I have a pair of Epicure (EPI) 100s that I bought in 1981 for $280 for the pair in 1981.[$620 for the pair in today's money I calculated for inflation]. I am using them as left/right on my TV.
Two questions: Would these speakers still be in good listening shape? Never been dropped, stored well. Do they need maintenance?
Second question of curiosity. For those that know EPI, do you think if they were still being made and were brand new, would they be as good as pair of $620 today? Back in their time they were rated high in consumer reports for mid priced speakers. Or have speakers gotten cheaper priced and better over the years like other electronics so that $620 a pair today would buy way better quality speakers than the EPIs were?
I used to have EPI 100, also purchased back in Jan or Feb 1981, and I owned them until 1995 when one of the tweeters was damaged in a move. Sadly, I got rid of them. I toyed with the idea of buying another set, but I already own four pairs of speakers and I only listen to two pairs, so I have resigned myself to the fact that I have moved on.
1. Do your speakers need re-foaming and/or re-capping? I agree with those who say probably, if you want them up to their original specs. It is important that the cabinet is sealed, as EPI used an acoustic suspension design.
If you decide to re-foam re-cap, don't go crazy trying to upgrade the speaker, just restore to original specs. IMO, if you want to spend big bucks, just get another speaker.
2. Can you get something equivalent for $620 today?
Yes, you probably can, but they will sound different from your EPIs. Speaker design and manufacture improved a lot through the 1980s and early 90s in particular, resulting in better imaging and low bass in smaller enclosures. The designs are somewhat different and they certainly sound different.
For $620, you can either get a pair of decent mini monitor with some good stands or a small floorstander with a narrower footprint than your EPIs from companies like Tannoy , PSB, Acoustic Energy, Mirage, or Paradigm. Objectively, any of these speaker will measure better than your old EPIs, with deeper bass, more extended treble and smoother midrange without the dips in frequency response the old designs had. All these designs will also have better quality binding posts so you can used bananas, bare wire and spade lugs to connect them.
Whether you like the sound of these newer speakers is a different question.
Remember, EPI was highly regarded in its time, but it was far from a state of the art, audiophile speaker. My audio dealer sold me the EPIs with a modest Sony integrated amp, and a JVC belt drive TT. The system was musical but certainly not state of the art, even for 1981!
-Martin
