Surround Speakers?

[skatinkamel]

Okay, Last Week I purchased my first set of speakers. I now own an Energy RC-LCR as my center and a pair of RC-10s as my fronts. Anyway my question is where do I go from here. Im trying to decide upon a got set of surround speakers to finish up a 5.1 setup. So far these are the speakers that interest me:

Energy CB-10s:
http://www.energy-speakers.com/na-en...b-10-overview/

Energy CB-20s:
http://www.energy-speakers.com/na-en...b-20-overview/

Energy RC-R:
http://www.energy-speakers.com/na-en...rc-r-overview/

The RC-R may be a bit of an overkill ,but just a thought.

Im certainly open for suggestions I just cant decide. Also, any suggestion for a surround back set? I dont plan on going 7.1 anytime soon,but I know that I definantly will eventually.
Thanks

[BigAl87]

Originally Posted by skatinkamel

Okay, Last Week I purchased my first set of speakers. I now own an Energy RC-LCR as my center and a pair of RC-10s as my fronts. Anyway my question is where do I go from here. Im trying to decide upon a got set of surround speakers to finish up a 5.1 setup. So far these are the speakers that interest me:

Energy CB-10s:
http://www.energy-speakers.com/na-en...b-10-overview/

Energy CB-20s:
http://www.energy-speakers.com/na-en...b-20-overview/

Energy RC-R:
http://www.energy-speakers.com/na-en...rc-r-overview/

The RC-R may be a bit of an overkill ,but just a thought.

Im certainly open for suggestions I just cant decide. Also, any suggestion for a surround back set? I dont plan on going 7.1 anytime soon,but I know that I definantly will eventually.
Thanks

Have you considered the CR-10?

FYI I don't think the RC-R would be an overkill they will perform extremely well, Keep in mind they are sold individually. They would be my choice over the CB.

[skatinkamel]

Thanks. I do like the CR-10s. They seem like they would perform well as rear surrounds ,but do you think they would sound good as surrounds? I like the RC-R too. They are expensive ,but I think they would pay off and compliment the rest of my setup very well.

[BigAl87]

Originally Posted by skatinkamel

Thanks. I do like the CR-10s. They seem like they would perform well as rear surrounds ,but do you think they would sound good as surrounds? I like the RC-R too. They are expensive ,but I think they would pay off and compliment the rest of my setup very well.

Where do you live?

In Canda or US, if it's in the US do you have a BB Magniola Store near by, you could try them and see for yourself. Don't they have a 30 days return policy, you could try them at home.

A 4.5 inch driver was working really well as surrounds on the C-50.



depend what you would like your surround to perform like but a Bipole speaker is usually better as surround then a monopole. They will create a more envelopping sound.

[Yeha-Noha]

The RC-LCR is certainly no overkill. The center channel is the most important speaker in any HT system. Too often it gets neglected. Some HT addicts get huge towers and a wimpy center, the opposite of your situation. You, however, have made the wisest sound investment! You have a system to build upon.

Where should you go from there? Well, I can only speak for myself. I am more into the movie experience rather than music or liking SACDs and that stuff. If it were me, I would first get my front stage squared away first. The RC-10s are nice speakers. But I personally wouldn't use them as fronts with the RC-LCR.

But before I get into that, I would need to know first if you have a subwoofer. For HT, there is no substitute for a good sub just like there isn't one for a good center. Since you didn't mention having one, I ass-u-me that you don't have one. Running the RC-10s as large in a 5.1 system isn't what I consider ideal. It would be ok for music I suppose.

So first I suggest getting RC series towers to match your RC-LCR center. You could in fact, that is if you have the space, get two more RC-LCRs and run them in your HT as L and R fronts. All I can say is that for me it would be the start of a killer HT system. For awhile you can run all 3 of those as Large or Full Range in your AVRs or pre-pro's bass management setup. Or, in these exciting times when the RC series will no doubt going on clearance sales, you got some nice pickin's. Actually the RC-30 towers already have at Audio Advisor. If you live in Canada though, they don't ship there. The prices for the RC-30s is rock bottom but may even go lower perhaps in time, especially after the RC-50s and RC-70s go on clearance. So, you have those option too. But that's what I would do, get a pair of better fronts with more foundation, be they two more RC-LCRs (best, because they will be timbre matched), or go with the so-so timbre match route getting RC-30s, -50s, or -70s depending on how much space you have. You can certainly get by with RC-30s in small rooms like 20 x 15 and smaller too.

