Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
I've owned a pair of these fine loudspeakers for a couple of years now. My purchase was based on very positive reviews on this site and in Stereophile magazine. In that time, I've also had a few other quality monitor speakers in my system, all of which can be had for about the same amount of money as the Eposes on the used market. I thought a comparison would be beneficial to potential puchasers.

1) Monitor Audio Studio 6- The MAs have an overall more refined treble, superior imaging, and are more open and transparent than the Eposes which have a tendency to sound rather boxy. The Eposes produce a much bigger apparent sound source, important for realism, and lack the MAs irritating mid-treble peakiness. The Eposes also go much lower in the bass (courtesy of their much bigger cabinets). More importantly, the Eposes have an almost indefinable muscial "rightness" about them which I believe is due to their lack of a passive crossover. The MAs, despite their considerable virtues, sound somewhat artificial by comparison.

2) Energy Reference Connoisseur RC-10- The Energy's have one of the best tweeters I've ever heard, easily besting the Eposes, with none of the treble peakiness of the MAs. Transparency thoughout the midrange and treble also favors the Energys which reproduce very realistic sonic textures. Musical textures through the Eposes sound gray in comparison. Again, the Eposes produce a much bigger sound source and have the edge in bass.

3) JBL L-1s- I haven't owned the JBLs as long as the other speakers so I can only relate my first impressions. Once again the JBLs, with their pure titanium tweeter win the treble stakes (though to my ears they still fall slightly behind the Energys). The JBLs midrange is more problematic in that it sounds rather forward. I know some listeners prefer this type of sound and would undoubtedly rate the JBLs over the Eposes. To my ears, the Eposes sound considerably better balanced and more refined (not that the JBLs are crude). Both the JBLs and Eposes produce a big, bold sonic picture.

Overall, the Epos ES-14s are very good loudspeakers but I don't know if they deserve the rave reviews they have received on this site and elsewhere. How much you appreciate their virtues depends largely on your sonic priorities.

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
I'm also still(for 10 years now...) totally satisfied with my Epos ES 14, I bought them 1999 in Germany, I visit a Reson Dealer who sells DNM, Rhedeko, Resolution Audio, Creek and even Epos, I fall in love with the epos "head over hills"...
I have upgrade my equipment a lot in those last 10 years since I had the ES 14 and yes, like all the other reviewer's said it, the speakers grow and grow(in a little listening-room), now I'm "bi-amping" them with a Heed Obelisk+xps+Obelisk Poweramp, on frontend is a cult cd-player, the CD-50 from Resolution Audio, all DNM/Reson cable connected...and yes there's all the "shimmering glow&glory" in the reproduction of my favorite and diverse music I love to liston to...anything by Doctor L and Tony Allen&Fela, Deep funk and classic soul/rare grooves and jazz(from ecm stuff to free jazz..).

Yes this speaker IS an absolute "music-maestro" and will always get you in da mood 2 listen on and on...to any kind of material...there's always the right swing and timing(groove!) in the reproduction, you never hear analytical to a special part of the performance...instead U can use these speaker like an instrument to explore your record collection and stuff...I mean I NEVER miss anything in their performance, no deep bass or whatever...they even can get real loud man...!

As long I can not buy me a real expensive alternative speaker like Avalon, Merlin or Verity or somthin' like this, I stay kool and let them take me into the heart of any kind of good music...U know?!

If you R looking for a serious and "cheap" loudspeaker, try to find a good used pair of Epos Es-14, at times U can find them all over europe.

So finally, match them with good equipment and they will shine on a lifetime...

It's good to know that so many peolple worlwide honor what Robin Marshall is givin' us all...BIG THANX Robin! WORD!!

Price Paid:  $750.00 from in Hong Kong

Summary:
Epos ES14 was better than average when I first heard it in mid '95. But the funny thing about it is you don't get tired listening to it as it gets older. When compared with the new speakers of the same price, you'd realize you own an extraordinary speaker and almost without peer in its class. It gets even better as you upgrade your amplifier. It sounds best when used with British- and New England-made amps. The only Japanese brand that could make it sing, in my experience, is Sansui (the old models from 717 or 707 not the new Alpha series).

Strengths:
Middle and high frequencies are simply unmatched by other speakers in its class.

Weaknesses:
Requires proper placement and good sturdy stand. Bass isn't that deep but good enough for a knock-out punch.

Similar Products Used:
(within same price range) Rogers LS8, B&W Matrix 2, Monitor Audio S6, JBL 4311, Bose 901V

Price Paid:  $600.00

Summary:
Picked these up with stands in the UK, condition was wanting so I restored the cabinets. Also replaced the capacitors. Sound is good more base than my Spendor SP2/2, but not as tight as my old ES12's.

Strengths:
Accurate and revealing

Weaknesses:
None really

Similar Products Used:
Spendor, Rogers, ES12's, Proac etc

Price Paid:  $650.00 from Audiogon

Summary:
This speaker offers very surprising performance given it's price. In my quest for a very good speaker to match my Naim electronics, I'm auditioned quite a few speakers both standmount and floorstanding. The ES14 is a very revealing speaker that will bring the best in your components. Fed with quality components they will shine. The sound is extremely clear, with the blackest blacks between notes, outstanding midrange, with sweet extended highs and a nice tight low end. This is surprising since I've considered bass reflex to be a little sloppy in the bottom end. No such problem here. I'm extremely content with this speaker as you'll be looking at speakers 3 times the cost to approach the level of sound offered here. Don't blame this speaker for any deficiencies in your sound. Note this speaker comes in both bi-wire and single wire versions. I feel the single wire version (original) somehow sounds better but perhaps I've just been influenced by what's been posted on newsgroups.

Strengths:
Outstanding midrange, sweet highs, tight bottom end. Ability to unravel the most complex of musical passages with ease.

Weaknesses:
Revealing nature requires the best electronics, cables, and stands to show it's true hidden performance. Make sure you partner with the best heavy rigid stand you can afford. Partner it with a cheap stand and you'll be sorry. No longer in production so difficult to find. I'd say $600-700 on the used market is the average now which is dirt cheap considering some people pay that much for interconnects.

Similar Products Used:
Too many to list from high end ATC to Vienna Acoustics.