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Model: | T-22 |
Category: | Speakers |
Suggested Retail Price: | $990 |
Description: | MTM design, two 6.5 inch poly midwoofers surrounding a 1 inch titanium tweeter |
Manufacturer URL: | EFE Technologies(Ed Frias Enterprises) T-22 Loudspeaker |
Model Picture: | View |
Review by Pete Whitley on August 11, 2001 at 19:23:39 IP Address: 32.100.73.93 |
Add Your Review for the T-22 |
Ed Frias of Ed Frias Enterprises(EFE Technolgies)is a small speaker builder in Southern California. He builds five models of high performance, reasonably priced models ranging from a small two-way mini-monitor,the B-15, to his five foot tall,$4,500 T-60's. The speaker I am reviewing are his MTM design called the T-22. The T-22 costs $990 and features two 6.5 inch poly midwoofers surrounding a 1 inch titanium dome tweeter. The T-22 are basically the top half of his flagship T-60s. My speakers are covered in a deep luster, mirror-like mohogany laminate(you can also get it in white or black). The laminate is on top of 3/4 inch MDF and looks stunningly beautiful, as nice as any veneered speaker that I've ever owned. There is a pair of gold-plated binding posts on the bottom rear and no port, that's right, it is a sealed cabinet design.Ed Frias is an electical engineer by trade and pays very close attention to designing his crosssovers. They are all signed by him personally. He also uses heavy fourteen gauge wire internally. The T-22's are an 8 ohm speaker and have a frequency response from 50hz to 20 khz.
The first thing that struck me when I opened the box was how large they were. I new the deminsions were 22x9x10 and weighed 30 pounds but they looked massive pulling them out of the box. When I put them on stands they looked very odd, like elevating small floorstanders. Perhaps it's because I've only had mini-monitors on my stands but I'm used to it now. In fact they look quit nice.
When I hooked them up to my Audio Refinement Complete amp and heard them I was amazed at how clear and open the sound was. The music just flowed out of the speakers effortlessly. The are very lively speakers and are extremely dynamic. Ed beleives that dynamics are a key part in creating the illusion of hearing a live band and I have to agree with him. They certainly sound closer to live music than any speaker I've ever heard. The T-22's sound so "alive" and my bedroom gets electrified with music. Loud music is no problem with the T-22's. They sound clear as a bell with no distortion at extemely high levels. What really seperates these speakers apart from the ones I've owned is its low level performance. Many speakers I've heard get flat and uninvovling at really low levels, not the T-22's. These beauties keep all of the transparency and detail as they had at moderate levels. They don't loose certain parts of the frequency band.
Another surprise with the T-22's is the bass. They have tremendous impact and go much deeper than their rated 50 hz. In my room the bass and midrange are very tight a controlled, no doubt helped by the sealed cabinet. They have a full, rich sound and don't need a subwoofer, even though I have one. Detail and transprency are fantastic(better than my Magnepans MMG's) and the imaging is first rate. Vocals are centered right in the middle and the speakers totally dissappear. When I turn off the lights and listen I get the "wall of sound" effect which I love so much.
I've never recieved such special treatment from a company as I have from EFE Tecnologies. Ed constantly updated me on the progress of my speakers(they are built to order. Mine took two and a half weeks to complete. He even emailed me pictures of my speakers and crossovers which was a nice touch. I also recieved a classy pen, an expensive one.
The T-22's are everything I want in a speaker and the closest thing to real life as I heve ever heard. I you're looking for a speaker with no coloration, crystalline transparency, and an energetic, full sound then the T-22's are for you. Ed doesn't have a website but would be glad to send you an emailed brochure of his speaker line. You can email him at EFESPKRS@aol.com. They're some great reveiws on Audioreview.com
also. You con email me for my pictures of my speakers and crossovers.
Pete
Product Weakness: | na |
Product Strengths: | na |
Associated Equipment for this Review: | |
Amplifier: | Audio Refinement Complete |
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): | na |
Sources (CDP/Turntable): | DMX box. Parasound transport with DIO DAC |
Speakers: | EFE Tech T-22 |
Cables/Interconnects: | Tekline, Tara, Audio Magic |
Music Used (Genre/Selections): | everything |
Room Size (LxWxH): | 20 x 10 x 8 |
Time Period/Length of Audition: | Three weeks |
Type of Audition/Review: | Product Owner |
Follow Ups:
When you first got them, you said that planars had a greater "presence" and impact (I think). What would you say the biggest differences are between the MTM and planars are?What made you decide to try box speakers again?
