The Official Energy Speakers Thread

[arrt vandelay]

Originally Posted by Miker107

Arrt and Callas, thank you both for your input. I was all set on the RC-10 when I ran across the post started by Capt at post #846 here: https://forum.blu-ray.com/speakers/9...thread-43.html

This started the discussion on the comparison between the RC-10 and CB-20, and it seemed that the CB-20 came out on top for HT use. However, I may be nit picking here anyway. I'm sure I can't go wrong with either.

Arrt, what makes this so difficult for me is that they are both priced the same at nearly 350 at vanns, so I'm currently torn between the 2.

i understand your dilemma. there's no doubt that the rc-10 is the better speaker. my gripe comes in though at the cost you're going to have to pay for the rc-lcr. i personally think you'd get more for your $$$ by going with the cb20s and cc10.

now if you are set on the rc-10s(i hated selling mine), then i really would consider buying two pairs and using the one of the rc-10s from the 2nd pair as a center. you could probably make up around half the cost of the 2nd pair by selling your spare speaker on ebay as well. then for surrounds, i'd look at some rc-minis or cb10s/cb5s(is this the newer c-100/c-50?).

[Miker107]

Originally Posted by arrt vandelay

i've owned the rc-10s and used them as fronts for a few days, and i didn't think i was really losing anything other than a little xtra volume over my c-500 towers. there was no doubt that the rc-10 was a nicer speaker than my c-series towers, but in your case i would recommend getting the cb-20s just for the affordability/availability of the matching center, the cc-10. the rc-lcr is grossly overpriced at retail now, and who knows when it will come down. if your main focus is just ht, i think the added performance of the rc-10 vs the cb20 is overrated based on the cost of both in my opinion.

if you really want the rc-10s, then you could order 2 pairs and use identical speakers across the front. this is a great option, but sometimes placement could be an issue.

now if you lived in western nc, i could cut you a nice deal on some energy towers and impossible to find center channel, but with that aside, i think a system based off of the cb20s would be great for you...

EDIT:hopefully, i'm not contradicting myself here as i may have recommened the rc-10s earlier in the thread...don't remember...anyway, either speaker would be great...

Arrt, I have my HT set up in a spare bedroom at home, which is kind of small around 12 x 15 maybe, not sure. So I'm going with a bookshelf type due to space limitations. When I got my 47" TV around Christmas, my wife didn't want it in the living room, so I set it up in the spare bedroom. It's best anyway because she doesn't enjoy watching movies like I do.

Oh, and Callas already warned me about the price of the LCR center, but I figured I would just use my present Infinity center until the price came down later.

[BigAl87]

Miker I undersatnd it's really hard to pull the trigger when you do a blind buy and all of us agree that the best way to choose a speaker is to go out there and audition.

Unfortunately you don't have that chance but as we all mentioned Callas Arrt and I the rc is a better speaker overall but the CB was design with HT in mind.

I don't want to make the choice more difficult than it already is but you will be happy with either one.

Now if your plan was to wait to get the LCR when it drops in price then I would do so and get the rc-10 or go by Arrt's recomendation on getting a second pair and use one as center.

Even if your setup is mostly for HT and 20 % of the time is for music then you really will appreciate the refinement of the RC-10 vs the CB-20.

And as a heads up I really like the 60hz X-over vs recommended 80hz in this department the RC-10 will be better since it extends lower.


As Callas said CB-20 may seem more forward but does not mean the RC does not have a wide sound field cause it really does. Best book shelf speaker under 1000$ back in 2006 by soundstage is not nothing.

http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/energy_rc10.htm

I did audition all of them from CB-20, C-200, RC-10 and the RC-10 comes on top in overall performance.

Very versatile great sounding speakers for music in 2.0 is usually great for HT too and it's the case of the rc-10.

[Miker107]

Originally Posted by BigAl87

Miker I undersatnd it's really hard to pull the trigger when you do a blind buy and all of us agree that the best way to choose a speaker is to go out there and audition.

Unfortunately you don't have that chance but as we all mentioned Callas Arrt and I the rc is a better speaker overall but the CB was design with HT in mind.

I don't want to make the choice more difficult than it already is but you will be happy with either one.

