DAli epicon 2 and 6?

[SamyBoy13]

I'm just shopping around for Epicon 2 or 6 and I'm wondering what is their current value on the used market? These are just beautiful speakers and dream of mine for the last few years.

I would appreciate your advice and thanks in advance.

 

[lucid]

The rough rule of thumb for pricing on private sales is 1/3rd of the retail price. That would put Epicon 2 at around £1500 and the Epicon 6 at roughly £2700.

Age, condition, reputation, desirability, and whether the speakers are still current are 'up' factors. The scarcity of used stock can also drive prices up.

Larger floor-standers may fair slightly worse in retained value / depreciation terms. The number of people able to accommodate big speakers compared to stand-mount speakers is smaller.

 

[Freakbro]

Bit of a bump on this thread. Has anyone tried the Epicon 2's?

I'm picking up a pair of Fyne 700's today just to demo and noticed there seems to be a big discount going on with Dali's atm and the Epicon 2's are lower in price than the 700's

 

[Admetos]

Bit of a bump on this thread. Has anyone tried the Epicon 2's?

I'm picking up a pair of Fyne 700's today just to demo and noticed there seems to be a big discount going on with Dali's atm and the Epicon 2's are lower in price than the 700's

Re the Fyne 700's. I own the Fyne 502SP's that use the same drivers / crossover as the Fyne F702's. The 502SP there awesome, the drivers are so well refined, you won't go wrong with the F700's.

 

[Freakbro]

Re the Fyne 700's. I own the Fyne 502SP's that use the same drivers / crossover as the Fyne F702's. The 502SP there awesome, the drivers are so well refined, you won't go wrong with the F700's.

Cheers for the reply.

Bit of an update, I've demo'd the F700's now and the difference to the Kef R3's is immediately apparant. The vocal resolution is just fantastic on the Fyne's and the music has such a 'fun' quality in comparison to the Kefs more 'serious' tone.

But, they just lack a bit of weight in the sound, the Kefs just dig that bit deeper and give a sense of power, especially with more rock/metal based music. I've put that down to just the F700's diminuitive cabinet size, so to test my theory I've got a pair of F501SPs here as well atm. And yep, immediately the power/weight is back in the music, unfortunately, the reason I have been going with bookshelf speakers, is my room is quite small (3.8 x 3.4M) and for my tastes easily gets overwhelmed with bass. I've even ended up putting some foam bass traps in the corners just for my R3's to help, which it does. And that has happened immediately with the F501SPs and even with the bass traps, the bass is too lumpy and verges into the unpleasant at volume.

So my next demo is going to be the F701's, which at a slightly larger size than the Kef R3's, I'm hoping will be the happy medium between the F700's and floorstanders.

But, a problem I have is my partner, her daughter and my best friend all independently complained the F700's sounded a little bit to harsh on the treble, screechy and tinny were the words used! Which I found odd, as my old ears easily get tweeked and I've not had a problem at all with the Fynes.

Also, to throw a bit of a ringer into the mix, I was away a couple of days last week and managed to demo a pair of the Epicon 2's, which sounded lovely, looked fantastic (I'm not hugely struck on the Fynes aesthetics) and had the power/weight to the sound. But, it was in a different room, different amp etc so not really reflective of what it'll sound like in mine. And unlike my guy here, where I can demo anything, I'd have to buy these and if not happy organise the return/refund - the guy said they had a 30 day return policy.

 

[hornetstinger]

A few people have said Fynes are bright- you wouldn't want to be like that for long listening session, living with them at your home. One thing a quick demo session won't show up- or indeed that's what grabs your attention with a "wow factor" B&W have that also.

 

[Admetos]

Cheers for the reply.

I’ve owed both the F502’s and now F502SP’s, I’ve also listened to F703’s and Vintage 15’s. Despite the huge range in price there all recognisable due to the point source technology. All voiced by Dr Paul Mills so their tonally similar also. I fitted the F502SP’s in identically the same place as the F502’s and never had to make any changes – amp tone controls all remain neutral, don’t use any digital correction.

