Emotiva vs other brands
I have recently purchased several speaker brands (Polk Reserve bookshelf, ES60 tower and ES10 surrounds, RTi bookshelf and center; Klipsch RP floor, center, bookshelf and surrounds; Martin Logan F1, Monitor Audio Silver 500 7g tower with matching center, SVS Prime Tower, Ultra bookshelf, Ultra center and subs; Elac, Fluance, PSA) for music and 9. 4. 4 home theater.
My top three were Klipsch, Martin Logan and Monitor Audio. I had learned a lot about sound signatures, clarity, detail and vocals from listening to all of these brands.
The last speaker I tried was Emotiva and they hit the sweet spot. Emotiva speakers sound like a mix of Martin logan for clarity and detail, Klipsch for dynamic punch and Monitor Audio for fullness. Each of the mentioned speakers was lacking in one place or another that Emotiva is not lacking. Klipsch is lacking in midrange and many things get jumbled or not audible in this frequency range. Martin Logan sounds very similar to Emotiva but thin and distant. Monitor Audio high frequencies were veiled and grainy compared to the effortless clarity of a ribbon tweeter.
Emotiva has the best sound. When I listen to them I do not feel like I am missing or want to change something in the sound.