Emerald Physics C2 or Usher BE-718

I have in the past and will continue to be going forward, a big proponent of the CS2's, but I recently sold my pair.

Why you ask?

Because I decided to only keep a single pair of speakers for my main system and that pair of speakers are my Vandersteen 5A's. No shame in losing out to a $20k pair of speakers! :-)

From my standpoint, the CS2's absolutely live up to the extremely positive reviews in TAS and Positive Feedback and are a steal at used prices. I still stand by all my positive comments made over at Audio Circle.

While their performance is well above their price point (new or used), you do have some challenges that others have already mentioned. I also feel that the stock Behringer DCX-2496 is the weak link in the chain. To really hear what the CS2's are capable of, you need to upgrade or improve the DCX. Luckily, there are numerous ways and people who can do this. That being said, all the positive reviews of the CS2's are with the stock DCX...

Overall, I am sad to see my CS2's go and will miss them.

George

I would pick Omega 8s monitors over Usher and CS2 over both.
However, CS2s need to be bi-amp and have some room requirements.
Ushers are nice but like others said - not in the same league.
Two different speakers, presentation and all.
I picked my AAD 2001 monitors (just sold) over Usher Be-718.

Louis build for me a custom pair of Super 8 Alnico monitors which work for my setup and gear preferences a lot better.
One (or two) caveat that I have with Omegas is low WAF and bulkiness.
Other then that, great speakers.

I've never heard the Ushers. I recently purchased a set of Emerald Physics CS2 and have not looked back. I recently owned Von Schweikert VR-2 and Magnepan 1.6QR which are both outstanding values IMO. But so is the CS2!

What I love about the CS2:
1. Easy to set up - place them 3',4',5',6', or 7' from front wall, set the eq, play with toe in
2. Minimal room interaction, I took down all of my room treatments, for that alone, high WAF
3. Quick, nimble bass that is deep and powerful when the recording calls for it, visitors look around for the sub!
4. Wide, deep, your are there soundstage and imaging
5. Detailed without etch - does require some cable trial and error(what system doesn't!)
6. The variable gain settings on the eq/crossover allow you to use a wide range of equipment, (I currently use a Placette passive line stage with no problems)

Issues that you have to live with
1. EQ is xlr/balanced ins and outs only
2. They do like quality power, if you play bombastic orchestral works or loud rock and you have a large space
3. The eq is a little noisy......hiss/noise is easily heard with ear next to the upper range driver
4. Requires 2 pairs of speaker cables
5. Requires 4 channels of identical amplification. Mixing amps for lows/highs doesn't seem to work well. I had success with a Meridian G55, Rotel RMB1095, a pair of Emotiva XPA-2, and now a Krell KAV500 (match made in heaven!!! I'm done, woo hoo!!! It would be fun to try a Krell KAV1500 though!)

My current system: Placette passive line stage, Lexicon RT20 CD/SACD/DVA-A, Krell KAV500, MAC CuQ speaker cables (2pr), Audio Metallurgy GA-0 interconnects, DCCA Musical Essence II and Reference Master power cords, all for about $6800 used and sounds incredible.

My next purchase is to get the upgraded Behringer crossover from Underwood HiFi.

Hope this helps.

TKmetz,

Speak to Walter at underwood about the hiss. He can tell you how to turn the gain down to get rid of it if you want.

My CS2's were dead quiet until I upgraded the behringer with Underwood. Then the hiss became noticable. Apparantly the stock behringers have a resistor(?) that cuts the gain down on the high channels. The underwood mod removes this. I chose to leave my speakers with the high gain because I can't actually hear ot from my listening position.

After 35 years of having fun looking for the best realism for the money (and spent a small fortune)I've also ended up with the CS2's.
With each change in my system from 18 years with Maggie's M.111's and more recently 1.6QR's and the Spendor FL6 i've finally found a system that to me has the least negatives and the most pleasing sound I've ever had the pleasure of having owned.
Gone are the power hungry tube amps and speakers which can't convey an instruments size and tonality with any sort of realism.I'm having a barrel of fun with these.The highs are clean and clear and can you ever crank 'em up.
Sorry I've not heard the Ushers so no comparison I can make,and do not want to highjack the thread.
Signed 'A Happy Listener'.