The Official Energy Speakers Thread

[callas01]

Originally Posted by Seekinganswers

My RC-50s should be arriving tomorrow and I am freaking excited. I am hosting a poker game this friday night and want to introduce my new speakers to my friends. My question is about break in. I want to leave the speakers on for a few days, but I have a roommate and I don't want him to think I am weird by having the speakers on when I am not home. I guess I could just tell him I need to break in these speakers.

The question is, would it still beneficial to have the speakers on at even low volumes for the break in process? I know the recommended hours is 100 for typical energy speakers from what i've learned and read on this forum. How does the sound improve after say 10-20 hours?

I would suggest that you get this CD put it on a loop system at a moderate volume, nothing too loud, but not super quiet also. It has dynamic range from top to bottom, a good 50 hrs with this will put it through its paces, and open up your speakers nicely for your friends.

What I would do is just tell your friend/roommate what you are doing, Im sure that he would understand that. When your not home, set it to a low TV volume, like you would watch at night with people sleeping. When you are home turn the volume up to where you would comfortably listen to music, maybe a little higher and you will have them broke in by Friday.

[Seekinganswers]

Good stuff. I don't think I'll be able to squeeze out 50 hours by friday cause I am not sure if i want to leave them on while I sleep. I will have them in my bedroom until friday.

I just hope I am in for a nice surprise tomorrow.

[callas01]

youre awake/away for roughly 16 hrs a day, do that for 2-3 days, that puts about 40+ hrs and by then they will sound really really good.

[Miker107]

Originally Posted by MaCruz

I guess Mike is out for lunch and dinner!

Good morning guys, sorry it took so long but I was doing other things like staining furniture and cooking supper and the like. Anyway, I posted one picture real quick, but don't like it very much so I'll try taking a few more and re-post better ones later.
After installing the stands I did notice a change in sound, to the point where I thought I might have the wiring reversed, but that wasn't the case, so I adjusted the speaker position a little and had to re-adjust bass and treble settings on the receiver again until I got them to sound somewhat like they did before. It seems that the low and mid range frequencies were the most affected by the change.
After all the adjustments they sound great, although slightly different than before.

[MaCruz]

Originally Posted by Miker107

Good morning guys, sorry it took so long but I was doing other things like staining furniture and cooking supper and the like. Anyway, I posted one picture real quick, but don't like it very much so I'll try taking a few more and re-post better ones later.
After installing the stands I did notice a change in sound, to the point where I thought I might have the wiring reversed, but that wasn't the case, so I adjusted the speaker position a little and had to re-adjust bass and treble settings on the receiver again until I got them to sound somewhat like they did before. It seems that the low and mid range frequencies were the most affected by the change.
After all the adjustments they sound great, although slightly different than before.

Holy Cow! Those stands look very nice! What's the highest it can go?

[Miker107]

Originally Posted by MaCruz

Holy Cow! Those stands look very nice! What's the highest it can go?

Hey Mike, I got the 29" stands which place the tweeters right at ear level. I thought they were going to be too tall but I was wrong. I'm glad I didn't get the 24" stands now. I'm very happy with them. They are pretty heavy without filler. I'm debating weather or not to fill them. I'm going to the store today to look for some quakehold or something similar as Steve suggested. They are just sitting "unsecured" to the stands now.

[callas01]

Originally Posted by Miker107

Good morning guys, sorry it took so long but I was doing other things like staining furniture and cooking supper and the like. Anyway, I posted one picture real quick, but don't like it very much so I'll try taking a few more and re-post better ones later.
After installing the stands I did notice a change in sound, to the point where I thought I might have the wiring reversed, but that wasn't the case, so I adjusted the speaker position a little and had to re-adjust bass and treble settings on the receiver again until I got them to sound somewhat like they did before. It seems that the low and mid range frequencies were the most affected by the change.
After all the adjustments they sound great, although slightly different than before.

filling them with sand will help to tighten up the bass and mid-bass, sitting directly on the stand like that youre probably getting some amount of resonance and the hollow legs are affecting the tone of the speakers. It should tighten up some once you get some sand in there or something.

[Miker107]

Originally Posted by callas01

filling them with sand will help to tighten up the bass and mid-bass, sitting directly on the stand like that youre probably getting some amount of resonance and the hollow legs are affecting the tone of the speakers. It should tighten up some once you get some sand in there or something.

Thanks Steve, I was thinking that might be the situation. At first I thought it was just the absence of those speakers they were sitting on. Thought I might be getting some reflection from those back walls or something. It does sound just a tad bit "hollow." for lack of a better word. I'm about to go out and do some shopping so I might try to find some sand or something to fill it with.

[BigAl87]

Mike love the new stands looks really classy.

