[clarkdv]

Hello all, I'm fairly new here and I have a conundrum. I have an Emotiva TA1 which puts out modest power and I have a brand new pair of Elac B6 Debut speakers still in the box. I can't decide whether to open up the Elacs and use those or to try to sell those and buy something else or to get the mod kit from Danny Richie and mod the B6's or bite the bullet and buy a set of completely built XLS Encores from Danny.

Decisions, decisions!

I'd rather not spend more than five or $600 but I know the XLS Encores completely built are going to cost me $1,000 to $1100. I guess what I'm asking is how good do the original B6's sound and will they sound really really good with Danny's mods and will the Emotiva drive them well.


Patrick
TN
Im sorry for the long post I appreciate any and all input.

[I.Greyhound Fan]

If you can't splurge on the extra money for the encores then I would consider selling the B6's and buying the Elac Reference dbr62's.  I heard these at RMAF and they sound way better than the original B6's IMHO.  And they are front ported as opposed to rear so you will have more options for placement close to a wall.

The original B6's sound very good.  I bought a pair for my daughter.  However, they need good electronics to really shine but you can say that for every speaker.

https://www.amazon.com/Elac-Debut-Reference-DBR62-Walnut/dp/B081K9NSB3

My advice, buy the most speaker you can comfortably afford so you won't have any regrets and in the end upgrade again.

Larry

[subsonic1050]

Do you have any woodworking skills? If so, the XLS Encores will cost you much less than $1000 or $1100. The base kit is $269 and even with full upgrades you are at about $600. A half sheet of MDF for $20 or $30 would be all the material you'd need to build them. Add some paint, glue, etc and you're still way below your budget with the base kit, and close to it with full upgrades. If you need to buy a flatpack that does bring up the cost, but you could still build the whole thing for under $500 if you went with the base kit. You could always upgrade crossover components later if budget doesn't allow it now.

[Tyson]

I'd agree.  It's also much cooler when someone says that you have nice speakers, instead of saying "I bought them" you can say "I built them".  With building you also have much more control over matching the speakers to the rest of the decor in the room.  Heck, you can even get your spouse involved with the finishing options, which will tend to make them more accepting of speakers in room.

[MattSelinger]

I have the Emotiva TA-100 - predecessor to TA-1.  A fantastic integrated amplifier at this price point.  My opinion is no worries for driving bookshelf size speakers.  It will do a great job.  On the speaker side of the question, I highly recommend the Encore route.  It definitely takes some work to build them and for the money spent - you will have much more than what you actually paid from a sound quality and enjoyment perspective.  Once I built my Encores and listened to them for a couple of weeks I had no interest in listening to my prized high end and costly KEF LS-50s.  They got themselves sold pretty quick.  I don't have experience with the ELACs.  What I can say is my experiences with building GR Research speakers has made me a believer in DIY.  I have no interest in commercially built speakers anymore. 

[Tyson]

I've heard all of them, and I'll say this.  The ELAC is 'good for the money'.  The Encores are 'great, period, regardless of cost".

[clarkdv]

Thanks for all the input guys, you gave me a lot to think about. I'm disabled so I can't get out to my shop anymore otherwise I would assemble these myself, but I can't so if I get the XLS Encores I'll have to buy them fully assembled, I just I can't do it myself anymore.

I emailed Danny and he said of course XLS Encores will just eat up anything commercial that's out there, but he also recommended that I keep my B6's and install his mods and he said that would sound really good. So that's kind of where I am now either mod my B6's or sell those and buy a completed pair of XLS Encores. This will be the last pair of speakers I ever buy so I'm tempted to splurge and get the Encores but there's also a part of me that wants to see how good the little b6s can sound!! UGH!

 I don't know what I'll do but anyway thanks for all the input.

[JWCoffman]

I have no interest in commercially built speakers anymore.

100% this.

[Chops]

I have a brand new pair of Elac B6 Debut speakers still in the box. I can't decide whether to open up the Elacs and or to get the mod kit from Danny Richie and mod the B6's or bite the bullet and buy a set of completely built XLS Encores from Danny.

Decisions, decisions!

I'd rather not spend more than five or $600 but I know the XLS Encores completely built are going to cost me $1,000 to $1100. I guess what I'm asking is how good do the original B6's sound and will they sound really really good with Danny's mods and will the Emotiva drive them well.


Patrick
TN
Im sorry for the long post I appreciate any and all input.