Now if your plan was to wait to get the LCR when it drops in price then I would do so and get the rc-10 or go by Arrt's recomendation on getting a second pair and use one as center.

Even if your setup is mostly for HT and 20 % of the time is for music then you really will appreciate the refinement of the RC-10 vs the CB-20.

And as a heads up I really like the 60hz X-over vs recommended 80hz in this department the RC-10 will be better since it extends lower.


As Callas said CB-20 may seem more forward but does not mean the RC does not have a wide sound field cause it really does. Best book shelf speaker under 1000$ back in 2006 by soundstage is not nothing.

http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/energy_rc10.htm

I did audition all of them from CB-20, C-200, RC-10 and the RC-10 comes on top in overall performance.

Very versatile great sounding speakers for music in 2.0 is usually great for HT too and it's the case of the rc-10.

Thank you BigAl for chiming in here. I'm probably thinking too much about that one guys review on that separate forum. His comments and experience led me to believe that the CB-20 was for superior due to it's slightly larger driver and wider soundstage and presence, but I'm sure the RC-10 will be an adequate performer for HT as well.
As for as the center channel, I realize my current Infinity Sterling center will not quite match up to these, but they do not exactly match my current Yamaha L/R fronts either, so that doesn't overly concern me. I could wait until the LCR come down, or worse case by another pair or RC-10's as Arrt suggested.

By the way, I see you guys talk a lot about that 60hz or 80hz crossover issue. You guys kind of lost me there. Is that something you guys have control over on your receiver, because I don't have that capability. I'm running and older Onkyo TX-SV727. Or is that a control on the speaker itself.
My Yamaha sub has a crossover control like that, but I'm not able to do that with my receiver.

[callas01]

Originally Posted by Miker107

Thank you BigAl for chiming in here. I'm probably thinking too much about that one guys review on that separate forum. His comments and experience led me to believe that the CB-20 was for superior due to it's slightly larger driver and wider soundstage and presence, but I'm sure the RC-10 will be an adequate performer for HT as well.
As for as the center channel, I realize my current Infinity Sterling center will not quite match up to these, but they do not exactly match my current Yamaha L/R fronts either, so that doesn't overly concern me. I could wait until the LCR come down, or worse case by another pair or RC-10's as Arrt suggested.

By the way, I see you guys talk a lot about that 60hz or 80hz crossover issue. You guys kind of lost me there. Is that something you guys have control over on your receiver, because I don't have that capability. I'm running and older Onkyo TX-SV727. Or is that a control on the speaker itself.
My Yamaha sub has a crossover control like that, but I'm not able to do that with my receiver.

Miker, one thing to know about Energy speakers is that they alway put out a very large soundstage. Its the way they are designed and they image sound so well that its impossible to tell even for me 2 yrs later if I have the center channel on or NOT! I still look at my receiver and go, oh! Also on saving private ryan, I heard a machine gun on the beach that sounded like it came from my bedroom and it actually came from my FR speaker.... Energys have a very big sound stage.... when I was at Best Buy listening to the new CF-70s the BB Rep was astounded at the way the sound moved around the stage, we were listening to Michael Buble, and the Rep kept saying, wow you hear the standup bass over there and the brass instruments over here and the drums come right behind his voice, I can hear each instrument, the sax, the trumpet, the trombone..... Im gonna sell a lot of these. I can't wait till I get through the Energy training.

My wife looked at me like, is he serious. When TDK was playing you could hear Two Faces Voice off to the far right and Rachels in the center, and I was only playin the R&L towers, no center channel or surrounds, again the BB Rep was in awe.

A big soundstage will be there whether you buy the RC-10s or the CB-20s. Either way you go you will be very pleased. And from that article, you see the guy is comparing Infinity towers and Paradigm bookshelfs speakers, and he is saying the CB20s are better at providing a big soundstage over both of the others

I want to say this. If you really want the CB-20s, if your heart is set on the CB20s, GET THEM! You will be very pleased. If you want to get the HIGHER-END speaker, get the RC-10s. BUT DO what your heart is telling you too. That way you won't say WHAT IF.

The only thing about the RC-10s is the center channel(RC-LCR), when will it go one sale but it will at some point, just be ready to buy.

