Emotiva Audio Surround Bookshelf Home Speaker Set of 2 Black (B1)

i decided , after 10 days of listening , to post a review of the little known b1 speaker by Emotiva....first off.. this is a very good budget speaker , if you like a neutral/ analytic type sound( if you like wharfedale or budget elac's this sound might be too bright for you)....i currently also own the kef q100 , which is a very similar speaker, but not quite as talented ,imo, as the b1....the b1 provides a VERY detailed and clear sound with it's AMT tweeter and (reportedly) kevlar mid cone... the mids , to me , are the star of the show, they are very natural sounding and almost hyper detailed without being bright...the AMT tweeter while a very nicely detailed tweeter can get a little aggressive if put in a "bright " sounding room (that would be a room with a lot of glass or hard surfaces & little in the way of soft surfaces like couches or stuffed chairs)... i think the b1 does equally well with music or home theater, they handle power pretty easily, but don't have much mid bass , so for music a small subwoofer is a good idea...compared to the kef q100 the b1s are a cleaner , more accurate sound , although not by much.. the q100s are another great budget speaker value..the q100s sound a little metal-ish by comparison especially in the mids, i can't emphasize enough HOW good the b1 mids are... i also own 2 Emotiva basx subs they are also a great value option...my recommendation would be , "if you want an accurate talented set of bookshelf speakers for music / ht front channels or surround speakers try the b1s" you will ,imo, find they compete well with any similarly priced speakers ....i wrote this review , partially , because of the lack of reviews about this fine speaker ... i hope this helps someone save time & effort with speaker shopping...UPDATE: feb 15 2019.. ordered another pair for my 2nd system.. after several months with this speaker a couple things have changed (speakers or my ears), they have mellowed, there is ZERO harshness.. they have a bit of a midrange boost that is hardly audible , but if you listen , can be heard.. there is a treble boost above 10k hz that is not audible..these speakers , in layman's terms ,are very listenable , with a full sound for a small bookshelf speaker.. very nice for most music (especially with a decent sub in 2.1).. good for home theater , even as fronts..imo these are a very safe bet as budget speakers... if you are on the fence as far as what $300 type bookshelf speakers you want , these are nice all around speakers and are a safe pick...

This is currently a "first impressions" review, but I will update in the near future.I'm not a super experienced audiophile, but I lurk a few online communities, have owned a few sets of vintage and contemporary speakers and am an intent listener. I bought these Emotiva speakers as an upgrade to my previous Fluance SX6 bookshelfs.I'd seen the SX6 recommended around various forums as a good low budget speaker, but I soon grew aware of what a complete mess that speaker is. It took days of tweaking EQ to tame their shrill highs and weak lows. I was then left with a muddy bottom end that I couldn't seem to blend with my subwoofer to save my life.So I began searching for a step up and settled on these Emotiva B1 bookshelfs after reading the few reviews I could find and knowing I liked the properties a folded ribbon tweeter provides.I haven't yet truly broken these in, and I suspect they will sound even better in a week or two, but DANG these are what I've been looking for.The high end on the B1s is a treat. Airy and effortless, and it provides that seemingly infinite headroom that really makes instruments come to life.The low end is the unsung hero here. Punchy and tight and low enough to not necessarily require a sub. I still use my sub, but I can now crossover comfortably at 60hz instead of the 90hz I was at with the garbage Fluances.The best part is how well the B1s avoid sounding congested! I can actually here the bass guitar, kick drum, floor toms, etc as individual and complete sounds in space, no longer forced to subconsciously piece together what I'm hearing from context (e.g. hearing the attack of a stick on a floor tom head but not being able to make out the resonance of the same drum clearly enough for the two sounds to become one)Side notes: these came triple boxed (!). Inside the third Russian doll of a box, the speakers are protected with styrofoam and are each sealed in a soft cloth bag. Very well protected.I'll update this review once I've had more time with them.UPDATE: After owning the B1s for a few months, my 5-star rating stands. They are fantastic speakers with a flat yet pleasing sound signature and an understated yet classy aesthetic. I had planned on buying the C1 center to match, but the B1s have performed so adequately in stereo that I haven't felt the need to add the center yet.2 Year UPDATE: Still love them to death. Best money I've ever spent on electronics.