The Official Energy Speakers Thread

[callas01]

Originally Posted by statikcat

Man that's a good price. RC30 for 225$ or RC50 350$ w free ship from Amazon is an amazing deal. I might have to skip Best Buy and order online. Would you consider even the RC30 better than the CF70?

I am really tempted to just order the RC50 on Amazon and grab the mini rc center until I can afford the better one. This will total 975. This is cheaper than the CF70s + CC10 from Best Buy and much better speakers it seems. I loose the financing but I can swing it either way. Wow I am kinda getting excited. This is a great deal. Gonna sleep on it .. but will probably pull the trigger tomorrow!

Staticat....

the RC series would be up there competing with the Paradigm Studios. They are less expensive, but they are in the same realm of speaker. I would get the RC-50s if I were you. $630-700 is a fantastic price.

I think you should hear the Paradigms, but keep in mind the RCs will be even more coherent and detailed then what you heard with the CFs.

[Jwilly019]

Originally Posted by BigAl87

Well Comparaison between the 2 Hmmm, they just go deeper and reproduce the mids and Bass with even better accuracy due to the bigger drivers all in all very close but they will fill a bigger room of course.

It's a typical RC sound sort of like compairing the RC-30 and the RC-10, the RC-50 just bring everything a step ahead but obviously nothing mind blowing compare to the smaller RC-30.

At this price point you just can't go wrong but I get ya what if you want the other step up what a dilemma that will be for ya.

I guess I'm more concerned with the highs and mids since I have a sub that I don't mind using in a 2-channel application.

When I heard the 30s Saturday, I thought they were a large improvement over the 10s. However, I was in a different room with different components, so the comparison isn't completely valid.

I suppose the odds of me getting a chance to listen to the 70s are slim, so I'd never know what I was missing. Then again, Vanns still has 70s in stock that they might discount down the road.

Justin

[BigAl87]

Originally Posted by statikcat

I wonder why the RC50 is only 2 way while the CF70 is 3 way with 1 extra speaker. I guess that is just a testament to the quality of components in the RC series.

So if I buy the RC50s tomorrow should I get the RC Mini center over the CC10? I know the CC10 is in the CF series but it might be a little better center in general? I am kind of picky about center channels and I have not heard either of these. I am big on dialog quality. That's one thing I really love about my Infinity set. The towers could use some extra bass and mid range clarity but the center channel delivers excellent (3 way w 5 speakers). So I can't help being a little cautious going to a center that is 2 way and 3 speakers. I guess like what I said above... quality of components I'm sure make up for this.

FYI RC-50 is a 2.5 way design using to exct same driver with different X-over to produce bass and mids.

While the CF-70 has 2 x 6.5 Bass Drivers using the same X-over and a mid bass using higher X-over point.

Now as for their X-over complexity I don't know exactly what Energy is using.

I f you pull the trigger on either the RC-30 or the RC-50 I strongly recommend waiting for a price drop on the LCR (also 3 way 5 Drivers) as it will be the best match for the RC-50.

[callas01]

Originally Posted by statikcat

I wonder why the RC50 is only 2 way while the CF70 is 3 way with 1 extra speaker. I guess that is just a testament to the quality of components in the RC series.

So if I buy the RC50s tomorrow should I get the RC Mini center over the CC10? I know the CC10 is in the CF series but it might be a little better center in general? I am kind of picky about center channels and I have only heard the CC10. I am big on dialog quality. That's one thing I really love about my Infinity set. The towers could use some extra bass and mid range clarity but the center channel delivers excellent (3 way w 5 speakers). So I can't help being a little cautious going to a center that is 2 way and 3 speakers. I guess like what I said above... quality of components I'm sure make up for this.

what I would suggest is that you get the RC-50s and then wait a month or 2 and then get the RC-LCR.

Its very probable that Energy will be anouncing a new speaker line within 2-4 weeks, most of all their recent anouncements have been made in August near the begining of the month.

