Epos ES-14N Bookshelf Speaker, White (Pair)

The Epos ES-14N is a 2-way bookshelf speaker that brings the legendary British monitor ES-14 back to life as a complete new design by Karl-Heinz Fink.

In satin white, it almost disappears in bright rooms — until the first note plays. A 178mm polypropylene mid/bass driver and a 28mm aluminium-ceramic composite dome work together inside a heavily damped sandwich enclosure. The result is an open, uncompromising sound: recordings sound the way they actually are. Supplied as a pair.

Why the ES-14N?

Because the name isn't a nostalgia sticker — it's been earned all over again. The layered cabinet walls and internal bracing take the energy out of resonances before they become audible coloration. The tweeter runs without ferrofluid, and there's a deliberate, gentle dip around 2 to 3 kHz — which is why even loud music never turns aggressive. Technology you don't see, you just don't miss.

What you hear

Voices with body, instruments each holding a clear spot on the stage, and a bass that grips dry rather than piling on thickness. The rear-firing reflex port is tuned to 38 Hz, so the low end sounds remarkably assured for a cabinet this size.

Who is the ES-14N for?

Straight talk: it suits you if you want to hear music the way it was recorded, and if you can give it the 40 to 50 cm of wall clearance it needs. A stable stand is mandatory, not a nice-to-have. It's not for cramped shelves, wall niches, or a collection of poorly produced recordings — this kind of honesty flatters no one. In rooms of about 15 to 20 m² and up, with good music, it really opens up.

Our verdict

A speaker that, set up properly, acoustically disappears from the room and leaves only the music standing. Hi-Fi News awarded it "Outstanding Product" in issue 7/2023 — we share that assessment. At HD Zürisee in Wädenswil, we'll talk through room, stands, and amplifier with you beforehand, so the pair shows what it's got once it's home with you.

Technical data

• Type: 2-way bass-reflex bookshelf speaker, passive
• Mid/bass driver: 178 mm, polypropylene cone, 35 mm voice coil, ferrite/neodymium hybrid magnet
• Tweeter: 28 mm dome, aluminium-ceramic composite
• Crossover frequency: 2,700 Hz
• Frequency response: 40 Hz – 23,000 Hz (-6 dB), 33 Hz – 25,000 Hz (-10 dB)
• Sensitivity: 87 dB (2.83 V / 1 m)
• Impedance: above 6 Ω average, minimum 4.3 Ω at 160 Hz
• Distortion: 0.2% THD at 1 W
• Recommended amplifier power: from approx. 50 W
• Cabinet: damped sandwich panels with bracing, rear bass reflex, tuned to 38 Hz
• Connection: single-wiring, 4 mm banana terminals
• Placement: stand recommended (stand height 515 mm), 40–50 cm wall clearance
• Dimensions (W×H×D): 25 × 49.1 × 38.5 cm
• Weight: 16 kg per speaker, 32 kg per pair
• Finish: satin white
• What's included: pair of ES-14N, front covers, documentation; stands available separately

Frequently asked questions

How deep does the ES-14N really go?

Down to 40 Hz at minus 6 dB, and 33 Hz at minus 10 dB. The rear reflex port is tuned to 38 Hz. That's a lot for a bookshelf speaker; for music in normal living rooms, you generally won't need a subwoofer.

Should I listen with or without the front covers?

Better without, for listening. Epos includes the covers but explicitly doesn't recommend them for music listening — every grille affects the treble. As protection from kids' hands, cats, and dust, though, they're genuinely useful. Put them on when no one's listening, take them off when it counts.

How heavy is the ES-14N, and will it fit on a sideboard?

Each speaker weighs 16 kilograms, so 32 for the pair. At 25 centimetres wide and 38.5 centimetres deep, they need real standing space. A sideboard will usually carry the weight, but acoustically a pair of stands is clearly the better solution. Height determines the soundstage.

Why buy the Epos ES-14N in White from HD Zürisee?

Because we've been seeing which speakers are still a joy after five years — and which end up in the basement — since the nineties. We'll look at your room, wall colour, placement, and amplifier with you, order the right finish, and stay involved afterwards. Call or write to us.

Pairs well with

A clean-sounding integrated amplifier with headroom, a pair of solid speaker stands at the right height, and a solid speaker cable. If you prefer network-based listening, you'll find the right source among our streamers.