Your lucky someone is letting you borrow the Fyne speakers; I purchased blind. I’ve never listened to any book shelf version of Fynes I can’t comment on those. Your size room the F501SP’s will be on limit for size. My room is 6.5m by 3.7m and both my F502/F502SP’s there perfectly ok, however dare not go any more. I considered the F702 as at the moment some dealers selling x-demo units. The F702 it’s a bigger cabinet then the F502SP and did not want to risk it. Over more weight in the sound, different amplification can help with the weight.

Over sounding harsh / bright. First thing they take some time to run in, Fyne Audio say 100 hours but I felt it was more. As they run in sound becomes warmer and the top end settles down.

The Fyne's are very relieving speakers also the vocal resolution is fantastic that’s down to the point source technology. The issue is because there relieving speaker they show up differences in your front end easily. For example, it’s easy hear differences in DAC’s where some other speakers might mask differences. I think this is where some people think their ‘bright’.

You can think of the Fyne's a bit like a studio monitor. A studio monitor shows up everything in the recording, the issue is if your own gear has issues those will begin to be relieved also. What often happens in audio is an issue in one area can be mistaken for a problem else where.

I post on the Fyne Audio Facebook group, someone recently recorded his Fyne F502 saying they sounded horrible, they did sound horrible it was not the F502, it was issues in his front-end setup. If your finding them bright it’s almost certainly something on your front end that’s causing it.

Both the F502 and SP version both benefit from bi-wiring, Fyne Audio also mention it on their web-site, there is more clarity in the sound. If you have the spare cable, try bi-wiring them.

Almost forgot, the 500SP and 700 series upwards have a 5th speaker terminal, it's to ground the speaker back to the amp to lower noise floor. I've not tried this yet, but on the Fyne Audio Facebook group people are reporting slight improvement in sound when doing this. .

What amp are you using? Also have no experience on the Kef's or Epicon 2's.

 

[Freakbro]

I’ve owed both the F502’s and now F502SP’s, I’ve also listened to F703’s and Vintage 15’s. Despite the huge range in price there all recognisable due to the point source technology. All voiced by Dr Paul Mills so their tonally similar also. I fitted the F502SP’s in identically the same place as the F502’s and never had to make any changes – amp tone controls all remain neutral, don’t use any digital correction.

Your lucky someone is letting you borrow the Fyne speakers; I purchased blind. I’ve never listened to any book shelf version of Fynes I can’t comment on those. Your size room the F501SP’s will be on limit for size. My room is 6.5m by 3.7m and both my F502/F502SP’s there perfectly ok, however dare not go any more. I considered the F702 as at the moment some dealers selling x-demo units. The F702 it’s a bigger cabinet then the F502SP and did not want to risk it. Over more weight in the sound, different amplification can help with the weight.

Over sounding harsh / bright. First thing they take some time to run in, Fyne Audio say 100 hours but I felt it was more. As they run in sound becomes warmer and the top end settles down.

The Fyne's are very relieving speakers also the vocal resolution is fantastic that’s down to the point source technology. The issue is because there relieving speaker they show up differences in your front end easily. For example, it’s easy hear differences in DAC’s where some other speakers might mask differences. I think this is where some people think their ‘bright’.

You can think of the Fyne's a bit like a studio monitor. A studio monitor shows up everything in the recording, the issue is if your own gear has issues those will begin to be relieved also. What often happens in audio is an issue in one area can be mistaken for a problem else where.

I post on the Fyne Audio Facebook group, someone recently recorded his Fyne F502 saying they sounded horrible, they did sound horrible it was not the F502, it was issues in his front-end setup. If your finding them bright it’s almost certainly something on your front end that’s causing it.

Both the F502 and SP version both benefit from bi-wiring, Fyne Audio also mention it on their web-site, there is more clarity in the sound. If you have the spare cable, try bi-wiring them.

Almost forgot, the 500SP and 700 series upwards have a 5th speaker terminal, it's to ground the speaker back to the amp to lower noise floor. I've not tried this yet, but on the Fyne Audio Facebook group people are reporting slight improvement in sound when doing this.