If funds are a bit tight, keep the B6's. They're pretty darn good right out of the box. I have a pair that we use in the bedroom system powered by a Yamaha A-S501 integrated amp, and they sound really good in there, not to mention they produce a surprising amount of bass on their own. If you want to improve on them and have a few extra bucks, buy Danny's mod kit.

With that said, even with all of the upgrades made to the B6's, they won't stand a chance against the XLS Encore's, especially if you do the upgrades on them. Though I have never heard them myself, I do have a pair of X-Statik's which use the same drivers, and I am very familiar with their capabilities, especially that T26SG tweeter.

Have a good read on this thread. It's a good eye-opener... https://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/gr-research-x-ls-encore-diy-speakers-are-done.9946/

And lastly, about your "long" post... Apparently you haven't come across any of my posts yet. LOL

[clarkdv]

I think I'll stick with the B6's and buy the mod kit from Danny. If I could still do all the work on the Encores I would get them but because I can't get out to my shop and I have to buy them fully assembled I just can't justify that much of an outlay of cash but I can justify $300 or so to mod my B6's.

 I appreciate all the input and the links, I read everything and there's good stuff there, thank you all.

[mkrawcz]

I have no interest in commercially built speakers anymore.

What really sealed the deal for me was the NX-Studios making my $13,000 Focal Electra 1038Be’s sound like Best Buy clearance speakers.

[Tyson]

What really sealed the deal for me was the NX-Studios making my $13,000 Focal Electra 1038Be’s sound like Best Buy clearance speakers.

Yeah man, Danny don't play!  Hehe.

[Wig]

@ Tyson,

Which GR towers would you recommend without the use of subs for mainly string type instruments which is
what I primarily listen to?

Thanks,
Wig

[Hobbsmeerkat]

Just my two cents, but I would say X-MTM if you need bass below 50Hz
If you don't need bass below 50Hz, then I would suggest the X-Statik, especially if you can also get them 3+ feet into the room.

[Tyson]

For me, I'd go with the X-Static.  And get the capacitor upgrades to the Miflex level and the tube connectors.  When you are mainly listening to female vocals, tone becomes all-important, and these upgrades seriously improve the tone a speaker is capable of. 

[Wig]

@ Hobbsmeerkat and @ Tyson

Have any of you compared those Miflex to Vh Audio ODAMs? I replaced my Miflex in a tube pre and tube amp with
ODAMs a few years ago and the change was just extraordinary...

Wig

[mkrawcz]

@ Hobbsmeerkat and @ Tyson

Have any of you compared those Miflex to Vh Audio ODAMs? I replaced my Miflex in a tube pre and tube amp with
ODAMs a few years ago and the change was just extraordinary...

Wig

I went from Sonicap/Miflex to Odams and the improvement is incredible. Going further is bypassing the ODAM with Duelund bypass caps. I haven’t gone from straight Miflex to odams. I believe Hobbs may build out a crossover for his studios with odams in the future and compare. 

[EdwardT]

@ Tyson,

Which GR towers would you recommend without the use of subs for mainly string type instruments which is
what I primarily listen to?

Thanks,
Wig

I'm just getting the break in period going on a set of X-SLS and they are impressive, I didn’t even try to add my sub for a week. If my room was bigger than 12X16 I might need the extra horsepower of the MTM but I haven’t felt the need for more bottom end.

[Tyson]

@ Hobbsmeerkat and @ Tyson

Have any of you compared those Miflex to Vh Audio ODAMs? I replaced my Miflex in a tube pre and tube amp with
ODAMs a few years ago and the change was just extraordinary...

Wig

Yes, I have the ODAMs bypassed with Duelund copper in my First Watt BA3 amp and I also just got a new DAC with ODAM output caps.   With the DAC I'm going to try a few different output caps - first Duelunds to get a baseline, then the Jupiter copper and then the Miflex copper in poly.  It'll be interesting to see which combo I end up liking the best.

[Chops]

Just my two cents, but I would say X-MTM if you need bass below 50Hz
If you don't need bass below 50Hz, then I would suggest the X-Statik, especially if you can also get them 3+ feet into the room.

Funny you say that, because no matter what room or system I have had my X-Statik's in over the past 13+ years, and they have always extended down into the mid 40's. Even in my current room with them pulled over 6' out from the front wall, they produce solid output down below 50 Hz easily.