Help me choose from EMP EF30T, SVS STS-01, Polk Studio 70 and Energy RC-50 based syst

T

toptalent

Audiophyte
I'm looking for a budget tower main based system. The tower part will be my major priority because I do listen to lots of 2 channel.

EMP currently runs a very cheap deal at $799 that includes 2x EF30T (same as RBH tk-5ct) and some cheap bookshelves plus a cheap sub.

SVS has the STS-01 system with some relatively cheap bookshelves and a killer sub, for double the EMP price.

Polk towers are currently being sold dirt cheap on newegg.

Out of these choices, I'm currently leaning toward the EMP tower system. I know the SVS sub is a lot better, but the EMP's price is very attractive, and I just read an article here on audioholics written two years ago that gave the EF30T's RBH brother (TK-5ct) very very high ratings. I know RBH has some type of partnership with this site, but I'd like know if the tower really is that good like the article described.

So I wonder know how the EF30T tower will compare to the rest of the towers here, especially the SVS STS-01 tower. The EMP has a 1" tweeter, 2 x 5 1/4 woofer and a 8" side firing woofer while the STS-01 has a 1" tweeter and 4 x 6" woofers. Which is a better design from a technical point of view?

Also is EF30T very hard to drive at 87db? My receiver is a Denon 790 at 90w per channel. I don't listen very loud but I do want good fidelity at lower to moderate volume.

Finally is EF30T supposed to be a better speaker than the E5ti? It has a higher MSRP on EMP's website and better specs.

Your opinions will be greatly appreciated.
 
Last edited:
gene

gene

Audioholics Master Chief
Administrator
I'm looking for a budget tower main based system. The tower part will be my major priority because I do listen to lots of 2 channel.

EMP currently runs a very cheap deal at $799 that includes 2x EF30T (same as RBH tk-5ct) and some cheap bookshelves plus a cheap sub.

SVS has the STS-01 system with some relatively cheap bookshelves and a killer sub, for double the EMP price.

Polk towers are currently being sold dirt cheap on newegg.

Out of these choices, I'm currently leaning toward the EMP tower system. I know the SVS sub is a lot better, but the EMP's price is very attractive, and I just read an article here on audioholics written two years ago that gave the EF30T's RBH brother (TK-5ct) very very high ratings. I know RBH has some type of partnership with this site, but I'd like know if the tower really is that good like the article described.

So I wonder know how the EF30T tower will compare to the rest of the towers here, especially the SVS STS-01 tower. The EMP has a 1" tweeter, 2 x 5 1/4 woofer and a 8" side firing woofer while the STS-01 has a 1" tweeter and 4 x 6" woofers. Which is a better design from a technical point of view?

Also is EF30T very hard to drive at 87db? My receiver is a Denon 790 at 90w per channel. I don't listen very loud but I do want good fidelity at lower to moderate volume.

Finally is EF30T supposed to be a better speaker than the E5ti? It has a higher MSRP on EMP's website and better specs.

Your opinions will be greatly appreciated.
I wouldn't assume the SVS is a better speaker than the EF30Ts. The EF30Ts are quite the performer, just not much of a looker hence why they were phased out. In many ways they outperform the new E5ti tower but the E5ti is much more wife friendly.

I'd jump on the EF30s at that price if you don't mind their ho-hum looks.

RBH has no partnership with this site other than they being an advertiser and selling EMP products though the Audioholics E-store just like Yamaha, APC, Marantz, Oppo, etc.
 
T

toptalent

Audiophyte
Thanks gene. I think I'm going to jump on the EMP. It's funny since everyone keeps mentioning how "ugly" the EF30T's look but from the pics I saw on their website it looks pretty good to me, especially the all black version that the Destination Audio/EMP currently sells. I didn't like the yellow cones on the pics of the previous years version but the all black one looks just fine.

From a technical point of view, is the 1" tweeter + 2 x 5 1/4 " woofer design efficient at handling high-mid range? Somehow I was under the impression that 6" and 6 1/2" woofers are better for a "fuller" sound.
 
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