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A Bookshelf Loudspeaker Review

Hello All,

I’ve been asked numerous times to offer my opinions vis-à-vis the new bookshelf loudspeakers we are carrying now – and inject into those comments some additional thoughts on older designs we have been selling for many years now. I’m going to give that all a whirl here in a moment.

An important thing to realize in all of this is that this review is from one set of ears ONLY (mine) and this goes hand in hand with my general weights and biases about loudspeakers in an overall sense. I LOVE a big, robust sound… with good emphasis on The Power Band (100 to 400Hz) and a treble that’s “lush” – but not “bright”… I love listening to Cello (I have many very good recordings here) and this instrument is always a very good test of The Power Band for me… Quick and BIG is what I like to hear – not slow and muddy… I grew up with one of my best friends playing Cello daily – and I feel I know this instrument very well.

For the Highs… I love to test with Cymbals (amongst other “instruments”)… You can always get a feel for the “weight and energy” of the top end when listening to a great drummer do his, or her, thing… How do these cymbals sound to you – are they light and airy – or hard and biting… Try it sometimes… Have a listen to the wonderful Alex Acuna or the perhaps Steve Gadd (wow) or an all-time favourite – Dave Weckl (a’la Gadd). See if you can follow the high hat or the cymbals – can you hear the leading edge (attack if you will) or the shimmer afterwards… For Cello you can use Jacqueline Du Pré or of course… Yo Yo Ma… Pretty good places to start… Again, listen for the “onset” of the note and how well your loudspeaker can reproduce these complex tones (and multi-tones) without mashing them all together… but enough of that… These are just a few of the things I listen for – and I wanted to give you some of my “listener prejudices” right from the get go. OK…

A Bookshelf Loudspeaker Review - Continued...

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The test system was a very modest affair driver by the Aura Note CD/Receiver, and I decided to use an Oppo DV-981HD as the CD Player only because I was considering the use of an outboard DAC. I later scrapped that idea – but since I set it up this way – I just ran my test along these lines… Stock power cords were used – and I had some lovely NEOTEK cables in the Sound Room at work that I know – so I just plugged them right in and went to it…

The Speakers were set up on a Long Wall at 6 feet apart on tweeter “centers”. This is a very “normal” thing for me when I listen… I generally like to sit a bit more “nearfield” than a lot of folks… For the test I was just about at 6 feet back. The speakers were set up just less than 12 inches from the rear most wall – and very “open” on the sides… Temperature of the room was set for 67 degrees. I was comfortable and the speakers were too…

This was really sort of an amazing test... I learned lots myself as I shuttled through several of my test discs... One of my favourite vocal numbers is from Corrine May on Premium Records “Best Audiophile Voices” (PR27905) – this is a KILLER Track. Her rendition of Fly Away is lovingly cast in a “one voice – one piano” duet... Staged just so...

The ELT525 presents this in the very best light that this speaker can shine in. Open and easy on the ears – while keeping everything in proper space and perspective. The smaller woofer in the 525 is just perfect for this kind of intimate listening experience. You and Corrinne are THERE. The way this Mini Monitor can focus on smaller scale music is almost spooky... My listening notes used the adjective “airy” two times in this first page alone...

Loudspeakers are a very emotionial friend (or enemy) – there with you during periods of (your) happiness or, sadness. The trick is finding a speaker that can convey the emotion of the music --- and the ELT 525 can do this in spades... With just this first track I was reminded about how “close” I can get to this speaker. I loved the way it conveyed the love and the emotion of this track...

The x-ls encore was really amazing also – make no mistake about this. Danny and I have created a “relatively small” loudspeaker that can stand up and be heard with the very best of monitors our industry has to offer. What I love about the x-ls encore is the “Foundation” that it gives us all – yet still have most of the dexterity that something like the ELT525 has – or even some very special small speakers that stay in my heart like the Rogers LS3/5A or the Spendor SP2/3 (as I recall) --- Please note that I had the distinct pleasure of selling the Braun and a/d/s/ loudspeakers, so I do believe I know a thing or three about GREAT small-box loudspeakers.