[BigAl87]

Originally Posted by Miker107

Thanks Steve, I was thinking that might be the situation. At first I thought it was just the absence of those speakers they were sitting on. Thought I might be getting some reflection from those back walls or something. It does sound just a tad bit "hollow." for lack of a better word. I'm about to go out and do some shopping so I might try to find some sand or something to fill it with.

I would assume according to the picture your speakers are about 12 inches from the back wall, i suggest try pulling them another 6 inches and see if that helps, make sure the bottom of the speaker does not have more than 4 points of contact with the stands and once you mass loand those stands the sound should be quite impressive.

I know you will give yourself some time but I got this feeling the receiver is next

[callas01]

Originally Posted by BigAl87

Mike love the new stands looks really classy.

+1, the setup looks really nice now, I love it, its up there as one of my top 2-5 bookshelf setups.

[K-Fed2]

Originally Posted by BigAl87

Mike love the new stands looks really classy.

Defiantly ! looks great Miker!!

[Miker107]

Thanks everyone, yea they do look better without those phone books don't they?

I just got back from a trip to Lowes, and the day before I went to Home Depot. Not only could I not find Quakehold or the alternative blutack anywhere in these stores, no one knew what I was talking about when I asked for them. Guess I'll have to order online.
I also looked for something to fill my stands with. I came up empty there too. They had some bags of sand outside that were completely wet, so I didn't get any. I thought about cat litter, but I don't think that will be dense enough. I also read online some place about a guy that bought some steel bb's at walmart and filled his stands with that and said it worked well.

[Miker107]

Originally Posted by BigAl87

I would assume according to the picture your speakers are about 12 inches from the back wall, i suggest try pulling them another 6 inches and see if that helps, make sure the bottom of the speaker does not have more than 4 points of contact with the stands and once you mass loand those stands the sound should be quite impressive.

I know you will give yourself some time but I got this feeling the receiver is next

Hey Olivier, they are about 14 inches or so from the back wall so I think I'm ok there.

Until I start working a new receiver will be out of the question for a while. Maybe next year. I was thinking about a new sub, but think I may spring for a receiver since my old one still works fairly well.

[BigAl87]

Originally Posted by Miker107

Hey Olivier, they are about 14 inches or so from the back wall so I think I'm ok there.

Until I start working a new receiver will be out of the question for a while. Maybe next year. I was thinking about a new sub, but think I may spring for a receiver since my old one still works fairly well.

A new receiver I think will give you much improvement for your enrgy speakers over the sub indeed.

[Miker107]

Originally Posted by BigAl87

A new receiver I think will give you much improvement for your enrgy speakers over the sub indeed.

Yep, I was thinking the same thing. Since my sub is working why not improve the whole system with an up to date receiver.

BTW, I just checked the home depot site and they have what is called "Crystal Sand." and it's used primarily for pool filtration systems. It may be clean and dry so I may check that out next time I go out for something.

[BigAl87]

Originally Posted by Miker107

Yep, I was thinking the same thing. Since my sub is working why not improve the whole system with an up to date receiver.

BTW, I just checked the home depot site and they have what is called "Crystal Sand." and it's used primarily for pool filtration systems. It may be clean and dry so I may check that out next time I go out for something.

Clean dry and very fine too

[Miker107]

Originally Posted by BigAl87

Clean dry and very fine too

I wonder if I could use the bags the tubes were wrapped in to fill with sand, after my grand daughter pops the bubbles on them of course.

[BigAl87]

Originally Posted by Miker107

I wonder if I could use the bags the tubes were wrapped in to fill with sand, after my grand daughter pops the bubbles on them of course.

I used a standard garbage bag to tell you the truth, I just squeezed it in and filled it up.

[aces high]

Originally Posted by Miker107

Thanks everyone, yea they do look better without those phone books don't they?

I just got back from a trip to Lowes, and the day before I went to Home Depot. Not only could I not find Quakehold or the alternative blutack anywhere in these stores, no one knew what I was talking about when I asked for them. Guess I'll have to order online.
I also looked for something to fill my stands with. I came up empty there too. They had some bags of sand outside that were completely wet, so I didn't get any. I thought about cat litter, but I don't think that will be dense enough. I also read online some place about a guy that bought some steel bb's at walmart and filled his stands with that and said it worked well.

All you have to do is let the sand dry out for a few days. I used some of the wife's pantyhose and cut each leg off. Then stuff the pantyhose into each tube and roll the tops down the sides of the tubes, use a funnel of some sort and start to fill them with sand. When the sock is full, unravel it from the posts of the stands and make sure the sand is packed well in the tube, you'll probably have to add more. Repeat until the stands are full and well packed. Then tie the top into a knot and attach the top plate, it creates an easy way to remove it if you need to and the sand doesn't get everywhere.