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Energy Owners Thread - Page 298

post #8911 of 47757
4/8/09 at 7:41am
Disclaimer: I am not an audiophile, nor have I spent a lot of time listening to different setups, so take this review for what it is worth, one newb's opinion.

Short summary: The Energy setup (c-c100, c300's, and c100's ) is great for home theater. Music listening is ok, but I acknowledge there are speakers out there that will sound better for listening to music. I am happy with my purchase and would recommend them to others looking to purchase in this price range.

Long spiel: It took me quite awhile but I have finally got everything set up how I want it and put some listening time in on my system. I am coming from a Sony mini HIFI component system with analog 5.1 and the original Dolby 4.0 processing from around 1999. For listening to music, I had gotten very used to the bright sounding three way bookshelves that were in the setup. Listening to music on the Energy's was a little bit of a disappointment at first as I felt like I was missing something. I wonder if the switch from three way to two way speakers made a difference, or if it was the overly bright Sony speakers, or if it's all in my head . As I have tweaked settings and gotten used to the new setup, listening to music has improved.
Video game playing, cable TV, and DVDs are a completely different story. On the Sony, the surrounds just kind of made monotone bumps. The new surrounds let me hear details, I can easily identify sounds. This, along with a much improved center speaker, has really changed the TV watching experience. Upgrading my audio is every bit the equivalent of upgrading my fifteen year old 19CRT to a new 47 LCD.
I find myself wanting to use phrases like good value or great entry level setup to describe this system, but I think that they almost have a negative connotation and I wouldn't want to apply that. I am happy with these and plan on keeping them until I can justify spending several times more money on a new system. I will try to find some time to post some pictures this weekend.
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post #8912 of 47757
4/8/09 at 7:47am
Quote:
Originally Posted by L54 View Post

Disclaimer: I am not an audiophile, nor have I spent a lot of time listening to different setups, so take this review for what it is worth, one newb's opinion.

Short summary: The Energy setup (c-c100, c300's, and c100's ) is great for home theater. Music listening is ok, but I acknowledge there are speakers out there that will sound better for listening to music. I am happy with my purchase and would recommend them to others looking to purchase in this price range.

Long spiel: It took me quite awhile but I have finally got everything set up how I want it and put some listening time in on my system. I am coming from a Sony mini HIFI component system with analog 5.1 and the original Dolby 4.0 processing from around 1999. For listening to music, I had gotten very used to the bright sounding three way bookshelves that were in the setup. Listening to music on the Energy's was a little bit of a disappointment at first as I felt like I was missing something. I wonder if the switch from three way to two way speakers made a difference, or if it was the overly bright Sony speakers, or if it's all in my head . As I have tweaked settings and gotten used to the new setup, listening to music has improved.
Video game playing, cable TV, and DVDs are a completely different story. On the Sony, the surrounds just kind of made monotone bumps. The new surrounds let me hear details, I can easily identify sounds. This, along with a much improved center speaker, has really changed the TV watching experience. Upgrading my audio is every bit the equivalent of upgrading my fifteen year old 19CRT to a new 47 LCD.
I find myself wanting to use phrases like good value or great entry level setup to describe this system, but I think that they almost have a negative connotation and I wouldn't want to apply that. I am happy with these and plan on keeping them until I can justify spending several times more money on a new system. I will try to find some time to post some pictures this weekend.


Good Review! Glad to see you like them. It seems most people that have picked these up say their a little too warm but it settles on them after a bit. I don't think coming from that overly bright Sony setup helps either but you say your now realizing the detail you were missing. I liked the part where you said you don't want to use "good value" and "entry level" b/c I feel the same way. When I say that stuff I feel like I'm referring to $80 bookshelves or something. I think they are a step above entry level even though they are Energy's entry level.
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post #8913 of 47757
4/8/09 at 7:56am
entry level is in the eye of the beholder. IMO, I don't consider them entry level, as most people have a HTIB setup or just use the tv speakers. Others, and probably most on this forum consider the RC series entry level.
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post #8914 of 47757
4/8/09 at 8:04am
Quote:
Originally Posted by subiefast View Post

entry level is in the eye of the beholder. IMO, I don't consider them entry level, as most people have a HTIB setup or just use the tv speakers. Others, and probably most on this forum consider the RC series entry level.

