The Official Energy Speakers Thread

[callas01]

Originally Posted by browndk26

So what receiver alone(no amp) would be powerful enough to drive Energy speakers like mine?

I think if you were to look at say a Marantz 5005, Denon 2310, Onkyo 707, Pioneer Elite, Anthem, NAD, Cambridge Audio, Sherwood Newcastle, those receivers should have good enough amps to drive your speakers and be affordable. They are all able to power 6 ohm speakers and above, with a couple able to push 4 ohm speakers.

of course they all start at $750 and up.

[callas01]

Originally Posted by rwojtalewicz

Yes, and that could also be due to the HF emphasis bias EQ found on CDs not being correctly de-emphasized by a CD player.

I have C-300s driven an Adcom GFA 545 II connected to the pre-outs of my Yamaha V663. I often listen to movies and music at around -15 db below reference level which is quite loud and sometimes down to -10 db. I have not heard any distortion, crackling, excessively bright highs, nor other unnatural, nasty highs coming from the tweeters. I don't know about the C-500s but the C-300s need some EQ boost at 2.5 KHz which is also the crossover freq. and the same goes for the C-C100 as well (driven by a monoblock amp with 150 W clean power into 8 ohms or 250 W into 4 ohms). A modest +3 to +4 db EQ at 2.5 kHz works wonders, dramatically improving dialogue clarity and presence in the center channel. But such EQ like that is useless and can't be applied if the V663 is driving the center channel. An external power amp is needed before the center channel (C-C100) is really working at its best.

I have found Yamaha AVRs used as pre/pros with Adcom power amps to be an excellent and satisfying combination with the Energy C-series. I have yet to hear any distortion with them. However, when driven by the V663 alone, I couldn't crank it up more than -25 db much less -20 db below reference level. The V663 begins to sound rather dirty, with a collapsed soundstage and loss of detail in the L C R channels especially. Adding external power amps was the best thing I ever did to improve the sound. The C-series speakers are not by any means efficient speakers.

Originally Posted by rwojtalewicz

Read about it here. That's 47 wpc at 0.09% distortion all 7 channels driven. With 5 channels driven it was 60 wpc at 0.1% distortion which would be ok for most folks having efficient speakers in a 5.1 system, like Klipsch. I wouldn't recommend the V663 driving a 7.1 setup nor even 5.1 system made up of Energy C-series like the C-500/300s and a C-C100 center making up the L C R section.

Use a V663 as a pre/pro with external power amps, then you're in Nirvana.

yeah, I have read that review, and to my point, the 663 may be just running outta headroom for driving a system like the Energy C-300/500.

[BigAl87]

WOW that High current setup with HK is quite impressive then cause it's alot more dynamic than the yammy 663 does not seem to be running out of juice but I want a little more

I will amplifed when I upgrade the speakers since the Totems can take a crap load of power and they are even less efficient, I'm looking at the Anthem PVA 5 or MCA 30.

[BigAl87]

Originally Posted by browndk26

So what receiver alone(no amp) would be powerful enough to drive Energy speakers like mine?

Lets not forget HK3600 could work the high current design nice
Now I dunno about their HDMI on this new receiver but amplifcation and power supply are of good quality.

[BigAl87]

Originally Posted by callas01

I think if you were to look at say a Marantz 5005, Denon 2310, Onkyo 707, Pioneer Elite, Anthem, NAD, Cambridge Audio, Sherwood Newcastle, those receivers should have good enough amps to drive your speakers and be affordable. They are all able to power 6 ohm speakers and above, with a couple able to push 4 ohm speakers.

of course they all start at $750 and up.

The HK 3600 will blow the Onkyo 707 out of the water in dynamics IMHO. But that me others like their sound.

[callas01]

Originally Posted by BigAl87

The HK 3600 will blow the Onkyo 707 out of the water in dynamics IMHO. But that me others like their sound.

I wasn't saying I like the Onkyo.... just that it could do what he was asking. Sorry, I always for get HK....

[BigAl87]

Originally Posted by callas01

I wasn't saying I like the Onkyo.... just that it could do what he was asking. Sorry, I always for get HK....

I know you don't like em just giving my 2 cents

BTW have you seen my new additions of receivers in the Home Theater section?

[patwrightjr]

Originally Posted by callas01

hey pat, your semi local.... thats pretty cool. We should get together some time.... Are you married? Wife and I like to meet new peeps.....

OH, when you go to upgrade your sub, go to Anaheim, Hsu subs, they are excellent Subs....

Glad your hooked.

hey, yes we are semi close...I am married and have an 11month old girl, we may have to hook up one day and have a beer. And yes HSU, ive been there and demoed their speakers, i was very impressed with those horn powered bookshelves, they performed fantastic in 2channel mode and almost got a set but chickened out cause their not very well know when it comes to speakers. The one sub i did hear was very impressive thought and have read some great things about them.

[patwrightjr]

Originally Posted by callas01

Did you have an all BIC setup before?

BIC has horns do they not? How do you like the horns vs the more laidback sound of the Energys?

