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Ergo E-IX owners' club

James

James

Lord of the Erg\o/s
It's been at least a dozen years - maybe more - since I designed the E-IX. I recall my thoughts for it started with one of the longest PFM threads titled "Demand for and Pricing of Small Loudspeakers" or something like that. That thread no longer exists (unless @Tony L can find it).

There is a long-running thread in the DIY room on how to build a pair of E-IXs, including crossover schematics, bill of materials, and construction method. I happily shared my original design because I realised that commercialising the E-IXs was just too much to take on for a whole range of reasons, which I outlined in the lost thread.

Since then, I know there are quite a few satisfied, and even happy, owners. Some have built their own. Others have bought flat-pack kits from @orangeart, who has my blessing to make the kits more accessible to fans in the UK. I have sold exactly one pair to @Jeff Anderson, who listens to his almost daily.

So I thought I might take stock of what's out there with this thread, and invite E-IX owners - past and present - to help me answer a few questions:

Q1: Are you a current or past owner of E-IXs? If you have not owned but have heard E-IXs, feel free to answer Q4 and Q5.

Q2: Which crossover variant do/did you have (free-space or wall-mount)? The wall-mount version has two inductors, the free-space has three.

Q3: What amplifier (including rated power) do/did you use with your E-IXs?

Q4: What do/did you most like and/or dislike about the E-IX?

Q5: If I should design another Ergo, what would you like to see?

James

Club Members, in alphabetical order, are:
@azman
@eddie pugh
@flashgo
@hc25036
@Jeff Anderson
@MartinC
@Mike Hanson
@Mosquito
@Paul R
@sam_cat
@Steve Gray
 
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I'm a current owner, and I very much appreciate them in my main system in my office. They bumped the Royd RR3 into the secondary system in the family room, where they're better suited to the style of listening. The Ergo IX is much too engaging for my wife. ;)

They're in the corners of my office (approximately 10x11ft), I'm running the passive crossover designed for near wall use, and they do occasionally seem a bit intense. Note that my computer monitors block the direct signal, so this is not really a problem in my situation.

I was first running then with Avondale QUDOS Voyagers, but have changed to Avondale NCC300 monos. Both amps drive them easily. I've not tried them with lesser amps, which I should try sometime. I think the NCC300 does 130W/ch.

I find the Ergo IX to be very fun and lively, with impressive rhythmic strength. It doesn't present inner details quite as well as the Royd RR3, but it's not far off. It also needs more volume to wake up, compared to the RR3.

As you know, I'm about to start building the PFM Special. Initially I'll use your suggested passive crossover, but I'm planning to experiment with active using a MiniDSP and my growing stable of DIY amps. We'll see how they compare.
 
Hi James,

Still loving mine!

Q1: Are you a current or past owner of E-IXs? Sure am.

Q2: Which crossover variant do/did you have (free-space or wall-mount)? Free Space

Q3: What amplifier (including rated power) do/did you use with your E-IXs? Usually JVC AX-Z1010 (100W), sometimes Manley Stingray (50W)

Q4: What do/did you most like and/or dislike about the E-IX? Love: Imaging, tight bass, looks. Dislike: Some harshness from the tweeter

Q5: If I should design another Ergo, what would you like to see? Perhaps a different HF unit? Two box design with a separate bass box? Active version :)

Martin
 
Mike Hanson said:
Just for convenience, here are some earlier related threads:
Click to expand...
Thanks, Mike, for the memories. I think the 2006 thread morphed into the E-Xs, which is a design that took me the longest time to complete (about two years). The E-IXs as they are known started life in 2010 I think.
 
James said:
Thanks, Mike, for the memories. I think the 2006 thread morphed into the E-Xs, which is a design that took me the longest time to complete (about two years). The E-IXs as they are known started life in 2010 I think.
Click to expand...
I was wondering about that early year. I've removed that entry from the list.
 
Hi James

I believe the E-IX wall-mount pair in NZ native Rimu hard wood you built and shipped to me in the Pacific NW US occurred in May/June 2009. My wife was on vacation with a friend in Germany. I have used them with several amps but the most enjoyable combo is currently with a Peachtree Nova 150 integrated with DAC (150 watt). They are sited on a bookcase shelf on sorbothane pucks, 3 each. Against the wall. Used daily, for at least several hours, when I awake, turning on the amp from standby is one of the first five things I do. This is my end-game system as years are flying past. In the past they were sourced by CD, Spotify, and more recently by Tidal HiFi. Best regards, Jeff A
 
Pair in use as fronts on our surround sound system, built as floorstanders (sized correctly, just box is taller and has a divider in the right place internally)
Close to wall crossover.
Powered with a pair of NC400 class D amps

Building a center to go with them at the moment.

VASXF0al.jpg

For a sense of scale, thats a 65" tv.. Sub in the middle center is a BK monolith DF (a big box!)



As for future designs, a true floorstander that is about the same difficulty to build would be ace.
 
As for new builds, James, I've been intrigued by those big line arrays. What about something with multiple drivers in a row, to create that sense of scale? I suspect the pinpoint focus of the Ergo IX would be lost, but the benefits may outweigh that.
 
Q1: Are you a current or past owner of E-IXs? If you have not owned but have heard E-IXs, feel free to answer Q4 and Q5. Current (via the kit from KJF Audio in the UK).

