EB Acoustics EB2

[admin_exported]

Hi.

Since about July last year, Ketan Bharadia has been saying to me "when are you going to do an EB2?". I've been that busy and stilll am with EB1 that I kept putting it off. But to prove that we can do more than 1 loudspeaker, I've decided now is the time BUT, I am going to be different to other manufacturers. Most of them will design products and ranges and 'throw' them at you hoping you will buy. Here's what I want to do.

EB2 will happen but I am undecided as to how. That is to say, do I design a floorstander to compliment the EB1's style or do I go for a bigger standmount model?. Both have their shortfalls as most manufacturers will tell you. So, here's what I'm going to do.

This is your opportunity to have some input to a design. The question is simple. Floorstander or Standmount?. You are the buying public. Tell me what you want ( keep it clean pls ). I will run this thread for around 6 weeks before making a decision. In my opinion, it is pointless building something you don't want so I'm asking. Tell me what you want in a loudspeaker.

Ricky.

 

[Anonymous]

I love large stand-mounts with the port on the front

 

[vinod_david]

Good thought. Yes, I want the EB2 to be a small floorstander with no rear port and placement friendly.

 

[chebby]

(1) Active EB1's with a built in pre-amp with two or three analogue inputs (so we can choose our own DACs/CD players/tuners etc) and remote control volume of course. Target online price of £1000 should throw some cats in amongst the pigeons.

(2) Sealed enclosure, two-way, compact monitors. A 21st century LS3/5A with some decent bass this time. For people who can't stretch to £1350 for Spendor SA1 or Harbeth P3ESR. Something that will perform well on wallmounts and bookshelves - as well as stands - and do not need space behind them. (Rooms are getting ever smaller in more modern houses and flats and bedroom/office/study systems more popular especially with people working from home.)

I think the world has more than enough 2-way and 2.5-way, reflex, floorstanders, but precious few decent sealed box/infinite baffle designs. I am recently re-converted to sealed box designs with my N-Sats and a friend's ATC SCM11's. The last ones I had before this were the old AR18s around 1982 (a cracking speaker that could badly do with resurrecting.)

 

[Anonymous]

I think that's a good call Chebby. Maybe a slightly larger infinite baffle stand mounter, 40cm tall perhaps. Anything larger gets intrusive for a stand mounter unless it's very pretty indeed.

The actives suggestion is good but I think they should contain a pre/power to avoid any of the cabling complexities that arise with them. Leaving the DAC and source choices open could reduce the price compared to the competitors (AVI) and leave things open to preference.

 

[Anonymous]

Either some sealed box standmounts aimed at the very dry £800-1000 price range.

or...

Small floorstanders with front port.
Maybe a centre speaker and sub for HT at a later date.

Really just reflecting what has already been mentioned.

 

[plastic penguin]

Some good calls here. I would like to see a really high quality, sub-£1,000 compact floorstander. At the budget end you have Kef IQ5 SE and for £1,500 there's Spendor A5. I think a £800-900 sub-80cm tower would be timely. As Chebby pointed out living or listening rooms are generally bijou. And like my living room dimensions can accomodate both standmouted and smallish floostanders.

 

[rod1429]

I'd like to see a small floor stander, preferably something that would work close to a rear wall, the size of a Spendor A5 !

 

[bay24]

Compact floor stander for me also, something comparable to neat motive 2 for example.

 

[Anonymous]

Wow, everyone likes small floorstanders with a Sealed enclosure, tight bass, open midrange and a sweet trebble but with

all the details and easy too drive, and with great looks and a finish too choose from, fore about 700 pound...

Am i dreaming

 

[Anonymous]

Larger cabinet plus larger main driver, standmount.

 

[Anonymous]

As per one or two of the calls above a bigger bookshelf / standmount would be very nice. Something circa 40cm that builds on the qualities of the EB1's. An option of passive / active may make sense given the increasing interest in digital sources but I would prefer to run an external DAC like the Beresford if going the active route. I would certainly be keen to put my name on the list if you decide to go ahead with passives in particular &, cost dependant, the actives. Good luck

 

[roten]

I think it should be a floorstanding speaker that can be placed close to the rear wall.

I assume many are in my situation, where placement and ability to be part of the furniture is equally important to sound quality. I have suggested numerous alternatives to my wife, but none has passed her "nice furniture" criteria. Closest I have come are Totem Arro

 

[Craig M.]

whatever you go for there seems to be a pattern emerging already. "close to rear wall".

top class standmount for me, preferably with very pretty finish, and of course, close to wall placement.

 

[Anonymous]

Stand-mounters.

What most puts me off floor-standers is the extra weight. It's unlikely that I'd ever consider buying a pair unless each speaker was separately boxed and weighed less than about 12kg (boxed), since I want to be able to reposition or move my speakers without help whenever necessary.

 

[Anonymous]

Better the ATC SCM11, and you're in business.

 

[Anonymous]

EvilWolf:Better the ATC SCM11, and you're in business.

Now there's a challenge!!

 

[Anonymous]

Ok / think I've got it so far.

Whether it be a standmount or floorstander, near to wall seems to be what you want. Am I right?. If that is the case, rear porting is out.

Closed box seems to give the best overall control with less likelyhood ( fink I've spelt that wrong ) of 1 note waffle which is what you will get if you bung it near a wall. Here's an idea. What about an Aperiodic??.

 

[Big Chris]

Higher quality, sub 45cms standmount gets my vote. Something to make me want to step up from my 602 S3s (49cms tall)

If you're eschewing a port. What about a passive radiator?

 

[chebby]

EB Ricky:Here's an idea. What about an Aperiodic??.

Scanspeak still make flow resistors.

Dynaudio Contour 1 was an Aperiodic design (using their own 'Variovent' flow resistor.)

 

[Anonymous]

EB Ricky:What about an Aperiodic??.

It works well for the Wilson Benesch Square 1 and 2. Sounds like a good idea. What does it give you over an infinite baffle? A little more bass and greater sensitivity?

 

[plastic penguin]

EB Ricky:

EvilWolf:Better the ATC SCM11, and you're in business.

Now there's a challenge!!

If you don't better the ATCs and PMCs then someone will one day. Why not you?

 

[oldleodensian]

chebby:

Sealed enclosure, two-way, compact monitors. A 21st century LS3/5A with some decent bass this time. For people who can't stretch to £1350 for Spendor SA1 or Harbeth P3ESR. Something that will perform well on wallmounts and bookshelves - as well as stands - and do not need space behind them.
I think the world has more than enough 2-way and 2.5-way, reflex, floorstanders, but precious few decent sealed box/infinite baffle designs.

I will buy some EB2 speakers like a shot if they match this criteria!

 

[John Duncan]

My turn. Floorstanders please, except it's actually your EB1 stuck on top of a box that makes it look like a floorstander. That box contains power amps, active crossover, a beresford DAC (because it has a volume control in it and I'm sure Stanley would do you a deal for bulk). Each box has its own power input. Connection between the two is one single strand of speaker cable (not coaxial). Power outlet for you to plug an airport express into (… la Audioengine).

Dimensions (because these are important) - 90 x 17 x 27 (so basically the EB1 with 60cm of stand underneath it).

There you go, a complete stereo where all that's required is an airport express, two power outlets and a length of speaker cable.

Oh, and have the cabinets made in China, much cheaper.

 

[chebby]

John, don't forget the built in power socket for the AE (keeps it tidier and frees up another wall socket.)