epos els3 speakers

[dcamp]

Any feedback on using Epos ELS3 Speakers as surrounds . Also I know they probably should be used with a sub but how do they sound for music without a sub??

 

[j_garcia]

They are highly praised for music, however they are 4 Ohm and low sensitivity, so you need to have a somewhat decent amp to drive them. Surround duty is less demanding obviously, but the low sensitivity combined with low impedance can make them a little harder to drive.

 

[dcamp]

Thanks for the help. Could you give an example of the type of receiver I might need to optimize the Epos ELS3 performance?? How would an Onkyo be at about 55 watts per channel??

 

[j_garcia]

I wouldn't say you'd need a top shelf receiver, but a 55w Onkyo probably won't like driving these guys (what model?). It isn't simply the wattage, but how well the receiver's power supply reacts to the low impedance load. That is not to say you'd need a $1000 receiver to drive them, but something that has a decent power supply. If you are stuck with the receiver you have, I'd probably look for something else. -3dB @ 65Hz means they won't have a ton of bass without a sub, but they should do OK.

Mordaunt Short 902s are $199/pr here (they may still have free shipping too) and will have a similar "British" sound to them as the EPOS. They are -3dB at 55Hz and are 8 Ohm. I'm quite happy with them for music.

Next choice might be the Onyx X-LS or the new HSU HB-1.

 

[dcamp]

Receiver model is Onkyo tx ds494

 

[zildjian]

Receiver model is Onkyo tx ds494

I'm familiar w/ that receiver as I bought it back when it came out for a friend of mine's small system. You'll probably be alright with it driving harder loads. I drove my big 4 & 5 ohm definitive tech's (5 channels) with that Onkyo for a couple weeks, just to see how it performed, and although it was harsh at higher volumes, the little onkyo did ok for sporting only 55 watts per channel specs. Even if your older receiver struggled when pushed hard, if you're like most people, you won't have that receiver for near as long as you will your speakers, so as long as it will make do for now, and I think it would, you will be fine, chose the speakers you will be happy with. Most any new receiver should power them fine, the new entry level Onkyo's are up to like what, 75wpc or something?

 

[j_garcia]

Yeah, the Onkyos from that time period were pretty solid. I think you will be OK as long as you don't try to crank it up too much.