Energy Owners Thread - Page 669

Originally Posted by mengle

Ok...looking for some advice. Looking to upgrade my entry level Polk setup with Energy. Appreciate comments on this setup and if it is a BIG step from my current configuration:

Receiver = Pioneer Elite VSX-91TXH

Polk Monitor Series:
Monitor 50 (fronts)
Monitor 30 (rear)
CS1 (Front)

Looking to change to Energy:
CF-50 (Front)
CB-10 (Rear)
CC-10 (center)

No change to sub.....good there.

Thanks in advance for honest input....

Mark

Originally Posted by its phillip

afrogt: which 36" stands are you using? I'm open to other stand suggestions as well

Originally Posted by Prismx

Why not Swap the CF-50 for the RC-30 (http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=ENRC30)
and the CC-10 for a RC-Mini Center (http://www.energy-speakers.com/na-en...nter-overview/) and then change the rear to the CR-10s (http://www.energy-speakers.com/na-en...r-10-overview/) or just stick with the CB-10s actually. Might come out cheaper and better?

Originally Posted by afrogt

Mine are made by Wood Technology and I got them 4-5 years ago when Audio Advisor was having a sale.

Something like these but mine have a 5.75" top plate.
http://www.wood-tech.com/products/sp...stands/wc-35.5

I'm sure these would work for RC-10s or other bookshelf speakers. Good price and 6" top plate.
http://www.amazon.com/Natural-Black-.../dp/B00092HW9G

Originally Posted by YOTR

I am considering picking up a pair of RC-30's but am concerned about a matching center channel. I will be running a 3.1 setup and know it's hard to find the RC-LCR center (especially at a reasonable price). I know that using the RC-mini as a center is an option but worry the RC-30's will overpower it. If I had space for a third RC-30, I would just use that as my center channel but unfortunately I don't. Can anyone comment on this? I am down to the RC-30's or the Infinity P362's on sale at Crutchfield. I want the RC-30's but if the center is a big issue, I will just go with the P362's. Thanks in advance!

Originally Posted by bobmarley421

Hello looking to purchase a pair of the Rc-70s. Who has the best price on them currently? Thanks.

Originally Posted by deano86

I think the RC-mini center channel will work just fine for you...... unless you are trying to fill a very large room with loud levels of sound. Then the mini may not be the best. The RC-30 towers are actually very compact compared to other tower models and will match nicely with it.. Especially if you have a newer receiver with Audyssey and such, matching up different sized speakers becomes much easier. But, I guess I should defer to someone who actually uses the RC-mini center in their system......

Originally Posted by YOTR

I am considering picking up a pair of RC-30's but am concerned about a matching center channel. I will be running a 3.1 setup and know it's hard to find the RC-LCR center (especially at a reasonable price). I know that using the RC-mini as a center is an option but worry the RC-30's will overpower it. If I had space for a third RC-30, I would just use that as my center channel but unfortunately I don't. Can anyone comment on this? I am down to the RC-30's or the Infinity P362's on sale at Crutchfield. I want the RC-30's but if the center is a big issue, I will just go with the P362's. Thanks in advance!

Originally Posted by bch238

I have a rosenut RC-Mini center flanked by two black ash RC-50s. The RC-Mini replaced a much larger Energy AC-300, and I think it works perfectly and blends very well with RC-50s. Much more attractive (and smaller) than the AC-300 to boot, so the wife is happy.

Originally Posted by YOTR

Our living room is pretty small to be honest. We sit about 10 feet back from where the speakers would be. I really wish I could just buy three RC-30's and be done with it but I can't move the media cabinet underneath our tv. If I do go the RC-30 route, I would need to jump on a mini quickly as I noticed they are getting harder to find even on ebay. The days of getting a mini center for a reasonable price seem to be gone .

This center channel issue is why I am still considering the Infinity P362's as the center for it is readily available (sale goes off today though so I need to decide). From what I have read though, the RC-30's are a bit better than the Infinity's. Hopefully I will get some more responses. I even thought about running a phantom center and just going 2.1 for the setup. Thanks for the reply by the way. I appreciate it.

Originally Posted by batpig

A few thoughts:

- if you aren't even going to bother with surrounds and just run 3.1, you would probably be fine running a simple stereo 2.1 setup and just not worrying about the the center for now. The RC-30's are great speakers and there is nothing wrong with stereo. A high quality 2.1 setup can sound really, really good! Especially if the speakers will be relatively close together, e.g. flanking a media cabinet only 6' apart. you will get a very convincing center image with a setup like that.

