The Official Energy Speakers Thread

[callas01]

Originally Posted by Jwilly019

I won't have $4000, but I'd still like to hear them. My goal this summer is to listen to as many speakers as I can and hopefully have something by the end of the year, at the latest.





Thanks for all the links guys, I'll read them tomorrow between classes.

Justin

justin

even if you have just 2K, the Rainmakers and the Rainmaker center or just the Focus 140(2100) then save for the center.... or the Excite X16s and the X22 center about $2400..... or the Totem Sttafs,......

I will gaurantee you will love everything you hear...

[Jwilly019]

Originally Posted by callas01

justin

even if you have just 2K, the Rainmakers and the Rainmaker center or just the Focus 140(2100) then save for the center.... or the Excite X16s and the X22 center about $2400..... or the Totem Sttafs,......

I will gaurantee you will love everything you hear...

At $2k I'll have plenty of options. My goal is to get the front 3 now and surrounds later. However, if I find mains that eat up my whole budget, I'm ok with going 2-channel for a while.

I'm also not opposed to purchasing used if it extends my money.

Justin

[callas01]

Originally Posted by callas01

justin

even if you have just 2K, the Rainmakers and the Rainmaker center or just the Focus 140(2100) then save for the center.... or the Excite X16s and the X22 center about $2400..... or the Totem Sttafs,......

I will gaurantee you will love everything you hear...

justin, make sure you have a good receiver amp combo or a receiver like a NAD or Anthem

[callas01]

Originally Posted by Jwilly019

At $2k I'll have plenty of options. My goal is to get the front 3 now and surrounds later. However, if I find mains that eat up my whole budget, I'm ok with going 2-channel for a while.

I'm also not opposed to purchasing used if it extends my money.

Justin

you should find the review of the Dynaudio Excite X12s and X32s or X36s and the 140s or the 110s, they can all provide very good bass.... the mid-range on the Dynaudios is about the best I have heard... the Totems is very close

Don't be afraid of getting bookshelfs to improve what you will get for the $$

[Jwilly019]

Originally Posted by callas01

justin, make sure you have a good receiver amp combo or a receiver like a NAD or Anthem

I've found myself drawn to the Maranzt sound. I've been keeping an eye on the rumored AV7005. As far as an amp goes, I'll probably go with an Emotiva for price/performance ratio. Nothing set in stone though.

Originally Posted by callas01

you should find the review of the Dynaudio Excite X12s and X32s or X36s and the 140s or the 110s, they can all provide very good bass.... the mid-range on the Dynaudios is about the best I have heard... the Totems is very close

Don't be afraid of getting bookshelfs to improve what you will get for the $$

I'm certainly not opposed to going with a bookshelf. I have a sub and plan on using it for music (most of the time anyway) and HT. So I require tight, not deep bass.

Justin

[callas01]

Originally Posted by Jwilly019

I've found myself drawn to the Maranzt sound. I've been keeping an eye on the rumored AV7005. As far as an amp goes, I'll probably go with an Emotiva for price/performance ratio. Nothing set in stone though.



I'm certainly not opposed to going with a bookshelf. I have a sub and plan on using it for music (most of the time anyway) and HT. So I require tight, not deep bass.

Justin

Marantz should be good to power most speakers, just remember that some of the speakers you will be listening to are hard to drive.... and marantz has a good amp, but you may still want to get external amplification.... That is where NAD and Anthem come in nicely, they can power 4 ohm speakers....

[Jwilly019]

Originally Posted by callas01

Marantz should be good to power most speakers, just remember that some of the speakers you will be listening to are hard to drive.... and marantz has a good amp, but you may still want to get external amplification.... That is where NAD and Anthem come in nicely, they can power 4 ohm speakers....

I should have clarified. The AV7005 is rumored to be the replacement to the AV8003 processor. The fact that it isn't the 8005 has led some to speculate that it won't be a true replacement. Aesthetically, it draws inspiration from the Reference series. Personally, I like the minimalist look. Here are two links, I'm not sure if it has been announced in the US yet.

I would then probably use an XPA-3 or UPA-1s up front. I don't want to drive 4 ohm speakers with a receiver, even if it technically can drive them.

Justin

[Adam.C]

Originally Posted by callas01

did you buy the amp yet????? Im jealous.

haha no. Saving for a display then amp

[callas01]

Originally Posted by Jwilly019

I should have clarified. The AV7005 is rumored to be the replacement to the AV8003 processor. The fact that it isn't the 8005 has led some to speculate that it won't be a true replacement. Aesthetically, it draws inspiration from the Reference series. Personally, I like the minimalist look. Here are two links, I'm not sure if it has been announced in the US yet.

I would then probably use an XPA-3 or UPA-1s up front. I don't want to drive 4 ohm speakers with a receiver, even if it technically can drive them.

