Energy Owners Thread - Page 302

That is exactly what I meant.

No time to chat...Veritas just arrived, time to play!!!

I love AA, 2 day shipping, wasn't expecting them so soon.

For people without the space for a c-c100. I use an omnimount, and it mounts fine on my 50" plasma. It's even angled down towards the couch. I have a KEF center channel on top, but it's similar in size to the c-c100.

How long have you had the Omnimount? If the KEF center a hefty 20lbs like the C-C100? I think I am going to have to go that route because when the C-C100 is in front of my Samsung it blocks the remote IR sensor. You gotta post more pics...

I'm fairly sure the kef is actually heavier than the c-c100, although I haven't weighed either one. I'll post more pics tonight though. I've had the omnimount for a few weeks.

I did have to modify the omnimount a bit since it's made of a DLP set.

Just to add a little -- I am not a true "audiophile" so my interpretations may be a little off, and I also have a C500 setup, so it will be a little different -- but you will get my honest opinion and experience.

The Energy speakers are my first "big boy" non-HTIB setup. I set them up initially with my leftover HTIB sub, and then tried with a smaller Energy 10" sub (ESW10 -- NOT the ESW-V10 which looks like a really nice sub), and finally now I have a Klipsch Sub-12. With the HTIB sub, my system sounded nice, but I could tell it didn't have the low-end kick for explosions and stuff in movies that I wanted -- actually I couldn't even tell the sub was there. With the Energy sub it was a little underpowered for my room I think, but it definitely added a little bit -- I got more into the movies. With the Klipsch I REALLY enjoy my movies now.

At no point was I dissapointed with the sound, I just kept getting more and more out of it and got closer and closer to what I really wanted as I stepped up with the sub. I am confident that no matter what sub I bought I could not have gotten this type of sound out of the smaller sattelite speakers like you are looking at and in the end it will not cost that much more when you consider that this system will provide years and years of enjoyment.

So, I say go for the bigger speaker setup if it will work for you and shop around for subs when you can. Look for sales. Hang out on here in the sub forum and watch for the deals. My Sub-12 seems to be selling normally in the $400-$500 range or more, but last Thanksgiving I picked it up for $250 with no tax and free shipping thanks to a deal on here. Keep your eyes open and you can really end up with a killer deal. The speakers you're looking at are already a killer deal, so you are off to a really good start.

OH, and no matter what you decide -- run the AVRs sound processing (Audyssey or whatever you choose), it will make a world of a difference in sound.

Adam

+1

I have a C-C100 that I would really like to use, but it does not fit in my stand, so I am currently using a C-C50. I can use the bigger speaker if I hang my TV, but this looks like a quick and easy solution that might work as well for the time being.

Please post anything you can!

Adam

I hope it helped.



HA that is hilarious. Great creativity

You're right about the auto-calibration programs. It takes me longer to prepare than it does for MCACC to run. Things like removing the clock from the room, turning the fridge off [someone else made a comment about having an old, loud fridge; Ditto], turning off heat/air, etc...

I think hanging the microphone from the ceiling about a foot or 2 in front of the backrest of the listening seat works best for me. There's a ceiling fan there, so I hang the microphone, ear level, by the cord with a bread tie to one of the pull-cords on the fan. I've read that the microphone doesn't need to be against any surfaces as it will affect the wavelengths reaching it.

Well, I'll post some starting thoughts on my Veritas 2.2i...

They are extremely musical speakers, everything is just so much more clear. That mid range really makes a difference. Compared to RC-10s I found they have similar characteristics but subtle differences. For example RCs are laid back and neutral sounding and like they are in the speaker singing to you, the veritas are even more so. With the 2.2i I find its like the singer is further away but with improved clarity and volume, if that makes sense. The tones and vocals are softer than the RCs especially with female vocals I notice a big improvement in pitch. I don't notice much of a difference in male vocals, but I'll keep listening. Also, the drums are a lot more crisp and alive sounding, like you are watching a performance. There is also an improvement in the veritas woofer vs the RC, sounds deeper.

When I listen to music on my HT system with the RCs it sounds a bit lacking. Not because of the speakers, but it doesn't have the tonal characteristics of my Parasound 275/2100 combo. Even before I had the Veritas, I preferred listening to 2ch music on my comp with the C-7s. A good quality amp really makes a difference. If it sounds like I'm bashing the RCs that is not my intent, I'm just trying to get across how the Veritas match up. And my HT is all RCs and I love it!

My RC10s are benched at the moment, I might not be selling my RC30s quite yet And I got a long way to go before my Veritas are fully broken in.

...pics to follow at a later date.

Just joining the club here.. Needed a budget bookshelf system and was pointed to Energy. Grabbed the C-C100, 4 C-100s and a Dayton ES10 sub (sony receiver) so I guess I joined da club xD. How much of a difference (ballpark subjective question, I know) is there between C-100/300/500?