- the P362's are said to sound great, and may be nearly as good sounding as the RC-30's, but the build quality is in a completely different league. If you are the type who values good build quality, the RC-30's are worth the extra. As someone who own's RC's, and has checked out the Infinity's several times in stores, the Infinity Primus have very cheap construction, the RC's are in a totally different league.

- if you DO really want a center, an RC-Mini will do great. Doesn't sound like you are listening at reference level or trying to fill a huge sace.

- the final option is to buy a pair of RC-10's and use one as center, and either sell the other one or keep it around as a spare (or for future surrounds if you expand to 5.1). The RC-10 will be a nearly perfect match.

Basically, I would just jump on this deal for RC-30's and figure out the center channel later. Worst case, you end up running 2.1 for a few months while you keep an eye on ebay for an RC-LCR in your price range.

Another option to consider, if you aren't looking for surrounds, is the Mirage OMD-15 deal at Vann's. It's about twice the price ($1000 delivered for the pair) but these are $2500 speakers on blowout pricing, and the advantage is that their omnipolar design will throw a huge soundstage and compensate a bit for the lack of surrounds..... plus they are higher end speakers with your choice of gorgeous gloss black or rosewood finish (you can't get the rosenut RC-30's nearly anywhere now). If I was shopping for a pair of tower speakers under $1K for a nice stereo setup, those would be very high on my list.

Originally Posted by YOTR

Thanks for the response! That's good news! My living room is not very big so I was hoping that it would still sound good with the RC-30's. Do you have any dialogue issues when watching movies? I want to find a new black mini center (to match the RC-30's) but they seem to be rare unless I want to pay retail price. I might just go with a rosenut or a used black one on ebay to save some money. My wife just gave me the okay for tower speakers which was shocking. She actually stated that I might as well get them because a pair of bookshelf's with stands will take up the same amount of space (plus she is worried about the kids knocking over the speaker on the stand). I was very happy when she said that . I can only afford to get the speakers and center now (barely) and will have to save up for the subwoofer and receiver. At least it's a start .

Originally Posted by YOTR

Thanks Batpig. I was kind of hoping you would respond as I know you have used the rc mini with the RC-10's before. We have a pretty small living room and really don't have space for a full 5.1 setup. We also have two small children so a 3.1 setup seems like the best option.

I never thought about using a RC-10 for the center. I will consider this also as I could just buy a pair on ebay and just sell the extra one like you stated.

The speakers will be on either side of our media cabinet so they will be within 5-6 feet of each other. I guess I can also just try them as a 2.1 setup and see how they sound. I am mainly concerned about dialogue being clear and understandable during movies. I am currently using a cheap logitech 2.1 setup until I get all of my new gear. Honestly I haven't had any dialogue issues (they are 3 feet apart) which makes me think a 2.1 setup is possible.


So in your opinion, you would just order the RC-30's and wait on the rc mini center? Should I actively try to find a single RC-10 or a RC-LCR before I even consider the rc mini center?

Thanks again!

Originally Posted by bch238

No dialogue issues. Very clean sound. Obviously, less bass than the AC-300 that it replaced, but tighter sound overall. SACD multi-channel with RC-minis as surrounds also sounds great.

Originally Posted by afrogt

Was the AC-300 a good match with your RC speakers? I know the size of the center didn't please your wife but tonally did it work well with your RC-50s? I guess the grill is lighter on the AC-300 also, right?

Besides the lack of bass in the RC mini center would you recommend the AC-300 over the RC mini with the RC towers for someone that didn't have to worry about aesthetics?

Originally Posted by bch238

No dialogue issues. Very clean sound. Obviously, less bass than the AC-300 that it replaced, but tighter sound overall. SACD multi-channel with RC-minis as surrounds also sounds great.

Originally Posted by afrogt

Okay, thanks for the info on the AC-300. I have RC-10s and RC mini center and I love the center. Very nice clear dialogue. Since mine is a bedroom setup, I don't need anything bigger than a RC mini center.

Originally Posted by afrogt

People have actually been placing the RC-10 on its side as a center and said it works very well. its been several pages ago in the thread so it would take a while to find the post.

Originally Posted by subiefast

If you buy a pair of rc10s at the sale prices, i'd be willing to buy the other speaker off of you.