Quad11L, MA BX2, Epos M12i - which will be better as movie speaker?

[AMITNOIDA]

Hi
I am looking for Front pair bookshelf speakers for my movie set-up with Marantz AVR. I do not like much bright sound. But the speaker should have energy, attack, fast and tight bass.

Within my limited budget, I have shortlisted the following three speakers:

- Quad 11L classic
- Monitor Audio BX2
- Epos M12i

For music (which I will be using for about 60-70% time) I found Epos M12i has distinct edge over MA Bx2 and Quad 11L with Marantz AVR.

I have a dedicated 2 channel audio set-up in other room. So for my movie set-up, I like to select a speaker which will perform well with Marantz AVR for movie but should be decent for music also.

Need your suggestion.

Regards
Amit

 

[Asit]

Amit,
This is a no-brainer, for me that is, as I have told you even before. Although I have not listened to the newer MA BX2, among the three you mentioned, the Epos M12i is the best speaker by a significant distance, I think. Definitely for music. I do not have much idea what people look for in a speaker for movies (some punch, slam and thump, in addition?). The M12i will do a decent job on those power fronts, but I thought you were going to get a sub anyway.

It's a bit costlier than the other two. But in the long run, an extra 10-12K does not really matter (and, this is from one of the poorest audiophiles in HFV). Quality and VFM do.

Regards.

PS: Although your Leben can take much much better, I think you may be surprised by its quite decent pairing with the M12i's. They are a lot easier to drive than their modest sensitivity may suggest.

 

[prash2k01]

hi amit ji i have been using the quads and never find the punchy tight bass from them.

 

[magma]

the epos with the larger drivers should be better in that dept

but if you really are a bass head you will still want either an external sub or something at least like a paradigm titan monitor or a PSB B6

 

[reignofchaos]

This is not even competition - its epos anyday. Its better than the other two by miles.

 

[soundofmusic]

(and, this is from one of the poorest audiophiles in HFV).


Asitji, who is that poorest audiophile. Is it one with a Leben amp and Canton speakers...



@ Amit: Go for the Epos, The quad11L is also a good speaker but I will choose it for a bedroom system and not for main listening or for HT.

 

[AMITNOIDA]

(and, this is from one of the poorest audiophiles in HFV).


Asitji, who is that poorest audiophile. Is it one with a Leben amp and Canton speakers...



@ Amit: Go for the Epos, The quad11L is also a good speaker but I will choose it for a bedroom system and not for main listening or for HT.

@Soundofmusic
It is my plan to set up HT in bed room :lol: and 2 channel audio set up in Living room. In Living room I have a 26" HDready LCD which is used for Tatasky SD. The FullHD plasma is placed in my bedroom for pure HD stuff, where I plan to set up my HT.

 

[AMITNOIDA]

the epos with the larger drivers should be better in that dept

but if you really are a bass head you will still want either an external sub or something at least like a paradigm titan monitor or a PSB B6

I have a plan to add a sealed sub later from SVS or Velodyne.

 

[soundofmusic]

Amit: Check out the Quad 12L2 as well. I have listened to the Quad speakers used in HT and it is way better then the MA. Have heard Epos only few times and to my untrained ears quad sounded better:lol:

 

[AMITNOIDA]

I have auditioned Epos m12i in a movie set-up with Marantz AVR. I am impressed. To me EPOS M12i is a good speaker for music as well as movie. The dialogues were very clear, even the whisper low dialogues of 'The next three days' movie. The war scene sounds of "Saving Private Ryan' was also quite impressive. One can seriously consider it.

 

[Asit]

But my budget has overshoot by about 40%:sad:.

Don't worry about it. Money will come and money will go .

 

[naren2512]

@ AMITNOIDA

Firstly I think all the three speakers shortlisted by you are good

I have heard two of them i.e MA BX2 and Quad 11L2 and both sounded good for movies and music both. However BX2 were little bit on the brighter side and Quad 11L2 sounded great for movies but i felt in between there were sounding little rough in some of the scenes. ( as if they were loosing the charm for a few seconds in some of the scenes)

I found PSB Image Bookshelves to be better than above two as they were balanced good for movies and music both. They aren't bright at all and got exceptional sound stage which makes the movie watching experience more interesting. I would suggest you should give PSB a listen too

I have not tried Epos and I wish I could as they too have good reviews but they dont seem to be available in Mumbai. Did you get to try Epos as a 5.1 setup? how was the performance of the center channel? just curious to know due to the reviews on internet

Regards,
Naren

 

[AMITNOIDA]

I have not tried Epos and I wish I could as they too have good reviews but they dont seem to be available in Mumbai. Did you get to try Epos as a 5.1 setup? how was the performance of the center channel? just curious to know due to the reviews on internet

No, I listened in 2.0 channel set-up without centre channel.

 

[soulforged]

Quad, Epos, MA in that order...

 

[naren2512]

@ AMITNOIDA

If you are going to be using a pair of bookshelves for movies then I think it doesnt make much sense to try the speakers with center while you demo them

However if in future you plan to upgrade the system to 5:1 and would like to use same pair of BS for fronts then I would strongly encourage you to try the speakers with the center channals as well during demo as the center is very importnat part of the HTS for movies

Regards,
Naren

 

[AMITNOIDA]

My first thanks goes to Asit. He was the person, who recommended EPOS M12i for my movie set-up as front speaker. Actually, when I was not satisfied with Quad 11L classic and returned the speaker and drifting between MABX2 and KEFQ300, he suggested me the EPOS.

Earlier, I had listened EPOS M12.2 (earlier version) once about 2 years ago at Bangalore and had an idea about its performance. I think M12.2 bass performance was marginally better than their new M12i. But M12i when placed around 6-7" from the rear wall sounds better in bass reproduction. The above factor helps me in my tight placement stuation. Moreover, Quad 11L, if not placed on a stand sound mediocore, but Epos M12i even placed on a table sound decent.

Thanks to Magma, Soundof music and reignofchaos, who also suggested EPOS. I have one posibility in my mind. When I will be using EPOS M12i for music I will pair it with my Leben amp (will be connected through analogue out from my PC sound card Asus Xonar). But when playing movie, I will connect EPOS with Marantz AVR (connected through HDMI with Oppo BD player and PC). So a proper rack is next requirement.

Also I am looking for a pair of bookshelf surround speakers, which can go well with EPOS M12i. The surround speakers can be either standmounted or placed on a side cabinet at our ear level.

Alternately, if I go for bipolar surround, I have to mount it in the rear wall approx. 7.5-8 ft above the floor level (handicapped due to window and balcony door in the rear).

Can you please suggest the best option for me?