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Post new topic The New Eminence EPS-15C
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Author Topic:  The New Eminence EPS-15C
Bo Borland


From:
South Jersey -
Post  Posted 16 Dec 2011 3:59 pm    
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I had the time to swap out my old burnt JBL for a new EPS15 today.. What I thought would be a quick job turned into a complete dis assembly but it was so worth the effort.
Right out of the box.. this speaker rocks!
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Roger Crawford


From:
Griffin, GA USA
Post  Posted 16 Dec 2011 7:03 pm    
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Bo, give some break-in time and you'll be even more amazed.
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Kevin Hatton

 

From:
Buffalo, N.Y.
Post  Posted 16 Dec 2011 10:38 pm    
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Bo, thanks for your order. Eminence just nailed it technically with this speaker. I never get too excited about equipment but it's so nice to see a company do serious R&D and come out with a superior product. Some of the top management guys at Eminence formally worked for JBL. I truly believe that Eminence will over take JBL in the sound quality market very soon. They are not sitting still over there. JBL stopped making some of there classic sounding speakers with out ever replacing them with something new or equal. BIIIIIIIIGGGG mistake! Eminence is actually listening to their customer base and creating new speaker lines after extensive customer field testing. They are fine tuning their new speaker designs to customer requests. They aren't letting anything out that isn't customer approved so to speak.
The Eminence EPS-15 is now THE steel guitar speaker to have. I believe that it will surpass previous JBL designs in popularity. 4 ohms at 7.8 pounds! 300 watts! There is a 45 -60 break in but they sound fab right out of the box. Every one who hears one affirms it. I am trying to get a few more in January, but Eminence is having s rare earth metal supply problem with China and no more major production is planned at this time. I'm sure that they will straighten it out eventually.
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Bo Borland


From:
South Jersey -
Post  Posted 17 Dec 2011 7:44 am    
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Has anyone tried this speaker with a NV112 chassis?
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Jack Stanton


From:
Somewhere in the swamps of Jersey
Post  Posted 17 Dec 2011 8:24 am    
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Bo,
Did you put it in your Session 400? Mine went right in-only had to take of the back panels.
Great speaker.
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Bo Borland


From:
South Jersey -
Post  Posted 17 Dec 2011 8:35 am    
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Hay Jack!
yes I had to replace the jbl in the S400.. The problem was the speaker was probably installed while the paint was wet or just because it had never been out since '75 it did not want to come out.
I removed the backs, the reverb, and the chassis to try to get some leverage.. I had to remove the front baffle plate and get a sharp edge under the cardboard gasket break it loose. Some of the cone edge went with it and some paint.
The new one fit right in and sounds really nice.
The JBL weighed 16+ lbs.. like going on a diet.. I may start using this again and leave the NV112 home.
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Floyd Havner

 

From:
Modesto, California, USA
Post  Posted 16 Jun 2013 11:04 pm    
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I purchased 2 of these back in November 2012 and for quick temporary use mounted them in some inexpensive pre-fabed subwoofer cabinets. I was a little apprehensive about their performance given their lightweight,(9 lbs.), but right out of the box they were awesome. With a good power amp both the lows and the highs were off the board. The sweetest most natural sound I ever heard from a 15 inch speaker. I also did a little research and found out that neodymum magnets are the strongest permanent magnets made. Eminence you really did it this time.
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2003 Carter D10, 2010 Carter D10, Digitech RP350, Nady stereo power amp, and Eminence EPS-15C speakers.
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Tommy Boswell

 

From:
Virginia, USA
Post  Posted 17 Jun 2013 3:12 am    
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And don't forget about the EPS-12C, it sounds fantastic too. I've got both the 15 and the 12. It turns out that running them together makes an awesome combination, although most amps will not allow that. I just happen to have a Fender Bassman 70 with speaker outputs that let it drive two 4-ohm loads without breaking a sweat. Each speaker sounds just fine by itself, but when I put them together I get my best sound ever.
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Jack Stoner


From:
Kansas City, MO
Post  Posted 17 Jun 2013 4:43 am    
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When I first got the EPS-15C and tried it, the first thought was it sounded just like the JBL K-130 that I had installed in a Fender Twin Reverb. The "JBL" sound was the first evaluation report I sent to Tom James (Eminence Engineering). As it got used and "broke in" it mellowed somewhat, like most speakers.