Back to this “Foundation”... again, using the same track I was able to hear more of the Piano with our “encore buddy” – but the overall presentation was a bit more “muddled” (used in a relative sense here)... The lower registers were there – but not as well defined. I was not able to look into the music as well as I could with the 525. I was thinking about how to properly frame this – and one way I thought of was to use an automotive simile. I thought about traversing a good road in a car with a “live rear axle” as opposed to maybe a car with “independent suspension”. With the 525 I was able to nimbly move down the road with the speaker quietly adjusting to pitch and presence – while the x-ls encore “dipped and swayed” over the same pavement. Yep... that says it correctly. They both brought me home – but one was easier on my senses and allowed me “in”...

The other way might be thinking more about a beautiful woman you had known from a day gone by in your life (or mine). You remember an attractively figured friend that had all of the proportions correct no matter where you looked or touched – but years later the same friend had become more “endowed in the lower registers” no less beautiful – just more of that sinewy beauty (you remembered) to love – the “foundation” had become somewhat different from “your choice of model” - but no less beautiful than what you knew from those days gone by. If that made any sense to you (as it does me) then you will understand why I love BOTH of these speakers. There is a lot to love in each – they are just different in how they present themselves. I'm going to explore that further in a moment or two.

end of part one...

So from here I could not resist one more incredible track from the same disc. I chose the Jane Monheit rendition of “Over The Rainbow”... The track starts with her singular voice – and just “carries me away”... I remember reading that her “phrasing” is unique and her renditions of songs like this are really something incredible. I believe she is on Concord Jazz now --- please do yourselves a favour – check her out.

As this track unfolds we find Jane well supported by Stand Up Bass – Drums and Piano, with a smoky Trumpet solo mixed at the bridge... The ELT525's develops this track real well. The changes are well versed and nicely summed – easily followed by the 525's. I noted that the new ELT's really were made for music like this. The scale was again built “just so” for our new friends – and even at louder volumes, EVERYTHING stayed composed and “in order”... I remarked to Sean today how this tweeter is just perfectly matched to this woofer. They seem to blend in a lovely syncopation (meant in a “musical rhythm” sort of way)... They do each other justice – while never being at “cross end” with one another. I know Danny felt the same way... in lay terms --- these suckers match beautifully... Bravo Danny...

Her voice was so easy to pick out in space – the 525's images like a Reference Class Mini Monitor should --- in spades. The x-ls encore was not as “able” to bring 'er home. She came – she sang – and she split... The 525's asked me to replay the track (no joke here), while the x-ls asked me go on to something more suitable.

Now, all of you x-ls and x-ls encore people – please take a deep breath – NONE of this is bad or unexpected. I knew what I was getting into by playing small scale music FIRST – and giving the nod to the 525's for an “easier life” at the outset of my test. This is not “desert first” - but I knew for dang sure that the ELT525's would fare really well with the first two tracks. That ebb and flow continued throughout the test with EACH providing their own convincing voice to the festivities. We're no where near done yet – and when I introduced the RS250 MKII's to the rigors of my “love” - well, I demonstrated to Sean and Kyle why these trade offs can make a sane man crazy. They were amazed with what I played today – and my explanations of what they would hear... Sean smiled that “Butter's Smile” I had been missing for some time – he reminded himself (and me) about why we jump for joy at what we do every day here. Simply put – this is Fun (cap F) for real. Lets say it like this... There is no such thing “bad” ice cream... There is Will Wrights Vanilla Bean (for those of you that lived in LA in “the good days” - you know what I'm talking about – for those that didn't – well – too bad) – that silky surreal blend of ice cream that boasted 24% Butter Fat (yeah baby) – or there's Safeway Brand – OK in a pinch – but nothing that will remind you from whence you came. In short, we are loving what we are doing - some days are more fun than others - but we love it no matter...