Justin

those look nice... I like that the 6005 has the Anchor Bay processing...

Im really between the NAD and Anthem... but Marantz would be 3rd on my list... we'll see what kind of reviews and deals are happening then...

[callas01]

Originally Posted by Adam.C

haha no. Saving for a display then amp

dude, your TV is fine... 1080p, 50", slim design..... I am sure you can get thru 2 more years with it...


my wife wants new furniture and carpet... AND a TV.... I am happy with the TV, its only 3 yrs old... she says well my AV/speakers are only 2 yrs old... I have explained that there would be a bigger improvement updating the audio then the Video.

My hope is that in tax money we get enough back that I can get her Carpet and a new couch, and then I can get a new AV/TV 3-n-1 stand AND an receiver.... In this order... NAD, Anthem, Marantz or Sherwood Newcastle. Come on big money.

[Yeha-Noha]

Originally Posted by Jwilly019

I should have clarified. The AV7005 is rumored to be the replacement to the AV8003 processor. The fact that it isn't the 8005 has led some to speculate that it won't be a true replacement. Aesthetically, it draws inspiration from the Reference series. Personally, I like the minimalist look. Here are two links, I'm not sure if it has been announced in the US yet.

I would then probably use an XPA-3 or UPA-1s up front. I don't want to drive 4 ohm speakers with a receiver, even if it technically can drive them.

Justin

Your logic is definitely sound.

Emotiva is my choice when I upgrade. I currently use my Yamaha V663 as a pre/pro in a 7.2 system. Most mid level AVRs like mine don't even have adequate power to drive 7 nominal 8 ohm speakers, especially if they are inefficient.

I don't care for Marzantz amps anymore. I had a 100 wpc Marantz integrated amp back in the 80's driving a pair of KEF speakers. I found myself being drawn away from that sound. I sold them and bought an Adcom preamp and power amp in the early 90s and Tannoy 6.9 speakers. I was much happier with the Adcom amp's neutral natural sound.

My Marantz CD player was a keeper though. I have no doubt that Marantz BD players are among the finest if you can afford them.

And now, my nearly 20 year old Adcom GFA 545 II is still in service hooked up to my Energy L/R front C-300s towers. I have a mono block power amp driving my Energy C-C100 center.

Soon, I'm planning on getting two Emotiva UPA-2s to drive my 4 Energy bipoles. The V663's internal amps sound ok but the tiny power supply is a wimp at 400 VA lacking the juice to drive 7 inefficient Energy speakers. The UPA-2s should have enough power to drive those super inefficient surround bipoles (R-C100s: 85db at 1 w/m sensitivity). Thus from where I sit, about 2 m away from the bipoles, I would expect to obtain a clean undistorted 105 db sound level, the reference level specification (for Dolby Digital).

In the more distant future I plan to upgrade to an Emotiva processer. I'm waiting for them to upgrade their current UMC-1 to become 3D compatible with HDMI 1.4 and all that jazz or whatever model succeeds it after 3D HDTV becomes mainstream. I have no doubt that will happen in a few years.

[Jwilly019]

Originally Posted by callas01

those look nice... I like that the 6005 has the Anchor Bay processing...

Im really between the NAD and Anthem... but Marantz would be 3rd on my list... we'll see what kind of reviews and deals are happening then...

Have you heard Anthem? I'm assuming you've heard they plan on releasing two AVRs this month with two more to come.

I was doing some additional research on the AV7005 this morning over at AVS and some are speculating the *005 line are just rebadged Denons. Which would indicate that the *005's will be unable to decode DSD streams from SACD.

This would be a deal breaker for me and I might take a look at Anthem if they have this feature. Anyway, the *005 receivers are listed on Marantz's site now, the AV7005 is still absent though. I've downloaded the manual for the SR7005 to see if there is any mention of DSD decoding.

Justin

[callas01]

Originally Posted by Jwilly019

Have you heard Anthem? I'm assuming you've heard they plan on releasing two AVRs this month with two more to come.

I was doing some additional research on the AV7005 this morning over at AVS and some are speculating the *005 line are just rebadged Denons. Which would indicate that the *005's will be unable to decode DSD streams from SACD.

This would be a deal breaker for me and I might take a look at Anthem if they have this feature. Anyway, the *005 receivers are listed on Marantz's site now, the AV7005 is still absent though. I've downloaded the manual for the SR7005 to see if there is any mention of DSD decoding.

Justin

Have not heard the Anthem receivers as these are the first receivers they have ever put out... so I would love to hear them... their amps get a lot of positive reviews however.