The EPS-15C was designed to be a direct replacement for the Peavey 1501-4 speaker, which according to Mike Brown was designed to be a higher power version of the JBL that they originally used in the Nashville 400's. So, its not a surprise that the EPS-15C sounds like a JBL.
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Chris Boyd

 

From:
Leonia,N.J./Charlestown,R.I.
Post  Posted 17 Jun 2013 5:31 am    
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Have any of you guys compared the EPS-15C and the Jensen Sica??
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Jack Stoner


From:
Kansas City, MO
Post  Posted 17 Jun 2013 5:58 am    
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I have some samples of the EPS-15C and a 15" SICA speaker (both were new at the time) on my web site.

http://www.gulfcoaststeelguitar.com/sptest.htm

There are samples using a Nashville 112 and some with an MB200 amp. The MB200 amp was also new and I wasn't really familiar with it and had just set it up.

I liked both speakers, but the EPS-15C was given to me by Eminence for doing field testing so I kept it and sold the SICA.
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Chris Boyd

 

From:
Leonia,N.J./Charlestown,R.I.
Post  Posted 17 Jun 2013 7:09 am    
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I have one of each but the Sica isn't fully broken in yet..
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Jim Priebe

 

From:
Queensland, Australia - R.I.P.
Post  Posted 17 Jun 2013 2:49 pm    
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I Have an EPS 12C (12") (from Kevin) and it is the best pedal steel speaker I have ever tried - no exceptions (I think the Telonics versions are the same speaker?).
The BW's are great if they are driven loud probably due to their hard cones but these new neo's are great at any volume.
Took quite a while to break in and get to optimal sound. I did not expect a speaker with a 3" voice coil to be as good at low volume but they are and they don't change your sound as the volume varies.
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Priebs GFI ('09)Short-Uni10. GFI ('96)Short-Uni SD11. ('86)JEM U12
www.steelguitardownunder.com
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Dave Beaty


From:
Mesa, Arizona, USA
Post  Posted 17 Jun 2013 6:29 pm     Not the same
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Jim, just for the record, the Telonics speaker and the EPS 12C are definitely not the same speaker.
The same is true of our 15" speaker.

Frankly, we had no desire to develop speakers, but what we needed just wasn't available - that includes SICA's.
The 12C is indeed a fine speaker, but we wanted some different and added characteristics for the steel as well as for use in Fender Twins. It took many months to get there, but we finally achieved a combination of robust technical engineering trade-offs with which we are very well pleased. When you are going to field a product under a guarantee like Telonics provides, it has to deliver the goods as well as be completely reliable.


Last edited by Dave Beaty on 21 Oct 2013 5:27 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Jim Priebe

 

From:
Queensland, Australia - R.I.P.
Post  Posted 17 Jun 2013 6:46 pm    
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Dave

I stand corrected - sorry! I think your products are all outstanding actually.
If the Telonics speakers (which look identical to the Eminence apart from the branding hence the confusion) are in your estimation an improvement then they would be superb.
The weight reduction alone would be a bonus for a 'twin'. Laughing
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www.steelguitardownunder.com
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Tom Wolverton


From:
Carpinteria, CA
Post  Posted 17 Jun 2013 9:36 pm    
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just a basic question. You guys that are fond of the 12" EPS or the Telonics. Are you playing C6th with these 12 inchers and they are handling the low end OK?[/list]
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Niels Andrews


From:
Salinas, California, USA
Post  Posted 17 Jun 2013 9:55 pm    
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I put one in my Steel King about 6 months ago, and I can almost carry it now. Sound is great and I do think it is getting sweeter the more it is played. I play a Uni and a Super Steel 12 string through it. Sometimes a tele or a start. I think this speaker reacts better to effects and input controls. Definitely worth the money.
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Die with Memories. Not Dreams.
Good Stuff like Zum S-12, Wolfe Resoport
MSA SS-12, Telonics Combo.
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Niels Andrews


From:
Salinas, California, USA
Post  Posted 17 Jun 2013 9:56 pm    
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I put one in my Steel King about 6 months ago, and I can almost carry it now. Sound is great and I do think it is getting sweeter the more it is played. I play a Uni and a Super Steel 12 string through it. Sometimes a tele or a start. I think this speaker reacts better to effects and input controls. Definitely worth the money.
_________________
Die with Memories. Not Dreams.
Good Stuff like Zum S-12, Wolfe Resoport
MSA SS-12, Telonics Combo.
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Jim Priebe

