Thank you for your input. :) Although the M12.2 is more sparkly in the high frequencies, I still feel as though the ES11 bettered them in their midrange performance. You are 100% correct about their potential for boominess; careful placement is a must (which is usually the case for most speakers, anyway). I found me ES14s to actually perform extremely well in a small room in which I once used them (using their port plugs, mind you). Sorry to hear your ES11s developed issues; those speakers are keepers for life, imo. Do you still have them and are trying to source some parts? If so, let me know, and I'll reach out to my contacts to see what's what. Cheers!

@@BadMonkeyFinger_Audio The ES11s were a special speaker and I had many years of happy listening. I was mortified when they bit the dust. The tweeter died in one and the woofer in the other had a rubbing voice coil. Sadly I don't have them any more, but thanks for your offer anyway. I'm currently using some ancient Celestion Ditton 25s which I recapped. They have an enjoyable sound with much deeper bass but the midrange lacks the "magic" of the Epos.

Last weekend I decided to try swapping out the big old Celestion Ditton 25 speakers and reinstalled the M12.2s, this time having them 18 inches from the wall and slightly toed in. Whilst the sound lost some stature in the bass (the dittons have a 12 inch woofer with a passive radiator). There was a massive difference in speed, transparency and midrange detail. The Epos really make the most of my old Exposure XX integrated amplifier's excellent pace rythym and timing. Overall I think I've gained more than I've lost. The dittons are warm and relaxed, very enjoyable in fact, but they seem veiled and slow by comparison to the M12.2s. I think they'll be staying put for a while! It's not quite the same as the dear departed ES11s but pretty close. Thanks again for the review, it was partially the motivation for getting the Epos speakers out again!

@@jonathanbignall1198 Glad you pulled them out for another whirl (and happy to hear this video inspired you to do so). Yes, Epos make some very special speakers, and I bet they are awesome at the end of the Exposure gear you have (which is better sounding than my Exposure gear, in my opinion. I have the 2010 integrated). Although the 12.2 doesn't plumb to the depths of hell in terms of bass, I found them to be nice and punchy in the upper bass - more so than my ES14s - giving them a more 'exciting' sound. Plus, they do go low enough to forgo a subwoofer in many rooms, imo. Btw - I've never heard the Celestion 25, but I do like Celestion speakers (would love to try out some vintage 66s). Such a fun hobby overall, isn't it! I can (almost) never get enough! Cheers!

@@BadMonkeyFinger_Audio The Exposure stuff from the John Farlowe era is quite sought after nowadays. My model lacks a Phono stage, headphone jack or remote control, it also has no protection relays so it makes quite a switch on thump at the speakers! It's also vulnerable to output stage damage if your speaker connections get shorted out, so it does have some shortcomings, but the punchy toe tapping sound is sublime. I'm tempted to get an Exposure pre/power combo from the same era but they cost a fortune sadly, so I'll stick to the integrated and be happy! It's a piece of gear I can't imagine parting with. I look out for Ditton 66s from time to time, but again, they tend to go for silly prices. The 25s use a lot of the same drivers but they have a rather curious set up with the woofer, passive radiator, two identical mid range tweeters and a "super" tweeter. The smaller drivers are quite fragile and long since out of production, but alternatives can be found for some of them that integrate quite well. Yes this hobby is a sort of addiction, always tinkering, but just now I'm enjoying the music. Cheers!

They are definitely excellent speakers for the money. Very detailed, but not bright. I really enjoy them.

Thank you for your kind words. :)

Thank you for the compliment. I am thinking of making more, so it's nice to hear this one is appreciated. My previous ones I did as 'experiments'. This one I did with a bit more effort, so it's great to know it hasn't gone unnoticed.

Nice! Once you have good quality audio at home, it never goes 'out of style'. :) Good gear you have there! Cheers from Toronto!

@@BadMonkeyFinger_Audio Thanks, I am music lover from Singapore. From old school of music. You don't have to keep spending a lot of money to enjoy the music. Proper equipment set up is very important. You can have very expensive equipments but with lousy set up still sound lousy ! Enjoy your musical hobby. I own a marantz 63 se cdp, a 45 years vintage sansui tu 999 tuner and a clearaudio TT with sumiko blue point 2 cartidge. It will good if you buy some very good well maintain and recap vintage equipments at a bargain price. Some well made vintage equipments sounds better than modern day equipments ..Enjoy your hobby and journey of music.

