[zybar]

John Potis has posted part 1 of his Emerald Physics CS2 speaker review at Positive Feedback and it looks like he was quite impressed:

Well… how do they sound? In a word; phenomenal. Right out of the box the speakers are amazing. I don't know of another speaker in this price range that can compete in several aspects of their performance. Does that mean that they're for everybody? Well, no speaker is for everybody. But the full review is going to have to wait as the speakers are said to take up to 400 hours of use before fully broken in. At that point I'll report back. But in the meantime if you're in the market for a pair of speakers and if what I've said so far appeals to you, you'll want to investigate them on our own. They are definitely worth your consideration; that much I can say without a doubt. John Potis

You can read the entire review over at Positive Feedback:

http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue37/emerald_physics.htm


George

[Wind Chaser]

I'm sure they are great speakers and I look forward to hearing them... however I can't help but notice how many used pairs have come up for sale over the past few months.  Even now there are at least three used pairs available on AG...

[James Romeyn]

I'm very much looking forward to hearing them whenever the chance arises.  A friend whose ears I trust was impressed at CES.  

I waded through most of the "review", which turns out is an estimated 92% ad copy & tech descriptions from Emerald.  Looks like the reveiwers description of the sound is fully contained in George's reprint (thanks), for readers desiring to save the effort.  To bad the reveiwer makes a general statement they excelled in certain areas (at their price) but he avoids describing the exact areas in which they excell.

Can't say I've been impressed w/ digital amps yet (heard the Bel Canto) but there's always hope.  The digital amps mentioned must have something going for them considering Bascom King's resume (partial designer).  

[zybar]

I'm sure they are great speakers and I look forward to hearing them... however I can't help but notice how many used pairs have come up for sale over the past few months.  Even now there are at least three used pairs available on AG...

If you sell over 100+ pairs in a relatively short time you are going to see pairs on the used market.

There is nothing wrong or negative with seeing pairs being sold on Agon.

George

[martyo]

I'm sure they are great speakers and I look forward to hearing them... however I can't help but notice how many used pairs have come up for sale over the past few months.  Even now there are at least three used pairs available on AG...

If you sell over 100+ pairs in a relatively short time you are going to see pairs on the used market.

There is nothing wrong or negative with seeing pairs being sold on Agon.



George

I'm with you "Wind", I don't buy George's spin.

[consttraveler]

I set-up my new pair of CS-2's yesterday, and I thought I might pass on what happened.

For the last few years I have been trying-out various subs in a vain effort to match the speed and clarity of my Talon Audio "Khite" monitors.  Their bottom end of 35 Hz left just enough out of certain music (Organ, Double Bass, etc.), that I wanted to supplement them.  Fortunately, as it turns out, I could not find a sub that could keep-up and not overpower or dominate the listening experience.  What I was looking for was a seemless integration and what I heard was not.  So, when I read about the CS-2's and talked with a few owners that had enough time on theirs', to get past my own "flavor of the month" concerns, I decided to give them a try.

In order to speed up the break-in, I hooked them up to the entertainment center components in the living room, as we spend more time per week watching TV, DVDs, and listening to the radio and Cd's there, than listening to music in the dedicated room downstairs.  Picture this: the room is nearly square (18' X 22'); glass for the left wall; the right wall does not exist, it is open to the kitchen, dining area; the ceiling is sloped from right to left (14' to 9'); there is an oak entertainment center and two matching curio cabinets between the CS-2's; and the room is stuffed full of furniture.  With the exception of the Levinson 380s pre-amp and the modded Kenwood KT-9900 tuner, all of the other components are mass market quality and cabling is from the left-over bin in the basement (Audioquest, Monster, cheap!).

I am not exaggerating when I tell you that within 10 minutes of turning the CS-2's on, at about 10:00 AM, the Significant Other had taken over the sweet spot and only left to cook dinner that evening.  She had me playing Cd's, DVDs, the tuner and the TV one after another.  Last night before turning in, she asked if I needed to buy anything else, specifically different amps or maybe power conditioning?

Oh, and by the way, JP was correct when he wrote; "Well… how do they sound? In a word; phenomenal."