So – now that we made it so easy on our diminutive new friend – lets take a change in direction and look at what some HARD HITTING “super-impact” percussion can do to this test group. I have a modern day tour-de-force test for this in the incredible Yim Hok-Man – Master of Chinese Percussion (Track One – Naxos Hong Kong 8.225942 – extracted from The Burmester Audio System CD 03 demo disc). This is an extremely hard piece for ANY loudspeaker to traverse – let alone these bookshelf loudspeakers.

One of the issues that I have found working with Danny and his “brilliance” is that he generally likes to “introduce” the tweeter at a lower crossover point than I used to like. I fought him pretty hard on this early-on... but I have learned that if we spend good money and design our tweeters to DO MORE from the outset, that (in fact) his way IS the better way... Danny has proven this to me time and time again – and we can look no further than his seminal work on “The Tiny Dancer” (The Usher BE718)... Danny has created a World Class Product in the 718 – and this speaker is winning award after award all over the world. Of course this speaker costs more than a complete Rocket or x-statik based Home Theater – but dang – Danny really nailed it in that product...

Let me digress here for a moment and remind that MY GOALS for av123 and our products are worn (to a fault) directly on my heart. I want to afford all of you a LARGE SLICE of “The High End” while charging more down-to-earth prices. I have to always have as a primary design influence the sound FIRST – and then the price... but I am influenced by how I personally feel our industry is turning off many a potential buyer by the prices we charge... In some cases these numbers simply defy intelligence – and in fact turn many away from owning a “higher end system”... They worry about how to make it work in their home – and how much MONEY this is all costing... The confusion and frustration factors lead many to just “Buy Bose”... I'm for trying to “mesh and adapt my roots and training” into products that don't cost you a College Tuition or that car you need to buy. I'm for making it all as affordable as I can while delivering products that defy imagination. A good example was that system we showed in Utah. A COMPLETE x-statik based HT with the indescribable MFW-15 for under 2.5K dollars – just add Receiver and DVD Player and YOU ARE THERE. After a few cuts on THAT system I stood up and said that with x-voce (which would have been “worlds better” as the Centre in that system ) that we were listening to about $2300 dollars worth of speakers and sub --- the smiles that I saw on everyone's face confirmed for me (as it always does) that this IS the proper road... You can see the “I can afford this grin” on everyone's kisser, and there is no compromise as part of that equation... Add a $700 dollar Receiver to the mix that day – easy to hook up and control --- and BAM, you have KILLER THEATRE for “reasonable dollars”... I LOVE THAT PART.

Oh well, back to Danny and these crossover points... Danny likes lower, and now I understand why. Getting that tweeter crossed lower allows Danny his goals – and allows me my goals... I get that HUGE POWER BAND I so desire – and we get a better imaging loudspeaker. We also get PLENTY of Power Handling as we generally use better parts than ANYONE in the price class – and by doing so – we can get to our mutual goals without major compromise. So, our woofers are happy because they don't have to go up so high – and we get that Power Band as a result...

When I listened to Mr. Yip Hok-Man I was struck by how DECISIVE our loudspeakers dealt with this impossible track. It was uncanny the way the x-ls encore literally pressurized my listening space – the attack and the decay were there in full bloom – while I will still able to enjoy the nuance of that track. The “skins” were present – and that “space” ---- YUMMY. The x-ls encore did itself proud on that track – real proud in fact.

When I switched over to the 525 I was frankly NOT expecting much... I knew I would loose the pressurization effect to a given degree (and I did)... but I was really blown away with how these little guys “translated” the track without missing the meaning of the music. Sure – I did not “feel” the mallet whacks in the visceral sense I did with the “encores” - but I knew they were there – and not “trapped” inside the speaker. The meaning came through loud and clear – not just the censorial result of “feeling it”. I was really pleased by this. It WAS Official... this little speaker had balls (apologies for the term and the word – but I can't find any other way to say this and hope you'll understand my meaning)... and hairy ones at that (sorry again)... They were smaller – but they were there for sure.

