Epic Audio
Epic Audio • 6221 22nd Avenue • Kenosha, WI • 262-764-0280		 1
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epic adds another speaker line

Some Neat news ...

epicaudio is proud to be one of the first hi-fi dealers in the country to add Neat Acoustics loudspeakers to its product lines. Neat, a small company located in northern England, crafts superb speakers by adhering to a fundamental design philosophy and then implementing that philosophy with an unyielding attention to detail. While attractive enough, Neat speakers typically don't rank high in appearance "wow" factor ... but that sound. Oh my goodness, that sound! From the modestly priced "Motive" series through the world-class "Ultimatums," Neat speakers are remarkably coherent and smoothly detailed, producing music that eschews hi-fi conceits and sounds more like ... well music.

 

 

Neat Elite

They're called the Elites for a reason. These speakers from Neat Acoustics sound as good as anything we've ever heard in our demo rooms. The Elites' compact, unassuming design belies the full, rich sound they produce, thanks largely to a staggered porting system. Detail is superb -- clean but never edgy -- and imaging is exceptional. We doubt you could find a better speaker at this price point.

Neat Elites .... $3,300.

QUAD CDS Special

And speaking of Elite, check out this new QUAD CDS CD player from the company's new Elite line of components. New upgraded circuit with ultra-low noise transformer; Crystal 24 bit/192 kHz DAC and digital output. This unit is a giant killer at just $999.

 

About those cables ...

I've had several interesting discussions with customers recently about the perceived value of high-end (read: high cost) speaker cables, power cords and interconnects. The questions are always the same: Are these upgrades worth the price? Will I notice a difference? How much should I spend on cabling for my tem?

The answers are easy: Maybe; perhaps; and who knows?

Audiophiles can and do spend a ton of money on cabling, but caution is advised. It's easy to get carried away when you are trying to squeeze that last drop of performance from your system.

A few general observations might be helpful:

1. After-market cabling invariably sounds better than stock. The differences vary, of course, but good after-market cables can add detail, heft and a sense of ease to the performance.

2. The improvements often aren't as significant as the sales reps would have you believe. A better power cord or pair of interconnects will make your system sound better for sure, but they won't transport you to a place where angels sing and water rushes off the mountain. For that, you'll need better speakers and electronics.

3. The law of diminishing returns should factor heavily into cable purchase decisions. If you can afford to spend $3000 on speaker cables for a minimal increase in sound quality, good for you. But most people would be better served by upgrading from stock to more realistically priced after-market options where the sound quality difference is more pronounced, if not the last word in sonic perfection.

We sell DH Labs cables, cords and interconnects, which in our view offer the best balance between price and performance.