Advice Request - Statements or ER18 MTM

[bungelow_ed]

Over the last year or two my taste and thinking about speakers has changed, possibly matured somewhat. Now I find myself trying to decide whether to build Statements or Dennis Murphy's ER18 MTM as a next build.

My listening tastes run all over the map but do not include electronica, heavy metal, hip-hop or rap. Everything else is fair game and probably well represented in my music collection. Listening volumes are normally between mid-70 to mid-90 dB at the listening position. This is a room I retreat to when I want ot listen without interruption.

The intended listening room is 16' x 20' with 6' bookcases along one short wall and a built-in credenza on the other. The ceiling is 8' high with 2' x 2' 45 degree cove along the long walls. Floor is carpeted and there is one Morris chair and a couple of folding chairs in the room. One other consideration, it's up a narrow flight of stairs, above the garage.

So I would like input from those that are familiar with these designs on which might be a better fit for my listening tastes and space.

[David LR]

Re: Advice Request - Statements or ER18 MTM

Ed-

I have not built or listened to either speaker, however, sometime in the next two months I hope to be listening to my new ER18MTM speakers !

I've got the basic mdf box complete, still a ways to go though. Purchased my components from Meniscus a while back.

Like you, I also considered the Statements, probably would have been the Mini-statements in my case. My room is roughly 18 x 18, close to yours. But, the Statements are designed to be out from the back wall about 17" or so, I simply don't have that much room. Practically speaking, the ER18's are a better choice for me.

Soundwise, I don't think you'll go wrong with either speaker, both designers being very experienced & talented. The full size statements are bound to have more bass than the ER18's it seems, but, it's all a compromise.

I'm sure you're aware, but, over on Audioholics.com, the ER18's have been built by a couple guys who think very highly of them. I'll be starting a build thread over there soon. Maybe here too, but the ER18's were first promoted by Richard Swerd at Audioholics, seems to be the "home" site for these speakers.

Good luck with your choice, you win either way ! :D

Dave

[bungelow_ed]

Re: Advice Request - Statements or ER18 MTM

Thaks for the input Dave. I have built the Statement monitors which I find a little to bass heavy for my tastes. My fear is that the full size Statements might be more of the same, on a larger scale.

That said, I already have the drivers, crossover components and cutlist complete. Guess I am also hesitant to start that large a build, or to move them upstairs after completion.

[theLinks]

Re: Advice Request - Statements or ER18 MTM

I have built the Statement monitors which I find a little to bass heavy for my tastes. My fear is that the full size Statements might be more of the same, on a larger scale.

That said, I already have the drivers, crossover components and cutlist complete. Guess I am also hesitant to start that large a build, or to move them upstairs after completion.

What about a sealed Statements?

[bungelow_ed]

Re: Advice Request - Statements or ER18 MTM

Sealed Statements might be a possibility. I'll have to look into that option. What would I do with the cut, shrink wrapped and labeled MDF I already have? ;)

[theLinks]

Re: Advice Request - Statements or ER18 MTM

Sealed Statements might be a possibility. I'll have to look into that option. What would I do with the cut, shrink wrapped and labeled MDF I already have? ;)

Classifieds? :D
Tim

[GranteedEV]

Re: Advice Request - Statements or ER18 MTM

The designer of the statements suggested the tang band mid could run with a seas excel ITO resolution.
The designer of the ER18MTM suggested the seas prestige midbass was just a level short of seas excel caliber.
Both use the same tweeter. One is a 3-way and the other is a 2-way, if that matters.

Overall I would MOSTLY chalk it down to cost, individual voicing, and rear wave presence. Of those, the individual voicing aspect is something only you can decide with your ears. At first glance the statements' smaller mids would seem to have the edge in polar response but that might not quite be the case, as their XO frequency is around 3.7khz IIRC. I'm sure they have better power handling for that reason, though.

The above was an entirely useless post. You're welcome anytime.

[bungelow_ed]

Re: Advice Request - Statements or ER18 MTM

The designer of the statements suggested the tang band mid could run with a seas excel ITO resolution.
The designer of the ER18MTM suggested the seas prestige midbass was just a level short of seas excel caliber.
Both use the same tweeter. One is a 3-way and the other is a 2-way, if that matters.

Overall I would MOSTLY chalk it down to cost, individual voicing, and rear wave presence. Of those, the individual voicing aspect is something only you can decide with your ears. At first glance the statements' smaller mids would seem to have the edge in polar response but that might not quite be the case, as their XO frequency is around 3.7khz IIRC. I'm sure they have better power handling for that reason, though.

The above was an entirely useless post. You're welcome anytime.

I respectfully disagree with your assessment of the post. Any information and input is helpful in determining whether to spend my effort. I just wish there were a practical way to hear both designs. Maybe I need to move to the mid-west......