Hey there! Thanks for the kind feedback. You most likely heard the M5 at Hi Fi Fo Fum, a very small shop on Mount Pleasant (am I right?!). I know Epos didn't have many dealers in the city (only the one, I think, but I could be mistaken). Cheers!

@@BadMonkeyFinger_Audio Ive met Steve at HiFi FoFum he's an awesome proprietor of the subject and humble. Not pushy and he'll even recommend that you maybe tweak your sytem before upgrading. Class act! I actually heard the m5 along with alya' s you and the floorstanding version sorry forgot the name, uptown somwhere cant for the llife of me pinpoint. Regardless. Have you ever tried the 12.2 with any of the Mike Creek integrated amps? Like the 5350 se Or any of the newer evo versions?

@@alexgaspar7494 Yes! Steve! He's a great guy. I haven't seen him in a very long time. Yes, you're absolutely correct; he's very much about tweaking (and I think he's correct). I purchased a pair of Neat Mystique II's from him at one point. When I brought them home, they had some issues (although they ended up sounded AMAZING on that amp, in that room). He pointed me in the right direction, and it didn't cost an arm an a leg. I haven't owned any of those amps in the past, but the 5350se is what was powering the 12.2's when I decided I wanted a pair.

Thanks for the kind comments, Ardaish. Cheers!

Korea 200kwon is about 160$

Oh, that's a great deal! wow! if the 160 is USD, that's about 200 CAD, which is still an AWESOME deal. To be honest, I wish I still had the 12.2s...they were really great-sounding speakers, and had a gorgeous finish (they looked awesome on their designated stands). Lucky score, man! :) May I ask what amp you're using with them? Have fun! Cheers!

@@BadMonkeyFinger_Audio Thank you for your comment. The amp I use is micromega minium integrated amp (made in France.). Good luck.!

@@modugasarang4988 40wpc one, as seen here? Looks like a decent, little amp. elektro.bazos.cz/inzerat/171410860/micromega-minium-amp3.php

@@BadMonkeyFinger_AudioThat's the amp. It has a 40 watt output. The minium amp has a rich power supply, so it weighs 9 kg. I bought minium amp at the used market of Wassada site(the biggest audio community in korea ) it costs about 180 usd. Minium has a good price/performance.

That's a great question! One to which I don't know the answer. But, I think I can at least give you some insight. I have owned the M12.2 and the Monitor Audio Silver 5i. At some point, I had to sell one or the other (can't keep them all!). Here are my thoughts on the shootout between the two: M12.2 had a much smaller presentation than the 5i. The singers seemed physically much larger with the 5i, but on the 12.2, the singer seemed more in balance with the rest of the music. I found the M12.2 to have a more natural tone than the 5i (although the 5i is no slouch). When going from the 5i to the 12.2, I immediately found singers to be more realistic sounding, albeit farther back (which is not a bad thing, I may point out). When I would switch back to the 5i, I would be awestruck at the seeming physical size of the singer in front of me! Far larger than on the M12.2! That will be an immediate appeal to some people. The Epos could play louder, without as much strain as the 5i. I could really crank the 12.2 with either my Sugden or my Exposure integrated amps, and they would play louder than you'd want, but with no audible strain, for the most part. I cannot say that for the 5i's on the same amps. It could be that the amps were running out of steam with the 5i's at those volumes, but I'm not sure. Maybe they need more power than what I currently have on tap. The Epos could play fairly low bass (50hz, with usable down to about 40) but the MA 5i's could play a bit lower, down to 38hz, with a usable 34-35-ish hz. I found the Epos to be more transparent, but the MA's were brighter (in a way)... they have more glare (maybe in the lower treble somewhere...). The Epos had much more delineated imaging than the MA 5i's, as well. Additionally, while the MA 5i had some nicely finished boxes, the Epos 12.2 boxes are much nicer. They are more robust, and have a nicer finish than the MA's. Now, I ended up selling the Epos 12.2 speakers, because I actually needed/ wanted speakers that played more full-range. I compromised on sound quality (a little bit) for a more full-range sound. Since I don't usually blast my music, I don't often encounter the issue with my MA's compressing at volume (their compression issue would bug me much more if i were one who listens at loud volumes). At lower to moderate volumes, they're great! Truth be told, I have been on the hunt for a pair of Monitor Audio Silver 8i's for a while, because I have a feeling they would help to round-off the 5i's shortcomings. With that said, I don't have first-hand experience with the 22i, but I have a feeling it would just be a better overall speaker quality-wise (both sonically, and build quality) than the MA 8i. That said, I suspect the bass would go a bit lower on the 8i's, and that the presentation would be more forward than on the 22i. These are just guesses, though, based on my experience as described above. The very last thing I'll say, which just came to my mind, is that I believe the Silver i series was designed with home theatre in mind. The Epos, on the other hand, were designed music-first. Hopefully this will help you to some degree or other in making a selection. Have fun! I bet either one would be frikkin' awesome! Btw - I'm currently making a video on the Monitor Audio 5i, which will be out in a week or two. Thought I'd let you know, since you're interested in the line.