 

From:
Queensland, Australia - R.I.P.
Post  Posted 17 Jun 2013 10:04 pm    
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Tom
I have always felt that a 12 has better definition for pedal steel than a 15 but that's just my ears. A 15 is always seems a bit "looser' with the sound.
The frequency response of the 12 and 15 is almost the same but the cab they are in would make a difference too. An open back is always brighter, a closed ported box has better low harmonics.
I use mine (open) on a 12U and don't miss the 15. If you are in a noisy club and need to throw to the back of the far horizon then a BW 15 is the master.
_________________
Priebs GFI ('09)Short-Uni10. GFI ('96)Short-Uni SD11. ('86)JEM U12
www.steelguitardownunder.com
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Paddy Long


From:
Christchurch, New Zealand
Post  Posted 18 Jun 2013 1:42 pm    
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JIm I have the Telonics 15" in an open-backed Telonics cabinet and it is outstanding ... I play a fair bit of C6th of course but it is wonderful on both necks...and yes, no shortage of power.
I also match it with a closed-back Telonics cabinet with a BW-1501 (neo) and the combination is incredible.. both cabinets are very light, although the Tel-15 is a couple of pounds lighter than the BW closed back.
I bought the Telonics 15 home from Dallas so it is only just starting to develop and breathe ...they get better with playing.
_________________
14'Zumsteel Hybrid D10 9+9
08'Zumsteel Hybrid D10 9+9
94' Franklin Stereo D10 9+8
Telonics, Peterson, Steelers Choice, Benado, Lexicon, Red Dirt Cases.


Last edited by Paddy Long on 18 Jun 2013 1:47 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Paddy Long


From:
Christchurch, New Zealand
Post  Posted 18 Jun 2013 1:44 pm    
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Whoops double post
_________________
14'Zumsteel Hybrid D10 9+9
08'Zumsteel Hybrid D10 9+9
94' Franklin Stereo D10 9+8
Telonics, Peterson, Steelers Choice, Benado, Lexicon, Red Dirt Cases.
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Jim Priebe

 

From:
Queensland, Australia - R.I.P.
Post  Posted 18 Jun 2013 2:38 pm    
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Paddy
I am looking forward to hearing this on saturday mate - see you then.
I must confess that as a guitarist I always used the 12' speakers in amps (Twins, Peaveys, Crates etc) so my ears are probably tuned in to that more so than 15" models.
I had a Session 400 for many years and it was very good but always seemed best for the big gigs or in the open air where the sound could expand. Of course these days it just goes through the FoH (for better or worse) where I use a Radial DI with the speaker line tapping.
I think the issue with the low strings on C6 or a 12 U is getting enough edge on the tone of them with the contraints of a 24x" scale. The Telonics PUPs may help a bit here. I find that I rarely use the low strings in a band situation as they just get lost in the mix - which probably might better answer what Tom was asking about.
_________________
Priebs GFI ('09)Short-Uni10. GFI ('96)Short-Uni SD11. ('86)JEM U12
www.steelguitardownunder.com
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Kevin Hatton

 

From:
Buffalo, N.Y.
Post  Posted 19 Jun 2013 4:30 pm    
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Both the EPS and the Telonics are in the same class as speakers and both made by Eminence. These are outstanding speaker designs specifically modeled for steel guitar by Eminence. When you get into this quality range the difference in sound is very narrow but detectable by the discriminating player. These are not cheap speakers. They are super light weight high quality sound producers meant to enhance the clarity and range fidelity of the steel guitar. This is why you are hearing rave reviews. The 12" EPS will handle all the low strings on the C6th with clarity. That's what it was designed to do. Special Forum price on all Eminence speakers at hattoncases.net
Email me.


Last edited by Kevin Hatton on 19 Jun 2013 8:09 pm; edited 2 times in total
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Paddy Long


From:
Christchurch, New Zealand
Post  Posted 19 Jun 2013 6:24 pm    
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Jim I'm just bringing my guitar this trip -- the airlines are getting too greedy Very Happy
_________________
14'Zumsteel Hybrid D10 9+9
08'Zumsteel Hybrid D10 9+9
94' Franklin Stereo D10 9+8
Telonics, Peterson, Steelers Choice, Benado, Lexicon, Red Dirt Cases.
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