I immediately pulled out that The Sheffield Drum Disc – that Jim Keltner – Ron Tutt Masterpiece of the drum art and amazed myself over and over again at what these little guys can do... I sat back in sheer glee and amazement. The presentation was insightful and delicious. By the way – for those interested, you can buy the XRCD version of this disc together with The Track Disc (another Sheffield Classic) here:

http://www.elusivedisc.com/prodinfo....mber=LIMSXR005

I highly suggest it... Remember to listen wisely and don't kill your speakers at first listen...

Lets head back to Mr. Yim Hok-Man and his art...

Of course that IMPACT was sans the “pressurization” we talk of often – but, I was so impressed by the texture and “taste” of these special drums – I sat back and listened to the track over and over vis-a-vis the x-ls encores. I loved them both equally – just differently. The “encores” floored me with their ability to “carry the weight” - while the 525's knocked me out with their ability to convey the intrinsic meaning of the music – the “inner-detail” if you will. The encores said “lets party” (and they do that to the nines) – and the 525's said “kiss me” and then “do your thing”... BOTH are fun – both engage the senses – they just do so in different ways. I hope you can relate to where I'm coming from here. Both of these presentations have their ability to make you smile – it's more about “your taste and style”...

I will also throw out a variable that I was pleased to demonstrate in Utah – the 525's WITH an x-sub has to be heard to be believed. This is a “system to believe in” and “to be loved”... I enjoyed remembering how “tasty” our little x-sub is. Lovely – Lovely product and the very definition of a sub woofer that “extends the response” of your system. Together, the 525's and the x-sub make magic appear... No joke, a system to really enjoy and delight in.

More to follow... I'm out of time right now - my bagel is calling my name.

OK – How about a little taste of Part Three...

Lovely evening here – just finished watching an incredible 60 Minutes story in Gustavo Dudamel... Los Angeles, you rock – how lucky you are to have this young genius, literally infected with talent and energy... leading the way at “my home orchestra”, the LA Philharmonic. Maestro Dudamel takes the reins in 2009 – reason alone to move back to LA. If you'd like to learn more about this incredible young man go here... http://www.gustavodudamel.com/

So – it really IS “all about the music”... I love that part... An old favourite of mine is the celebrated Tri Cycle (Album and Title) from Flim & The BB's – DMP CD-443. This is an amazing cut that takes you on a really lively journey complete with GREAT Dynamics and (if I might say) is downright FUN to listen to... It bounces, and so should the loudspeakers playing this tune.

The ELT's placed everything in space in a very convincing way... I “heard and saw” (ask yourselves that sometimes when you are playing back something dynamic and with tons of “verve”) everything, well presented – and nicely “progressive”. I felt myself tapping away and enjoying everything. I did wish for more “slam” (slam – that elusive “vitamin” that all speakers need – even desire) in a few spots. I love Foundational Bass (sub 100Hz region) – and although the 525 has this – I did find myself wishing for MORE OUTPUT from time to time. The notes are there – I just wanted more “gain”... (who doesn't)...

It's nice to see and remember that the x-ls encore acquitted itself so nicely on this track. My notes remind of these two adjectives... QUICK and DEFINITE. I remember that even now... the encore was REALLY impressive on this track – never once shutting down on the highly dynamic parts... Always tactile and responsive... always willing to dig down and give me more of that “translation” I look for in a speaker... Can the musical impact be translated by the speaker – and then to me listening... This is neither simple nor easy. Speakers can say “ouch” sometimes, and they do that by squashing the dynamics – and screeching (in the treble range)... When your speaker starts to cry – trust me – you'll hear it... and you'll wish you hadn't.

