EPI 100 or Dynaco 25?

[taineasy]

EPI 100, Genesis Physics, Dynaco 25, AR 4ax / AR15, JBL Decade 16, OHM model L. Have owned all of these at one time and often at the same time. They are all good depending on your choice of material and room specs. No way to say one is better. Dynaco actual LF response is no where near the advertised 30HZ at flat response (absolutely no way!) It can have too much LF presence at times giving the impression that it is driving lower. It may touch 30hz at -9 or -12db but the OHM, EPI, Genesis would also fit that spec. Dynamic HF response of the dynaco is ok but not great. It shines in the mid bass section so female voices do sound very good on the dynaco. If comparing the EPI and Genesis make sure, as mentioned above, its the very early models with NON ferro-fluid tweeters. Ferro-fluid models have a somewhat limited HF as new and over time gets worse, much worse. Have heard 20-30 year old ferro versions of inverted dome barely hitting 10KHZ. Early model 100 and Physics however are very good. AR's always sound good especially with jazz (4ax better HF than its AR15 replacement). The Ohm with the optional SBA is very dynamic but the tweeter can be harsh. OHM improved this with the model L2 by padding down the low tweeter. The L sounds much larger than its actual size. Lots of the L owners have done the padding trick with great success as it smooths out the upper mids. The JBL decade 16 sounds more like a near field monitor to me rather than a true listening speaker but is decent in a small room.

 

[typesix]

EPI 100, Genesis Physics, Dynaco 25, AR 4ax / AR15, JBL Decade 16, OHM model L. Have owned all of these at one time and often at the same time. They are all good depending on your choice of material and room specs. No way to say one is better. Dynaco actual LF response is no where near the advertised 30HZ at flat response (absolutely no way

Dyna only rated the A-25 to 47Hz, not 30 Hz, wherever that is stated is incorrect. Test reports by Stereo Review and Audio magazines indicate a steep rolloff below 60Hz. Stereo Review states 12 dB/octave.

 

[wallacefl]

I had both and the tweeter is better IMO in the EPI but the midrange and bass is better in the A-25. I put a Morel mdt-33 in my Dynaco and though $$...problem solved!

 

[Nat]

Had multiple versions of both, and liked them both, though neither is full range enough for my tastes. So I listen to much bigger speakers. But I miss the Dynas, and do not miss the EPIs. Obviously tastes and systems matter, but that's my take.

 

[Drum]

Dynaco doesn't have much for bass. Hump in the upper bass then drops off rapidly. I would prefer the EPI by a mile.

 

[dlucy]

Have any of you listened to the Human-81 speakers that use modern versions of the Burhoe inverted tweeter and equivalent woofer? It _sounds_ like a great combo and I'd live to know what any of you think.

http://www.humanspeakers.com/human/81.htm

 

[GordonW]

Dynaco doesn't have much for bass. Hump in the upper bass then drops off rapidly. I would prefer the EPI by a mile.

I would agree with that, if we were talking about the EPI M150. Those have much better bass extension than the 100s. The 100, IMHO, are a bit "wooly" and undefined in the bass, by comparison- a bit of a midbass peak.

I find the Dynaco to have pretty linear response, within its limits- but it doesn't go as low as the EPI M150...

Regards,
Gordon.

 

[Ohighway]

I had both and the tweeter is better IMO in the EPI but the midrange and bass is better in the A-25. I put a Morel mdt-33 in my Dynaco and though $$...problem solved!

I like both speakers but found them to be somewhat lacking individually. However stacking them ( EPI M90 on top of Dyna A25) sounded great. Each filled in the others weak areas.

 

[doctor fuse]

I had the EPI 180 and 70 speakers. Those inverted tweeters are very smooth and listening-inducing.

 

[62vauxhall]

In 1973 I bought a new system including Large Advents. Not long after, another audio store advertised dynaco A25's for half price $75 CAD per pair. Didn't need them but since there was some buzz about them at the time, I bought a pair.

Didn't really get the hype, I thought they were only so-so. Didn't even come close to the Advents. There was a break in and the Dynacos were stolen along with my turntable. The turntable was replaced under insurance but I didn't bother with another pair of A25's.

In recent times I've become somewhat fond of those inverted dome tweeters Epicure used from owning a pair of M50's. Even bought a pair of those tweeters for use in a different speaker originally equipped with phenolic cones with very satisfactory results.

 

[Donkey Karma]

In 1973 I bought a new system including Large Advents. Not long after, another audio store advertised dynaco A25's for half price $75 CAD per pair. Didn't need them but since there was some buzz about them at the time, I bought a pair.

Didn't really get the hype, I thought they were only so-so. Didn't even come close to the Advents. There was a break in and the Dynacos were stolen along with my turntable. The turntable was replaced under insurance but I didn't bother with another pair of A25's.

