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Post by housetech on Jul 27, 2022 10:36:57 GMT -5
I've seen some wood veneer cabinets that were total crap, almost plastic looking and would take a wrap over them any day. I hate poor quality veneer cabinets; if you're going to use wood veneer and charge extra, do it right- many don't.
Monitor Audio builds some of the better cabinets on the market (especially the Gold & Platinum series). Monitor puts extra effort into selecting matched wood sheets cut from the same log section to assure color and grain consistency for each pair of speakers- a perfect match. That's why M.A. have matching consecutive serial numbers for a pair... and you pay for it.
I've had furniture grade speakers in the past and now I can take them or leave them- I want sound quality over looks.
Face it, Emotive is in the home theater business & less a 2 ch system seller. Most people will have the lights off, so appearance is not a priority. Why are people complaining about looks when the aim is affordability & performance? There was a poll on the forum "Would you pay extra for an upgraded veneer speaker?" and many said 'yes'. That may occur.
I have no issue with the vinyl wrap of the T2+, especially being on the Partio.
There is a speaker that has yellow drivers- that's one speaker that would need to blow me away before I bought it- they're damn ugly.
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KeithL
Administrator 
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Post by KeithL on Jul 27, 2022 12:45:50 GMT -5
Clearly speaker aesthetics are very much a matter of personal preference. To be totally honest I most prefer an oiled wood finish... like walnut or dark oak. And, given the choice I prefer dark opaque grills. I am not at all fond of high-gloss "piano black" speakers. I've had them and they tend to show fingerprints and dust way too much for my taste. I used to joke that, back when I had a pair of piano-black KEFs, you merely had to look at them for them to show fingerprints. And, believe it or not, you had to dust them with a lint-free cloth after the regular dust cloth, if you wanted them to look clean. Also, to put it bluntly, I find high gloss black finishes to look like plastic - and, yes, that includes $1 million Steinway pianos. I am also not at all fond of the super-high-gloss finish many high-end manufacturers now put on real wood or veneer. I prefer the depth you get in the grain with either an oiled finish or an old-style varnish finish. (Again, I wouldn't pay a lot for good wood, and then spend more to put a finish on it that makes it look like really high grade plastic.) I'm also NOT at all a fan of shiny copper-colored drivers or drivers with shiny silver frames. They don't impress me and I have no desire to have my speakers look like satellites out of an old James Bond movie. I'll settle for speakers that look like speakers. The wrap we use is a good compromise... it's unobtrusive without looking "aggressively industrial" and it holds up very well. And, likewise, the satin-finish lacquer we use on the fronts of our cabinets looks nice, and holds up well, without adding hugely to the price. Unfortunately, between manufacturing cost, and shipping issues, real wood veneer simply costs too much these days. (And I'd rather spend the money on what's inside the speakers... and how they sound.) I've seen some wood veneer cabinets that were total crap, almost plastic looking and would take a wrap over them any day. I hate poor quality veneer cabinets; if you're going to use wood veneer and charge extra, do it right- many don't. Monitor Audio builds some of the better cabinets on the market (especially the Gold & Platinum series). Monitor puts extra effort into selecting matched wood sheets cut from the same log section to assure color and grain consistency for each pair of speakers- a perfect match. That's why M.A. have matching consecutive serial numbers for a pair... and you pay for it. I've had furniture grade speakers in the past and now I can take them or leave them- I want sound quality over looks. Face it, Emotive is in the home theater business & less a 2 ch system seller. Most people will have the lights off, so appearance is not a priority. Why are people complaining about looks when the aim is affordability & performance? There was a poll on the forum "Would you pay extra for an upgraded veneer speaker?" and many said 'yes'. That may occur. I have no issue with the vinyl wrap of the T2+, especially being on the Partio. There is a speaker that has yellow drivers- that's one speaker that would need to blow me away before I bought it- they're damn ugly. |
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Post by routlaw on Jul 27, 2022 14:05:03 GMT -5
While I'm neither enamored or put off by the finish Emotiva applies to their speakers, (I have a pair of B1+ in my studio), I agree on some points Keith has made. Piano black is terrible with finger prints and dust though I wouldn't call it plastic looking and the same for glossy veneer finishes. After all a great deal of acoustic musical instruments have a high gloss lacquered finish too. The issue with hand rubbed oil finishes is they are not very durable, well unless you apply about 20-30 coats of pure tung oil but that's way too much labor and expense for a pair of speakers. Regardless I do like the look of some, but not all wood veneer finishes for speakers but its not a deal breaker for me either. I could be satisfied with the current look of the Airmotiv speakers, and will most likely give them a try once my Genesis speakers bite the dust which are over 20 years old, long discontinued with parts availability for repairs marginal if not unobtantium. I am encouraged and have high hopes with this new T3+ design too with MTM tweeter midrange.
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Post by housetech on Jul 28, 2022 14:51:40 GMT -5
I with you Keith and a little surprised Tekton painted speakers are as popular as they are.
I had my ZX repainted with 3 coats of Black lacquer and 7 coats of clear, never again. My buddy did a fantastic job painting and the car was beautiful, but... I'ld wash it, go inside take a shower, come out to leave and it was dusty. Lesson learned and why I avoid high gloss anything.
