Yamaha NS-333 or EMP E5Bi???

[damnngina15]

Hello. I am looking at getting some bookshelf speakers to hook up to my PC in my den. I will be using an Asus Xonar DS sound card and an Emotiva BPA-1 to power them. I have narrowed my search down to the Yamaha NS-333 and the EMP E5Bi. I have found many favorable reviews on the Yamaha's but have found nothing on the EMP's other than the review of E5Ti (its big brother). We listen to everything from classic rock, to meringue to R&B. Any info or comparisons on either of these would be helpful. Thanks.

Andrew

http://www.emptek.com/e5bi.php

http://www.yamaha.com/yec/products/productdetail.html?CNTID=200121&CTID=5002900&ATRID=1020&DETYP=ATTRIBUTE

 

[kelley_aj]

Well, I jsut received my E5bi's yesterday and initially out of the box the build quality is quite nice. I will be setting them up this weekend and will report back about how they sound. What leaned me toward them was they where comparible, at least on paper, to speakers that cost $100-200 more, they have a 30 day money back warranty with free return shipping, and the form factor fit what i needed. Loking at the specs of the Yamaha they are a 6 ohm vs. the EMP which is an 8 ohm if that makes any difference to you.

 

[damnngina15]

... Looking at the specs of the Yamaha they are a 6 ohm vs. the EMP which is an 8 ohm if that makes any difference to you.

It does not make much of a difference to me as the Emotiva will will drive anything down to 4 ohms in each channel. Please let me know what you think of your EMP's once you get a good chance to listen to them. Thanks.

Andrew

 

[kmad61]

I know the Yamahas did very well in the latest bookshelf shootout 09.

 

[damnngina15]

I know the Yamahas did very well in the latest bookshelf shootout 09.

I saw that too. I just wish that they would have included the E5Bi's in the shootout too even though they did have the EMP EF30's in there. From what I saw they didn't make it into the top four and didn't score number one in any of the catigories. I just dont know if the ER30's and the E5Bi's sound the same or if they are completely night and day from one another.

 

[Seth=L]

The Yamaha's are also a bit heavier, meaning the cabinet construction may be more rigid. The R&D department Yamaha has is no slouch. They've been producing other budget speakers for years that often wipe the floor with other speakers in the same price range. Most often their budget models have been less than eye candy. Somehow they managed to produce eye candy and good performance on a small budget as well with that line. I can't speak for EMP as I've not heard them. But I have heard the NS-333 in a less than ideal setting, but they sound pretty nice and are built well.

Also the price is hard to beat on the NS-333

http://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-NS-333-Reflex-Bookshelf-Speaker/dp/B0000W4U1S

You could get a pair of towers for under $500 shipped from the NS-___ series at Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-NS-555-3-Way-Reflex-Speaker/dp/B0000W4U22/ref=dp_cp_ob_e_title_1

http://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-NS-777-3-Way-Reflex-Speaker/dp/B0000W4U2C/ref=pd_bxgy_e_text_c

 

[Seth=L]

Here is one of the better prices I've found on a NS-555 tower.

http://www.buyriteelectronics.com/electronics/pc/NS555-Yamaha-Tower-Speakers-6p162.htm

That's basically $280 to your door for some nice towers. They are hefty too, at 45 pounds a piece. They aren't a cheaply made speaker.

Compare that to the EMP floor stander equivalent the E5Ti which is a little less hefty again at 35 pounds. For a speaker with similar dimensions and driver complement it weighs a fair amount less opening up the possibility of cabinet resonance and noise.

http://www.emptek.com/e5ti.php

That's $500 + shipping.

 

[damnngina15]

The NS-555's are real nice I just don't know if they would fit space wise. I have a nice corner desk and the 333's whould fit on it just fine. I would have to put the 555's on the end and I am not quite sure how that would sound since I would pretty much be sitting inbetween the two speakers at my desk.

 

[Seth=L]

In that case, I'd throw these in for consideration (very small factor). Many folks rave about them and they appear to be built very well.

I'd also suggest the Behringer 2030p or 2031p, they aren't as pretty but they perform better than most anything in their price range.

 

[damnngina15]

In that case, I'd throw these in for consideration (very small factor). Many folks rave about them and they appear to be built very well.

Which ones???

 

[Seth=L]

Sorry, forgot the link.

http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=CAS30

 

[damnngina15]

So has anyone listened to the E5Bi's???

 

[damnngina15]

Anyone on the E5Bi's????

 

[fightinkraut]

Anyone on the E5Bi's????

I have them pulling surround duty at home, and I'm sufficiently impressed. I know there were some mini-reviews of the E5Bi's floating around...maybe in this thread? I just mounted mine with Pinpoint AM40 (same as B-Tech BT77) and they work great.

Wish I had done some listening comparisons before I screwed into them, but such is life. They are very beautiful speakers, although at the price range they're currently at there is some very stiff competition.

Not to make it an afternote or anything, but I do love the sound! Cleaner and clearer than my old modded BIC DV62si's, more smooth throughout the frequency range.

Have fun deciding!