Q2: Which crossover variant do/did you have (free-space or wall-mount)? The wall-mount version has two inductors, the free-space has three. Free space on custom-made steel stands

Q3: What amplifier (including rated power) do/did you use with your E-IXs? Linn LK140, but pondering a change (any suggestions?)

Q4: What do/did you most like and/or dislike about the E-IX? They replaced some refurbished LS3/5a and brought more and better-focussed bass while retaining the sweet mid range and vocals. I suspect I wasn't getting the best out of the LS3s but the difference was night and day.

Q5: If I should design another Ergo, what would you like to see? These will see me out, so I'm not your target audience!
 
James said:
I'd be inclined to bring them closer together, perhaps adjacent to the side of each of the racks.
Click to expand...

Have experimented a lot, and here is good. Its roughtly an equilateral triangle from the main listening positions and REW (measured with a umik-1) shows it as being about the least worst option.
Bringing them closer to the rack really loses the sound stage, but does improve mid-range performance.
 
I'll update my OP with current owners as they come forward. Perhaps I should share my thoughts in response to my own questions, since I've been listening to them again for several months after a hiatus of several years.

My pair has the free-space crossover. They are sited about 1m from the front wall, and about 2.2m from the side walls and from each other. They sound their best when driven by a pair of Densen B-350 mono-blocks with 125W each.

They are my favourite loudspeakers because they are so coherent and sound more authoritative than their diminutive size suggests. Their favourite party trick is fooling blindfolded people into thinking they are listening to a much larger pair of loudspeakers. But, I wish they were more efficient (and potentially sound even better with a lower powered class-A amp) and play louder without risking damage to the drivers.
 
I have a pair. James supplied cabinets and crossovers, I supplied drive units. Then worked on the crossovers and built whatever type wasn't the original. They've been lent out several times, and to Scalford at least once (maybe twice?). I do feel I have custody under slightly false pretences, I remain happy to do whatever's necessary to push the design to whomever is interested. Not really a sales type person, they sound great to me, but I have ATC SCM50ASL for daily use...

If they would fit at Worksop then that's no problem. Idea last summer was to take a pseudo retro system to the Wigwam show at Kegworth, EIX, ancient Naim, bastard LP12/Ekos/Troika and a couple of hundred records. Then they cancelled it. if I can get a room this will happen this autumn at the new venue.
 
I don't remember whether the original crossover was free-space or wall-proximity. I recall an iterative process to improve the balance, and then building and fitting whatever the other type was. Which are what are now fitted. Will have to do some archaeology.
 
Hi all,

I really love these speakers. I can't fault them for one thing. No compaints at all. And that is very unlike ne to say. These are the best speakers I have ever owned and I have had many good pairs.

Q1:Are you a current or past owner of E-IXs? Curent owner

Q2: Which crossover variant do/did you have (free-space or wall-mount)? The wall-mount version has two inductors, the free-space has three. Free Space

Q3: What amplifier (including rated power) do/did you use with your E-IXs? Home built based on ICEPower ASC 200 modules. Approx 150W/Ch clean. I currently have a Pass F6 under construction that will take the place of the ICEPowers.

Q4: What do/did you most like and/or dislike about the E-IX? Marvelous detail and accuracy. Voices and pianos sound like real insruments. Plus incredible bass for their size. Execpetionally pleasant to listen to and never fatiguing when listening over long periods.

Q5: If I should design another Ergo, what would you like to see? A speaker this size is great but.... it will almost alway be used with stands. Why not just integrate the stands into the design and make transmission line versions of this design that would extend the bass response a bit plus give it an even better contolled bass sound.

Thanks James!
 
James

I really love the EIX's Had them a fair number of years now and never felt need for a change

Q1: Are you a current or past owner of E-IXs? If you have not owned but have heard E-IXs, feel free to answer Q4 and Q5. Current owner of a beautiful pair in birch ply and black Corian built by orangeart

Q2: Which crossover variant do/did you have (free-space or wall-mount)? The wall-mount version has two inductors, the free-space has three. Wall mount Speakers are in free field config situated on bookshelves either side of my monitor in my study desktop system.

Q3: What amplifier (including rated power) do/did you use with your E-IXs? Pair of Avondale M130's but older ones with NCC 200 amp boards Loads of power

Q4: What do/did you most like and/or dislike about the E-IX? They replaced a pair of older Harbeth P3 ES2 I think they were last version before ESR EIX was better in the bass but I still use a Dynaudio Sub which integrates very nicely and provides the real low end. Love the mid range female vocals and general all round natural sound of these speakers My main speakers a re a Pair of Yamaha NS1000'm which I've had for nearly 40 yrs and the overall sound of these speakers in the mid and upper range is virtually identical The bass is not too shabby either. Mine are keepers and will survive any downsizing.

Q5: If I should design another Ergo, what would you like to see? How about something even smaller I have a pair of JBL TM520 5" car speakers here looking for a cabinet, I also need to recover a really impressive pair of
JL Audio ZR5.25Csi component speakers from the front doors of my 20yr old BMW E39 one of these days The speakers are worth well more than the value of the car allegedly but while it continues to drive well there they stay One day they will need to be rehoused and it probably will not be in a car

Thanks James

Eddie
 
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