After decades away, I'm doing woodworking again and I really like some of the new eggshell & lesser satin finishes that are out these days (some satin can be almost semi-gloss depending on brand). Water-base products are incredible today. My brother-in-law & I installed some cabinets he built and I sprayed with the paint the customer bought. They had a very slight sheen and after being installed, they were beautiful, maybe due to the light in the room. He went to Benjamin Moore and bought some clear in the same sheen for future projects. Unfortunately, I didn't use it on my outside AV center, instead got in a hurry and used Minwax polycrylic satin that had more sheen than I wanted.
Routlaw, I (we) still use pure Tung Oil and yes it's a pita & very time consuming, but use it on refinishing gun stocks and antique furniture, it's really nice and I like that it doesn't feel like plastic. Like Danish Oil on new projects, but again, is it worth the time needed?
I'm using stains more than paint if the project will allow.
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Post by Boomzilla on Jul 28, 2022 16:49:15 GMT -5
Hmmm - I never thought of PAINTING Emotiva speakers...
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Post by routlaw on Jul 28, 2022 16:52:49 GMT -5
Hmmm - I never thought of PAINTING Emotiva speakers... To do it right, you should remove all drivers and xover parts from the cabinet. Not sure how well paint and the vinyl wrap would get along though… maybe. |
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Post by housetech on Jul 28, 2022 18:16:00 GMT -5
Hand wipe with denatured alcohol, then use spray-can primer, but don't drink the alcohol, Boom, taste terrible. If you can find some really good shine, do both & get creative.
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Post by lhracing on Jul 28, 2022 19:24:09 GMT -5
I am a fan of oiled walnut veneered cabinets. As you can see from my signature I several old JBL speakers, most of which are the oiled walnut finish. They do require a little upkeep, JBL recommends re-oiling them when periodically with a mixture 3-parts boiled linseed oil and 1-part pure gum turpentine.
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Post by thezone on Jul 29, 2022 2:47:14 GMT -5
I'm seriously considering plasti-dip for my speakers - subs. If done by a professional spray painter who knows how to apply it correctly, it's an awesome finish, in whatever color or sheen you desire. With 8-10 coats it has a nice soft feel to it, it's completely scratch resistant because it basically rubber, and if you don't like it anymore or want to sell them you just peel it off and your original timber finish is perfectly preserved. Got all the chrome plasti-dipped black on my car about 5 years ago and it still looks new. Its also heat resistant - I have it on my brake calipers and exhaust tips.
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Post by Boomzilla on Jul 30, 2022 21:49:57 GMT -5
Hmmm - I never thought of PAINTING Emotiva speakers... To do it right, you should remove all drivers and xover parts from the cabinet. Not sure how well paint and the vinyl wrap would get along though… maybe. If I were to add internal speaker damping panels, I'd have everything off anyway. I might ask the local auto painting shop for a combined discount price - touch up the front of my car and paint two speakers... |
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Post by Boomzilla on Aug 1, 2022 10:11:06 GMT -5
So they FINALLY got the T3+ listed on the product page. -3dB point for bass roll-off is TWENTY TWO FREAKING Hz!!! THANK YOU EMOTIVA.
Now I need to finance some...
Anyone want to buy any of the following?
Klipsch RP-600m speakers with GR-Research internal damping + original box & manuals
Klipsch subwoofer in original box with manual
Starke S15 sealed subwoofer in original box with manual
Emotiva virtual copper subwoofer transmitter/receiver set
Crown PSA-2 "pro" power amp recently checked & biased by local shop
AB "pro" amps - one working one not
Emotiva Big Ego+ DAC
Whatever else falls out of the closet
Photos & prices as soon as I get the chance.
Boom
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Post by eurorom on Aug 4, 2022 10:50:58 GMT -5
I’m debating buying these and the new center channel for my living room replacing my Martin Logan Theos speakers. The MLs are great but super sensitive to room placement. In the sweet spot in the room they are great, but in the majority of the room not so much. I agree with you, I had the Magnepan LRS...great speakers crossed over at 80hz. But the sweet spot was terrible. Once you would move or stand it was gone. Anyway best SOUND I have ever heard!!! |
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Post by eurorom on Aug 4, 2022 11:06:42 GMT -5
So they FINALLY got the T3+ listed on the product page. -3dB point for bass roll-off is TWENTY TWO FREAKING Hz!!! THANK YOU EMOTIVA. Now I need to finance some... Anyone want to buy any of the following? Klipsch RP-600m speakers with GR-Research internal damping + original box & manuals Klipsch subwoofer in original box with manual Starke S15 sealed subwoofer in original box with manual LOL Emotiva virtual copper subwoofer transmitter/receiver set Crown PSA-2 "pro" power amp recently checked & biased by local shop AB "pro" amps - one working one not Emotiva Big Ego+ DAC Whatever else falls out of the closet Photos & prices as soon as I get the chance. Boom I heard that CORRECTLY!!!! No SUBWOOFER NEEDED!!!! Now the T3+ are the BEST VALUE in FULL RANGE TOWER SPEAKERS!!! any body want to purchase JBL STUDIO 590.....LOL |
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Post by Boomzilla on Aug 7, 2022 16:22:43 GMT -5
First Lounger who gets a pair of these needs to give us a thorough review.
