Coincident Total Eclipses or Inner Sound Eros Mark


I am considering getting the Total Eclipses or the Eros Mark 3s. Both cost about the same. My amp would work fine with both. Any thoughts about either of these speakers or your preference of?
If I can't swing the price of these, I am considering the Coincident Victory loudspeakers. Any thoughts on this? My amps are 80 watt M80 Quicksilver monoblocks.
Thank you very much,
Edward
elb

Showing 1 response by plato

As an InnerSound owner, I agree with the previous comments so far. That said, I don't know that your Quicksilver 80-watters will get the most out of the ESL panels. It's not that they won't have enough power -- it's more like they'll roll the highs slightly by driving the difficult capacitive load that the Eros imposes. Powerful hybrid amps, with a tube input stage and MOSFET outputs seem to work best with the Eros. Another way to go is to use a high quality tube preamp into a stable, high-powered solid-state amp.

Your Quicksilvers will play the Eros alright, but I doubt that the results will be optimal... I used a Music Reference RM 9 Signature version for a while and it sounded good, but not great. The other types of amps I mentioned drove it better. Curiously, the Clayton Audio 70-watt monos (high-current solid state) did not match well with the Eros, although they did sound fine with my previous Paradigm Studio 100s. Also, I prefer my Monarchy Audio SE 160 monos (hybrids) to InnerSounds own ESL amp (driving the Eros), which is now sounding quite nice on my Maggies. On the Eros, the ESL amp is very clear and detailed, but the Monarchys provide a warmer balance (more upper bass/lower midrange) and detailed, yet softer, highs. Plus, if you use a fine hybrid amp with the Eros you won't need to use a tube preamp.

My point is that the Eros can be amp-picky and if you drive them with an amp that is not quite up to the task you will get the wrong impression because they will not be at their best.