Extraordinary crossover, overall musicality, range, imaging

None immediately apparent.

I cannot believe these speakers. I liked edgeaudio's style; the technology of diaural crossover is obviously also very intriguing. But a week into my 30 day trial of these Internet-only speakers, I must say that they are truly outstanding. Among the very best speakers I have ever heard; certainly much better speakers than their peers (NHT's top set, for example). I have never heard a more musical sub-bookshelf combination. The 502Ds are great, and as advertised they are musical down to 85hz with great mobility; mid base is fine, imaging in the high ranges is so outstanding that I often--very often--forgot where the speakers were or that only two and not all six were on. Now granted, some of this performance is a function of the deep power reserves of my Outlaw Audio 750 amp and the decoding power of my Sony TA-E9000ES (2.01) preamp controller. I use good cable and source material. But I have had a wide range of much more expensive speakers and none were more musical and lovely to listen to. These just get better and better. Excuse my "one-week-old" hyperbole, but as I sit here this evening listening to Bach organ, Sarah McLachlan (early sessions), Etta, and finally to U-571 in DTS and Gladiator in DTS-ES I am just stunned at the value of this set of speakers. When people figure out that these people exist, the guys who designed and more importantly who monitor the continuing quality of these speakers are going to be celebrated alongside the best speaker engineers of the coming century.

I purchased the 5.1 edgeaudio set from Amazon.com (to use a gift certificate) and they arrived in what is seriously the best shipping of anything I have ever seen--nuclear weapons are shipped less carefully. Yes it is cute that the 502Ds are wrapped in a Crown Royal bag. But beyond that they come shrouded in the best-put-together double-box plus molded styrofoam plus (especially in the case of the sub) some kind of special shock absorbing material. The manual for the speakers is dopey; written poorly and incomplete in the extreme. But the speakers themselves are manufactured to higher standards of physical quality than I have seen in 20 years. This is hardwood of highest quality, a kind of "Mexican Cherrywood" I guess. I love it. My wife hates the huge sub, but even it is beautiful. It would cost $300 if it were furniture--just in wood value.

I am stunned at these speakers and and I will report more later as they wear in--this is a pre-break-in report on some pretty damn amazing speakers. What can you say about a speaker that clearly costs 30% of what it is worth, and sounds outstanding in the widest possible range of materials. Wow. That is what.

Similar Products Used:

Meridians, McIntosh, Omni Sound TCM III, many others

- Build quality
- Solid wood cabinet
- Vifa woofer, tweeter
- Customer service
- Low price
- Sound quality

- Weak bass output
- Internet only company so you can't audition speakers before buying them

Excellent build, quality materials, friendly customer service, low price, great sound - what more do you want?

These speakers are designed to be used in conjunction with one of EdgeAudio's subwoofers, and within that parameter the 502Ds are great. There is a richness and smoothness to the sound that belie their price. If you compare build quality, materials, and sound, these speakers easily compete with speakers that cost hundreds more.

Granted, you can't audition these speakers before buying them, but if you end up not liking the 502Ds, send them back and EdgeAudio will reimburse you for everything, including the return shipping. That's about the best 'no-risk' guarantee you'll find.

Similar Products Used:

Paradigm Mini Monitor and Reference Studio 20, Dynaudio Audience 40 and Audience 50

beautiful solid wood cabinet, great sound, small size lets you keep your living room, good price w/o high-end audio shop mark up

Ugly uninspired grills cover almost entire beatiful wood finish, 8" sub a bigger than most 8" subs

I began my search to replace a 15 year-old pair of Polk bookshelfs by checking out the tiny Bose Accoustimass 5 system. I definitely don't want my speakers to take over my living room. I demoed them at a Bose showroom in a big, expensive mall. Compared to 15 year-old Polks, they sounded good. But they were on sale last week for $550, and I missed the sale by a day. If I wanted them, I would have to pay $600. I refused on principal and started looking at other speakers while I waited for the next sale.

Best thing that could have happened to me.

I read a lot of reviews on this site that pointed out the shortcomings of the Bose, and discovered I could get much more for my money.

I demoed the mini monitor, which were full sounding with a lot of bass for a bookshelf. They were also much bigger with much more depth than the Edge Audio speakers. With a speaker this size, you're gonna need a sub anyways, so the bass wasn't a big plus. I looked at the NHT, which are a nice-looking unported speaker but were the worst sounding of the bunch I demoed.