Ivor Tiefenbrun from Linn is often quoted about the playback chain “keeping time” - and I've learned through my almost 39 years now of doing this that those simple words (keeping time) are amongst the hardest to achieve when designing loudspeakers. The variables and the trade offs sometime make it next to impossible to ask everything in the loudspeaker to help “keep time”... I'm telling you this for a reason. Those audiophiles that have been around for a long time will probably agree with me that the Linn Kan loudspeaker was something almost “GOD Given” when it came to it's ability to keep time. This diminutive, sweet and seductive transducer was my constant friend many years ago – and in the ELT525 I have found a “soul mate” again. I love the way this speaker “relates” to me... I love the air and the space for sure – but more – I love the way this speaker “touches me”... makes me want to listen and listen more and more... Now do NOT get me wrong... The x-ls encore is something (more) akin to living with a beautiful woman that has a mean streak... When things are good - they are positively “gymnastic-like” - but when things are not so good – you are looking around every corner for “the exit”... The x-ls encore for Modern Jazz and High Energy Fusion – might be (OK – IS) a match made in heaven... but for Chamber Music you want more “intimacy” and less “in your face”... You want balance – you want texture – You desire the warmth of your companion – communicating using all of the senses except talking out loud. You want to be “drawn in” not “forced to comply”... The 525 is positively seductive in it's ability to say “come here and listen – and be prepared to stay awhile”. The encore x-ls says sit down and shut up --- let me do the talking...

... both are fun (sorry – had to say that, again).

I just loved the encore when I listened to Hugh Masekela's classic Stimela... This is a 10 minute sojourn through the pain and suffering of many of the People of South Africa. I have been so moved by this track at times in my life that I have actually cried through this musical journey set to music and words. I love Africa, and as many of you know – I lived in Africa (Nigeria mainly) way back in 1983 for several years of my life. I have traveled all over The African Continent, and to this day maintain a “deep connection” to Enugu, Nigeria (Biafra before the Civil war) and my many IBO Friends. Gracie has spent parts of her last two Summers in Nairobi, Kenya on Game Preserves and building desks for the underprivileged. I love this track – as the music tells a story – and it's always interesting to me how the speaker delivers this message. The encores did this incredibly well – but the 525's felt so much “quieter”.

More to come... I need some sleep...

- Mark Schifter; Founder and President of AV123

Finishes...

We have two very high quality finishes for you to choose from. All woods are real and come from renewable resources.

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Specifications

Frequency Response	Impedance	Cumulative Spectral Decay

System: 2-way, 2-driver direct radiating vented enclosure with rear-firing flared ports.
Drivers: One (1) custom 5.25" woofer and one (1) 1" tweeter
Frequency Response: ± 3dB to 20KHz with -3dB at 60Hz
Crossover Point: 2200Hz
Slope: 2nd order acoustic
Impedance: 8 ohms
Efficiency: 83dB @ 1w/1m
Video Shielding: Yes
Wall Mounting: Yes, via two threaded inserts. One on the back and one on the bottom. Size: 1/4-20.
Dimensions: 6.12" W x 11.25" H x 9.81" D / 15.5cm W x 28.7cm H x 25cm D
Weight: 26lbs per pair shipped

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Warranty:

All products manufactured by AV123 carry a limited manufacturer's parts and labor warranty of three (3) years. These products are guaranteed to be free from manufacturer's defects for for a period from the date of purchase. For additional warranty information, please visit our Warranty and Returns Information Center.

Customer Reviews:

DAVE LAZEROW (Friday, 16 May 2008)

I liked that the ELT 525\'s presentation was neither too bright nor too dark but the best thing about them is that they throw a nice big stage and fully flesh out individual instruments. In that regard the ELT\'s drew me closer to the music in a way similar to my first pair of really good Klipsches back in the 70\'s. Indeed, as Mark Schifter mentioned in his listening notes, they do excel in the \'power-band\', where much of the musical information in recordings resides. The ELT\'s with their 83db/1 watt sensitivity will benefit from quality source components and receivers/amplification but going the megabuck separates route probably isn\'t necessary,IMHO. It certainly wouldn\'t hurt though, right?

Dave L.
New Britain, CT

http://www.geocities.com/dlazer11/cheapaudio.html

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