Here's some more pics. The way it's designed to be mounted doesn't work for me since the little mounting rods are mounted wide for a thicker dlp display. Fortunately, the speaker platform has an array of holes which is designed to look almost mesh. I just chose the holes that would fit my plasma, and bolted in the rods.

It's a pretty big difference.

Did you see what DMG15000 made? This is a slick idea.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=#post16192919

You beat me to it...

I appreciate the help. I hurried up and bough the C-C100 per your advice. I know that has gone in and out of stock. I'm not positive how I will mount the dipoles against the walls but I agree that they may sounds better than the bookshelves. I'd like to save the cashback amount in buying the other speakers but I really don't know much about live.com's cashback. I'll research that a little bit and hopefully get the other items ordered soon. Do you guys see any problem with pairing these speakers with a sony HTIB receiver for awhile (HT-DDW750)? I'll get around to picking a receiver eventually. I just don't know much about them and I'm hoping that the new speakers will help out immediately. Anyway, thanks for the input.

On Amazon reviews of the Omnimount, I have read that users have flipped the shelf upside down so the lip hooks on the front of the TV.

http://www.amazon.com/OmniMount-CCH1...ews/B00067AIEU

As long as your Sony HTiB receiver will accept banana plugs or raw speaker wire you will be OK. Some HTiB receivers have special female plugs that only accept the male counterparts on their mated speakers. You should inspect the receiver for this.

Live.com cashback is pretty neat.

Go here ---> Live Cashback Sign-up! to get started.

Hey guys!

Im a long time reader first time poster

Anyway when I get home today im going to be ordering my first non htib setup. Here is what im ordering tonight:

2x C-300s (fronts)
1x C-C100 (center)
2x C-50s (surround)

Im excited! I do not have a receiver or sub yet. I plan on picking up a Denon 1909 to go with this and for a sub im pretty much set on a PA-120 unless anyone objects. Of course monoprice for all my cables etc.

Questions/concerns
1. concern I have is I live in an apartment and space is limited in the rear. My couch is up against a wall and no side wall to mount the surrounds. Im thining about just mounting them in the rear and angle them down using omnimounts.

2. Im going to be ordering the sub a little later, and im wondering if it will be too loud considering I live in an apartment? I really want one tho but dont want to piss off the neighbors. Any advice here?

Thanks guys and Ill post pics of the progress because I love pics and I know you guys would like that too.

Adam

1. If you have absolutely no room to your sides then I'd do what you already said and mount them a tad above ear level and angle them down a bit.

2. It will be loud but you can always turn it down to a respectable level. Plus when you move out of there you will already have a good sub!


By the way, I contacted Buy.com just to see how many C-C100's they have.....well lets just say they won't be running out soon. 200!!!

having monopolar surround speakers right up next to your ears when the seating position is all the way up against a wall isn't really ideal. people do it, but the surrounds will be very "directional" especially if they are within a few feet of your ears, and you will obviously get asymmetry in the surround effect when you are to either side of the couch.

the further away you can get them from your ears the better; you really want the surrounds to be non-directional and diffuse so you have to get that tweeter firing away from your ear.

there are also some creative solutions for using monopolar speakers in that setup: you can mount them high up above you and have them fire over your head, you can have them to either side of the couch firing AWAY from you (if you have walls to either side a few feet away this can be very effective since you will be hearing mostly reflected sound), or you can have them pointed UP at the ceiling (again, so you hear mostly reflected sound).


It really depends on how good the sound insulation is in your apartment and/or how nice your neighbors are, but I can warn you that combining a 1909 with Dynamic EQ and a brawny 12" sub like the PA-120 can be a tough combination in an apartment. I have the same receiver and recently ended up selling my BIC VK-12 sub because the thing was rattling my whole townhouse!

If you want to get a nice sub to fill out the low end and not send shockwaves through to your neighbors' pads, I can recommend the Mirage Prestige S8 (which I bought after selling my VK-12). You can buy it off WWStereo's ebay store for $249 shipped - live.com cashback (which is currently at 11%). It's a higher quality sub than the PA-120, although it can't match it in overall output and extension, but that may actually be a good thing in an apartment! And it matches the Energy's perfectly, it is the twin of the Energy V8 sub.

Go to WWStereo's ebay store:

C-300 = $250 shipped/pr
Prestige S8 = $249 shipped
-------------------------
total = $499 - 11% cashback = $444 shipped

Then add the C-C100 from buy.com for $114 and for around $550 you have a really nice start, then just add surrounds....

Of course, if you think you will be moving soon, there is no harm in getting the bigger sub. You will just have to turn it down quite a bit to avoid angering the neighbors for now

Question batpig - how is the Mirage Prestige S8 a sub that won't "send shockwaves" ? Is it a non-boomy sub, is it smoother? I ask only because i like in an apartment as fell and find that some subs put out the sufficient amount of bass without blasting the room apart.

Question for Batpig or other Energy experts.

