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Emotiva T1 Towers - Audiophile Quality or Just Home Theatre Towers?

I don't have an Emotiva dealer near me but the few reviews out there are pretty positive of these Emotiva T1 towers. Have the AMT ribbon tweeter like Golden Ears but a faction of the cost at $700/pr.  Has anyone demoed these? Heard them side-by-side against more expensive speakers? Are they just punchy rock speakers or for home theatre, or are they transparent enough for classical, jazz?  

Thanks for any comments 
kansas400
jra_samba's avatar
jra_samba
15 posts
 
I had a pair (part of their 5.1 deal) driven by their XMC-1 processor and BasX A500 five channel consumer amp. I was incredibly impressed. I would say they were 80% of my GoldenEar Triton Ones at a fraction of the price (with the Dirac room correction built into the XMC-1). I would certainly suggest getting a pair to try out.
stereo5's avatar
stereo5
6,278 posts
 
80% of the Triton 1 speakers.  That leaves 20% which is the most important. 
jra_samba's avatar
jra_samba
15 posts
 
Well the Triton Ones are $5k, whereas the Emotiva T1's were $699. Getting 80% of the way there is pretty.damn good IMHO. I doubt most people could tell the difference. If I only had $1k to spend I'd happily buy the T1's and never look back.
tutetibiimperes
202 posts
 
If you had $1,000 to spend you could step up to the T2s and get the 8" woofers.  I've heard good things about the Emotiva Airmotiv speakers, they seem to offer a lot of bang for the buck.  

I wasn't very impressed with the Triton 1s when I auditioned them.  They had tons of bass, but it felt like it was all bottom end and very aggressive treble, not much in the middle.  Of course, it was only one audition and not in the best room, so that may have played a part.  For the same $5,000 the Paradigm Prestige 95Fs I heard at the same store were heads and tails over the Goldenears.  
craigl59
307 posts
 

Have had the T1 speakers since they came out and use them in the T1/C1 5-channel configuration mentioned above. For TV and movies, use the 5-channel config. For music (from JRiver) select the "Direct" option out of an Emotiva XMC-1 using only the T1 pair. They are coupled to a HSU Research subwoofer (a big 15" unit).

The two speakers are acceptable for audiophile-quality listening to demanding orchestral feeds. For popular music they are virtually perfect.

Use this system in the winter, then, in the summer, move to a stereo system using Tekton's Double Impact speakers and the new RME ADI-2 DAC (what a converter!). since I listen to each system daily for a 6-month period, can state with certainty that the T1s are very good and the Double Impacts are excellent (a clear step up).

But, for the price, the T1s are unmatched in my opinion. BTW, have dealt with Emotiva for over 6 years and they are an honest and straightforward company.

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