What Hi-Fi? Verdict
The Eole 2 has enough style and sonic ability to make it worth an audition
Pros
- +
Unique styling
- +
detailed sound
- +
weighty, articulate sub
- +
stands and cable included
Cons
- -
Dynamics aren’t strong enough
- -
soundstage could be more cohesive
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It’s over a year since we originally reviewed the Eole 2. We gave it a complimentary four stars the first time, but now that the price has been slashed by £200, could five stars be in order?
In the glossy white finish, the French-made Eole 2 looks rather fetching and certainly stands out from the crowd.
The five spherical speakers resemble a set of designer crown green bowls, although we wouldn’t recommend flinging them across your living room floor.
A tidy little set-up
It’s not the easiest of systems to piece together, but show some patience and the result is a tidy little set-up.
The relationship between the satellites and Cabasse’s Santorin 21 sub is smooth enough.
You can’t really criticize the level of detail on offer. Surround effects are delivered with pace and precision although the soundstage doesn’t offer the cohesion of the best.
Lacks a sense of drama
The system’s biggest flaw is its lack of drama: the explosive soundtrack to Unstoppable didn’t really grab us in the same way as it did when heard on comparative rivals.
The Cabasse’s mild-mannered approach holds it back with music, too. Beyonce’s If I Were A Boy sounds pleasant, but there isn’t enough bite to drums and her vocals lack scale.
While the recent price drop should be applauded, we’re afraid that it isn’t quite enough to boost the Eole 2 from its original four-star rating.
It’s still a capable system, but not one we’d deem class-leading.