But then, the next step would be to add a subwoofer. I love Energy Speakers, and have an all Energy system except for the sub. With all do respect to Energy, I find their subs to be far too pricey when there are others from eD, SVS, HSU, PA-120s, et al, that can get you the same for less $. After you get a sub, set your fronts (all three) to small and set the crossover at 80 Hz. Let your subwoofer worry about the bass below 80 Hz.

Now at last, that brings us to the surrounds. If you are with me so far, I would seriously recommend staying with the RC-series and get RC surrounds. There is only one choice, the RC-R. They aren't cheap. Those may go on clearance too though. Check Audio Advisor and wwstereo.com from time to time. Those guys run lots of clearance sales as well as other places online. Those surrounds are the best you can get for your system. You can honestly cross them over at 80 Hz which is no doubt what they were designed for. You got the most flexibility to tailor the sound field that best matches your system and HT room. That's because the RC-R is a switchable dipole, bipole, and monopole. Seriously, I would run them as L and R side wall surrounds as dipoles first but you may want to switch between dipole and bipole before you know which sound field is the one you want.

Now, what about your RC-10s? Where does that leave them? You could use them instead of the RC-Rs as surrounds but I wouldn't do that, if it were me. What I would do is use them as the back L and R surrounds if you at least have an 18' x 13' HT room for a nice 7.1 system. That way, you should have enough space behind your couch or seating area for them. You don't want to be sitting below them with couch up against the back wall for instance. Monopole back surrounds team up well with side dipole or bipole surrounds. Believe me if you do this, you will have one heck of a kick arse HT system.

[skatinkamel]

Wow thanks for all the suggestions!

Let me clear some things up. I do have a sub. It's an eD a2-300. The bigger speakers do look nice ,but at the same token I do only have a 90 watt reciever so i dont need too much. The prices are great though. Ive already seen an rc-30 for $ 225! Originally i was thinking RC-LCR center, RC-10s fronts, RC-Rs surrounds, and CR-10s in the rear, but youve definitely muddied the waters.

[callas01]

what receiver do you have?

[skatinkamel]

Onkyo TX-SR607

http://www.us.onkyo.com/model.cfm?m=...s=Receiver&p=i

[callas01]

Originally Posted by skatinkamel

Onkyo TX-SR607

http://www.us.onkyo.com/model.cfm?m=...s=Receiver&p=i

I think I would go for the RC-30s and move the RC-10s to the rear to use as surrounds. I think the Onkyo would do an OK job at powering the hungry RC-30s in the meantime, Then seriously look at upgrading the receiver to something like an Anthem MRX500 ($1499) receiver or Marantz 5005 ($750) receiver or a Yamaha 765 and an Emo XPA-3 combo (roughly $1200).

Then keep your eyes out for the RC-Rs to go on sale/clearance and pick those up as side surrounds a little later. I think you would find the RC-30s would increase your desire to listen to music and add a boost to your HT experience.

But they will love some extra power.

[skatinkamel]

thanks callas, ill prob stick with the 607 for a while its doin fine on the rc-10s and im hoping it will power the rc-30s fine. Im def gunna go with those though the price is fantastic.

[BigAl87]

Originally Posted by skatinkamel

thanks callas, ill prob stick with the 607 for a while its doin fine on the rc-10s and im hoping it will power the rc-30s fine. Im def gunna go with those though the price is fantastic.

RC-30 Sweet great deal too at 199$ each, yes 607 should be fine to power the RC-30 for quite a while.

Callas always has good suggestion and it's o true at that price the RC-30 are a must buy and they are not so big and can fill a nice size room with alot of power of course.

[aces high]

Originally Posted by callas01

I think I would go for the RC-30s and move the RC-10s to the rear to use as surrounds. I think the Onkyo would do an OK job at powering the hungry RC-30s in the meantime, Then seriously look at upgrading the receiver to something like an Anthem MRX500 ($1499) receiver or Marantz 5005 ($750) receiver or a Yamaha 765 and an Emo XPA-3 combo (roughly $1200).

Then keep your eyes out for the RC-Rs to go on sale/clearance and pick those up as side surrounds a little later. I think you would find the RC-30s would increase your desire to listen to music and add a boost to your HT experience.

But they will love some extra power.

