Our Awards For Outstanding Performance!

EgglestonWorks Nico Evo Specs:

Frequency Response: 38Hz to 24kHz
Impedance: 8ohms nominal
Sensitivity: 87dB
Inputs: One set of copper binding posts
Woofer/Midrange System: Single 6” woofer
Treble System: 1” fabric dome tweeter. Hi-Dynamic Range voice coil/magnet system
FootPrint: 8.25” x 16” x 18.75” H
Weight: 28 lbs

“As the entry point of the EgglestonWorks Artisan EVO series, the Nico EVO is the result of a comprehensive research and development program whose goal was to create a range of affordable loudspeakers, which maintain the sonic and aesthetic excellence for which EgglestonWorks has long been renowned.”

As I’ve alluded to above, the Nico is a fantastic sounding speaker! In any small to medium sized room one would be hard-pressed to nit-pick in any meaningful way at what they do. And the pairing of Nico ($4,995) and Cronus Magnum ($2,995) was an excellent package for a shade under $8G’s.

I stayed for several tracks played on vinyl via the VPI Prime TT, and the sound was clear, dynamic, open, with very good high and low frequency extension. Depth of stage was excellent and the speakers do an excellent job of disappearing – not quite to the same extent as the QLN speakers, but they were part of a far more expensive system.

Nothing is going to be perfect at any price point, and certainly not at this level. But the system components on offer here had excellent synergy, everything including the Audience cables seemed to play extremely well together. This doesn’t happen to this level of excellence by accident, so clearly a good deal of time and energy had gone into matching these components and getting the most from them in a rather small hotel room.

I spent a while on the drive home from CAF2019 pondering what I’d heard and trying to make sense of things. A show such as this has the capacity to throw one a mental curved-ball and have you thinking all kinds of extravagant thoughts, like selling a kidney to help fund the purchase of some exotic piece of gear that will soon be yesterday’s news. But the pragmatic side of me soon took over and I found myself weighing the virtues of two systems, both within grasp financially (to me), both pitched at a price level that one might consider ‘entry level’ high-end, but both having the capability to become something any sane person could live with long-term without ever being frustrated by some sin of omission or sin of commission. The two systems I had in mind were the Odyssey Audio system and this EgglestonWorks/Rogue Audio system presented by ‘Now Listen Here’.

Taking out a source component, since Odyssey doesn’t manufacture one, you would be looking at:

Odyssey Candela Preamp + Odyssey Suspiro Phonostage + Odyssey Liquid Speakers for a total price of around $11,400

Versus

Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III Integrated (with MM/MC) + EgglestonWorks Nico Evo Speakers for a total price of $7,990 (price reflects recent increase in Nico Evo to $4,995)

So which would I buy?

For me it would come down to room size, though I would have to conclude that the EgglestonWorks/Rogue pair clearly represents better value. For the room I have available for my review system presently, I would skip merrily down the EgglestonWorks/Rogue path. (17’x16’x8.5′). I think the Liquids would be a little too much speaker in this size room.

For a much larger room I would likely go with the Odyssey Liquids for their capacity to energize more space.

Either way, these are both very, very enjoyable routes into high-end sound, and for many of us would be more than good enough to survive the long haul.

I’m issuing a Audio Resurgence award for best sounding stand-mount speaker at the 2019 Capital Audiofest to EgglestonWorks, for their Nico Evolution loudspeaker, and a ‘Outstanding Contribution’ award to ‘Now Listen Here’ for their excellent and Affordable System.

Visit their websites by clicking the images above.