[maxwalrath]

Hey everyone, maybe one day these will be in my price range, but I'm curious about the sonic differences between these two speakers. 

Both cost about $3K, both are tall slim floor standers, and both are extra-efficient.  These seem to be the first two speakers (on this board, anyway) with these characteristics to gain any mainstream popularity.  I don't know if there are others, or if these two speakers are the sign of a shift toward these characteristics.  They have obvious physical differences, of course...but what about the sonics?

One of these speakers was getting all sorts of hype about a year ago, but now things are relatively quiet (???)...the other is getting all the hype right now. 

Anyone heard both? 

[IronLion]

An obvious and significant difference between the two is that the CS2's are full range speakers, whereas with the Druids they only hit cleanly down to 40hz as I understand it. 

[toobluvr]

Not to be cynical, but wait a few months and something else will be receiving all the hype.

(OK, OK...I am being cynical!)

 

[sts9fan]

I would agree.  I would ask this after the CS2 "flavor of the month" status dies down. 

[toobluvr]

I would agree.  I would ask this after the CS2 "flavor of the month" status dies down. 

hmmmmm....be careful!     

On a post I made yesterday about....errrr....shall we call it.....a former speaker fave on here, I referred to it in a similar fashion, and someone got a little chafed!

 

[mcullinan]

I think we can assume that a speaker with buzz is a good speaker, otherwise they would be buzzless.

Or is it a shameless hype machine without conscience, with premeditation to fool the innocent virginal consumer?

Or is there such a place where the praises heard from word of mouth gathers momentum slowly and wins the hearts of Americans with truth justice and the American way!

wth am i talking about idk...
Mike

[toobluvr]

 
Good one Mike!

I have heard and even owned plenty of gear dripping with "buzz"...
I'm often left feeling like this:

                 

And if I've bought it...like this:

      

[Sonny]

Good one Mike!

I have heard and even owned plenty of gear dripping with "buzz"...
I'm often left feeling like this:

                 

And if I've bought it...like this:

      

hey, do you still have the Herons???
If so, did it make you feel like what you described above???
T

[tanchiro58]

I heard the Emerald Physics C2S in both rooms RMA and Modwright at CES 2008 and really like the sound of these speakers. But you need to have a best modified Beringer 2496 crossover to get a sound like that I will double check my budget first (RMA sells for $4000). 

[TomS]

I heard the Emerald Physics C2S in both rooms RMA and Modwright at CES 2008 and really like the sound of these speakers. But you need to have a best modified Beringer 2496 crossover to get a sound like that I will double check my budget first (RMA sells for $4000). 

I probably wouldn't spend $4k on a $300 device either, but I've seen at least 5 different DCX modification packages well under $1k just this week, giving you many reasonable options.  The notion that you MUST pursue these upgrades to enjoy the CS2's is just not true as evidenced by the many people who bought speakers after listening to them stock.  I doubt many of them even gave mods the first thought.

[rajacat]

Perhaps the most interesting comparison would be the two hot speakers of the moment: the Emerald Physics and the Timepiece Minis. They are both in the same price range but of starkly different designs.

-Roy

[Double Ugly]

I heard the Emerald Physics C2S in both rooms RMA and Modwright at CES 2008 and really like the sound of these speakers. But you need to have a best modified Beringer 2496 crossover to get a sound like that I will double check my budget first (RMA sells for $4000). 

I probably wouldn't spend $4k on a $300 device either, but I've seen at least 5 different DCX modification packages well under $1k just this week, giving you many reasonable options.  The notion that you MUST pursue these upgrades to enjoy the CS2's is just not true as evidenced by the many people who bought speakers after listening to them stock.  I doubt many of them even gave mods the first thought.

Along those lines, I would add that quite a few here have taken a $300 device (the Slim Devices Squeezebox) and spent many times the retail price in modifications.  It may sound crazy to some, but those who took the leap now enjoy a quality of digital playback previously enjoyed by a precious few.

Modifications are only a requirement if the owner deems it so; there are no absolutes.  That said, in the minds (or perhaps more accurately, to the ears) of some, the results really are worth it.

I'm one of the "some", but as is almost always the case with this hobby, it's JMHO...

Perhaps the most interesting comparison would be the two hot speakers of the moment: the Emerald Physics and the Timepiece Minis. They are both in the same price range but of starkly different designs.

-Roy

The OP also mentioned the fact that "both are tall slim floor standers, and both are extra-efficient."  Since the Minis don't share those characteristics, perhaps your suggested comparison would be best made in a separate topic.

It would definitely be an interesting comparison IMO, though I'm not aware of anyone who's heard both.

[opnly bafld]

Perhaps the most interesting comparison would be the two hot speakers of the moment: the Emerald Physics and the Timepiece Minis.
They are both in the same price range but of starkly different designs.