@@BadMonkeyFinger_Audio Wow, great! This is much more than I would have expected. Thanks for the detailed experience, sir.

@@TheCheck01 any time!

@@TheCheck01 My pleasure. :)

The original batch of M12i had a capacitor issue, which made them too bright. That problem was corrected after the first run. I have not actually heard the m12i, so I have no idea if they are 'better'. I suspect they are a bit different-sounding, and it must be remembered that production in China started with that model (previously all made in the UK). I hope this helps.

S V thank you, but the on m12 is also stated “designed and engineered” only, and not proudly “made in” like on other true british speakers, so I assume the M12 are also made in china.

@@DimkaKruglyNos It's possible that some m12.2 were made in China (i have a vague recollection that that was the case), but mine (and all the others I've seen) say 'made in the UK'. :)

That would depend on your room size, music selections, sound preferences etc. I'm not overly familiar with the M5, but I can assure you that the M12 is LEAGUES better than the ELS3. While the ELS 3 is very good, they are not on the same playing field as the M series. I suspect the M5 is a significant improvement over the ELS 3 and that the M12 takes that improvement to the next level. I have compared the M12.2 and ELS 3, and it wasn't even close. Actually, the M12.2 can have problematic bass in the wrong room, so it'll be all about your room size. I think the M12.2 would produce very satisfying bass in a medium-sized room, down to a usable 45 hz or so.

@@BadMonkeyFinger_Audio Thank you for the input. Your report helped me a lot, so much as that I am thinking about giving to the M5 a try. As I pointed, the ELS3 truly surprised me in terms of imaging and 3D sound and if the M5 goes to the same direction, then I think I will be not disappointed. By the way, in terms of eletronics, which budget integrated do you believe will match the M5 better? Today I am running Emotiva PT 100/A300 combo, but I am thinking about changing to some Onkyo, just because I´ve read Onkyos are the cheapest amps that can give best imaging and 3D sound. The rest of the pack, such as Cambridge Audio, NAD, Yamaha, Denon, Marantz would sound more 2D.

Thanks for your question. Unfortunately, I have no experience with Focal speakers, aside from just a casual, short listen here and there, so I can't give you any useful input on this topic. Sorry about that! Wish I could help.

Ok, so you're talking U.S. dollars, correct? Is that price with stands, or without? In my opinion, that is a little high, considering you also have to pay for shipping. $450 USD is nearly $600 CAD, and I feel that is high, even with stands (although they DO seem to go for a little more in the USA vs Canada, though, for some reason). Can you negotiate with the seller, perhaps? In Canada, the speakers on their own (without stands) seem to sell for around $350-400 CAD, maybe slightly more or less at times. If that's the price for them WITHOUT the stands, I think that's too much. Don't get me wrong - they are excellent speakers, and actually worth *more* (in terms of performance) than what they sell for on the second-hand market, but I just don't want you to pay through the nose on second-hand speakers. My judgment is based on converting your US cost to CAD, and then considering shipping on top of that. Your judgment may be different, depending on where you live and what kind of prices you're used to paying. I have a feeling the Rega will work well with them, but I've never tried that combo. I've used mine with Exposure and Sugden, as far as British amps go. I've heard the Mira, though, with other speakers, and I like it. As far as comparisons to the ES12, I have no first-hand experience with those, but I suspect the 12.2s are a bit brighter, and more punchy by comparison (a more 'modern' sound - more 'lively' at top and bottom). Some people prefer that, but I suspect it's a matter of taste. The ES12 is likely no slouch. Remember, the M12.2 is an EVOLUTION of the ES12, not a REVOLUTION. You're right, though: they sure are beautiful, perched up on their stands. Sexy, even. hahaha. They really have a look and feel of 'quality' - no doubt about it. I really like them, and I suspect you will, too. What's the room size, if you don't mind my asking? Will you use a sub with them? If so, it'd better be fast! Cheers, Stephen