I have a four month old take Classic 5.1. in a 10.5 x 11 room (8ft ceiling) I'd say it is an optimum size for the Take. I have been very impressed, but since 60% of my usage is music (SACD / DVD-A) I can tell what other have said, this system is a little bit lacking in midrange.

I took advantage of the $78 Woot C-100 deal a few months back for a simple 2.0 system with an old Pio. receiver and TV. very little usage. I'm thinking of making them my fronts with the Take system.

I'm guessing this will help the mid range, by how much?. Will this over power
the Take center channel, or will Audessey smooth this out with my Denon-789?. I love the fit of the Take center channel with just the keyhole mount to the wall. Or is a C-C50 in my future?

1 - it doesn't have much extension or output below 30Hz

2 - it is very smooth and tight, high quality bass.

mostly, though, it based off practical experience as opposed to thoery. I took the plunge on the S8 hoping it would work out, and it has. the VK-12 had this soft, rich, room filling bass, but I could not prevent it from rattling the house. If I turned it way down to compensate, I lost definition and impact in the bass. With the S8, the bass is smooth and punchy and there when I need it, but it doesn't seem to vibrate the house as much.

the ultimate litmus test is from my wife upstairs in the bedroom -- after living with the new, smaller sub for a couple weeks now she told me it is much better, that the VK-12 was constantly vibrating the floor upstairs and she could feel it all the time. no complaints so far....

On a side note, one thing you could try for the time being, if you are having trouble with the bass vibrating through the floors, is to turn off the +10dB LFE boost in the receiver. Most of the "rumble" is in the LFE track on 5.1 content, and almost every receiver has an option to trim down just the LFE part. You will still get the redirected bass from the other speakers, but it may tame the subsonic rumbling (which is the stuff that really carries through walls/floors).

the only thing I can tell you is "try it and see for yourself". you have all of the speakers in your house right now, all it takes is a spare 20 minutes of quiet time to hook up the C-100's and re-run Audyssey, then see how it sounds. the only true judge of "how much will it help?" will be your ears

wow thanks for the quick response!

When the lease is up here (march 2010) the wife and I are buying a house. So I may just go with the pa-120 and tune it down if need be.

Im just worried about the surrounds. Ill post up a diagram of the room when i get home and maybe you (batpig) can help me decide. I respect your knowledge/advice.

I could get the C-R100s if that would be better. I just liked the lighter weight of the c-50s

if you can afford it I might go for the C-R100's. although a little heavier, they are actually easier to mount than the C-50's (just hang them on their keyhole mount) and very low profile (not a big box sticking out of the wall). if you factor in the cost of wall mounts (unless you go DMG budget style!), the C-R100's aren't even much pricier than the C-50's currently.

plus, bipolars will be much more flexible in terms of placement and will help with the diffuse surround field for the time being since the surrounds will be close to your ears. and when you move into a bigger place they will do a nice job filling up the space.

I think two C-R100's, mounted on the wall to either side of the couch and a couple feet above ear level, will work better than the C-50's given your layout...

batpig...I'm interested in your thoughts on the C-R100's for my system...I started a thread on this...
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1137100

Basically, I'm in the same situation - with monopole surrounds right next to the couch...., except I need to mount on the rear wall...thinking about the C-R100's

Anyone own them and can comment on their sound?

Thanks so much batpig! Im gonna go with c-r100s then! So your saying the c-r100s come with mouting hardware?

i am considering speakers for my studio apartment. I was wondering is the RC-10 speakers going to sound better than C-300?

If your going to buy the PA-120, you might want to look at this one first.

http://stores.channeladvisor.com/the...0%20Watt%20Sub

I picked up yesterday for $170.00 on a best offer bid on their ebay store.

http://stores.channeladvisor.com/the...ers/Subwoofers

You want to be sure to look at the right one though. You want the HD-sub12 not the PSW 12.

The HD-sub12 is normally $198.00 on their site. The PSW 12 is $137.00. The guys that bought these were very impressed. The one guy actually builds his own subs and he had planned to just buy this one to tear a part and rebuild and he ended up keeping it. He claims it goes down into the low 20's with no problems. So I figured I'd give it a shot since it's a lot cheaper then the PA-120.

Here is a link to the discussion that convinced me to buy this sub over the PA-120.

http://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=85212

It's only 21 pages long but I think you will find it worth your investment of time to read it.

Bill

+1

I took batpig's advice earlier too and picked up a Mirage Prestige S8 for my bedroom. I think it's safe to assume the following:

If you have any concerns at all about disturbing the neighbors or even family members in your own place (in other rooms), the S8 is a safe choice for a sub without having to worry about losing out on quality. It is true that the S8 won't provide you any crazy output or send shivers down your spine, but that is what you're trying to avoid in the first place right? Can't really have the best of both worlds, so the S8 is a great choice for a good tight + punchy sounding sub that won't rattle the walls. Even though I myself like loud, strong bass output that shakes the house (especially during movies), I knew I made the right choice in selecting the S8 because I have to consider those around me too (my father often works in the next room over and goes to bed early just about every night)