E2 surrounds - thoughts/impressions?

[ac2011]

Haven't been around these parts in a while, so possible I missed similar discussions on these speakers, but I'll throw this out here in the hopes it isn't duplication.

Giving strong consideration to picking up a pair of factory-renewed E2's. I currently have a pair of Fluance brand bi-pole surrounds, which I have liked (as well as their predecessor little brother version before that). I'm looking at adding a couple of additional speakers to the back wall for a 9.2 setup. I'm not Atmos, and likely will never be as the wife would have a cow if I cut holes in the ceiling. In this scenario I would likely put the E2's on the side and move the current Fluance to the rear.

One thing I'm concerned about with the E2's (or adding any Emotiva speaker to my system) is how the ribbon tweeter will blend with my "traditional" tweeter speakers - my LCR + front height/presence speakers are all Boston. I have 2 PSA 15" sealed subs. Perhaps this is not a big issue given the surround usage?

Also, I read a review on the 3 different modes - bipole, reverse bipole and dipole - and the reviewer said they actually preferred the dipole and the reverse bipole; wondering what mode others here prefer, and how difficult is it to change modes once you have them up on the wall?

[KeithL]

In general I prefer to use the same tweeter technology all around.

However, especially in a not-quite-standard room,, having all the different configuration options to experiment with on the E2's is a huge plus.

Which mode works best for you is really going to depend on exactly how your room is set up and where your speakers are located relative to your listening position.

Dipole and reverse bipole configurations tend to deliver a more diffuse soundfield (you can't tell exactly where the sound is coming from).

This can be a huge plus if you have a relatively narrow room which places your surrounds close to your listeners on the sides.

It can also make a small room sound bigger.

The price you pay is that it tends to make sounds in the surround channels seem more like room ambience and less like individual detailed sounds.

The switches that change the tweeter settings on the E2's are on the rear panel next to the speaker connections.

Therefore, you WILL have to unhook them from the wall when you want to change the switch settings (unless you put them on stands instead).

They're not all that heavy so, if you use the mounting plates, they're not that difficult hook and unhook from the wall.

(They're real switches that you can flip - so you can set them "by feel" by lifting the speaker out a few inches and reaching behind the speaker - once you get used to where they are.)

Jul 17, 2019 7:28:41 GMT -5 ac2011 said:

Haven't been around these parts in a while, so possible I missed similar discussions on these speakers, but I'll throw this out here in the hopes it isn't duplication.

Giving strong consideration to picking up a pair of factory-renewed E2's. I currently have a pair of Fluance brand bi-pole surrounds, which I have liked (as well as their predecessor little brother version before that). I'm looking at adding a couple of additional speakers to the back wall for a 9.2 setup. I'm not Atmos, and likely will never be as the wife would have a cow if I cut holes in the ceiling. In this scenario I would likely put the E2's on the side and move the current Fluance to the rear.

One thing I'm concerned about with the E2's (or adding any Emotiva speaker to my system) is how the ribbon tweeter will blend with my "traditional" tweeter speakers - my LCR + front height/presence speakers are all Boston. I have 2 PSA 15" sealed subs. Perhaps this is not a big issue given the surround usage?

Also, I read a review on the 3 different modes - bipole, reverse bipole and dipole - and the reviewer said they actually preferred the dipole and the reverse bipole; wondering what mode others here prefer, and how difficult is it to change modes once you have them up on the wall?

[ac2011]

Thanks, Keith.