Thanks, that's all very helpful information. The F700's and F501Sps I'm demoing I know have done the rounds, so I'd assume they have got a good few hours on them, whereas the Epicon 2's I listened to in the other shop were straight out of the box, still sounded good taking that into account though!

What amp are you using? Also have no experience on the Kef's or Epicon 2's.

It's a Rega Aethos amp with a Naim ND5 XS2 streamer.

 

[Admetos]

Thanks, that's all very helpful information

It's a Rega Aethos amp with a Naim ND5 XS2 streamer.

Well there both very good, you should have no issues with those on the Fyne's.

 

[kitfit1]

I have a friend that does have a pair of Epicon 2's. In his lounge they really do sound very very good.
There are a few caveat's to this though, he is running them on the Dali stands, he is running them with Naim pre and power along with very good front ends.
Purchasing Epicon 2's and just putting them in a bookshelf or placing them either end of a sideboard will not work. And just as @JasonM has said, amplification and front end matter a lot.............................if not even more than speakers themselves.

 

[Freakbro]

Well there both very good, you should have no issues with those on the Fyne's.

That's the thing, I didn't think they were too bright particularly, which is why it suprised me when the others did.

It's just the hassle of buying the Epicons up front to return them if not suitable is making me hesitant, and also that it's not my local guy who've I've a good relationship with now over the last few years! (I was his first ever customer when he started up around here )

But for the sort of money we're talking, and I'll need a new centre speaker as well, I need it to be right for me.

 

[kitfit1]

Thanks, that's all very helpful information. The F700's and F501Sps I'm demoing I know have done the rounds, so I'd assume they have got a good few hours on them, whereas the Epicon 2's I listened to in the other shop were straight out of the box, still sounded good taking that into account though!



It's a Rega Aethos amp with a Naim ND5 XS2 streamer.

Should work fine with most speakers.

 

[Freakbro]

I have a friend that does have a pair of Epicon 2's. In his lounge they really do sound very very good.
There are a few caveat's to this though, he is running them on the Dali stands, he is running them with Naim pre and power along with very good front ends.

As I posted above, it's a Rega Aethos with a Naim streamer, that *should* be ok with the Epicons?

Purchasing Epicon 2's and just putting them in a bookshelf or placing them either end of a sideboard will not work. And just as @JasonM has said, amplification and front end matter a lot.............................if not even more than speakers themselves.

I've got the Atacama Moseco XL600 stands, fully decoupled with herbies gliders, filled with atabites etc

 

[Admetos]

That's the thing, I didn't think they were too bright particularly, which is why it suprised me when the others did.

How many hours are on the speakers? Are the others finding both the F700 and F501SP's bright?

How are the F501's sitting on the floor? If there not on the spikes the bass is not correct, this can make them sound bright.

What cable are you using, are they connected to top (HF) binding posts or the bottom (LF) binding posts. Even though the posts are electrically connected, the plate still offers a tiny amount of resistance, and connecting to top (HF) posts will edge the sound towards the top end.

Also might be silly question, is your Rega Aethos amp a recent purchase, as amp's can take some time settle in.

 

[kitfit1]

fully decoupled with herbies gliders

Is that on a wooden floor or a carpeted floor ?

 

[Freakbro]

How many hours are on the speakers?

I'm not totally sure, just that they are a demo pair and I know he's used them in the shop as well as lending them out.

Are the others finding both the F700 and F501SP's bright?

The 700's they did, only I've tried the 501SPs so far as i only picked them up Sunday night.

How are the F501's sitting on the floor? If there not on the spikes the bass is not correct, this can make them sound bright.

I didnt put the spikes on, but they are sat on a 3" piece of slate. Can put the spikes on to see if that tames the bass any.

What cable are you using, are they connected to top (HF) binding posts or the bottom (LF) binding posts. Even though the posts are electrically connected, the plate still offers a tiny amount of resistance, and connecting to top (HF) posts will edge the sound towards the top end.