Best regards,

Dave

[James Romeyn]

Re. the used CS2's for sale: motorcycle salesman Steve Powell of Powell's Alameda Honda, about 35 years ago, asked why he was selling his personal used circa '76 CB750A (A is for two-speed high/low automatic transmission, a very rare Honda): "It's an inanimate object, who's purpose is to be bought and sold..."  Hard to get more pithy than that.  Even the reviewer states no speaker is perfect for everyone.  Obviously some people won't find out it's not their personal cup of tea till some time after the purchase. 

Dave, your post piqued my interest because my monitors may be similar in that they go to about 40 Hz & I'm about to attempt to integrate two subs (custom design w/ a unique mix of several features to aid integration).  The normal integration concerns are balanced by the fact that the monitor manufacturer made matching stereo subs & the person who recommended the monitors originally to me recommended the OEM subs.  What subs did you try?  Single or dual subs?     

Would also like to know what amps you used to power the top/bottom of the CS2s.   

[consttraveler]

Jimbo:

I work in heavy construction, so as a result I move often (3 years in one place is my record).  And, I'm rarely blessed with a room that has a good basic design.  So, when shopping for my last set of speakers I fell in love with the Khites mostly because of their quality reproduction, but also because of their front ported design and relatively small size which makes moving and set-up as easy as it gets (I thought).

Bouncing between NY, CA, AK, HI, WY, OR, ME, (you get the picture) I shopped every high end store I got near and took home for testing eight to twelve different subs with all types of configurations.  Down firing, passive, active, singles, doubles, etc., etc.  The closest I got to a match was Talon's ROC (same manuf. as the Khites) but the house I was renting (Long Island, NY at the time) was very old and loosely held together.  I was seriously afraid of damaging the plaster at no more than moderate listening levels.  As a result of all of the above I was never able to get everything tied together so that I felt I could move to another location and get the same or better quality reproduction from my components.

My best guess based on my experience, is that the dual subs manufactured by the people who build the monitors, will be the easiest to integrate.  Will they let you try them out in your home?

Right now I am using a Sunfire Cinema Grand (5 Ch X 200 amps @ 8 ohm, 400 @ 4) to power the CS-2's.  Left and right front power the highs, and left and right rear power the lows.

[mr_bill]

George,
Does the Behringer digital crossover have to be placed after the digital source components and then before the preamplifier or amplification?

[consttraveler]

Immediately befor the amplifer, after everything else.

Dave

[zybar]

George,
Does the Behringer digital crossover have to be placed after the digital source components and then before the preamplifier or amplification?

The Behringer DCX-2496 connects to your amplification, so it is the last piece in the chain before your amps.

At last year's RMAF, Emerald Physics showed the CS2's with a Modwright LS36.5 in the chain.

I personally don't use a preamp with my CS2's, but I also have an extensively modified DCX.   aa

George

[James Romeyn]

Dave
Thanks for the details about the sub search; sounds like it was quite an ordeal.  It reminds me of a friend who recently said he's happy not to have to integrate a sub.  My current room is the best I've ever had: new construction '07, the floor & wall behind the speakers are concrete.  I expect the room will remain solid even while accomodating a low-mid-20 Hz sub.  I passed on a great deal on matching OEM subs; they are cosmetic gems but would probably have less power & a higher cutoff than the planned custom subs.

I forgot your amp has five channels, one more than required to power the CS2s. 

[Vapor Audio]

I was impressed with the CS2's at RMAF last year ... my criticism was they don't (from my experience) like higher volumes.  Low to mid they were hard to criticise at all, but a bit of a harsh edge comes in once the volume reaches a certain point.  They're a bit lacking on absolute detail, but their musicality and overall enjoyment more than makes up for that. 

Like everything it's all about picking what's right for you.

[KS]

For the last few years I have been trying-out various subs in a vain effort to match the speed and clarity of my Talon Audio "Khite" monitors.  Their bottom end of 35 Hz left just enough out of certain music (Organ, Double Bass, etc.), that I wanted to supplement them. 

The Rythimk Audio servo subs or the GR Research version of the Rythmik servo sub, including the open baffle version, might meet those needs.

More:  http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=47310.0

[jhm731]

I'm sure they are great speakers and I look forward to hearing them... however I can't help but notice how many used pairs have come up for sale over the past few months.  Even now there are at least three used pairs available on AG...

If you sell over 100+ pairs in a relatively short time you are going to see pairs on the used market.

There is nothing wrong or negative with seeing pairs being sold on Agon.



George

I'm with you "Wind", I don't buy George's spin.

Ditto. 