[Jim Holtz]

Re: Advice Request - Statements or ER18 MTM

Thaks for the input Dave. I have built the Statement monitors which I find a little to bass heavy for my tastes. My fear is that the full size Statements might be more of the same, on a larger scale.

That said, I already have the drivers, crossover components and cutlist complete. Guess I am also hesitant to start that large a build, or to move them upstairs after completion.

Hi Ed,

I wish I lived close enough that I could take a look at your Monitors. Bass heavy is not a description I would apply to them. Clean accurate and ample would be how I'd characterize them. Yes, the full sized Statements will have similar bass with much more impact.

It sure sounds like somethings out of phase to me. That will upset the balance of the mids to the woofers.

Good luck with whatever you choose.

Jim

[internova]

Re: Advice Request - Statements or ER18 MTM

I respectfully disagree with your assessment of the post. Any information and input is helpful in determining whether to spend my effort. I just wish there were a practical way to hear both designs. Maybe I need to move to the mid-west......

Bass heavy could have something to do with your room. I've heard both the Statements monitor and full size Statements. I played a few deep bass tunes on the full size recently. It's clean, not as clean or articulation as a Scan Revelator, but it is definitely clean.

The ER18 MTM will have "similar" (or more due to diff. voicing) bass foundation. The transmission line alignment will be a bit different but I won't expect anything less from full size Statements except impacts in the actual listening.

If the bass heavy has more to do with your room or your preference, you'll likely to feel ER18 MTM the same way.

[jinjuku]

Re: Advice Request - Statements or ER18 MTM

The Statements aren't bass heavy IMO. They lend bottom end impact with good resolution. I have recently expanded my Classical Music collection because of this.

If you have the room for proper placement I would tell you to go with the Statements vs the ER18's. I think you will get better presentation, a less stressed speaker when jumping on the volume and better bottom end.

[NWLanding]

Re: Advice Request - Statements or ER18 MTM

I've been seriously considering the ER18 MTM, but have now turned my attention to Paul Kittinger's ML-TL Marcato. If you compare some of the graphs, the Marcato has a little smoother roll-off and about 3dB more SPL than the ER18.

Take a look and see what you think.

[mattsk8]

Re: Advice Request - Statements or ER18 MTM

I have the full size statements built and plan on building the ER18's w/ the ribbons soon. I have all the components for the ER18's, everything except time :(. Hope to get on em inside of a week or so. If you can wait a month for me the finish the ER18's rough cabinets I'll do a comparison. Should be interesting.

I don't think you can go wrong either way. The Statements are stunning sounding so to me; I practically melt whenever I listen to em so it's a pretty tall order from the ER18's. My only complaint about the statements is simply the girth of those monsters; they're huge! The ER18's aren't exactly small, but the Statements are gigantic!

As far as pricing goes, the ER18's w/ the ribbons are about $200 less (give or take) than the full size Statements. When you're already spending $700, the extra $200 doesn't mean that much IMO; get what sounds better.

Just venturing a bit of a guess here and don't get me wrong, everyone thats built or heard the ER18's has nothing but great reviews; but I'm guessing the Statements will "surround" you more w/ their sound. That's one of the things I love about them.

I actually built the Statements for my dad and the ER18's are for me so I'm hoping the ER18's live up to all the rage ;)

[bungelow_ed]

Re: Advice Request - Statements or ER18 MTM

Hi Ed,

I wish I lived close enough that I could take a look at your Monitors. Bass heavy is not a description I would apply to them. Clean accurate and ample would be how I'd characterize them. Yes, the full sized Statements will have similar bass with much more impact.

It sure sounds like somethings out of phase to me. That will upset the balance of the mids to the woofers.

Good luck with whatever you choose.

Jim

Just for the record, I love my Statement monitors, and have hundreds of hours on them. Their sound is why I spent the cash for the full Statement experience.

You might be right, mine are the switchable BSC version and it's entirely possible I did something wrong during x-over assembly. I would be remiss not to pull the x-overs and confirm they are assembled correctly.

Subjectively, I've used them in the two different rooms and always end up out in the room with BSC in the near wall position.

[bungelow_ed]

Re: Advice Request - Statements or ER18 MTM

Bass heavy could have something to do with your room. I've heard both the Statements monitor and full size Statements. I played a few deep bass tunes on the full size recently. It's clean, not as clean or articulation as a Scan Revelator, but it is definitely clean.

The ER18 MTM will have "similar" (or more due to diff. voicing) bass foundation. The transmission line alignment will be a bit different but I won't expect anything less from full size Statements except impacts in the actual listening.

If the bass heavy has more to do with your room or your preference, you'll likely to feel ER18 MTM the same way.

Yes, I know both designs are excellent, top-notch speaker systems. To me it's like trying to decide on a Cab or a Merlot based only a on chemical analysis. Me thinks I might need both in order to fully appreciate their characters.