Hi new member here. Just upgraded EM ESLs to ESLx but...

[Antech]

Hello, I have really enjoyed my electromotion ESLs running with a Benchmark ahb2 and DAC 3 preamp. I recently purchased some good, used ESLxs and ran them side by side, (swapping speaker connectors for comparison). The Xs are better, as you'd expect BUT they are not as bright in the top end. Is this normal? I have vacuumed them but didn't notice any difference. It's the 'air' that is missing. Any suggestions? Thanks.

 

[Robert D]

Hello, I have really enjoyed my electromotion ESLs running with a Benchmark ahb2 and DAC 3 preamp. I recently purchased some good, used ESLxs and ran them side by side, (swapping speaker connectors for comparison). The Xs are better, as you'd expect BUT they are not as bright in the top end. Is this normal? I have vacuumed them but didn't notice any difference. It's the 'air' that is missing. Any suggestions? Thanks.

When were the Xs produced? What happens over time with the panels is they begin to lose the top frequency output. That's pretty much normal. Ita probably just that tbe X panels are considerably older than your speakers. Are the ESLs brand new?

If you run DSP on them like Odyssey, the lack of higher end can be adjusted to sound better by the EQ but it will take out bass from the woofers to compensate.

Use the serial number decoder posted as a sticky on this site to see when tbe cabinets and panel were made. The speakers should have a serial number on each cabinet as well as each panel.a small sticker. I think mine are white. If the original owner replaced the panels, those will show as younger on the serial number.

 

[Antech]

Hi Robert, thank you for your reply. I was aware of this possibility, which is why I went for the newer models. Although the serial number decoder doesn't include the EM range , based on another member's post my Xs appear to have been made in Nov 2019, (ending L11) and the cabinet numbers match the panel numbers. Also they are in excellent condition, no sign of dirt or dust. So I am surprised, it's fairly subtle, if I didn't have the comparison I may not have noticed, but I guess it can't be anything else. The ESLs are probably of a similar year, as they were only a couple of years old when I purchased them and they are fine.
You don't get slightly better top end with smaller panels?
I have compensated with a software eq for now, but it often glitches. I'll experiment with Audyssey too, but that seems to be asking for a network based AVR before it will do anything.