powerful. non fatiguing, good imaging, and serve all types of music well

need a lively amp...currently i use a Musical Fidelity A5 integrated, previously a
Classe Cap 151 integrated.

I bought a pair of THIEL CS1.5s ($2100) to replace my Signet 280s ($700). After a few months, I got tired of the Thiels. They were veiled and way too bright. I'll
take the Signets over the Thiels anyday. I traded the Thiels and bought the
Montana SP IIs and have happily lived with them for the last 10 years. I recently
went shopping for speakers and auditioned quite a few... Sonus Faber Cremonas,
Vienna Mahlers, Audio Physic Scorpios, Martin Logans, Krell. I liked the Audio
Physics and the MLs, but didn't want to spend that much, so i bought a pair
of Monitor Audio GS 60s ($4000). Well, after 6 months i was ready to sell the
Monitors 'cause i preferred the Montanas. Actually, i haven't found a speaker yet that beat the SP IIs, so i traded the GS60s for the Montana EPS2s. I figured i
might as well go with what works. Haven't heard the EPS2s or received them
yet (they're on order), but i have confidence in the designer. You never experience listening fatigue with the Montanas. They are powerful, yet smooth,
and have a wonderful midrange and top end. We'll see how the EPS2s stack up.
I'm hoping they don't overpower my 25' by 19' room. My only reservation on the EPS2s are the weight (150Lbs) and size (53" X 15 X 15). I've never had
such a large speaker nor paid so much ($8500).

great dynamics, detailed sound, wide and deep soundstage, easy to place

Heavy as hell but that is part of the reason they sound so good. Get two people to move them around.

The SPX and SPC (center channel) are without question the finest speakers I have ever owned. There are likely speakers out there that may beat them out in one area or another but I have not heard anything else do everything so well in this price range. With the right electronics they go from great to spectacular. I had a McIntosh MC126 6/ch 85/watt/ch amp driving then and they sounded very good. I was able to upgrade to a Parasound Halo A21 amp at 250/watt/ch and with a cleaner more powerful amp these speakers are amazing. I had some friends over to listen, when I put Norah Jones on they were both amazed that speakers this size just disappeared and Norah was suddenly right in front of them.
The SPX also has very good bass, with my Halo amp you hear the strings plucked and the notes are fast, clean, and very musical not muddy at all. I have a copy of Sheffield Labs Drums CD, an excellent test for a speakers speed and dynamics. The Halo amp keeps an iron grip the SPX's drivers and they respond with easy to every beat of the drum or crash of a cymbal. I am currently using a Pioneer Elite 47A universal player as a source and can hardly wait till I can afford to get a more musical unit to feed my system. Maybe the new Halo universal player or a used Esoteric.

Similar Products Used:

JBL, Def Tech, Mission

clean open sound, somewhat forgiving as far as room placement goes

Heavy, but that is part of what makes them great, just use two people to move them.
Not very many dealers, but I have a good one about 40 miles from my house.

What more can I say other then agree with the prior reviewers. These are the best speakers I have ever had in my home. I am also using the SPC center channel speaker which matches the drivers in the SPX. The center channel is a beast weighing in at 115 pounds. I switched from a McIntosh MC126 six channel amp of 85 watts per to the Parasound Halo with 250 watts per and the difference was amazing, tighter bass and even move open sound. At some point I would love to have the EPX in the front and move my SPX to my rear channels but until that time I could not be more happy with these speakers.

Similar Products Used:

Martin Logan, Def Tech

Detail, dynamics, power, tight response. Very good imaging. Voices and acoustical instruments rendered with high accuracy and in a very satisfying way.

Weight. They are about 60 kg a piece.

These are, hands down, no contest, the best speakers I have owned. The main feature that makes this true is that they tend to make you forget that they are in the room. I find myself listening to music more often and enjoying it more with the SPX'es.

The main thing I noticed when I upgraded from my previous ones was a tight, controlled and open sound. Details in all registers, from deep down to way up, became more apparent. The impact of powerful music more acute, the neuance of soft music more delicate and the grandure of orhcestral music more awesome.
Imaging and soundstage was also noticably improved. It sounds like Miles is standing right there between them ;-)

Yes, this sounds a bit bombastic, but what can I say... these babies kick some serious @ss.

As with all other serious speakers, you are well advised to feed them with the best you can. They are a pretty easy load (about 90db efficiency), but they will reveal any lacking qualities in your setup.

Speaker brands I have owned and/or compared them with include: B&W, Dali, Snell and a couple of DIY rigs.

Customer Service

My local dealer has responded quickly and in a very satisfacory manner to a couple of inquiries I made. No need for servicing of the equipment so far.

Very well-built, dynamics, suits all music-styles.

Lengthy run in period in which they go from average to excellent.

In my ears, the Montana-sound is very different from other US-loudspeakers I have heard. They offer detailed and very accurate sound combined with a lot of punch in the bass. Problem for me during the time I have used them is lack of sufficient power to fire them up if you want to play really loud. I use them together with Electrocompaniet ECM1 CD-player, Audiolab Q pre and Audiolab M x 4 monoblocks. Even with the bi-amping on my Audiolab M-set it feels like the SPX needs more power, but the sound is beautiful played at normal levels with this set-up. You wont get tired of listening to the Montana-sound. I heard the same speakers combined with Sierra Audio equipment and the things really started to happen. All the dynamics, power and potensial in this speakers came forward. The sound they offered was everything you actually need no matter what kind of music-style you may enjoy. Conclusion for me concerning these SPX-set is very close to the other reviewer here, - great loudspeakers, but give them the best you find and can afford concerning electronics and maybe also more power than I could offer them with my Audiolab-set.

The SPXs feature ScanSpeak drivers consisting of, a soft dome tweeter, a 4" Kelvar midrange, and two 8" woofers. They are similar to the EP's except that the EP's have two 4" midrange drivers and the SPX only has one. This speaker is very close in sound to the EP's, for almost $2K less. The sound? Flat bass to below 25hz, excellent mids, excellent soundstage depth and width. These speakers will reveal any problems you have in your electronics (I hadn't noticed the effect the subwoofer xover was having on the sound of my SL3's, it was obvious once I installed the SPX's). The only problems that I have had thus far deal with integrating the SPX's with my rather small listening room. These are a much bigger step up from the SPs than they are a step down from the EPs. Highly recommended, but only if you have the electronics to back them up.