Did I just read you recommending an Emo amp? I can't believe my eyes!

[BigAl87]

Originally Posted by aces high

Did I just read you recommending an Emo amp? I can't believe my eyes!

Hehe that's a funny comment considering he likes a warmer sound but seriously at that price it can't really be beaten.

Ace to bad your Studios are 8ohms cause you could use the extra power the MCA 50 provides at 4ohms. My intention is to run 4 ohms anyway so I think I will be good with it.

[aces high]

Originally Posted by BigAl87

Hehe that's a funny comment considering he likes a warmer sound but seriously at that price it can't really be beaten.

Ace to bad your Studios are 8ohms cause you could use the extra power the MCA 50 provides at 4ohms. My intention is to run 4 ohms anyway so I think I will be good with it.

The Studio 100's have always been known as power hungry speakers, that have pretty big impedence dips. They dip down to 3.25 ohms at 100hz, that's the one I can remeber off the top of my head. They have other large dips at other freq's as well, which require alot of current. I know that Paradigm rates them as 8ohms but they do need a good dose of power to really make them sing. The more I use the MCA 50 the more I'm liking it, you won't be disappointed. You may be like me and wonder what you could do with more power.

[BigAl87]

Originally Posted by aces high

The Studio 100's have always been known as power hungry speakers, that have pretty big impedence dips. They dip down to 3.25 ohms at 100hz, that's the one I can remeber off the top of my head. They have other large dips at other freq's as well, which require alot of current. I know that Paradigm rates them as 8ohms but they do need a good dose of power to really make them sing. The more I use the MCA 50 the more I'm liking it, you won't be disappointed. You may be like me and wonder what you could do with more power.

Good to know that the studio drops that low it' quite rare that an 8 ohms nominal rated speakers goes below 5 ohms.

Anyhow the 4 ohms minimal Rainmakers are also 4 ohms Nominal so really I will have the power available at all times. One more year of patience and I will finally be able to start building my new setup.

I think I will audition the MCA 20 to get an idea of what it will sound like as my dealer has one in stock.

Thanks for the heads up Aces really appreciated.

[aces high]

Originally Posted by BigAl87

Good to know that the studio drops that low it' quite rare that an 8 ohms nominal rated speakers goes below 5 ohms.

Anyhow the 4 ohms minimal Rainmakers are also 4 ohms Nominal so really I will have the power available at all times. One more year of patience and I will finally be able to start building my new setup.

I think I will audition the MCA 20 to get an idea of what it will sound like as my dealer has one in stock.

Thanks for the heads up Aces really appreciated.

According to Sterophile's measurements of the Studio 60 v5 they also dip below 4 ohms, 3.6 at 185hz. You should read the review on their site, it says you should use a four ohm stable amp with those to get the most out of them also. Anthem's are also stable down to 2ohms so you won't have any worries with the Rainmakers. Nice choice by the way.

[callas01]

Originally Posted by skatinkamel

thanks callas, ill prob stick with the 607 for a while its doin fine on the rc-10s and im hoping it will power the rc-30s fine. Im def gunna go with those though the price is fantastic.

the Onkyo will do OK for a while.... Im just saying that the RC series and even the new CF series in a review says that the CFs should have an amp, even with the 90+ db sensitivity and the 8 ohm rating, they really need an amp to be properly powered.... well the RC series is the same way... even though they are 8 ohms, they will enjoy an amp much more then just the avg mid-range receiver..... but that is not to say the reciever won't work for you until you can get something with more true power...

[callas01]

Originally Posted by aces high

Did I just read you recommending an Emo amp? I can't believe my eyes!

I know I know..... JasonR must have popped a bottle of Dom when he saw that.... ok, well maybe just an IPA...

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by callas01

I know I know..... JasonR must have popped a bottle of Dom when he saw that.... ok, well maybe just an IPA...

I saw that a couple of hours ago & just about fell over myself

[callas01]

Originally Posted by crazyBLUE

I saw that a couple of hours ago & just about fell over myself

OMG, my reputation proceeds me now.... I bought the A2-300 after it became "trendy".... sometimes you just have to get what gives you the best performace your what you have to spend....

Hey I am just offereing up lower cost alternatives......


BTW, there is an NAD Amp on AudioAdvisor.com for $799 or something.... Plus there is always the Outlaw amp....

geez..... you guys are brutal