Speaker Asylum: REVIEW: Ellis Audio 1801 Speakers by Lou S

Model:	1801
Category:	Speakers
Suggested Retail Price:	$1300
Description:	2 way monitor using Seas Excel midrange, and Hiquphon Tweeter
Manufacturer URL:	Ellis Audio
Model Picture:	View

Review by Lou S ( A ) on October 24, 2004 at 05:07:45
IP Address: 68.68.188.156

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for the 1801

I have owned the 1801b's for inexcess of a year. I did use AuriCaps in place of SoniCaps as I knew AuriCaps and was comfortable with them. I now know SoniCaps and would recommend staying with them. Both are good sounding caps, but the SoniCaps are more accurate.

There is nothing in my system, other than cables, that I have not modifed. My system is as follows:

Ellis Aduio 1801b speakers
2 Critical Q Subs
Threshold Stasis 2 amp
Legacy Audio (Coda Continuum Window) preamp
Sont CDP X707ES or DVP-S9000ES
Sansui TU-717 tuner

I had had a Sota Star Sapphire TT in the system until I was able to get the CDP/DVD players sounding better than the Sota.

I have owned;

Acoustats;

11's
Mdl. 3's
Spectra 3300's

Quads;

57's

These speakers replaced $3,000 + Acoustat Spectra 3300's which I had purchased from a dealer in 1994, they were closing them out as an Italian firm had purchased the name from Hafler.

While I have 2 subs, and use them, before I had them, I really thought it would be silly to add subs as these sounded so good. I was wrong, but the difference is more of a filling things out a bit more issue than a must have issue. The bass on the 1801s is fast and accurate, they just do not get down to 20Hz.

Once I hooked the 1801b's up and listened to them I knew the Acoustats were history. These are really great speakers for the money. They image, do not add anyting significant to the music, and you can pretty well rattle the windows with them.

I have some Paradign Active 40's here for crossover modifications. I think the 1801's and the Active 40's have far more in common than they are different. The 1891's may be slightly warmer, and they vary slightly in tone, but not enough to say this one is right, and the other is wrong.

I think you would be hard pressed to do a lot better for less then $2,000.00. It is also good to bare in mind that a good 2 way is far better than a poorly designed 3 way

Product Weakness: Lead time for finished product.
Product Strengths: Sound, Imaging, they are as good as their sources without being overy critical of the source. You can get away with medioce gear, but they will not sound their best.

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Threshold Stasis 2
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Legacy Audio (Coda)
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	CDP-X707ES
Speakers:	Ellis Audio 1801's
Cables/Interconnects:	Goertz Python S/C's and Lat hookup wire with Dayton connectors
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Most if not all
Room Size (LxWxH):	13 x 22 x 10
Time Period/Length of Audition:	Well over a year
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	Lead time for finished product.
Product Strengths:	Sound, Imaging, they are as good as their sources without being overy critical of the source. You can get away with medioce gear, but they will not sound their best.