What Hi Fi Sound and Vision 13 SEP 2003

Epos ELS3

£ 200 4

* * * *

Enjoyable enough to listen to, but their size means the ELS3s are restricted at the lower end of the scale

For
Compact size might suit your room; fine timing; pleasing and natural midrange
Against
Too small for large rooms; dynamics limited

In terms of aesthetics, the ELS3s appear rather dated. However, we’re not a superficial bunch, so it’s not curtains for the ELS3s.

Spin a few tracks and these speakers reveal there’s much to admire beneath the surface. Integration between the 13cm midrange/bass driver and the 25mm aluminium dome tweeter is seamless. The speakers produce a well-balanced sound that’s musical and supremely easy on the ear.

Aided by a foot-tapping sense of rhythm, the ELS3s spit out the sharp vocals and guitar licks of Bloc Party’s Banquet, letting none of the band’s raw vigour go to waste.

Midrange delivery is also worth a mention. Nina Simone’s vocals on Tomorrow sound wonderfully natural and emotive. Compared to the very best, though, these speakers do lack that extra level of detail and transparency.

Struggle in big spaces
Matters aren’t helped by their diminutive size. While that’s useful, of course, if space is at a premium, they could struggle to fill a larger listening room properly.

The Epos’ haven’t got the far-reaching dynamic ability that’s required to work in more spacious surroundings. Also, you’ll need to experiment a bit with positioning – too near the wall and they lose low-frequency composure due to their rear port; too far away and bass extension suffers.

If space is limited, then the ELS3s are definitely a viable option. They’re not perfect, but they do paint a pleasingly entertaining and musical picture.