Eltax Symphony 8 Floorstanding Speakers Reviews

Price Paid:  $229.00 from Richer Sounds

Summary:
For the new 8.3 I ran these for a few weeks... These speakers have an extremely uneven response, accentuating at 100Hz and 6kHz and with a MASSIVE dip between 400 and 900Hz. Flabby and sizzling. Great if you're listening to a flute solo or whale song, but that's about it. Unfortunately, Eltax have buckled to the home cinema market's preference for a 'lively', bracing sound. It's as if they've taken the (much better) 8.2s and added an undefeatable 'pop music' EQ setting such as found on kids' midi-systems. What makes it worse is that the quality of drivers, construction and connections is actually pretty good. Overall, this isn't an awful speaker. I just don't understand why Eltax have changed this model so much for the worse- perhaps the crossover's doing something odd.

Strengths:
The top end is very strong and clear. Extended bass.

Weaknesses:
The top end is overpowering and tiring. Cost of extended bass is flabbiness.

Similar Products Used:
Eltax Symphony 8.2 Mission 7.3e KEF Cresta 3 Wharfedale Valdus 500

Price Paid:  $250.00 from Richer Sounds

Summary:
These are lovely speakers, especially for classical music, as they give voices in particular plenty of depth and weight (though this may be partly the Arcam amp and CD player they are hooked up to), but without muddiness. Wonderful for choral music, and opera singers. There is some weakness in the middle range, and one reservation is that the bass is sometimes so crisp, bouncy and controlled, despite being relatively overpriveleged in the picture, that rock and pop music can sound a bit clinical. Also, jazz - especially where rides, etc. are prominent, can sound 'noisy' because the sound is very forward. I have found these are a good compromise hooked up to my TV/DVD - the bass is substantial enough to live without a subwoofer, and the placement is good enough without multiple speakers.

Strengths:
Great, beefy but musical sound. Look very nice.

Weaknesses:
Middle range a bit underplayed. Can sanitise some pop / rock / dance music.

Similar Products Used:
none

Price Paid:  $200.00 from richersounds

Summary:
Having lived with these speakers for over a year now, I'm still not sure about them! Lost a bass driver from one unit after only a month (thanks Richersounds for a relatively prompt replacement, even if I did have to fit it myself). Paired with a Cambridge A500, they initially seemed to offer a clean sound- probably more lively in the bass field than all of the other combinations that I auditioned. BUT, after living with them (and now being totally paranoid about driving them into clipping and hence driver destruction)for a year or so, I'm feeling that there's something missing from the set-up. Deep bass is fine (although it has an "out of the room" feeling) great for p***ing off the neighbours but, in terms of LOUD... not that good. They tend to sound like they're going to self-destruct at the sort of SPL's that I enjoy.

Strengths:
Good bottom end bass, very "toppy" with good mid range

Weaknesses:
Where's the mid bass gone?

Similar Products Used:
Tannoy studio monitors, home builts

Price Paid:  $200.00 from richersounds

Summary:
Having lived with these speakers for over a year now, I'm still not sure about them! Lost a bass driver from one unit after only a month (thanks Richersounds for a relatively prompt replacement, even if I did have to fit it myself). Paired with a Cambridge A500, they initially seemed to offer a clean sound- probably more lively in the bass field than all of the other combinations that I auditioned. BUT, after living with them (and now being totally paranoid about driving them into clipping and hence driver destruction)for a year or so, I'm feeling that there's something missing from the set-up. Deep bass is fine (although it has an "out of the room" feeling) great for p***ing off the neighbours but, in terms of LOUD... not that good. They tend to sound like they're going to self-destruct at the sort of SPL's that I enjoy.

Strengths:
Good bottom end bass, very "toppy" with good mid range

Weaknesses:
Where's the mid bass gone?

Similar Products Used:
Tannoy studio monitors, home builts

Price Paid:  $250.00 from Richer Sounds

Summary:
Linked to a Yamaha DSP-620 AMP, Running 6.2 on the rear & the eltax center.

Strengths:
Solid Top and bottom end. Great Price & Great looks.

Weaknesses:
Mid range can become week depending on the music choice.

Similar Products Used:
B&W