Then I ordered the EdgeAudio on the basis of a lot of good reviews on this site. The real wood cabinet was a big plus. Let's face it people, you have to live with your speakers in your living room. The way they look matters. Pressboard or vinyl wrapped cheapies just don't deserve space among fine furniture.

I set up the 2.1 system and listened. These things are made in Mexico with Vifa parts, so I guess that's how they hold the cost down and can give you a real wood cabinet for under $1K.

In terms of sound, I was stunned, hearing things I'd never heard before. But the sub boomed no matter where I put it. To make a long story short, I realized my Kenwood A/V receiver was the culprit and promptly replaced it with a Denon 2801. A HUGE difference. The sub that was so finicky could now be put anywhere. If you think your new speakers suck, it's probably your electronics. I can't believe the difference.

At the end of the day, the EdgeAudios have great separation, soundstaging, and detail. The 8" supplies more than enough base. I have it set at 1/4 its max volume for a nice balanced bass. You'd only want the 12" if you had a giant room or you wanted to shake your fillings loose.

The system was like hearing all my CDs for the first time. I put them through the reference toture test -- Charles Mingus "Black Saint and the Sinner Lady" and The Who "Live and Leeds." I've heard instruments played on Beatles CDs that I've had for 15 years that I never knew were played on the tracks.

So while I had the Edges for their free 30-day trial, I did exactly as they suggested -- I went out and demoed other speakers at high-end shops. The only ones that came close were the front-ported Monitor Silver 3xi. They were $600 and had a veneer (not solid wood) cabinet. I'm keeping my Edge Audios.

Here's a question for audio enthusiasts out there. What is the average mark-up at high-end audio shops on speakers?

I recommend the EdgeAudios. At least you can try them for 30 days in your home before you decide to keep them.

Similar Products Used:

paradigm mini monitor, nht suberone, bose accousitmass 5, monitor silver 3

Transparent, dynamic, easy to place, soundstaging like crazy, involving, just plain musical!

Have to think hard... Maybe it's that they aren't auditionable. They don't have Bose's advertising budget. Do reward a very good amplifier. Takes at least 2 weeks of good use to break in (so give them a chance).

Wow. Let me say that again, WOW! These things are great. I bought these for a client (I do theater instalations) to see if they would work for him. I set them up in my music room and a month later sold both pairs of my existing speakers (Spicas and Meadowlark). I now use them as my main monitor speakers for remote recording.

What convinced me is this: they are musical. These babys have soul!

I have a 9' Concert Grand Baldwin in a great room. I play and record with this piano all the time. It's a small direct to hard disk system that does very clean 2 channel 24bit/96khz recordings. I recorded a piano passage and hit play. They sounded like what I had recorded. It was there. The life was there, the dynamics were there. I could tell where the instrument was. I could see into the soul of the music. It was glorious.

I have listened to every kind of music there is and they just get out of the way. I have even taken them with me to studios and put them up against $10k B&Ws and Genelecs. They aren't quite there, but what is given up is frills around the edges. They hold the heart of the music as well as the best speakers I have ever heard.

One note: They do reward a good amplifier and cables. I usually use Acurus, McCormack or Parasound amplification. I have run them with a Krell FPB300 though and they sounded noticibly better. I don't think anyone will do it for long but, it isn't as crazy as it would be with most speakers to link a multi kilobuck amp with these speakers that without a sub are only $380 a pair. They are that good.

They do require the subwoofer though. It is very good for the money, and I recommend it. It won't get the very bottom of the lowest octive, and can run out of power on movie sound tracks in a large room, but is very satisfying and matches the satalites nicely.

Congrats to Edge Audio. These babys are beautiful speakers. Try them! You won't use the free shipping to send them back and will probably get all your friends to get a set as well.

Build is very good, sound is wonderful, price is excelent. These speakers are what audio should be about: music. They came alive and I haven't looked back. I love em!

Similar Products Used:

Meadowlark Audio's Hot Rod Kestrals ($1500/pair), Spica TC-60s ($900/pair), Vandersteen 2ce's and 3A's ($1200, $2200), B&W Nautilus 801s (not fair, but $10k)