OR get 2 sets of RC-10s now, then you will have the L&R and an RC-10 for a Center now, BUT KEEP the other RC-10, then once the LCR goes on sale get it.... now you can move the Spare RC-10 and the one you were using as a center channel to the rear, and you have an all RC setup....

ALSO, If your going to buy the CB20s I would call and see if you can get a discount. 15-20% is reasonable.

[BigAl87]

Agreed with callas on the imaging part it's amazing, I compared Paradigm Monitor to the Energy Conoisseur old and new model and it does not come close in imaging and staging to what Energy does for ya in this department specially staging where it everything seems to come from the same place wit the Monitors.

Honestly, even withe the RC-10 I will dare ya to try to put them 7 feet apart and you stay 6 feet away dead center and you'll swear that your center is playing.

Imagine they usually recommend almost double the distance to get best performance.

[BigAl87]

Originally Posted by Miker107

Thank you BigAl for chiming in here. I'm probably thinking too much about that one guys review on that separate forum. His comments and experience led me to believe that the CB-20 was for superior due to it's slightly larger driver and wider soundstage and presence, but I'm sure the RC-10 will be an adequate performer for HT as well.
As for as the center channel, I realize my current Infinity Sterling center will not quite match up to these, but they do not exactly match my current Yamaha L/R fronts either, so that doesn't overly concern me. I could wait until the LCR come down, or worse case by another pair or RC-10's as Arrt suggested.

By the way, I see you guys talk a lot about that 60hz or 80hz crossover issue. You guys kind of lost me there. Is that something you guys have control over on your receiver, because I don't have that capability. I'm running and older Onkyo TX-SV727. Or is that a control on the speaker itself.


My Yamaha sub has a crossover control like that, but I'm not able to do that with my receiver.

The X-over control is usually found on all the newer AVR to set your point of transition between the speakers and the sub, so if you have a control on your sub then you put the X-Over on the sub all the way up and let the receiver take care of the rest or if the sub has a bypass , you put it to bypass and let the receiver do the work.

I would think that your AVR has one preset that you cannot change but found the owner's manual on the Onkyo website and you are right nowhere to cange X-over. Specs on the unit are not too shaby.

You will find in alot of places in this forum that you have to set all your speakers to small regardless of size and use the prefered X-over .

[Miker107]

Originally Posted by BigAl87

The X-over control is usually found on all the newer AVR to set your point of transition between the speakers and the sub, so if you have a control on your sub then you put the X-Over on the sub all the way up and let the receiver take care of the rest or if the sub has a bypass , you put it to bypass and let the receiver do the work.

I would think that your AVR has one preset that you cannot change but found the owner's manual on the Onkyo website and you are right nowhere to cange X-over. Specs on the unit are not too shaby.

You will find in alot of places in this forum that you have to set all your speakers to small regardless of size and use the prefered X-over .

Yes, I've seen this topic in threads from time to time, and always wondered about it. I understand it, I just knew that my unit didn't have this ability. I think I paid around 800 for this thing about 12 to 15 years ago now. It works great, but I don't have the ability to tweak anything. With the exception of volume of center and rears separately of course. That I can adjust.

[Miker107]

Originally Posted by callas01

Miker, one thing to know about Energy speakers is that they alway put out a very large soundstage. Its the way they are designed and they image sound so well that its impossible to tell even for me 2 yrs later if I have the center channel on or NOT! I still look at my receiver and go, oh! Also on saving private ryan, I heard a machine gun on the beach that sounded like it came from my bedroom and it actually came from my FR speaker.... Energys have a very big sound stage.... when I was at Best Buy listening to the new CF-70s the BB Rep was astounded at the way the sound moved around the stage, we were listening to Michael Buble, and the Rep kept saying, wow you hear the standup bass over there and the brass instruments over here and the drums come right behind his voice, I can hear each instrument, the sax, the trumpet, the trombone..... Im gonna sell a lot of these. I can't wait till I get through the Energy training.

My wife looked at me like, is he serious. When TDK was playing you could hear Two Faces Voice off to the far right and Rachels in the center, and I was only playin the R&L towers, no center channel or surrounds, again the BB Rep was in awe.

