These are probably the best bookshelf speakers I have owned next to Acoustic Energy AE100 bookshelves. Foe value for money they are unbeatable. Neutrality is outstanding, tremendous mid range which tehy are renowned for. Punchy bottom and the fluid cooled tweeters make the treble sound so sweet. Outstanding build qaulity, easy to drive and dynamic sound. Very life like...

Midtone section, natural !!!

Bass has to many depth !

Sound spectrum is good, instruments are placed good, good round bass, Also good high !

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Infinity reference 60

Do everthing right ,mid and high is good, depending on the source. Poorly setup can give rise to nasal congested vocal

Its own stand and good source is a must to bring the best of this speaker

I got this speaker to replace the es 11, feel that this speaker has better high than the 11. however this speaker is more fussy with cabling and amp, avoid bright sounding system. It need more power, using a 100 watter onix 120 power from the exposure 17 pre. Point to note, biwiring and its speaker stand is a must to enhance its performance

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es 11 ,b&w cdm 1,neat petite

Excellent detail, clarity and realism with jazz and small scale folk, classical and pop. Punchy bass.

Lack of real low bass; slight lack of scale for symphonic music; lack of slam for rock

I use ES12's with Arcam Alpha 8 and 8P biamped, Cabletalk 3 biwire with the source a Marantz 63 KIsig. The sound is beautifully detailed, and compared to similarly priced speakers I auditioned I was impressed with the accurate reproduction of acoustic sound (e.g. drums on a demo disc). Bass is not very deep, but punchy and fast. These speakers work well in my 6m by 6m room on rigid stands filled with gravel. I would like a grander scale for orchestral music, but they are delightful with jazz, folk, light rock and small scale classical.

good

good performance

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psb alpha

I have owned the ES-12s for over a year now, and I have few complaints. They are not perfect, but they have definite strengths.
They sound clean and refined. It's hard to describe, but they are really smooth and pleasant to listen to. In this respect, they sound like much more expensive speakers.

They are a little bright, though I would not describe them as harsh. Unfortunately, I have them hooked to an Acurus amp, which enhances this brightness more than I would like, but with some amps (such as a good classe) they just come alive and sing.

There is a really bad resonance at something like 50 Hz or so (complete guess, it sounds like a little more than an octave lower than the lowest singer I have heard) at which point that note becomes much louder than everything else. This may be partly due to my not having them anchored as well as I could, and the fact that they are not more than 22" from the wall in my horrible apartment. Still, I have only one CD (J. E. Gardener's Brahms Requiem) that triggers this problem in any noticable way, and that is only for brief sections. You can plug the back ports with socks (!) and it will go away, but that's not really ideal.

The bass can range from great to mushy, depending on setup. You have to play. They should definitely not be bought without a home trial first! But I am still happy.

These speakers *really* dislike being toe-ed in. I thought they were horrendous and had no soundstage until I straightened them out. Then the soundstage opened up, and was quite good. The room I was in had a big bass resonance, but still I thought these speakers weren't very clear at the lower end. I heard LOTS of bass, but couldn't tell WHAT it was. The sound also is not neutral, a little on the warm side. Was not impressed with the rendering of vocals. Recordings that I *know* have static suddenly lost their static. That's NOT a good sign. Still, they weren't horrendous speakers (like the B&W's in this price range!), and their price was not exorbitant. But again, for $500 you can have the Castle Isis speakers.

Scale of sound and timing

Treble doesn't give the highest, can sound small sometimes

Previously I owned kef q35 with target stands and model 90 centre speaker boosted with rel storm. I loved q35 for their sound stage but their treble sounded dark. I bought a pair of target stands for 25$(A bargain even though they were used).
So I had a pair of flowerstands with sand filling and spikes. I was going to buy the gradient preludes(800$) or amphion argons which are a great statment where Finnish speaker design is. After I sold my Kef system for 500$
I saw an add selling es12 for 500$(a demo pair). So what made me choose a pair of speakers which I have never heard
box 24mm mdf(most speakers have only 16mm), real veneer(kefs had vinyl)finish, dual magnet aluminium tweeter(might go higher than kefs 19mm soft dome), Simple crossover(different). When I got them I was stunned they looked great(light cherry) and the back bi wire bananas -WHAT?!? no one told me that they can't be wired normally, luckily I had a pair of cable talk 3.1bi. The plugs i Had weren't original and sucked deep so I made ones of my own and gold plated the 5$ each.
Sound was stunning similar to the kefs but sounded better and more open. For the first hours I was eeried in every album i played due to the fact that all the little sounds were so present and clear(try cCounting crows, This desert life track 6 High Life;) Due to the fact I have a subwoofer
I usually add more wool to my speakers so their tuning frequency goes more smoother low and bass level drops. What I found inside was a great deal of good thinking. The bass driver is intengrated to the front waffle and is made of acoustically damped material(doesn't resonate). The tweeter looked serious also. The crossower, simple 1st oder one big polyester capasitor for the tweeter, bass straight wired.
The box is sturdy and with the internal brasing won't live with the music. I tested these speakers with my dads ampflier few moths ago conclusion my amp sucks(I'm so shamed that I can't tell wha it is). With 340W to 8ohm high-end amp you don't need a sub(these go deep enough with a good amp but not DEEP like storm). The new model m12 sounds like es 12 only with different tweeter mdf back and cheaper price.

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dali royal mk2

When I listen to the Epos 12, I can't help but feel that its boxy and congested. It cannot disguise the fact that it is a small box unlike speakers like the Proacs. The Platinum Studio is similarly priced, but because it does something well; i.e. rhythm,pace,bass etc, it can be recommended for those that like these qualities. As for the Epos, it doesn't really do anything well. Its, well, average. Its not that i dislike the Epos Sound; I really like the ES22, which has an enormous boogie factor.
Note: this speaker is overpriced in the US! It is much cheaper overseas. (up to 40% cheaper!)
Rating considering US price : 2 stars, but if 40% cheaper : 4 stars
total: 3 stars

I've replaced my old JM Lab "Laureate" with the Epos ES12. The sound of the Epos is congested, artificial, ordinary, weak. The treble is bright, the bass, undefined, the voices sound "nasal". The JM Labs, costing 1/3 the Epos, are perhaps less detailed but very better in all the other aspects. The sound is much more natural and pleasant (I feel the "presence" of the instruments). The JM Labs brings me emotion, the Epos, irritation.Furthermore, with the cables I've purchased with the speakers ("Oehlbach"), the sound was literally insupportable (specially with the silver coated). Luckily, I already had a good french cable (no brand).
I don't understand all the awards and favorable reviews.
Long life to the JM Lab's!
(My system comprises an Audiolab 8000s amp and a Marantz CD67 CD player.)