23
Apr
2010
TechRadar: The Epos speaker brand has launched into the high-end with the £4,995 Encore 50.
With the Encore 50, Epos is gunning for the likes of ATC, Bowers and Wilkins and anyone else brave enough to poke their tweeter over the parapet. This speaker makes a statement of intent that no redblooded audio enthusiast could resist: it’s made to play loud.
Ironically, when you think of substantial speakers that play as loud as you like, Epos is not a name that comes readily to mind. It makes some pretty good speakers, but up until now they have been reasonably manageable, one man lift-type devices.
But what the high-end Encore 50 promises, is Epos’ signature timing and finesse combined with the ability to rock the house for the deep-pocketed.
A real hi-fi speaker
You can tell from this loudspeaker’s stature that it means business, it measures 1,230mm high on its substantial and elaborate spikes and makes no concessions to the whims of interior design. This is a speaker for those of us who are not afraid to admit that bigger is better when it comes to recreating a musical performance in the home.
It’s 45-kilo carcass contains a set of drive units that have been designed to fulfil this mission. For the bass, Epos has used a pair of 220mm woofers that are not only sizeable, but have a lightweight cone made out of Kevlar, carbon fibre and pulp (or paper as it’s usually known).
A composition that’s not dissimilar to the bass drivers in Bowers and Wilkins’ 800 series models, these cones sit in an aluminium chassis with a big 40mm voice coil that has (+/-) 30mm of travel – a lot for a cone of this size – the driver doesn’t have to work too hard to make itself heard.