Good review, though I'm surprised the Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 beat out the Epos ELS3. The Epos seem to be raved about everywhere yet the Diamonds don't have so many reviews. Maybe this has changed, I haven't been looking too closely at budget speakers after I bought mine about 2 years ago. (I'd love to get my hands on some Epos M5's btw).
Both the Epos and Wharfedales were compared in a Stereophile review to another perhaps unknown but very good choice (and the ones I went with): Usher Audio S-520's. The summary of the comparison was that the Wharfedales had more detail in the mids and highs than the 520's, but were not as neutral--being warmer in the mids and upper bass, and the Epos were also more detailed in the highs and mids, were slightly less warm, and had more "ambience" than the 520's, but compressed on dynamic passages some. All were good iow, depending on what sound you are/were looking for. (And this is just but one reviewer's opinion of course).
The Ushers might not be so "budget" now though, they are up to $479 plus shipping. But back when I bought them they were $330 plus shipping, so I got them for around $350. After they got rave reviews the price went up.
But you can get used ones for the price I paid, and sometimes new ones in an "off" color (they come in 7 finishes, mine are piano black and gorgeous imo).
There are lots of great professional reviews of these guys so I'll just say that in general the fit and finish of these things is amazing, and the sound even more so. They are neutral leaning to bright, just what I like. :thmbsp: I'd say mostly neutral though, accurate, non-colored. So as they are revealing/transparent, they will bring out the worst in bad components and recordings, but the best in good components and recordings as well. They do everything well (of all those measures speakers are judged by, too numerous to mention here) and truly do put out a sound stage that's much "bigger" than their size. You won't get a concert hall effect with them, but you'll come fairly close, especially in a smaller room and with a sub (I got an Outlaw Audio LFM-2 I use with them, well, sometimes, they do just fine on their own!). Amazing for their diminutive size (although they are pretty deep). They can crank too despite their 86db sensitivity, although I've been driving them with mostly 70/80 wpc amps. I have yet to get them to break up, even at screaming loud levels (I'm talking were after listening for a bit my ears will literally ring after I turn down the volume lol. I don't do this too often thank goodness).
So that would be my little recommendation, search around and you can find tons of reviews of them, at least professional ones, in which in this case I'd say they were exactly right!
PS: The budget (under $500 tops) monitor speaker category literally has dozens of excellent choices these days. And that's just with new speakers. If you are willing to buy used then good luck trying to choose! lol