The NAD I have yet to hear but Rhett and my dealer both said for Music the NAD would be killer, and very good for HT. Both agreed that an amp for the reciever would be good also, but that to start the receiver will run Totems and or Dyns as good as say a Yamaha and Emo combo, and probably with better sonics. The Dyn Excites were made with the idea that a 6 ohm receiver could power them and be perfectly fine.. well think about this, NAD is distributed by Dynaudio in Europe.... so guess what receivers they used to test the Excites out on?? Exactly...

So eventually I will add an amp, but I will probably start with a very good receiver and add the amp later...I think I will be in for a good 3-4 upgrade period, until I am totally finished... It could be receiver this year, speakers next, amp later....

If the Marantz is a Denon, then that sucks, Marantz is known for building first from the receivers amp on up and adding features later, not deciding first on features then how to afford the amp.

[callas01]

Originally Posted by Jwilly019

Have you heard Anthem? I'm assuming you've heard they plan on releasing two AVRs this month with two more to come.

I was doing some additional research on the AV7005 this morning over at AVS and some are speculating the *005 line are just rebadged Denons. Which would indicate that the *005's will be unable to decode DSD streams from SACD.

This would be a deal breaker for me and I might take a look at Anthem if they have this feature. Anyway, the *005 receivers are listed on Marantz's site now, the AV7005 is still absent though. I've downloaded the manual for the SR7005 to see if there is any mention of DSD decoding.

Justin

anthem will not decode DSD, but your SACD player should be able to conver to PCM and send it that way... same thing

they are 4 ohm stable receivers

[BigAl87]

I thought I had got rid of Analog for good when I realised my DVD 48 was able to read SACDs I decided to take the plunge into it.

To my surprise it does not send DSD using PCM only send to direct analog multichannel out but nevertheless it sounds fantastic, It's like having an old school receiver again.

One day I'll have everything running trough HDMI but it sounds just as good like that.

[prerich]

Originally Posted by callas01

justin

even if you have just 2K, the Rainmakers and the Rainmaker center or just the Focus 140(2100) then save for the center.... or the Excite X16s and the X22 center about $2400..... or the Totem Sttafs,......

I will gaurantee you will love everything you hear...

I remember recommending several Totem 5.1 systems (dreamcatcher, ect). to people and they kinda blew me off. I'm glad to finally see Dynaudio and Totem get this type of press. I'm also glad to see many people auditioning speakers they can't afford just to get a baseline on what they like. That's what I've done for years!!!

[prerich]

Sorry for the temporary hijack, This is the Energy thread - I'm also glad to see Energy get its proper due too!!! When I first arrived it was either Polk (on the entry level) or B&W on the high-end. We're starting to diversify now

[BigAl87]

Originally Posted by prerich

I remember recommending several Totem 5.1 systems (dreamcatcher, ect). to people and they kinda blew me off. I'm glad to finally see Dynaudio and Totem get this type of press. I'm also glad to see many people auditioning speakers they can't afford just to get a baseline on what they like. That's what I've done for years!!!

What a shame but people will come to realize what they are missing cause they offer tremendous value in their price range with role model quality control.

The sound treatment those speaker recieve is absolutely amazing from cabinet construction and dampening material and such high attention to detail makes Totem and Dynaudio speakers a must listen to.

I was astound by the Sttaf and the Rainmaker. Absolutely beautiful sounding speakers.

[callas01]

Originally Posted by prerich

I remember recommending several Totem 5.1 systems (dreamcatcher, ect). to people and they kinda blew me off. I'm glad to finally see Dynaudio and Totem get this type of press. I'm also glad to see many people auditioning speakers they can't afford just to get a baseline on what they like. That's what I've done for years!!!

Rich you were just a forward thinker and ahead of your time.... Now there are more of us to carry the torch..

like you tho, I try to diversify the forum with thoughts of other speaker then just Paradigm, Polk, Klipsch and B&W

In the digm thread, I was shot at by Ryan Peddle for recommending other speakers Like totem, focal, and Dynaudio.... I think if you are about to drop $1300 on a pair of towers, there are a lot of speaker you need to hear at first.....

its harder with the ones that are trying to spend $500 on speakers... you have only so much you can suggest...

however I find it hard to believe that people will spend $2500 on a TV and $500 on a BDP, and then only want to spend $1000 on a receiver and a set of 5.1 speakers? I would rather spend $1400 on a TV, $300 on a BDP and then $4000 on speaker and a receiver. JMO

Glad you visited the Energy Thread.... we talk more then just Energy here... as you can tell.

[callas01]

Originally Posted by prerich

Sorry for the temporary hijack, This is the Energy thread - I'm also glad to see Energy get its proper due too!!! When I first arrived it was either Polk (on the entry level) or B&W on the high-end. We're starting to diversify now

oh and, we hijack our own thread all the time.... Justin, Oliver and I talk everything... not just Energy... you welcome to hijack it whenever the mood strikes you... your knowledge is always appreciated.

besides you should know by now.... i hijack every thread I walk into ...