(1)
Subject: Epitome Speakers
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1998 00:14:24 -0400
From: "Anne S.&Michael J.Rodriguez" <a&mrod@nut-n-but.net>
Organization: Michael J.Rodriguez
To: osspeak@ihug.com.au
It has been a little under
a year now since the Epitome speakers have graced our audio system.
This has been a time of much enjoyment and some growth as well.
Previously you had been gracious enough to advise us on
the upgrade path for our Mark IIIs. Heeding your advice,we have
purchased a pair of bass bins to complete the Epitome system.
Their sound is nothing short of spectacular. No doubt there is
a certain synergy at work here. In building our system, great
care has been taken in component matching. The amplifier is an
Ayre V-3 which is fed by an Audible Illusions Modulus 3a Pre-amplifier.
Source components include a Krell KPS 20i compact disc player,
a Sony DTC-2000ES D.A.T.deck, a Sumiko Project 6 turntable and
a Magnum Dynalab FT101A F.M. tuner. Interconnects are Kimber P.B.J.,Speaker
cables are M.I.T. Bi-Wire2 from the amplifier to the main speakers,M.I.T.
750 between the main cabinets and the bass bins(Wilson Audio Puppy
Tails!)
There are very few musical styles that escape play on this system.
All of them sound involving and wonderful at whatever volume level
chosen. Congratulations on producing a product that delivers such
pleasure and satisfaction at a comparatively reasonable price.
Thank you,
Anne&Michael J. Rodriguez
Port Charlotte, Florida U.S.A.
(2)
Subject: Epitome Speakers
Date: Mon, 17 Jul 1998
From: Terry Gollings, Sorrento, Victoria, Australia. (No Internet
access)
I have been an owner of your fine speakers
for over 10 years, being the proud owner of a pair of Mark 1 Epitomes.
I have been a keen Audiophile for more years than I care to remember.
I am also a very fastidious person and demand that when I finally
purchase something it has to be extraordinary value. I spent several
years looking for a new speakers before buying the Epitomes. I
nearly drove most of the hi Fi Shops in Melbourne mad with my
dithering, but nothing that they could show me impressed me more
than the speakers I already had. I had owned Klipsch Klipschorns
for several years, and although I realized that they were lacking
in some areas, I had grown to love their astonishing speed and
extraordinary dynamic range. The sense of ease that they imparted
to whatever music they were playing at virtually any volume made
other speakers sound forced and compressed. Immediately on hearing
the Epitomes in my system, my mind was made up. Not only was the
speed and dynamics considerably superior to the Klipschorns but
the bass extension and sense of weight, power and authority and
the sound stage presentation made me somewhat embarrassed about
my previous pride and joy. The real shock was the intimate detail,
shimmering symbols and absolute pin point imaging, all at a price
well below the Klipsch.
I upgraded the crossovers to the new Mark 111 configuration about
2 years ago which was a massive improvement. I have listened with
interest to the new Mark 1Vs, which I acknowledge are a considerable
improvement over my speakers. Also the Monuments, which are just
mind blowing. I listen at every chance I get to speakers without
and consideration of price restrictions, I have yet to hear any
speaker which goes even close to giving the sense of involvement,
sonic purity and overall performance of my old speakers.
(5)
Subject: Epitome Speakers
Jac Jongmans.
2042 ES Zandvoort,
The Netherlands. jonghall@gironet.nl
In January 1995 my wife
and I visited the CES in Las Vegas in a search for new, high quality
and musical products for a than still active company.
We listened to a lot of equipment and we were surprised to see
how many companies had put quite some time in acoustical alignments
in order to let there product sound well in a hotel room that
was not to much different to a living room.
The last room we visited however brought a bright and pleasant
sound into the corridor, and my wife insisted to get inside.
That was when we first met Greg Osborn and his Family, and of
course his speakers, The Titan and the Epitome, in a room without
any acoustical mubo jumbo.
After a intensive listening session we decided to distribute the
speakers in the Netherlands and agreed on this.
The Epitomes were shipped to us after a long period of waiting
since Greg had developed, fortunately, a very high standard for
the cabinet, and had trouble to find a solid manufacturer to produce
them.
To make a long story short when the speakers arrived I've got
ill and had to close the company. But the speakers were
here and I am using them intensely.