In fact, if Big Dan wants to send me a review pair, I’ll offer him the choice of an extended YouTube review AND/OR a thorough written review.
Boomzilla
And, by the way for those who don't know any better, I DON'T get to keep the speakers at the end of the review - they go back to Emotiva. In fact, I don't even get paid for my writing, script, or video editing. It's all done for the experience of hearing the speakers. Emotiva has to pay for shipping both ways, and in exchange, they don't even get the certainty of a positive review. If I don't like th speakers, I'll say so (and why). So I'm risking my time and effort - Dan's risking some shipping. Such is life.
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Post by red5ive on Aug 9, 2022 14:45:12 GMT -5
I was considering a pair of B1+ as mains (downsizing from Rocket 850 towers) before I went completely off the reservation and picked up a pair of B&W 705 S2 for more than 10 times the price. Blew the Rocket 850s away, and I love the external tweeter. But now the release of the B2+ with the larger driver has me intrigued. I'm considering giving a pair a try since I'm still within my return window on the B&Ws.
Thoughts anyone? Or am I crazy for hoping the B2+ will put as big a smile on my face at a fraction of the cost?
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Post by Boomzilla on Aug 9, 2022 15:53:11 GMT -5
You'll never know unless you try...
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Post by red5ive on Aug 9, 2022 15:56:44 GMT -5
You'll never know unless you try... Yeah, I'm just not looking forward to return shipping from California if I decide to send them back, which will probably be 1/4 of the price, which for some reason doesn't sit well with me. I was hoping someone would say I'm definitely crazy and just be done with it.  |
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Post by brutiarti on Aug 9, 2022 16:01:50 GMT -5
There is a flat $200 fee for return.
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Post by Cogito on Aug 9, 2022 16:11:46 GMT -5
Clearly speaker aesthetics are very much a matter of personal preference. To be totally honest I most prefer an oiled wood finish... like walnut or dark oak. And, given the choice I prefer dark opaque grills. I am not at all fond of high-gloss "piano black" speakers. I've had them and they tend to show fingerprints and dust way too much for my taste. I used to joke that, back when I had a pair of piano-black KEFs, you merely had to look at them for them to show fingerprints. And, believe it or not, you had to dust them with a lint-free cloth after the regular dust cloth, if you wanted them to look clean. Also, to put it bluntly, I find high gloss black finishes to look like plastic - and, yes, that includes $1 million Steinway pianos. I am also not at all fond of the super-high-gloss finish many high-end manufacturers now put on real wood or veneer. I prefer the depth you get in the grain with either an oiled finish or an old-style varnish finish. (Again, I wouldn't pay a lot for good wood, and then spend more to put a finish on it that makes it look like really high grade plastic.) I'm also NOT at all a fan of shiny copper-colored drivers or drivers with shiny silver frames. They don't impress me and I have no desire to have my speakers look like satellites out of an old James Bond movie. I'll settle for speakers that look like speakers. The wrap we use is a good compromise... it's unobtrusive without looking "aggressively industrial" and it holds up very well. And, likewise, the satin-finish lacquer we use on the fronts of our cabinets looks nice, and holds up well, without adding hugely to the price. Unfortunately, between manufacturing cost, and shipping issues, real wood veneer simply costs too much these days. (And I'd rather spend the money on what's inside the speakers... and how they sound.) I've seen some wood veneer cabinets that were total crap, almost plastic looking and would take a wrap over them any day. I hate poor quality veneer cabinets; if you're going to use wood veneer and charge extra, do it right- many don't. Monitor Audio builds some of the better cabinets on the market (especially the Gold & Platinum series). Monitor puts extra effort into selecting matched wood sheets cut from the same log section to assure color and grain consistency for each pair of speakers- a perfect match. That's why M.A. have matching consecutive serial numbers for a pair... and you pay for it. I've had furniture grade speakers in the past and now I can take them or leave them- I want sound quality over looks. Face it, Emotive is in the home theater business & less a 2 ch system seller. Most people will have the lights off, so appearance is not a priority. Why are people complaining about looks when the aim is affordability & performance? There was a poll on the forum "Would you pay extra for an upgraded veneer speaker?" and many said 'yes'. That may occur. I have no issue with the vinyl wrap of the T2+, especially being on the Partio. There is a speaker that has yellow drivers- that's one speaker that would need to blow me away before I bought it- they're damn ugly. Then charge extra for the option. As a Two-Channel Only guy, I would gladly pay an extra $400.00-500.00/pr for good real wood veneers. You CAN have both, good looks AND good sound. |
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Post by red5ive on Aug 9, 2022 16:22:09 GMT -5
There is a flat $200 fee for return. I don't see that on Emotiva's website, just says buyer pays return shipping. Unless you mean the courier will see the Emotiva logo on the box and automatically charge $200. Or? |
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