Ha yeah probably but most people consider entry level and what not by price. I believe that it goes way more into it than price. Shoot i'll take the RC's any day and I wouldn't care if anyone said "oh, thats just entry level stuff". As long as your happy with your gear thats all that matters!
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post #8915 of 47757
4/8/09 at 8:13am
I don't think most people consider the RC series entry level when there is the C series below them. The C series would be entry level. HTIB vs component speakers are two different categories. I have yet to hear really good HTIB speakers.
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post #8916 of 47757
4/8/09 at 8:15am
C-C100 back in stock at buy.com
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post #8917 of 47757
4/8/09 at 8:19am
Quote:
Originally Posted by danville96 View Post

C-C100 back in stock at buy.com


NO! Ssshhhh.....
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post #8918 of 47757
4/8/09 at 8:20am
Quote:
Originally Posted by danville96 View Post

C-C100 back in stock at buy.com

Wow, they have really good price on the C-C100.

I'm in a bit of a dilemma. I just bought a house and have been looking at the Energy speakers for my HT setup (C-300 fronts, C-C100 center, C-100 rears). But my house won't be ready till mid/late May. I'm seeing some really good prices at wwstereo, audioadvisors and buy.com, and I'm extremely tempted to buy them. Ideally, I'd like to move into my house first and then order them but I'm wondering if such deals will exist around that time.

What do I do?
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post #8919 of 47757
4/8/09 at 8:22am
Personally, I consider c-series high-end because most people don't own speakers that nice.
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post #8920 of 47757
4/8/09 at 8:23am
Quote:
Originally Posted by tycoonheart View Post

Wow, they have really good price on the C-C100.

I'm in a bit of a dilemma. I just bought a house and have been looking at the Energy speakers for my HT setup (C-300 fronts, C-C100 center, C-100 rears). But my house won't be ready till mid/late May. I'm seeing some really good prices at wwstereo, audioadvisors and buy.com, and I'm extremely tempted to buy them. Ideally, I'd like to move into my house first and then order them but I'm wondering if such deals will exist around that time.

What do I do?

I don't see how it would hurt to order them early.
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post #8921 of 47757
4/8/09 at 8:23am
Quote:
Originally Posted by subiefast View Post

entry level is in the eye of the beholder. IMO, I don't consider them entry level, as most people have a HTIB setup or just use the tv speakers. Others, and probably most on this forum consider the RC series entry level.

I would hardly call the c-series entry level lol.
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post #8922 of 47757
4/8/09 at 8:29am
Quote:
Originally Posted by chwisch87 View Post

I would hardly call the c-series entry level lol.

I agree, but the majority of the people on this forum have 5-$10,000 just in a set of speakers, some even in the 100's of thousands. I personally don't have that kind of budget and consider energy c-series high-end. Like I said, it's subjective.
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post #8923 of 47757
4/8/09 at 8:30am
hey all, new to this forum, used to have logitech z5500, sold it and got the rc-10 and a esw-v8 sub using denon 889 receiver, im no pro but it just sounds alot better!

looking for 5.1 now can anyone recommend me a center and rears to match my setup please?
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post #8924 of 47757
4/8/09 at 8:34am
energy rc-lcr, and rc-mini are really your only options for center. For rears, it depends on your budget.
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post #8925 of 47757
4/8/09 at 9:00am
Quote:
Originally Posted by isover View Post

hey all, new to this forum, used to have logitech z5500, sold it and got the rc-10 and a esw-v8 sub using denon 889 receiver, im no pro but it just sounds alot better!

looking for 5.1 now can anyone recommend me a center and rears to match my setup please?

You are actually in a good starting position, depending on your household limitations and budget. If you can afford RC towers you can always move the RC10s to rears, or if you can't use towers, go with a second pair of RC10s or even RC-mini's. You could also use something from the C-series to save money. Rears don't nessissarly have to match the fronts, but its not recommended to mix since you are starting, its better to do it right the first time. The fronts should match though!

As for a center, RC-LCR or RC-Mini center are really your only choices.

RC10s are really quite amazing for their size. Its hard to imagine how the Veritas will sound in comparison...You will have my review once they arrive
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post #8926 of 47757
4/8/09 at 9:57am
Woah! Knight_40K...your getting the Veritas now? What are you doing with your RC-70's?

Are the Veritas a step up or down from the RC line? I saw some 2.2's on Ebay but they were just out of my price range.
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post #8927 of 47757
4/8/09 at 10:17am
they're a big step up.
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post #8928 of 47757
4/8/09 at 10:25am
Quote:
Originally Posted by subiefast View Post

they're a big step up.

