Advantages: fantastic 'big', rich sound. Very good price.
Disadvantages: quite deep, need to be away from wall

...of both products (albeit in different shops!), and much to my own astonishment,I opted for the Eltax. I had fully intended on the basis of equal reviews to go for the Mission by virtue of it being from bass-ported not rear like the Eltax. However I couldn't ignore the fact that the Eltax had a considerably superior definition of bass. It was clearer and smoother than the Mission, which was quite bass-heavy and boomy in comparison. The only drawback is that they are both slightly deeper in size than the Mission and rear bass-ported which means they shouldn't be placed directly against the wall. Notwithstanding this however, they are a seriously class act, can handle 100 watts of power and deliver a depth and quality of sound which, if you're used to compact speakers, will take your breath away.... Read review

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Advantages: Very Cheap, good sound, look fine
Disadvantages: Can look a little cheap, eltax name, expensive to upgrade!

...As a poor student needing to build a small, but reasonably competent hifi system on a tight budget I had low hopes for the Eltax Monitor IIIs that I purchased. After all, despite winning a 5 star what -hifi award, what can you expect from speakers you pick up for £60 from good old Richer sounds. I got 'em home and set them up - first impressions good. They look reasonably smart in the light beech finish, silver details blending well into the overall effect - how can they do it for the money. By compromising on the sound quality...? Once connected up... they sounded distinctly average. But then what did I expect. I had created a near optimally bad system set up. Single wired with cheapo bell wire, a nice free black interconnect between my marantz CD player and amp. One speaker on the floor, the other on a wonderfully rickety shelf... Read review

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Advantages: Excellent affordability and sound
Disadvantages: Is there any?

...I purchased these last year from Richer Sounds, which is only one a of a few places that actually sell Eltax products, aswell as the odd shop and hi-fi store. I thought the floor standing ones looked so much more impressive than the book shelf ones, and paid an extortionately heavy price of £110! They look impressive to look at and the colour of the wood to the single bass and single tweeter cones work perfectly (I chose the Beech colour wood with metallic and white cones). Sped home in a taxi and after figuring out how to bi-wire them I set about positioning them in my match box room! They need to be at least a foot away in perimeter from anything, and you can add spiked feet for extra height and clarity of bass which often rumbles through the floor. The Eltax website is very impressive and they have lots of quality products. They have... Read review

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Advantages: Beatuful redentions of highly celebrated works
Disadvantages: Would be nicer with a broader selcetion on disc

...Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is a household name, even among non-classical music lovers - he is - for many - the definition of music. This CD houses 2 works by the genius - Symphony No.40 in G minor and Symphony No.41 - Jupiter. Mozart wrote No.40 after the death of his infant daughter - this is potrayed immediatly through the minor key in which the piece begins in. It later modulates to a major key which denotes his hopefulness of moving on and closing the bereavement door. The piece culminates in a repetition and develoment of the 1st section to reiterate his pain and sorrow. Symphony No. 41 was completed just 1month after no.40, in the summer of 1788. It is nicknamed ' The Jupiter Symphony' due to its power and percieved size, particularly in the finale, where a memorable theme is heard alongside with others that have featured earlier... Read review

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Advantages: Excellent mid-priced speakers at budget price
Disadvantages: Not small!

...My pair of Eltax Liberty 5 floor standing speakers give astonishing results and cost a lot less than I expected. These impressive beasts give true mid priced performance at very little more than budget cost. I bought just the main speakers on their own, and paid around the hundred pound mark, where else, but Richer Sounds. This was part of a two stage ploy to get some semi-serious audio kit into the house without 'er indoors taking a tantrum! They stand a full 84cm off the ground, are 20cm wide and are 33 cm front to back, but the shouldn't be pushed against a wall as this restricts the rear reflex port. They are made of 22mm chipboard, so they are substantial enough to do the business, without needing to be a weightlifter to move them, mine are covered in 'beech' effect foil. There is a single 150mm bass-midrange speaker and above... Read review

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Advantages: Great work
Disadvantages: none

...It is an amazing fact that a year after its first performance Anthony Payne's elaboration of Elgar's sketches for his Third Symphony have become part of the mainstream orchestral repertoire. Payne, a musicologist and a composer, took on the monumental task of pieceing together the few sketches that Elgar left before his death and expanding them in a complete symphony. The results are incredible. Although Payne is cautious to guard against calling the symphony an original Elgar work (as so much was of Payne's invention)the piece has an unmistakable Elgar feeling. Originally recorded by the partnership that gave the work's first performance (Andrew Davis and the BBC Symphony Orchestra) this new recording with the Bournemouth Symphony conducted by Paul Daniel (music director at English National Opera) is a much weightier and envigorating... Read review

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Advantages: The rousing climax
Disadvantages: It classical so is not appreciated by the masses

...I remember the first time I heard Beethoven's 7th Symphony. It was awful. Didn't enjoy it all. Then through the perseverence of a friend, I was helped to appreciate the many aspects of this intricate piece of music. The different tunes all adding to the greater sum, the sense of something building up and how Beethoven has the incredible ability to go from the bottom of the scale to the very top in an instance. I have also found that is it imperative to play this piece at relatively high volume. For added effect turn off all lights and immerse yourself in the magic that is the 7th Symphony.... Read review

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Advantages: Heroic fifth. Mysrterious sixth.
Disadvantages: None

...Jean Sibelius is striking for his originality and his innovative use of tonal colour in his orchestral compositions. The conductor of this recording of Symphonies Nos 5 & 6, Sir Colin Davies once said, “Nothing else sounds like Sibelius”. The music is indeed unique and distinctive. Jean Christian Sibelius, Finland's greatest composer, was born in 1865 and is best known for his seven symphonies that he wrote between 1899 and 1924. Sibelius felt that music should be pure music and that every note within the music given importance. Sibelius once commented that, “A symphony should be music first and last." His Symphonies, number 5 and 6, recorded on this CD are just that. The two symphonies contrast and compliment each other to produce a magnificence. The fifth is heroic, strong and vivid whilst the sixth is mysterious and radiant yet... Read review

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Advantages: very loud, cheap way to get good loud sound.
Disadvantages: police knocking on the door!! and falling out with neighbours

...... Read review

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Advantages: Outstanding music on period instruments
Disadvantages: Swaping C.D'S in music player.

...The 9 symphonies by Ludwig Van Beethoven. (1770 - 1827) Performed by The London Classical Players. Conducted by Sir Roger Norrington. With the Schutz choir of London. Not everybody likes classical music. Even those who do, do not all like the same things. This boxed set of CD's if different from previous recordings. Firstly, it is played on period instruments. This is not to everybody’s taste. These instruments are not like today’s instruments. For instance, the violin has a cleaner but more plaintive tone. The woodwinds each has a colour and clarity of tone that blends to a harmonious whole. The timpani, those smaller drums, are hit with hard sticks more reminiscent of military drum sounds. The horn section has a different feel to it. Considering the lapse of some 184 years, it would be strange if the sounds produced were... Read review

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