[TomS]

I was impressed with the CS2's at RMAF last year ... my criticism was they don't (from my experience) like higher volumes.  Low to mid they were hard to criticise at all, but a bit of a harsh edge comes in once the volume reaches a certain point.  They're a bit lacking on absolute detail, but their musicality and overall enjoyment more than makes up for that. 

Like everything it's all about picking what's right for you.

I occasionally listen at fairly high volumes myself, which was a reason I considered the CS2's as an alternative to my Merlins VSM-MX's.  The CS2's with the right power and a Didden modified DCX deliver every bit of volume and inner detail (with the First Watt F4) that I could possibly want.  I haven't noticed any harsh edge at higher volumes at all.  In fact, that is one of their strong points.  Maybe we're using different terminology, as I am associating your comment about "volume" with "dynamics" (soft to loud to soft transitions seem effortless) which they have in spades.  Details are not overly analytical, rather very pleasant to hear more of what's really there.  I doubt the tweeter does quite what the G2 in a Salk HT3 does or the Esotar in the Merlins, but it does hold its own, even when pushed.  As you say, it is a reasonable compromise (what isn't?) for me, at least.

[AliG]

Why the beef?

There're plenty of "hype" around. Our industry live and survive on 'hype'. And we're all part of this 'hype' culture at some point of the time. Nobody can stop anyone from raving about certain products, most of the time, people are just being honest and 'excited' when they hear something that they like. The Emerald Physics is a fine speaker at its price point (from what I heard at RMAF07), it's not everyone's cup of tea, but if it manages to hit your 'g-spot', you will not want to trade it for anything else (I know people who wouldn't trade it for a $40k speaker )

So calm down...

I'm sure they are great speakers and I look forward to hearing them... however I can't help but notice how many used pairs have come up for sale over the past few months.  Even now there are at least three used pairs available on AG...

If you sell over 100+ pairs in a relatively short time you are going to see pairs on the used market.

There is nothing wrong or negative with seeing pairs being sold on Agon.



George

I'm with you "Wind", I don't buy George's spin.

Ditto. 

[Wind Chaser]

Why the beef?

There're plenty of "hype" around. Our industry live and survive on 'hype'. And we're all part of this 'hype' culture at some point of the time. Nobody can stop anyone from raving about certain products, most of the time, people are just being honest and 'excited' when they hear something that they like. The Emerald Physics is a fine speaker at its price point (from what I heard at RMAF07), it's not everyone's cup of tea, but if it manages to hit your 'g-spot', you will not want to trade it for anything else (I know people who wouldn't trade it for a $40k speaker )

So calm down...

I don't see any beef... I merely made an observation.

As for hype, it gets to a point where people don't pay much attention.  Immunity follows overexposure.  We've all seen enough overly enthusiastic reviews.  It gets tiresome.  Yawn.  Most folks have been around long enough to know better.

I think what caught my attention about the CS2 is the combination of DSP and OB with high sensitivity.  Unlike much in high end audio, there isn't anything visually appealing about these speakers.  If anything, they're kind of homely, but that doesn't matter too much if the ear is happy. 

It's hard for me to believe Emerald Physics has sold 100+ pairs on the strength of nominal hype.  But even if that is so, it still doesn't explain why all the folks who are selling their CS2's trying to rid themselves of them so quick?  They haven't been around that long, not even a year...

[toobluvr]

Don't kill me on this one guys, just thinking aloud.
I've already been publicly chastised in the past for having the audacity to utter these words, but can you say......

"flavor of the month"??

 

Just wondering......I hope noone gets their knickers in an uproar.
In the years I've been on this board I've certainly seen plenty of that!
Gear hyped to the frenzied point, then rapid cooling, then nary a word.

I realize us audio-phools are an insecure lot and are constantly seeking confirmation and the holy grail, and I understand full well this is the underpinning of the phenomena.

If you like the gear.....fine.
But I find the whole Pied Piper and lemming routine just a bit tiring.

Peace...out!   

[James Romeyn]

I wasn't bothered by the hype because it's expected.  Was puzzled by the use of the word "review" when it's really rather almost entirely a tech description & something similar to ad copy from the OEM.  The "review" section was something like "phenomenal" w/ more to come.  The worst waste of space & time was the claim it provides unique qualities at the price but no mention of those specific qualities. 

It's really a "promise" of a reveiw to follow.