A big soundstage will be there whether you buy the RC-10s or the CB-20s. Either way you go you will be very pleased. And from that article, you see the guy is comparing Infinity towers and Paradigm bookshelfs speakers, and he is saying the CB20s are better at providing a big soundstage over both of the others

I want to say this. If you really want the CB-20s, if your heart is set on the CB20s, GET THEM! You will be very pleased. If you want to get the HIGHER-END speaker, get the RC-10s. BUT DO what your heart is telling you too. That way you won't say WHAT IF.

The only thing about the RC-10s is the center channel(RC-LCR), when will it go one sale but it will at some point, just be ready to buy.

OR get 2 sets of RC-10s now, then you will have the L&R and an RC-10 for a Center now, BUT KEEP the other RC-10, then once the LCR goes on sale get it.... now you can move the Spare RC-10 and the one you were using as a center channel to the rear, and you have an all RC setup....

ALSO, If your going to buy the CB20s I would call and see if you can get a discount. 15-20% is reasonable.

First off, thank you guys for having so much patience with me while I trudge through all this information while trying to decide. Making a blind buy is grueling to say the least. I'm sure I will be pleased with either model. Buying 3 sets of RC-10's would be a dream, but unfortunately I would only be able to purchase one pair at a time. In fact, I will now have to wait a couple of weeks to see if I will have a job in the near future. Since offshore drilling has been halted in the Gulf of Mexico, the Company I work for is now contemplating layoffs. Deep water drilling is our bread and butter, and without it I have no work, so it remains to be seen. We are having a series of town hall meetings in the next two weeks to keep us informed. I will have to put off any large purchases until I know what the Company is planning.

Anyway, enough about that stuff, this thread is about speakers and not my personal issues. I do believe I am leaning back toward the RC-10's. It clearly looks like a better speaker, and any lack in bass will be handled by my sub anyway. I look forward to hearing these boys..hopefully soon.

The guy in the article said that in comparison between the CB-20 and RC-10 he noticed the RC-10's sound field narrowed by about 3 ft if I'm not mistaken. However as you guys have said, the soundstage is big on all these Energy's, and besides, my room is so small I will never know the difference.

[callas01]

Originally Posted by Miker107

First off, thank you guys for having so much patience with me while I trudge through all this information while trying to decide. Making a blind buy is grueling to say the least. I'm sure I will be pleased with either model. Buying 3 sets of RC-10's would be a dream, but unfortunately I would only be able to purchase one pair at a time. In fact, I will now have to wait a couple of weeks to see if I will have a job in the near future. Since offshore drilling has been halted in the Gulf of Mexico, the Company I work for is now contemplating layoffs. Deep water drilling is our bread and butter, and without it I have no work, so it remains to be seen. We are having a series of town hall meetings in the next two weeks to keep us informed. I will have to put off any large purchases until I know what the Company is planning.

Anyway, enough about that stuff, this thread is about speakers and not my personal issues. I do believe I am leaning back toward the RC-10's. It clearly looks like a better speaker, and any lack in bass will be handled by my sub anyway. I look forward to hearing these boys..hopefully soon.

The guy in the article said that in comparison between the CB-20 and RC-10 he noticed the RC-10's sound field narrowed by about 3 ft if I'm not mistaken. However as you guys have said, the soundstage is big on all these Energy's, and besides, my room is so small I will never know the difference.

Man sorry to hear about the work situation. Hopefully things will get better. Sometimes I think the Government doesn't want things to get better.

The best thing you can do is get the best speaker that meets your needs and desires. And the one your heart is seeking.... I always say go with your gut.

[Miker107]

Originally Posted by callas01

Man sorry to hear about the work situation. Hopefully things will get better. Sometimes I think the Government doesn't want things to get better.

The best thing you can do is get the best speaker that meets your needs and desires. And the one your heart is seeking.... I always say go with your gut.

Yea, this is a very poor decision that could devastate the economy on the Gulf coast. This will aggravate things and not make it better. Anyway, it's going to be alright.
My gut right now is telling me to go with the RC-10 and fill in the gaps later. I went this long with equipment that is clearly not exactly matching one another. After reading up on this forum I'm learning a lot about the importance of matching your speakers. I will eventually get there, but it will be a process for sure.