Oh really? Wow those must be some NICE speakers then! Do they still have that warm sound that the others have or does Energy get slightly brighter as you go up? Whenever I graduate I want to put these in the bedroom and get some RC's or something.

There are some Veritas going on ebay for like $500 bucks in NYC! Kinda scratched up but still
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post #8929 of 47757
4/8/09 at 10:27am
no idea, I'd imagine they'd still have the same inherent sound, just better.
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post #8930 of 47757
4/8/09 at 10:36am
I posted info yesterday about my Take FPS speakers that I am using for my front 3...and as I was saying I am a bit disappointed. They really can't perform below 150hz...and now I am trying to look at other options. This is my first experience with Energy, and my second step into the HT/AV stuff....which I really love and has been my biggest hobby for the last couple of years.

Now I am wondering if I should look beyond Energy after my disappointment with the Take series. The look great and are heavy, but I wanted the oxy-moron success of having both a slim designed speaker that can give me a full sound. My 52" LCD is mounted above the Fireplace mantle, so I thought floor standers would be odd with the sound so low, and the TV so high. Bookshelfs would fit oddly if at all with its location on the wall. I also find that these speakers are a lot less efficient than they claim to be. My Polk in-walls claimed a lower efficiency than the Energy FPS, but in reality has a better efficiency. Should I go in a different direction than Energy?
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post #8931 of 47757
4/8/09 at 10:50am
Quote:
Originally Posted by subiefast View Post

I agree, but the majority of the people on this forum have 5-$10,000 just in a set of speakers, some even in the 100's of thousands. I personally don't have that kind of budget and consider energy c-series high-end. Like I said, it's subjective.

I think your stats are way off. The majority (which means over 50%) on this forum do not have $5k-10K speakers. I don't think I've spent 5K in total equipment since I first started buying A/V stuff in 1980 and I've had quite a few different systems.
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post #8932 of 47757
4/8/09 at 10:53am
Quote:
Originally Posted by deepstang View Post

I posted info yesterday about my Take FPS speakers that I am using for my front 3...and as I was saying I am a bit disappointed.

What you described (a hollow, muffled sound) is not right. While these speakers can't really produce much bass below 100Hz, they should still sound clear and neutral in the midrange and treble.

In fact, what you described almost sounds like a damaged speaker. How do they sound with Audyssey and other processing off, just crossed over to the sub at 90Hz?
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post #8933 of 47757
4/8/09 at 11:00am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ousooner2 View Post

Oh really? Wow those must be some NICE speakers then!

The Veritas lineup is Energy's flagship, top-of-the-line series. They cost significantly more than the RC's (msrp) and have much better build quality, driver materials and technology, etc. For example, the Veritas 2.2i bookshelfs are going for $900/pr at Audio Advisor, and that is considered a STEAL because it's over 50% off!!

You don't hear much about them anymore because they are (sadly) probably being discontinued and sort of disappearing slowly.

Quote:
Originally Posted by ousooner2 View Post

Do they still have that warm sound that the others have or does Energy get slightly brighter as you go up?

If you spend some time searching the thread or online you will find many reviews of Veritas. "Kpt Krunch" owns both Veritas and RC and has directly compared them.

The Veritas are supposed to be utterly neutral and "transparent".

On a side note, Energy speakers are not known as "warm" which you keep referring to them as.... I would really call them "neutral", although they may seem warm coming from the sh!tty harsh/bright tweeters in most crappy speakers.
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post #8934 of 47757
4/8/09 at 11:13am
Quote:
Originally Posted by batpig View Post

What you described (a hollow, muffled sound) is not right. While these speakers can't really produce much bass below 100Hz, they should still sound clear and neutral in the midrange and treble.

In fact, what you described almost sounds like a damaged speaker. How do they sound with Audyssey and other processing off, just crossed over to the sub at 90Hz?

I actually finally watched a movie with dialogue last night, and it did not sound as bad. The speaker does not sound defective, just not effecient and not full. I guess I did a poor job in describing them earlier. The midrange is weak, and the treble is neutral....and I could live with not preforming well below 100hz; however, these don't perform well below 150hz. I don't know if I am able to pull the speakers a bit further from the wall if that would help the freq response a little. I think if the FPS was ported or had better sound insulation, maybe it could perform better. The casing is aluminum and there is a small strip of gauze on the inside.
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post #8935 of 47757
4/8/09 at 11:16am
Quote:
Originally Posted by deepstang View Post

I posted info yesterday about my Take FPS speakers that I am using for my front 3...and as I was saying I am a bit disappointed. They really can't perform below 150hz...and now I am trying to look at other options. This is my first experience with Energy, and my second step into the HT/AV stuff....which I really love and has been my biggest hobby for the last couple of years.

