, and re-evaluating the best path for me to take. And it established for me two new reference standards for both sonic excellence and value.

[vcautokid]

Very eager to hear the T2s. Have heard the T1s and anticipating even more with the T2s.

[geebo]

May 26, 2017 0:08:03 GMT -5 SynRG said:

I live in Franklin, TN and I am in the market for a set of studio monitors and also a set of towers. I've been into audio and speakers since I was a child, and have also been in and around several studios in Nashville off and on since my college days. As a lover of music, I have always appreciated the ability of a sound system to accurately represent the original musical event, whether that took place in a studio or live venue. As a result of study of speaker design and acoustics through the years, I consider myself to be a bit more knowledgeable and discerning than the average listener, but then don't most of us .

While in college at MTSU majoring in Recording Industry Management I had an internship at WMOT-FM in engineering, and was a student member of AES, and had occasion to hear Paul Klipsch speak at the opening of a Westlake studio in Nashville that incorporated two inverted Klipschorns in the control room. After that very memorable experience I've tended to migrate toward Klipsch products, and my current home theatre uses Klipsch Reference speakers along with a JL Audio Fathom sub. The great efficiency of that system makes the dynamics of home theatre effortless, and adds incredible realism to music. My biggest kudo to that system is that whenever I enjoy it, I just appreciate the event, and am unaware I am listening to a sound system. I've never really had any desire to change it for that reason. Klipsch then was the logical first place to look for my current needs. So, all that just to give you a reference point and perspective on my preferences for the context of my following experience at Emotiva yesterday...

I called Emotiva to see if I could come by and listen to some product, and Damon Steele was gracious enough to arrange for that. Everything about the three-building campus demonstrates that these folks are professional, and deliberate about doing things the best they can. We first went to the studio where the podcasts are recorded, and I was able to directly compare the Airmotiv 4S, 5S, 6S, and Stealth 8 side-by-side in the environment they were designed for, and one I am familiar with. Very interesting comparison, and I'll just summarize by saying the Stealth 8's are indeed all that. Absolute accuracy, pinpoint differentiation of instruments and voices within the mix, no discernable coloration in any spectrum. Unlike some other highly regarded monitors I have heard, the Stealth 8's represented the music with lifelike accuracy, without sounding dry, clinical, or lifeless. These speakers were voiced by someone who is very serious about music and about being able to use these as an effective and objective tool.

Next we went to another building to hear the B1 and T1. I first heard the T1's and was frankly stunned at their accurate performance across all octaves. The soundstage was broad and well defined, and imaging was precise as expected. But most surprising was the low end performance. Damon had already told me there was no sub connected, but had I not known that I would have sworn there was one, and a very good one at that. For serious music listening in any but the largest rooms, or perhaps for HT listening, for many folks, a pair of these T1's will find a sub unnecessary. Next I heard the B1's and was very impressed with how well they performed in a large room with well done acoustic treatment. The midrange and upper end of the B1 and the T1 were virtually indistinguishable from each other. But of course, per Hoffman's Iron Law, the lowest octaves were represented, but rolled off as expected the deeper you go. For those whose room negates the possibility of towers, a set of the B1's with an appropriate sub for the room size will be a great solution with little or no compromise.

While I was listening to the B1's, Damon left and returned with a pre-production version of the T2. He placed it beside the T1 and switched the speaker wires over to the T2 (a pair of monoblocks was powering the speakers in all cases by the way). I've become pretty jaded over the years with all of the smoke and mirrors, and esoteric BS (homage to Paul Klipsch) in the high end audio world. But what I heard next was one of the most impressive listening experience I have had.

Again, the mid and top end of the speakers was such that you' have to ask which model was currently playing, all exceptional. The AMT tweeter is especially a delight, accurately showing just how good the recording is, with lifelike clarity. But again according to Hoffman's law, the presence of the larger eight inch drivers made itself known. Far beyond just frequency response though, was the way in which the lowest octaves are reproduced. I've heard my share of subs for many years, and many can give good response into the lowest octave, often with visceral impact. But I have never heard a sub that could accurately resolve the low end in the same way we are accustomed to hearing accuracy, transparency, and definition in the mid and upper frequencies. Further, sub frequencies are often
heard separate and apart and its difficult to integrate a sub with mains. In the same way that the T1's have clear and well defined bass into the lowest octaves, the T2 do it with even more added clarity and impact, fully integrated into the top-to-bottom spectrum. To hear these lowest octaves done with such clarity, definition, and integration is something that I had not experienced before except with the best upper end headphones. And even that lacks the visceral presence you feel in a room. For a serious, pure stereo, music listener I feel it would be hard to beat the experience of listening to the T2's and they represent a solid value; you would have to spend exponentially more to get any better speaker, IMHO. For HT use these would be a rock-solid foundation off of which to build your surrounding sound stage. Use of a sub in some smaller rooms may be superfluous, and if a sub is used you would need to be careful in its placement and tuning to make sure you didn't degrade the excellence of the T2's reproduction.

