The Eton Air Motion Transformer ER4 was added, a driver that is well known from previous projects like E-Motion, E-Motion 2 or Duetta
Both driver were connected to a 12 dB crossover where the bass driver - as usual with hard diaphragms - was equipped with a pull circuitry instead of a parallel capacitor. A bass reflex type cabinet was chosen surpassing the cleaner and tighter sounding sealed type with regard to bass output level considerably.
To begin with I chose "The Best of Chesky records" compilation published by Stereoplay, a record that not only features songs I listen to at home. Maxi manages to reproduce violins, bass, percussion and woodwinds totally uncluttered and relaxed with an extremely deep sound stage. Fingering sounds resulting from playing instruments are recognisable in detail but not - like with many other speakers - in the foreground, distant from the sound source.
During the listening session I did without rock music. For this type of music I had my all-engulfing Coax 12, and it didn't suit the Eton speaker anyway. Eyes closed and listen. That's the right way to enjoy the Maxi. And if the recording offers more than just 10 dB dynamic range as often displayed in today's music the Maxi felt at home. Ravel's "Bolero", starting with a soft drum and finishing with a vengeance, displaying a crescendo from piano to fortissimo is performed without omitting or compressing a note.
At the end of the listening session is was time to play that type of music lending its name to this range of speakers - the blues. When Johnny Lee Hooker was sitting all alone in front of his mike singing "Tupelo" it became quite emotional. How come that a few notes from a guitar, a little singing and some rhythmic foot stamping can generate so much joie de vivre? It certainly helped that the Maxi managed in an unobtrusive way and without annoying noise to blend all notes into an integrated whole.
Well, the question by the reader whether all this can be said of any of the Eton kits is certainly justified. Even though they possess similar sound characteristics they certainly do not sound the same. Listening to the same music again but this time using the Eton2u, I noticed a somewhat subdued low bass but prompting the same emotions. Vocals were slightly more present and sensitivity was after all 4 dB higher at the same volume control setting. I cannot answer the question which of the two speakers delivers the better sound. That depends on the electronics, the room conditions and most importantly on the personal taste of the listener."
Eton Maxi kit without cabinet price per speaker EUR 539,00
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