[callas01]

Originally Posted by Miker107

Yea, this is a very poor decision that could devastate the economy on the Gulf coast. This will aggravate things and not make it better. Anyway, it's going to be alright.
My gut right now is telling me to go with the RC-10 and fill in the gaps later. I went this long with equipment that is clearly not exactly matching one another. After reading up on this forum I'm learning a lot about the importance of matching your speakers. I will eventually get there, but it will be a process for sure.

Hey Miker,

Just about everyone on this forum will tell you it is better to take time and get and awesome setup, over buying a half-butt one all at once....

You should grab the RC-10s now, then be on the lookout for the RC-LCR to go on sale....

ALSO.... Look for the RC-30s to go on sale too, you could use the towers up front and have an awesome setup with the 10s in the rear. The RC-30s are smaller towers and would give you a great system to have for a long time.

In talking with the Energy CS people he wouldn't say that they are introducing a new RC lineup, but he did say that if something is gonna happen look for it around August to January.... so that should tell you if they are gonna introduce an updated lineup, that you could get some killer dealers on the current RC speakers.

Late last year and early this year they had the RCs on sale for the Rosenut and Cherry colors, there were RC-50s for $600/pr and $500/pr on the RC-30s, I think the RC-LCR was about $300-350.... so you could see those prices come back.

[Rebel6666]

Hi all,

My HT is now up and running (see my Gallery) my basement is completly done happy about it.

My C-series speakers are awesome it plays better IMO, and from what people are saying taht watched movies at my friends who has Paradigm speaker setup the only difference is that he as a bigger rrom than I. My room is 15x14 and his is 12 x 25

[Miker107]

Originally Posted by callas01

Hey Miker,

Just about everyone on this forum will tell you it is better to take time and get and awesome setup, over buying a half-butt one all at once....

You should grab the RC-10s now, then be on the lookout for the RC-LCR to go on sale....

ALSO.... Look for the RC-30s to go on sale too, you could use the towers up front and have an awesome setup with the 10s in the rear. The RC-30s are smaller towers and would give you a great system to have for a long time.

In talking with the Energy CS people he wouldn't say that they are introducing a new RC lineup, but he did say that if something is gonna happen look for it around August to January.... so that should tell you if they are gonna introduce an updated lineup, that you could get some killer dealers on the current RC speakers.

Late last year and early this year they had the RCs on sale for the Rosenut and Cherry colors, there were RC-50s for $600/pr and $500/pr on the RC-30s, I think the RC-LCR was about $300-350.... so you could see those prices come back.

Callas, you must have been reading my mind. For the past few days I've been thinking the same thing. I was thinking of 2 possible scenarios. One was to do like you say and purchase the center, then 2 towers and move my RC-10's to the rear, or the other thing I was going to ask you guys about was to get the center, then purchase like some RC Minis for rears. The towers would obviously make a much better package though.

[Miker107]

Originally Posted by Rebel6666

Hi all,

My HT is now up and running (see my Gallery) my basement is completly done happy about it.

My C-series speakers are awesome it plays better IMO, and from what people are saying taht watched movies at my friends who has Paradigm speaker setup the only difference is that he as a bigger rrom than I. My room is 15x14 and his is 12 x 25

Hey Rebel, I love that HT you got there. By the way, where is your front left speaker? Is it on the other side of the doorway or something?

[Rebel6666]

Originally Posted by Miker107

Hey Rebel, I love that HT you got there. By the way, where is your front left speaker? Is it on the other side of the doorway or something?

Yes it's right beside the doorway on the Left, I will get more, better pics next week.

[callas01]

Originally Posted by Rebel6666

Yes it's right beside the doorway on the Left, I will get more, better pics next week.

Rebel... you should pull speakers out from the wall about a foot, should smooth out the bass a little.

[Rebel6666]

Originally Posted by callas01

Rebel... you should pull speakers out from the wall about a foot, should smooth out the bass a little.

Which one the towers??

[BigAl87]

Originally Posted by Rebel6666

Which one the towers??

Yes Indeed and bring them a bit more together a foot from the wall as well since corner placement is not ideal.

[Rebel6666]

Originally Posted by BigAl87

Yes Indeed and bring them a bit more together a foot from the wall as well since corner placement is not ideal.

What difference does it do, Is it really better cause I like how the sound is now but wouldn't mice haveing it a bit better if possible