The only area I would be concerned about in comparison to Klipsch would be the efficiency. I might have been able to detect just a bit of acoustic compression relative to the Klipsch's proficiency for efficiency and dynamics. The factory ratings show a significant 9 db difference between the T1 and the comparable RP-260F. But the tradeoff for that efficiency for me in the Klipsch would be a slightly degradation in the octave-to-octave balance the T2's are able to achieve. And though a bit more dynamic, the Klipsch tweeter even in its revised iteration used in the Reference Premier version can occasionally be slightly sibilant, where as the AMT is just a sweet sounding tweeter.

Damon could not have been more patient, courteous and accommodating, but boy did he muddy my water. Before I went I had just about decided that I would go Klipsch again, and I thought the visit to Emotiva would be a formality in the process. Instead, it's got me re-evaluating my priorities, remeasuring some spaces, and re-evaluating the best path for me to take. And it established for me two new reference standards for both sonic excellence and value.

Thanks for the write-up. I live out in Murfreesboro and I'm very much looking forward to hearing the T2s. It may finally be time to retire my 8.3s.

[LCSeminole]

May 26, 2017 6:57:36 GMT -5 geebo said:

Thanks for the write-up. I live out in Murfreesboro and I'm very much looking forward to hearing the T2s. It may finally be time to retire my 8.3s.

Is this your way of saying the T2's have now made it on to Mrs. Geebo's potential list of birthday presents? I'd be willing to bet that she'll get her wish of demoing these speakers at EmoFest!!! What a thoughtful husband you are!

[geebo]

May 26, 2017 7:31:16 GMT -5 LCSeminole said:

May 26, 2017 6:57:36 GMT -5 geebo said:

Thanks for the write-up. I live out in Murfreesboro and I'm very much looking forward to hearing the T2s. It may finally be time to retire my 8.3s.

Is this your way of saying the T2's have now made it on to Mrs. Geebo's potential list of birthday presents? I'd be willing to bet that she'll get her wish of demoing these speakers at EmoFest!!! What a thoughtful husband you are!

I see you're on to me, LC. But I want it to be a surprise so keep it hush hush for now.

[stiehl11]

The real test will be if I want to get rid of my Phase Tech for a pair.

[garbulky]

synesis very nice write up!! I like the description of the T2 speakers. I like those dual 8's and the AMT tweeter.

[jdu]

Hi, does anyone know when the T2 towers are coming out for purchasing ? thank you.

[brutiarti]

May 27, 2017 10:33:00 GMT -5 jdu said:

Hi, does anyone know when the T2 towers are coming out for purchasing ? thank you.

Rory mentioned that they are in the water right now. Probably a month or so

[synesis]

Now they just have to traverse the black hole of customs......

[jdu]

I can understand customs frustrations but i live on a border city so it easier.

[recstar24]

Just saw the T2 pop up on the website, available to purchase and ships July 17!

Would the "matching" or should I say most appropriate emotiva amp to pair be the xpa gen3?

I've been using a DC1 hooked xlr to stealth 6's and have been very happy but will welcome the additional power and having dual 8" woofers

[novisnick]

Jun 26, 2017 21:41:09 GMT -5 recstar24 said:

Just saw the T2 pop up on the website, available to purchase and ships July 17!

Would the "matching" or should I say most appropriate emotiva amp to pair be the xpa gen3?

I've been using a DC1 hooked xlr to stealth 6's and have been very happy but will welcome the additional power and having dual 8" woofers

I think its a fair assumption.

[kewlmunky]

Only specified to go 2Hz lower than the T1s. I was hoping they'd go a little lower.

[pedrocols]

Is there a reason why all Emotiva speakers are 4 ohms (pun intented of course)?

[knucklehead]

4 ohm loads allows you to get more power from a given amp. While it isn't generally recommended to drive 4 ohm speakers with 'average' AVRs and amps I haven't found an Emotiva speaker that was considered difficult to drive. I used an Onkyo TX-506 AVR - which is not a powerhouse by any stretch - to drive a 5.0 of ERT 8.3s - ERM 6.3 center and ERD-1 surrounds. The Onkyo ran a tad hot but never shut down. I was relieved when the Onkyo PR-SC885 got back from repair so I could use the UPA-7. The Onkyo 506 had no preamp outs.

Speaker crossover designers have the choice to make the speaker resistance 4, 6, or 8 ohm. 16 ohm speakers used to be somewhat common but you're not getting much out of an amp at that resistance.

[garbulky]

I think the general explanation was that 4 ohms allowed 4 ohm capable amps to power them. And most good amps are 4 ohm capable nowadays. So if it makes it more difficult to make a 8 ohm speaker, it is easier to side with a 4 ohm model.

[kopkiwi]

When might we start seeing some reviews on these puppies?

[hemster]

I must say the T2s intrigue me. A couple of months and I'll see hear for myself.