​@@BadMonkeyFinger_Audio Thanks for your time and expertise! Yes, correct I was talking USD though the speakers are in the UK. I found a couple other pairs mainly in the UK, on Ebay. Two pairs are around the $500 range, and the others are around $350ish. It's interesting to see that spread, as all of them are "mostly" same condition. It's unclear about the stands, to be honest. I'll attach link to his ebay store. I can confirm if the stands are included, and if he is willing to separate them from the sale to make it cheaper (I have the stands already.) What are your thoughts on the sonic quality verses the ES12 speaker, and their longevity? Would I gain anything with these audibly, or would I just be gaining slightly better looking speakers that sound pretty much the same a the ES12? THANK YOU! Have a great day! www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Epos-M12-2-Speakers-Hi-End-British-Audiophile-Quality-Bookshelf-Cherry/174178643229?hash=item288ddb2d1d:g:0FwAAOSw6qReNhGk

HEY! I found these as well!! www.ebay.com/itm/124061813656?ul_noapp=true Price is $246 USD, with $108 shipping including "stands" which are NOT Epos stands. Owner is very nice. I notice that this pair has plastic port, which others (yours) I noticed did NOT: interesting. I also meant to ask what cables you felt worked best with these and ES12? Thank you again!!

@@amtprodu Hi again, Alan. Now THESE ones on Ebay seem like the more logical choice - and the price is definitely right! So, these ones should cost you about $400 USD shipped to your door, and WITH stands. I would go for it, if you're really bent on getting the M12.2s. Since you already have open-framed stands, you can just sell the stands that you get from this person, to recoup a bit of your cash. Good times! Good observation on the port plastic. I'm not sure what the difference is, but the diameter is the same. I suspect they changed things slightly over the course of their production. I suspect these here at $246 are slightly newer than mine, but I would venture to guess they sound identical. The drivers all look to be in good condition, which is a huge plus. If I were you, I would likely pull the trigger. As far as the sonic differences between the ES12 and M12.2 - as mentioned earlier, I have not personally heard the ES12. From what I gather from what I've read, their bass might be a little 'looser' than the M12.2, and I suspect the M12.2 is punchier in the bass. I also suspect that the M12.2 will be brighter than the ES12 (my M12.2 are brighter than my ES14s, the bigger brother of the ES12). The M12.2 is very natural-sounding with vocals; they sound more realistic than my Monitor Audio Silver 5i, and they sound more detailed than my ES14. So, to recap, they are probably a bit brighter and punchier than the ES12. As far as cables are concerned - I would not worry too much about that. Although I do believe cables can make a difference in some systems and to some ears, I certainly do not advocate spending lots of money on them. I currently use KnuKonceptz 12 gauge cable from Amazon (blue jacket). I have also used Ecosse bi-wire cable. In my current room, with my current gear, I could not notice an appreciable difference, although if i were to make a judgment call, I would say the Ecosse cable tightened up the bass a touch, and made the sound a touch more 'flat'. But then again, that could just be my mind playing tricks on me. If you DO get them, just make sure you spend time on getting their placement in the room set up correctly; that will make the biggest impact on how they perform. Best of luck to you - it's awesome to see someone else as excited about audio as I am. And please keep me posted on how things go. Cheers, Stephen

@@BadMonkeyFinger_Audio I agree with you. The ebay ones seems to make most sense. Though not a fan of the stands and the corresponding treatment of the speaker to work on those stands, I can easily over look that/remedy that if they audibly sound better and are of similar quality build and attention to detail the ES line had. And like you said, I can always re-coup a little money (maybe the shipping) by selling the stands or trading for good cables. I'm still researching integrated amp appropriate for the Epos line. I'm curious about your amp system which seemed to work great for your space and music.

Do you mean make a sound recording of the M12.2 and the Exposure 2010? Unfortunately, I've sold the m12.2s to a friend of mine. They were not 'lifeless' speakers, though.. I can assure you of that.

@@BadMonkeyFinger_Audio yes. IK they don't sound cold or numb themselves, but it totally depends on amp.

I have absolutely no experience with the latest models from Epos. Tbh, I somewhat lost interest when production moved to China, and when the designs were drastically changed. Sorry I can't be of any help. Cheers!