-Roy

It would definitely be an interesting comparison IMO, though I'm not aware of anyone who's heard both.

 

Lin

[Double Ugly]

Perhaps the most interesting comparison would be the two hot speakers of the moment: the Emerald Physics and the Timepiece Minis.
They are both in the same price range but of starkly different designs.

-Roy

It would definitely be an interesting comparison IMO, though I'm not aware of anyone who's heard both.

 

Lin

Oops... I guess I stand corrected. 

[tanchiro58]

I heard the Emerald Physics C2S in both rooms RMA and Modwright at CES 2008 and really like the sound of these speakers. But you need to have a best modified Beringer 2496 crossover to get a sound like that I will double check my budget first (RMA sells for $4000). 

I probably wouldn't spend $4k on a $300 device either, but I've seen at least 5 different DCX modification packages well under $1k just this week, giving you many reasonable options.  The notion that you MUST pursue these upgrades to enjoy the CS2's is just not true as evidenced by the many people who bought speakers after listening to them stock.  I doubt many of them even gave mods the first thought.

TomS,

Sorry for my mistake. I mean $4K including pair of CS2 ($2995)+modded Beringer 2496($995). IMO this is a good deal too plus if you get a modded Transport at Modwright ($3.6K) and a decent monobloc amplifiers around less than $5K. You got a very nice sounding system already. I heard a complete 2 channel system costs $380K and it ain't sound good to me. 

[opnly bafld]

I would agree.  I would ask this after the CS2 "flavor of the month" status dies down. 

hmmmmm....be careful!     

On a post I made yesterday about....errrr....shall we call it.....a former speaker fave on here, I referred to it in a similar fashion, and someone got a little chafed!

 

First, the post you made was in the VMPS circle. 
Second, OB speakers have been coming on strong for a few years, but almost all have been diy.
The number of "mainstream" speaker companies making some sort of OB speaker continues to grow.
I have a feeling EP's OB speakers will be selling well as long as they make them (just like VMPS), even if the "buzz" (in part IMHO due to OB dipole bass which few have heard done right) over them dies down, because they really are good sounding speakers.

Lin

[TomS]

I heard the Emerald Physics C2S in both rooms RMA and Modwright at CES 2008 and really like the sound of these speakers. But you need to have a best modified Beringer 2496 crossover to get a sound like that I will double check my budget first (RMA sells for $4000). 

I probably wouldn't spend $4k on a $300 device either, but I've seen at least 5 different DCX modification packages well under $1k just this week, giving you many reasonable options.  The notion that you MUST pursue these upgrades to enjoy the CS2's is just not true as evidenced by the many people who bought speakers after listening to them stock.  I doubt many of them even gave mods the first thought.

TomS,

Sorry for my mistake. I mean $4K including pair of CS2 ($2995)+modded Beringer 2496($995). IMO this is a good deal too plus if you get a modded Transport at Modwright ($3.6K) and a decent monobloc amplifiers around less than $5K. You got a very nice sounding system already. I heard a complete 2 channel system costs $380K and it ain't sound good to me. 

Oh, my bad.... and amen to big money not necessarily buying audio happiness 

[toobluvr]

hmmmmm....be careful!     

On a post I made yesterday about....errrr....shall we call it.....a former speaker fave on here, I referred to it in a similar fashion, and someone got a little chafed!

 

First, the post you made was in the VMPS circle. 
Second, OB speakers have been coming on strong for a few years, but almost all have been diy.
The number of "mainstream" speaker companies making some sort of OB speaker continues to grow.
I have a feeling EP's OB speakers will be selling well as long as they make them, even if the "buzz" (in part IMHO due to OB dipole bass which few have heard done right) over them dies down, because they really are good sounding speakers.

Lin

Was it really soooo naughty what I said?
I expressed facts, and I did not denigrate anything or anyone.
Thin skinners should stay away....regardless of where the post was.

[toobluvr]

Good one Mike!

I have heard and even owned plenty of gear dripping with "buzz"...
I'm often left feeling like this:

                 

And if I've bought it...like this:

      

hey, do you still have the Herons???
If so, did it make you feel like what you described above???
T

Still have my Heron "i".
They make me feel like.......

    

[TomS]

Great points Lin, regardless of whether it's EP, VMPS, or anyone.  I could care less about buzz, hype, or fav of the month.  The marketplace ultimately determines whether any of these products have lasting value.

Personally, I struggle to find much merit in these kinds of comparisons unless the poster spends some time with both in their own environment.  Hopefully a Zu owner who is auditioning EP's in their home will chime in at some point.  I wish I could contribute, but my short listening sessions with the Zu's only told me they weren't of interest to me at the time.  Heck, I didn't even know they were the buzz, because surely like a lemming I would have bought them