Quote:
Originally Posted by filecat13 
Of course, the answer is "It depends."
First let's compare the L890 and the E100. The L890 is definitely a better speaker in the HF output, with a real 1" Ti HF driver and the added Mylar® UHF ribbon, both in guides. At the midrange, it's a wash, since the speakers are essentially the same. As for LF output, while both use dual PolyPlas® drivers, the E100 has two 10" woofers compared to the L890's two 8" woofers. While the frequency response would appear to be very close with the E100 and L890, the L890 is going to sound better at the upper end, and the E100 will be more authoritative at the bottom.
As for price, the current typical price for a pair of L890s is $800–$1000. So is the L890 three to four times better than the E100? No, of course not. But it is better in the HF, and it will be a better match with your S Series gear which also have a 1" pure Ti dome tweeter in a waveguide, especially after you retire the E20s. The E100s will be a better match for your EC35 and E90s.
If you had a stronger sub (or a pair of subs), then the dual 10s in the E100s wouldn't be as important, but they'll likely help fill in the bottom quite a bit.
A bargain is only a bargain if you use it, so if you end up still longing for L890s, then you've wasted $250 on the E100s. OTOH, there's the opportunity cost of not getting the E100s while you wait for the L890s, and if something happens so you can't get the L890s, the E100s will be long gone and you could have enjoyed the E100s the whole time.
Decisions, decisions... Someone else might want to tell you explicitly what to do, but you have to live with the choice and not the guy giving you the recommendation. IMO, either route (E100 or L890) will be an improvement.
Of course, the answer is "It depends."
First let's compare the L890 and the E100. The L890 is definitely a better speaker in the HF output, with a real 1" Ti HF driver and the added Mylar® UHF ribbon, both in guides. At the midrange, it's a wash, since the speakers are essentially the same. As for LF output, while both use dual PolyPlas® drivers, the E100 has two 10" woofers compared to the L890's two 8" woofers. While the frequency response would appear to be very close with the E100 and L890, the L890 is going to sound better at the upper end, and the E100 will be more authoritative at the bottom.
As for price, the current typical price for a pair of L890s is $800–$1000. So is the L890 three to four times better than the E100? No, of course not. But it is better in the HF, and it will be a better match with your S Series gear which also have a 1" pure Ti dome tweeter in a waveguide, especially after you retire the E20s. The E100s will be a better match for your EC35 and E90s.
If you had a stronger sub (or a pair of subs), then the dual 10s in the E100s wouldn't be as important, but they'll likely help fill in the bottom quite a bit.
A bargain is only a bargain if you use it, so if you end up still longing for L890s, then you've wasted $250 on the E100s. OTOH, there's the opportunity cost of not getting the E100s while you wait for the L890s, and if something happens so you can't get the L890s, the E100s will be long gone and you could have enjoyed the E100s the whole time.
Decisions, decisions... Someone else might want to tell you explicitly what to do, but you have to live with the choice and not the guy giving you the recommendation. IMO, either route (E100 or L890) will be an improvement.
Thank you Filecat13 for your input. It would be wise for me to scoop up the E100's and see how well they work out before laying out $800+ bucks. In your experience would it be possible to fit the E100's with the same/similar tweeter the L890 has should I feel the need for better HF from it?
