The e55 ti's cost $100 more per pair than the Verus bookshelf speakers with stands. The footprint is pretty much the same. The e55 will walk all over the book shelves if set up correctly. The weak link to the e55's are the three woofers. If crossed over too low, or if some type of dynamic EQ is used with music they will sound a little muddy on the low end. These speakers blend very well with a good sub.
Set up is crucial as well as toeing in the towers. The center channel does not work well above the tv, esp if there is diffraction from the television. It will sound weak and muddy. For the price the Impression 5.0 with a good sub and set up correctly will rival many more expensive set ups that are recommended on Audioholics.
When used as a 2.1 configuration, whether listening to Symphonic music, Jazz or hard rock, the sound that can be wrung out of this set up will absolutely astound you!
They do not have the same footprint; You certainly cannot wall mount an e55ti!
I agree that the E55ti can rival many speakers costing much more money. I think they sound better than the Polk RTi Series and Klipsch Reference series. (both of which I've owned in the past 2yrs rti8's, rf82's, etc)
However, if you directly compare the E5Bi bookshelf model to the Aperion Grand Verus Bookshelf model (with no eq at all) it's a hands down loss for EMP. They sound well, muddy, in direct comparison to the grand verus.
When I was testing in A/B, I tried the E55Ti vs the Verus Grand Bookshelf before I got my E5Bi's off the wall to A\B with. Despite the tower's size advantage even my "bass head" younger brother still preferred the Aperion's sound. (as did I) It's worth mentioning that I have a massive, clean, powerful sub to pick up lower octaves. (custom 20hz tuned box, slot ported, 15" tc sounds lms-r run off a crown xls 2000 amp)
Please keep in mind that my EMP's (which are in like new condition) are sitting in my kitchen collecting dust. At the same time I'm waiting for a replacement verus grand center from Aperion. The EMP's are on ebay, but I haven't gotten a single offer.
If the Aperion's didn't sound better I would box them up and send them back for a full refund. In fact, I don't particularly care for the company (Aperion Audio), but their speakers do sound better! As reflected in the audioholics reviews!
I'm not a rich man, upgrading easily set me back a months pay. I could still send back the Aperions for a full refund if I wanted to! (well aside from a single bookshelf speaker which I damaged) The reason I don't is that they reproduce sound better!
The Aperions play cleaner, more detailed, less distortion, and they have a more cohesive soundstage that is also much more transparent. No matter which models in these two series you are comparing, the Aperions have higher quality raw drivers in them.
Inferior tweeter + Inferior midrange = Inferior sound!
Perhaps the higher midrange to woofer crossover on the new EMP center will take some stress off the midrange drivers and result in a cleaner sound? I can't say without hearing it... I don't see any change to the E55Ti specs, so I assume they still crossover at 3000/120.
Sorry to all the EMP owners who may feel slighted because Aperion has outdone EMP with the Grand Verus line. The Impression series are fantastic speakers FOR THE PRICE. But the Aperions DO have higher quality drivers which result in higher quality sound reproduction.