Maggies offer a clear picture window into the music, as with the Newform Research. Unfortunatley they both SUCK with rock and roll. Easy listening music..it's scary. I added the Image Clarifier's to my MMG's and it made heavy rock bearable but still bright and irritating. Planars have their place.DM, I might be going out a limb by saying this but a group of guys went to the last CES show a couple of months ago and all ageed that their was only one speaker that beat the Eds Frias's T-60's and they cost $38,000. Remember, the T-22 are the upper half of the T-22's.
The Maggies are great but as far as realism goes the EFE speakers rule.
Audiovector-mellow bass, untouched imaging. He even beveled the grills.
JMR Twins-No Impact but perfect timber. I have heard the Trentes at Mike Matzels house and they had deep bass. It makes me wonder how the Offrands soundMMG and Newform Research-Jazz and classical only!!!
EFE Speakers are the best deal in audio...PERIOD!!!!
Pete
If you have only listened to maggies with the system described in your review, then I am not surprised at your conclusions. Please listen with something a little more worthy of the speakers and then see what you think.I find the 1.6s to be very dynamic with rock, metal, blues etc... As much so as any box speaker I have ever heard.
If there is anything bright and irritating in your system, point the finger at something other than the maggies.
Oz
I can imagine why you might say this, but it might be for a different reason. I had an encounter with this a week or so ago (noted in General), and my conclusion is the nature of Maggies (wide dispersion and accompanying soundstage) doesn't impart the intensity of a rock performance that you can get from dynamic/horn speakers (more tightly "beamed"). IMO there is a certain visceral quality that my Maggies (1.6) don't impart. We won't discuss frequency range attributes now, just the "rock" factor. Do I miss it? Well, I noticed it very much at higher listening levels. But I mostly play rock and not really loud. The Maggies sound quite nice, and I'm pleased with them, but I couldn't honestly say they'd be well suited for a heavy rock jammer.
> my conclusion is the nature of Maggies (wide dispersion and accompanying soundstage).Maggies do not have wide dispersion - either horizontally or vertically. They image the way they do partially because of this fact.
Sounds like it to me, or am I using the wrong word to describe a "less pointed" source? Anyway, that's what I meant, and I'm terrible with the audio lingo.
How do they rate, IYHO?
and saw your comment on the Audiovectors.
> > > MMG and Newform Research-Jazz and classical only!!! < < < < <Lets clarify this a little. Maggies have no punch, thats why you don't like them with R&R. If you think classical and jazz music have no punch and are therefore good for Maggies you don't know much about classical and jazz. All classical is not Jean Pierre Rampal.
Enjoy your new speakersSteve
Steve,It has a something to do with punch and dynamics but mainly a brightness in the treble. The MMG's sounded tipped up and when I put on the attenuators it muffled the sound. I do love them and plan on keeping them. I was very unhappy with the Newform Research, very bright sound for my ears. I'm only speaking of the Newform Research R630s and Magnepan MMG's.
Your right, I don't know much about classical but a whole lot about jazz.
I know I've mad some strong statements about the EFE's but they are really that good.
Pete
Sorry, but he is correct. Planars don't Rock & Roll, even with a sub. Nice jazz speakers though.
I'm not sure where you see disagreement. Re-read my post. Planers have no punch,that in my opinion makes them unsuitable for any music.Steve
planars at some point in your life to see what you're missing. I've yet to hear an Aerial with natural sounding bass or the rest of the audio range for that matter. Good Magnepan set ups are a coupe orders of magnitudes better than 99 % of cone speakers for reproducing the live music event. I think it depends on what you're listening for with your stereo. I can't believe ears can be that different.Alan G.
I bet I've heard magnaplaners alot more often than you've heard Aerials, if you have at all. But thats neither here nor there. I am impressed that you went to lookup my system so you could personalize an insult. Why bother since "Good Magnepan set ups are a coupe orders of magnitudes better than 99 % of cone speakers for reproducing the live music event." That must mean there only one magnatude better than the last 1% of cone speakers. GMAFB. I have spent and do spend alot of time around live events. I used to play French Horn professionally and currently work as a sound engineer. You can like your maggies, thats fine but they have no punch, and without punch you can't simulate a live event. Unless of course your only live events consist of flute or harp solos. You can make several good arguements for planers but thats not the one to choose.Regards
Steve
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