I sold the Klipschhorn speakers I had and I am enjoying the lifelike
sound of the Epitomes, included the separate bass unit.
The system is driven by another very fine australian product,
The music Labs pre- and power amplifier, using a Winn Laboratories
Turntable with the Allison arm and the Keostu red cartridge.
Cabling between the amplifier and the speakers is by a silver
and copper twisted cable, that give for us the best result.
A fair warning to all future
owners of the Osborn speakers is that you have to give yourself
time to get used to the honest sound of the speakers, both Epitome
and the Titans, because its clear, lifelike sound, and dynamic
possibilities are hard to find in
another known speaker. And it takes some time to get
used to it.
A final suggestion, if
you like classical music, play the recording of Bernstein’s
“Candide”
If you like Jazz take Micheal Brecker’s album, “Don't
try this at home”, and for the Pop
lovers
Dave Stewart’s latest CD “SlyFi” gives you the
right impression of the potential these
speakers have.
(3)
Subject; Epitome speakers.
"Ken Hartz" Philadelphia <kenhartz@home.com>
I have been continuing to audition
the Epitome MK IV's and I think they are "casting a spell"
on me. I find that they are very musical and easy to listen to.
The treble is quite detailed and extended, but not forward, or
"in your face" as so many other high-end speakers. Anyway,
the other night I figured it was time to have a shootout between
my Meret AY's and the Epitome's, since I was now used to their
sound. I knew/felt that the Epitome's were probably better that
my Meret's, but I must say, I quite surprised at how much better,
when I did a direct comparison. The Meret AY is similar to ,and
was competition for the Avalon Eclipse during its brief time of
production. By itself, I felt that the Meret was, and is, quite
good. But upon comparison to the Epitome, it sounded tilted in
the highs, lacking mid and deep bass extension, and very compressed,
especially in the mids. I find that the Epitomes have a very good
top to bottom tonal balance, and the mids present a very realistic
portrayal of the music (especially with piano and sax). I also
find that the Epitome is very dynamic speaker. I initially was
playing "bombastic" recordings, like the 1812 Overture,
etc., and was blown away by the dynamics. But upon further evaluation,
I find that dynamics are not limited to these big pieces, but
with single instruments, the dynamics show through in the attack
and decay of the instrument, giving a realistic reproduction of
the music. This was quite an enlightenment! Anyway, it looks as
though I may have a buyer for my Meret's and I will probably want
the bass modules ASAP.
Before I made my final decision on the Epitomes, I auditioned
a pair of Vandersteen 3A signatures. A dealer friend of mine has
been trying to convince me for some time that this was the way
I should go. But due to the fact that I have had SET amps until
recently I could never consider the Vandersteens, but I have always
had a respect for Richard Vandersteen as a designer, so I felt
compelled to at least give a serious listen to them. I must say,
now that I am very familiar with the sound of the Epitome, the
3A sigs were not even in the same league as the Epitome. The bass
was there, but non-descript. It did not have anywhere near the
bass definition of the Epitome. The Vandys were also dry/analytical
in the mids compared to the Epitome. They also sounded compressed
in comparison to the Epitome. However, they did image pretty well.
In any event, I feel that I have now satisfied my curiosity, and
I am happy to report that the Epitomes are staying in my listening
room!
Also, I listened to the Wilson Watt/Puppy 6.0 at Soundex in Willow
Grove PA last week, and I must say, my Epitomes' (even without
the woofers) were much better. I really do not understand why
everyone seems to go crazy over the W/P 6. The bass was deep,
but was nondescript (compared to the Epitome) and was borderline
boomey. The mids were much drier than the Epitome, and were not
as dynamic, or realistic sounding. The highs were not as relaxed,
and easy to listen to as the Epitomes, in my opinion. The rest
of the system was the big Krell FPB, the top of the line Krell
transport/dac/preamp (the all in one unit with the acrylic top),
and about $20K worth of Transparent cabling in a fairly large
room with extensive acoustic treatments. All in all, I was disappointed
in the sound, especially considering the costs! The Epitome w/woofers
is less than half the price of the Watt/Puppy 6, and I consider
the Epitome ( even without the woofers) to be far superior in
dynamics, top to bottom tonal balance, and overall musicality,
compared to the W/P 6!
Two more Epitomes in Entire Systems