Its Chord Shawline and they are in the bottom posts

Also might be silly question, is your Rega Aethos amp a recent purchase, as amp's can take some time settle in.

Approx 4 to 5 months, it's on 24/7 and gets plenty of use in stereo and part of the AV setup.

Is that on a wooden floor or a carpeted floor ?

It's a wooden floating floor (garage conversion) with carpet, and the stands are sat on a 3" slate block with the herbies gliders instead of spikes. Works really well and has cut all vibration resonating through the floating floor.

 

[Admetos]

I didnt put the spikes on, but they are sat on a 3" piece of slate. Can put the spikes on to see if that tames the bass any.

Try the spikes, I found they helped tighten up the sound.

The other thing to try is interconnects, if you have other interconnects try them, you might find some that take the edge of the brightness away. Only experiment with cables once the speaker spikes on are, and speakers are back in position.

 

[Freakbro]

Update so far :

I've bought the Dali 2's on a 30 day SOR and have given them a run in for 4 days 24x7. They sound, and look, absolutely fantastic. They have power and weight that belies their size, they are musical, cohesive and their wide dispersion is fantastic....but, two issues. 1) They are slightly too much in the bass region for the room, they really need more space than I can give them to breathe properly but more significantly 2) I'm just not getting emotionally engaged with them, and I don't understand why. I listen to them and as I say, they sound fantastic, I've just not tapped my foot once. I found that when I demo'd them, and thought it might be the different room, diff amp etc but no, am finding the same at home on my gear.

So my guy has got a pair of F701's from Fyne in for me and I'm just running them in now. Wow, they are a lot bigger than the 700's and even while running in, sound fantastic, but I can tell already that as soon as I turn them up to any decently loud volume it's just too much for the room again. *sigh* Think I'm going to have to accept I'm in a very small room and act accordingly. The 700's were fine for the room, but just lacked the 'punch' I was after.

So, I'm just going to pick up a pair of the Fyne F1-5's he has in the shop to compare this weekend. A small cabinet again, but I'm hoping for a bigger sound than the 700's and they have some sort of built in EQ for the treble? That might help since my partner found the 700's a bit bright (screechy she said )

 

[hornetstinger]

Update so far :

I've bought the Dali 2's on a 30 day SOR and have given them a run in for 4 days 24x7. They sound, and look, absolutely fantastic. They have power and weight that belies their size, they are musical, cohesive and their wide dispersion is fantastic....but, two issues. 1) They are slightly too much in the bass region for the room, they really need more space than I can give them to breathe properly but more significantly 2) I'm just not getting emotionally engaged with them, and I don't understand why. I listen to them and as I say, they sound fantastic, I've just not tapped my foot once. I found that when I demo'd them, and thought it might be the different room, diff amp etc but no, am finding the same at home on my gear.

So my guy has got a pair of F701's from Fyne in for me and I'm just running them in now. Wow, they are a lot bigger than the 700's and even while running in, sound fantastic, but I can tell already that as soon as I turn them up to any decently loud volume it's just too much for the room again. *sigh* Think I'm going to have to accept I'm in a very small room and act accordingly. The 700's were fine for the room, but just lacked the 'punch' I was after.

So, I'm just going to pick up a pair of the Fyne F1-5's he has in the shop to compare this weekend. A small cabinet again, but I'm hoping for a bigger sound than the 700's and they have some sort of built in EQ for the treble? That might help since my partner found the 700's a bit bright (screechy she said )

What is your room size, and speaker placement? I have much larger speakers, and they don't sound boomy at all

 

[Freakbro]

What is your room size, and speaker placement? I have much larger speakers, and they don't sound boomy at all

3.3M wide x 3.8M long x 2.3M high. Carpeted floor, but bare walls, it only has TV, AV cabinet, couch and 5.1.4 speaker in the room as it's a dedicated TV/Music room

Speakers are only 35cm off rear wall and ~40cm from side wall in their standard position, though I've played a lot with positioning with the Dali's, moved the subs out of the way and got them further from side walls, though max is only about 65cm until they start encroaching on the TV - plus they sounded better when a bit wider apart then that.