In recent times I've become somewhat fond of those inverted dome tweeters Epicure used from owning a pair of M50's. Even bought a pair of those tweeters for use in a different speaker originally equipped with phenolic cones with very satisfactory results.

I can't answer your question or argue with 62vauxhall. I have had plenty of EPI's over the years enjoyed them all. Many versions of the tweeter (gold ring being my favorite) I still LUV the A25's mids they just make me want to keep listening. M50's aside all of my EPI/EPICUREs are long gone. A25s I continue to hoard. They would make the bomb shelter if I had one.

Sometimes I think speakers being "easy to listen to" is underrated, maybe defined incorrectly and harder to find then we think.

Both do this well, just the A25's evoke a that it's just good feeling more for me.

Anyway I think your good either way.

GL

 

[Pete B]

EPI 100, Genesis Physics, Dynaco 25, AR 4ax / AR15, JBL Decade 16, OHM model L. Have owned all of these at one time and often at the same time. They are all good depending on your choice of material and room specs. No way to say one is better. Dynaco actual LF response is no where near the advertised 30HZ at flat response (absolutely no way!) It can have too much LF presence at times giving the impression that it is driving lower. It may touch 30hz at -9 or -12db but the OHM, EPI, Genesis would also fit that spec. Dynamic HF response of the dynaco is ok but not great. It shines in the mid bass section so female voices do sound very good on the dynaco. If comparing the EPI and Genesis make sure, as mentioned above, its the very early models with NON ferro-fluid tweeters. Ferro-fluid models have a somewhat limited HF as new and over time gets worse, much worse. Have heard 20-30 year old ferro versions of inverted dome barely hitting 10KHZ. Early model 100 and Physics however are very good. AR's always sound good especially with jazz (4ax better HF than its AR15 replacement). The Ohm with the optional SBA is very dynamic but the tweeter can be harsh. OHM improved this with the model L2 by padding down the low tweeter. The L sounds much larger than its actual size. Lots of the L owners have done the padding trick with great success as it smooths out the upper mids. The JBL decade 16 sounds more like a near field monitor to me rather than a true listening speaker but is decent in a small room.

I have a pair of EPI tweeters that probably have thick(ened) ferro fluid has anyone
figured out a way to remove it. Are early and late the same other than the FF?

 

[Pete B]

You'll hear some now. Poor dynamics. I had them back in the 70s and found the poor dynamics, poor even for their size, very frustrating. It seemed they never bloomed, never opened up and sounded lifelike, they'd almost get there and then pop the tweeters. I tried doubling them up and that was a little help but in the end I dumped them. Not a bad speaker by any means but they sure as Hell had faults. Of course most conventional box speakers back then were mediocre. I was using a Thorens record player with an ADC-XLM and Dyna Pat-5 and ST-400.

My experiences, my opinions; I'm not speaking ex cathedra.

Right, the A-25 had paper VC formers and did not handle much power, the lack
of thermal capacity is what kills the dynamics. They are not a rock and roll, party
speaker that is for sure. The A-25XL used newer drivers with metal formers.

 

[RobRoy]

Personally, if they are not the early version of the Epi 100 (walnut with masonite tweets), I'd go for the Dynaco..... Both are very comparable and fabulous designs. It will come to personal preference I suspect. Epi fans will suggest the 100 while the Dynaco will suggest the A25... If you get the chance to listen to both (heck if the price is good....get both..lol) prior to purchase...
I'm guessing the Epi are priced lower than the Dynaco which, if the early version, will make them the choice however all other factors: Dynaco...
My 3 cents worth...lol

Good luck either way and enjoy.

I used to sell both back in the day, but this reminds me of a story I once heard from the Infinity rep regarding the Infinity POS II. It was infinity's cheapest speaker and competed with the EPI's.

His answer was, "If you manufactured some of the most cutting edge speakers and designs on the planet and the bean counters asked you to design and manufacture a speaker that would sell for $99 a side, what would YOU call it?" So yeah. POS is an acronym. "Piece of sh**"

Now, I don't know if he was telling the truth, but that was his story and he was sticking to it. And it is a pretty good story.

 

[Nat]

I have heard the same story about the POS series. Certainly they were built cheaply - I picked up a couple of pairs (fortunately, I think they were given to me) and all of them literally fell apart. My memory is that the miters weren't glued, and the outer vinyl cladding and an internal bead of hot melt glue along the seam were all that held them together.
Infinity did have much better built low end speakers - I was fond of the one that supposedly had a transmission line in it's normal size large bookshelf enclosure, the transmission line being a long coil of dryer hose connected to a largish port. It also had front and rear firing tweeters.