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Vince Cuffaro ES-620 TEST REPORT  October 2002

Well, let me start by saying that over the past 10 years listening to audio, avidly, I've used ABOUT everything out there at least once...from the good, to the BAD! I've been given components to try, bought them, traded for them...you get the idea... But last year, 2001, I happened onto CDT Audio. Quite by accident...but, is there really such a thing as accidents? or should it be called fate? I was given a set of their now famous High Definition 3 way component sets and 60 Db xover network. I installed them into a 91 civic and was utterly amazed at the sound! No right/left bias, no midbass hole, deep bass from the 6.5's, perfect staging....etc...I was hooked. And the best part? I have had NO desire to change them in over a year now...and THAT is a rarity! Which brings me back to CDT. We put together a tricked out 2000 Honda Odyssey, you know, the minivan. I decided to add Audio at the last minute before the big NOPI show in Atlanta, and thought to look no further than CDT for another set of speakers. They just happened to come out with a new line, The EUROSPORT series. If you thought the HD stuff was high end...the ES line raises the bar, in more than one way. Price is hefty, but, you get what you pay for. Quality if first rate, as per usual from CDT. Sound? We'll get to that in a minute.... I was worried about the Odyssey as the 6.5's are low in the doors, and it's a big vehicle! CDT hadn't released the 3 way set, not that it mattered as I had to use only the stock speaker locations aside from tweeter mounts...which meant a 4.5 would have no were to go anyway. So, I ordered a set of ES620 2 way components, and their Image Enhancement Kit. I suppose I should write on these separately? But they need to be purchased as a kit or a kit should just be included in any ES set! They are a must for perfect sound reproduction.... I got the set, it came in 3 boxes: 1 for the mids, one for the tweeters and one for the Image Enhancement Kit: basically 2 tweeters and a "L" pad control for volume...with lots of wires attached! I was so excited. after hearing and using the HD set from CDT for so long, I couldn't imagine anything sounding better! I opened the boxes... OH DEAR LORD! The mids were astounding! Basically the same look as the HD set, but the magnesium basket is powder coated yellow! and the cone is a fiberglass composite in yellow as well....mmmmmmm! The same perfect rubber surround, 'sticky' feeling cone resin...and that new image sticker on the bottom of the magnet is nice, to bad you can't see it! I then pulled the tweeters out. Huh? A chrome ring? ok, that's a little strange looking, IMHO. Yes, the tweeters had a CHROME flush mount ring on them...after further digging, I found the BLACK rings and mount kits that I used. No offense guys, but the chrome has got to go! The tweeters looked like the HD I had used, but the magnet was a bit different...not sure on any other changes, none are really needed. The Crossovers with the ES kit are amazing as well. They are HUGE! about twice the size of a comparable HD xover...but man, they look cool in a custom install! They look great as well...so show them! I was actually hard pressed to find 'under dash' room for them, so mounted them in the rear with the amps...thank goodness I did, I love the look! The Image Enhancement Kit had 2 more tweeters and a LARGE round "L" pad with a nice little knob with the "CDT" logo on it. I mounted it and looks good, but the mounting is tough as the "L" pad is quite large and A LOT of room in the right place is needed for proper install. The assembly is all wired and marked, all you need to do is follow the directions and assemble! Basically the IEK, see above, is designed to be put up high on the dash. You then dial in the amount of "fill" to raise the sound stage with the "L" pad. So far this new ES line gets an A++ for looks and feel. INSTALLATION: Easy enough. I had to shim out the speakers as the magnets are large, for a good reason. 150 watts worth! The xovers were a bit easier than the HD sets..larger terminals allow better use of a screwdriver. However, the size of the xover might be an issue in some cases, They are BIG, but worth every square inch. One qualm so far is the tweeters. A 'lock' ring should be included as the '3M' sticky tape around the flush mount bezel is WAY too small. I actually had trouble getting my tweets to stick in a vertical install. I fudged the tweeter install, which should be as close to the mid as possible! and all went well with the IEK tweeters on the upper dash corners. I had a bit of trouble, second qualm, finding a location for the IEK "L" pad, but finally found a nice spot and love the little dial that is now visible on the dash. The control and wires are a bit bulky for tight install locations. Care is needed to be sure it'll fit behind your dash, etc. Overall pretty straight forward, if somewhat time consuming for the novice. But I think if your buying CDT Audio, you either have money to let someone install them, or are a HUGE fan of high fidelity sound and will do anything for pure audiophile reproduction! LISTENING TEST: System components: Rockford Fosgate RFX8140 source unit (9 volts), Audiocontrol EQL seriesII 13 band EQ (not working for listening test!), Audiocontrol EPICENTER (only hooked to sub), DEI200 35x4 running the front stage, DEI1100D pushing the sub, 1 farad DEI cap, 4 guage power and ground. I had only the 3 way High Definition CDT Audio components to use as a reference. I was a bit leery as I only had the 2 way set, 6.5 and tweeters, with, of course, the image enhancement kit. The first issue with the Odyssey is speaker location. You sit much higher up than in my civic for instance, so the initial thought is that the sound will be a bit 'lower' sounding. Well, it was. Until I turned on the IEK that is! The IEK made a HUGE difference! The fact that I don't have a high mounted 4.5" mid hardly is noticeable. And it's much simpler to install another set of tweeters than a larger mid! Before I get to the nitty-gritty, I'll say that the ES 620 set is JUST as good, if not a bit better, than the 3 way HD set I have! And that's saying a lot! I wish I had the gumption to hack the ODY and install the 4" mids...why? well, if just 2 speakers and additional tweeter kit sounds as good as the 3 way HD set...I can't even begin to imagine what the ES 3 way set would sound like! I noticed right off the bat that these are powerful speakers! The more I turn it up, the louder they get! The 6.5's are crossed over at about 55hz, and play easily down to that! I actually have bass up front...and boy, those thing really move some air. They will begin to break up at anything below 50hz, but they are only mids remember! The highs are crisp and clean. I hear things in recordings that I just never heard with anything but CDT Audio....fingers gently stroking across the guitar strings, every quiet breath the singer takes between notes..everything! Midbass is extremely smooth and clean. My favorite recordings include a lot of mids...and these ES play them very well. Hearing the smooth vocals of the Crash Test Dummies is a pleasure! And that Jazzy sound, with some added depth of a Bass just sounds sooo incredible! I dropped in a new "Talking Heads" LIVE CD...'Burning down the house' is so crystal clear it just amazing! Any true digital music sounds like it's being played live, just for you...and the older, sloppier stuff sounds better than I can ever remember. I am still amazed at the depth that these 6.5's play to! I can turn off the CDT single 12 and not notice it gone...not that the 6.5's play bass, just that the music sounds so nice that a missing sub is hardly noticed. The IEK tweeters need to be dialed in to listening preference. I don't like my music shrill and high, so only dial in enough to raise that sound stage...bringing the vocals right up on top of my dash! This only requires the slightest turn of the dial to accomplish. Then the further you turn, the louder the uppper tweeters get, but never overbearing. The sound is pretty well centered without the IEK, but, like I said before....one big van and one low mounted set of speakers needs a bit of help no matter who's they are! Well.....I find myself making excuses to run out to the garage from time to time, just to drop in a favorite disc and listen. I still need to get a hold of those ES 4's and really make my wife want to leave me...heck, she'd never see me again with sound so sweet! Vince Cuffaro Audiophile