[Steve Dodds]

Is anyone familiar with either of these two speakers. I have a chance to buy them for what seems to be a very good price (c2K) and I'd be interested in any experiences.


Thanks a lot


Steve

 

[Tom Armading]

I have Innersound Eros as my main left & right speakers in my home theater/audio room. They are exceptionally clear and will produce high levels of sound. They are about 91db efficient. I suspect you already know they are electrostatic/dynamic hybrids with active crossover and come with the base amp/crossover.


-Tom

 

[Steve Dodds]

Yeah, I know the basics.


What I was wondering is your overall impression, especially as regards the bass and the supposed beaming.


Thanks


Steve

 

[Tom Armading]

The imaging is fantastic when I am in just the right place, but the sound of them is just fine for movie watching off-axis. This "beaming" quality is one of the reasons for their superb presentation of music. But it never gets in the way of great movie sound for everyone listening. Is the frequency response exactly the same for all the listeners? No. But I use the same room about half the time for movies, and half for music, with my music listening usually alone.


For best sound, for both movies and music listening, the speakers are aimed exactly at the center listening position. This has the great added benefit of giving the listeners to each side of the center (I have a narrow room) a good stereo image too. That is not possible by aiming the speakers straight forward. Aimed that way, the listeners at the sides get the sound from the closer speaker too loud, and the image collapses. A number of audio writers recommend this orientation as ideal when multiple people are listening.


The directivity of electrostatics works well with that part of the THX specification. The usual problem that needs to be addressed in using electrostatics is dampening the sound going out the rear of the speaker. In my case, it is easy to put sound treatment behind the speaker, since my entire room is black, behind the speakers and screen it is invisible. To completely hide the speakers, I have black speaker cloth suspended between the screen and the nearby room wall, at an angle, with speakers behind this cloth. It is a bit of a shame to hide these pretty speakers, but my goal is to have no visual distraction around the screen.


-Tom


[This message has been edited by Tom Armading (edited February 18, 2000).]


[This message has been edited by Tom Armading (edited February 18, 2000).]

 

[Tom Armading]

Oh, I forgot about how I like the bass.


The bass is superb! And meshes with the electostatic panels so well that I can't hear any discontinuity between the drivers. Kick drum is great, with impact. Explosions rock! Since the bass has it's own amplifier, I have been able to match it's output with whatever amps I am using on the panels.


-Tom

 

[Steve Dodds]

Thanks for the good response. The way it has panned out, I'll probably go for Gallo Nucleus reference speakers or the Dvoraks.


Steve