Hi there, Unfortunately, I only have very little listening experience with the M5. I know that the M5 was very well received when it came out, and that the M5i was markedly better than the original M5. Both versions of the M5 have the famous Epos midrange magic, so if you can get the M5 for a good price, I would not hesitate. They'd be good for a small room, but would require a sub for medium rooms (or even a small sub in a smaller room, to bolster the low end). The M12.2 is much 'bigger'-sounding, and a more complete speaker overall, by comparison. That's about as much as I can tell you about the M5, though. Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

Hey no problem at all, I honestly have never heard about epos before and all I see and read is how great they were, a local guy is selling a pair of M5s for $150 with the stands! I'm totally going to give them a try and pair them up with my pioneer sx950 and 2 earthquake sound sub80x, thanks for such fast reply!!

@@carlos97828 For $150 with stands? Grab 'em! If you're new to audio, you'll be in love. I have no first-hand experience with the SX950, but I know it's 85wpc should drive the M5s very well. Since that's a vintage receiver, you'll be using high level (speaker cable) to connect the subs (which is my preferred way of connecting a sub, anyway). That will work out well, since that thing has capacity to connect three pairs of speakers. So, speakers A to the EPOS, then use speaker B connections left and right to each sub (good idea with dual subs- much better bass distribution in the room). This way, you can alternate between listening to the Epos with, or without the subs. Be sure to position them correctly, on their stands, a good bit away the back and side walls. Experiment with toeing them in, or running them pointing straight out (which works best in my room with my Epos speakers). Also, bear in mind that the distance BETWEEN the two speakers shouldn't be too far apart, or you'll lose the solid, centre image. At one point, I had my 12.2s too far apart, and as soon as i inched them together a little closer, BAM! Amazing centre image, without losing the width and depth of the sound field. Experiment with positioning... it makes a HUMONGOUS difference. Once you get them, can you do me a solid and let me know your thoughts? I'd love to hear how they work out for you. And, if you need any help, don't hesitate to reach out; I'm always happy to answer any questions, or even to just chat about audio. Cheers from Toronto, Canada!

@@carlos97828 One more quick thing - the M5 goes down to about 60hz, so you'll want to set your subs' low pass filter to around that mark, give or take. (first set it to 60, then slowly increase the subs volume till it matches the output of the M5 without overpowering them, then dial-in the low pass crossover point, so as to avoid any overlapping frequencies between the speakers and the sub (which would muddy up the midrange sound).

@@BadMonkeyFinger_Audio got it!! I'll definitely be doing that! I'm not super new to audio I've had a couple systems before but nothing super high end, back in the day in my old apartment someone broke in and stole a set of vintage jbl100s, they were in really rough condition but they sounded amazing!! I'm super stoked to hear the epos!!!!! Do you have an instagram? Maybe I can send you a video once I set them up!!!

Agreed. 100%

i personally agree, but I know others who think the es11 and es14 are too 'old fashioned' looking. I think they look great, imo.

In Canada, I would say a pair in good condition can go for $400-500 (maybe a bit lower, if you get lucky). With their proper stands, i would say $600-700 ($550 at the lower end). These estimates are in Canadian dollars.

@@BadMonkeyFinger_Audio Great review , I wonder if they sing nice with ADCOM GFA 555mk2.

@@RanTausi good question. I suspect they'd need a warrm preamp to go with that combo, but please let me know how it goes. I'd be interested to hear your thoughts. Cheers!

@@BadMonkeyFinger_Audio Well, I have found a second hand 12.2 but the asking price a bit high. I need to think about that otherwise for a little more I cannot go wrong with new Dynaudio Emit20.

You could be right, technically-speaking. The reality is that what one considers 'neutral' has a lot to do with one's frame of reference. :)

@@BadMonkeyFinger_Audio Yep i agree with u.. Actually i'm a fan of epos speaker and i had M5, M12.2, M15.2, M12i, M22i, Epic 5, Els 8.. M12i and M22i is my favorite speaker 😍 And Now i enjoy Focal speaker.. more speed, lively, and dynamic than epos speaker 👍

@@hendrywidjanarko9369 I've had many Epos speakers as well. (not as many as you, though). I've had the M12.2, ES14 mk1, and two pairs of ES14 mk2. CAn you tell me (since i've never heard them) - what are the differences between the M12.2 and the M12i? Regarding Focals - in theory, I would like them, but I have never heard a pair that were well set up, so they've always left me wanting/ feeling unsatisfied. (You know how it is - you often have to have them at your own place and set them up yourself to see what they can really do. I have a few friends with lots of money, but no audio knowledge. So, they buy expensive equipment, but don't actually set it up very well...) In any event, please let me know your thoughts on the comparison of M12.2 vs M12i. Thanks!

@@hendrywidjanarko9369 Try Dynaudio they are by far better then Focal's