The new line of BIC has the horns, and i originally wanted to get a set since my 10 year old set of BIC are so good but theres not a lot of reviews out there for them. I replaced my two main BIC's with a set of RC-10's and there isnt a lot of difference, ive done lots of testing and i have to tell you that these BIC's sound great and can hold there own to these energys, but the rc's do sound more refined. My BIC's are large bookshelf with a 6.5" woofers, i was using two up front, two out back and a massive center channel that has two matching 6.5's and i have more respect for them now than ever.

[patwrightjr]

oh and one question, im planning on running rc's all the way around as money dictates but do you think some c100's would mix in well as side surrounds?? they are around for pretty cheap and am thinking about moving from a 5.1 to a 7.1 with some c-100's and they are still energys.

[callas01]

Originally Posted by BigAl87

I know you don't like em just giving my 2 cents

BTW have you seen my new additions of receivers in the Home Theater section?

No I haven't I will go check in a few minutes.....

[BigAl87]

Originally Posted by patwrightjr

oh and one question, im planning on running rc's all the way around as money dictates but do you think some c100's would mix in well as side surrounds?? they are around for pretty cheap and am thinking about moving from a 5.1 to a 7.1 with some c-100's and they are still energys.

Awesome surround speaker seriously sure the RC-10 are better but hell yeah they are very good and would blend in pretty well with the RC.

[callas01]

Originally Posted by patwrightjr

hey, yes we are semi close...I am married and have an 11month old girl, we may have to hook up one day and have a beer. And yes HSU, ive been there and demoed their speakers, i was very impressed with those horn powered bookshelves, they performed fantastic in 2channel mode and almost got a set but chickened out cause their not very well know when it comes to speakers. The one sub i did hear was very impressive thought and have read some great things about them.

oh right on.... I have a 6 and a 3 yr old(both girls) and a boy that should be here in about 3 weeks.
I have never heard the Hsu speakers, but the subs I have heard were excellent. I really stuggled buying the eD over the Hsu... sometimes I regret it, but then I play a movie.... and they are really close to each other....

Originally Posted by patwrightjr

The new line of BIC has the horns, and i originally wanted to get a set since my 10 year old set of BIC are so good but theres not a lot of reviews out there for them. I replaced my two main BIC's with a set of RC-10's and there isnt a lot of difference, ive done lots of testing and i have to tell you that these BIC's sound great and can hold there own to these energys, but the rc's do sound more refined. My BIC's are large bookshelf with a 6.5" woofers, i was using two up front, two out back and a massive center channel that has two matching 6.5's and i have more respect for them now than ever.

I have never heard BICs, but I don't like the projection of horns and that sound they have, that is why Hsu and BIC and Klipsch have never been considerations for me. Interesting that they have changed their design at some point.

Originally Posted by patwrightjr

oh and one question, im planning on running rc's all the way around as money dictates but do you think some c100's would mix in well as side surrounds?? they are around for pretty cheap and am thinking about moving from a 5.1 to a 7.1 with some c-100's and they are still energys.

you would be fine getting the C-100s if that is what you want to do. If you're doing multi-channel music, you may want to stay with the RCs all the way around, but if your talking about mostly movies, then get the C-100s and save some money.

[BigAl87]

Originally Posted by callas01

you would be fine getting the C-100s if that is what you want to do. If you're doing multi-channel music, you may want to stay with the RCs all the way around, but if your talking about mostly movies, then get the C-100s and save some money.

I have to agree with this tho multichannel music stick with RC-10.

[Adam.C]

Thread moves fast . Confirmed with the wife. Should be ordering an XPA-3 by the end of the month

[Yeha-Noha]

You made a fine choice Adam. The Emo XPA-3 would definitely be my choice in multichannel amps separates as well if I didn't have an Adcom power amp and monoblock amp for my L C R speakers.

[Adam.C]

Originally Posted by rwojtalewicz

You made a fine choice Adam. The Emo XPA-3 would definitely be my choice in multichannel amps separates as well if I didn't have an Adcom power amp and monoblock amp for my L C R speakers.

of course id love to get 3 upa-1s, but im sure I will be fine

cant wait

[donaldsonjune]

hello all,

1st my wife loved how the rc-30s look. then we sat and listened to her favorite jazz song "D-VORA" by peices of a dream. you guys were right,
the rc-30s or am i excited because they are new????

[BigAl87]

Originally Posted by donaldsonjune

hello all,

1st my wife loved how the rc-30s look. then we sat and listened to her favorite jazz song "D-VORA" by peices of a dream. you guys were right,
the rc-30s or am i excited because they are new????

lol hehe they do they just can play anything you throw at them but they sound awesome with jazz.

Extremely natural sounding speaker and very smooth.

[Adam.C]

Originally Posted by donaldsonjune

hello all,

1st my wife loved how the rc-30s look. then we sat and listened to her favorite jazz song "D-VORA" by peices of a dream. you guys were right,
the rc-30s or am i excited because they are new????

Im jealous

Enjoy them man. You plan on adding a RC-LCR in the future?