Now I am wondering if I should look beyond Energy after my disappointment with the Take series. The look great and are heavy, but I wanted the oxy-moron success of having both a slim designed speaker that can give me a full sound. My 52" LCD is mounted above the Fireplace mantle, so I thought floor standers would be odd with the sound so low, and the TV so high. Bookshelfs would fit oddly if at all with its location on the wall. I also find that these speakers are a lot less efficient than they claim to be. My Polk in-walls claimed a lower efficiency than the Energy FPS, but in reality has a better efficiency. Should I go in a different direction than Energy?


Try to run Aud. again or manually configure them. They might have just been set improperly. The difference in eff. too might be from the Energy's being more of a warm speaker so you hear the Highs in the Polk's quicker. That make sense?

I'd just buy the C-300 package if I were you....
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post #8936 of 47757
4/8/09 at 12:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by knight_40k View Post

You are actually in a good starting position, depending on your household limitations and budget. If you can afford RC towers you can always move the RC10s to rears, or if you can't use towers, go with a second pair of RC10s or even RC-mini's. You could also use something from the C-series to save money. Rears don't nessissarly have to match the fronts, but its not recommended to mix since you are starting, its better to do it right the first time. The fronts should match though!

As for a center, RC-LCR or RC-Mini center are really your only choices.

RC10s are really quite amazing for their size. Its hard to imagine how the Veritas will sound in comparison...You will have my review once they arrive

I have limited space, condo living room. is there going to be a big difference using rc-mini and rc-lcr as center speaker for mysetup? i find that right now I have enough bass already, more will disturb neighbors
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post #8937 of 47757
4/8/09 at 12:05pm
the RC mini will do just fine in a small condo. I live in a townhouse and I own both.

The RC LCR is a massive speaker and, while it definitely sounds better, the RC mini is a perfect match for the RC-10's also and sounds surprisingly good for the size. Frankly, after living the RC LCR for a while I may believe the RC mini is BETTER for a small space as the LCR really needs some room to "breathe", it's a big, chesty-sounding speaker!

Plus of course the mini is a lot cheaper
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post #8938 of 47757
4/8/09 at 12:09pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ousooner2 View Post

Oh really? Wow those must be some NICE speakers then! Do they still have that warm sound that the others have or does Energy get slightly brighter as you go up? Whenever I graduate I want to put these in the bedroom and get some RC's or something.

There are some Veritas going on ebay for like $500 bucks in NYC! Kinda scratched up but still

I know that my Veritas 2.3's have that same great Energy sound but just cleaner, a bit more detailed with a wider soundstage is what I have found in listening to mine. They have that great Energy sound and are not bright at all. I actually think the mids are a bit softer than the C series and I have not heard the RC series yet.
The other thing is in the cabinet build as thay are so rock solid that there is no vibration and the bass is very tight and detailed. So much so that I don't even use my sub when listening to 2 channel music.
If you get the chance to get some on a deal I would highly recommend them as they sound better than speakers costing 2-3 times as much.
I know that for me I won't have to find new speakers for a very long time.
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post #8939 of 47757
4/8/09 at 12:14pm
Just a heads up for those looking to jump on the RC bandwagon...

Vann's got their hands on some stock of various speakers from the RC line...

Cherry RC-10's for $400, cherry RC-Mini for $150 each...and some hard to find RC-LCR's - cherry and rosenut for $400. They told me over the phone they have 60 cherry in stock, and the rosenut are on the way (but not sure how many).

The $400 tag is still to high for me...but be on the lookout for a deal of the day sale on some of the Energy stuff....if the sales run on the Mirage Prestige S10 (for $300) and Energy C-100 ($100) are any indication.

If they do run some nice sales, a cherry RC-10, RC-LCR, RC-mini setup could be had for a nice price. Also, if someone is looking for towers - you could grab the rosenut RC-30's from AA for $300 each, and a rosenut RC-LCR from Vanns.
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post #8940 of 47757
4/8/09 at 12:14pm
ON IN II - is this you?
http://cgi.ebay.com/Energy-Encore-2-...3A1|240%3A1318

FYI - I constantly monitor Energy stuff on ebay and nobody is ever going to buy the e:XL-S8 for $125, they tend to go for $50-70 or so.
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