[BigAl87]

On this note Have a good night Gents as it is 1:00 am on the east coast.

I work this morning

[statikcat]

Originally Posted by callas01

what I would suggest is that you get the RC-50s and then wait a month or 2 and then get the RC-LCR.

Its very probable that Energy will be anouncing a new speaker line within 2-4 weeks, most of all their recent anouncements have been made in August near the begining of the month.

As in keep my Infinity center until I can get a good deal on the RC LCR? I would probably rather buy a cheaper energy center and sell/upgrade it later. Might end up loosing a bit on it but I think having the full Energy front experience for a few months is worth it . I am as impatient as they come

[Jwilly019]

Originally Posted by BigAl87

On this note Have a good night Gents as it is 1:00 am on the east coast.

I work this morning

Night Oliver. I'm sure we'll chat tomorrow.

Justin

[BigAl87]

Originally Posted by statikcat

As in keep my Infinity center until I can get a good deal on the RC LCR? I would probably rather buy a cheaper energy center and sell/upgrade it later. Might end up loosing a bit on it but I think having the full Energy front experience for a few months is worth it . I am as impatient as they come

Then CC-10 it is for the time beeing. The bigger drivers and low end will be a better match to the RC-50 the mini just does not go low enough, ironically with the C-series the C-C50 was holding it's own better with the C-series towers as it went deeper (lower) than the RC-Mini center does with the RC towers.

Now i'm gone

[Jwilly019]

Originally Posted by statikcat

As in keep my Infinity center until I can get a good deal on the RC LCR? I would probably rather buy a cheaper energy center and sell/upgrade it later. Might end up loosing a bit on it but I think having the full Energy front experience for a few months is worth it . I am as impatient as they come

You could purchase the mains first and see how well the Infinity center integrates. Maybe you'll be able to live with it for a few weeks.

Then again, I've found the RC series to image incredibly well, so you might be able to get away with running a phantom center.

Justin

[statikcat]

Ok I am going to Amazon the RC50s tomorrow and I will just grab the CC10 from Best Buy since I can easily return it if needed. Good thing I have Amazon Prime.. I can overnight the speakers for 4$ each Now I have to decide what to demo these with!

[callas01]

Originally Posted by patwrightjr

check this out guys, I almost feel stupid for revealing this but here we go anyhow....since ive been in the habbit of listening to music (often i'll watch "soundstage" on cable where this is some great live performances) so in the process of breaking in my RC's music plays constantly. Ive noticed the sound has really gotten good and dialed in with the punchyness of the woofers i was worried the bass would never "come around". So since i have an 11 month old girl who is a terror around my place so I have never romoved my grills from my speakers while they play..Well I have a new word for these "grills", well lets just call them "muzzles" because man thats exactly what they were doing...acting like a baffle. So guess what, I removed those muzzles only to reveal those hidden "highs!" Dam and what do you know, the highs where their all along and they sound great, it was like someone removed a piece of tape from the tweeter, man i feel stupid...but ive got to tell you all, these grills do a diservice to these speakers. So i raised the teleskoping stands a bit so my daughter cant touch the woofers and am running them muzzle-free. Any of you guys experience such a thing??

grills can run interference of he upper frequencies, hat is why lot of reviewers take the grill off so there is better sound.

[callas01]

Originally Posted by statikcat

As in keep my Infinity center until I can get a good deal on the RC LCR? I would probably rather buy a cheaper energy center and sell/upgrade it later. Might end up loosing a bit on it but I think having the full Energy front experience for a few months is worth it . I am as impatient as they come

or just run phantom..... meaning no center channel for a while.

[Jwilly019]

Originally Posted by Jwilly019

Then again, I've found the RC series to image incredibly well, so you might be able to get away with running a phantom center.

Originally Posted by callas01

or just run phantom..... meaning no center channel for a while.

Copycat.

Justin

[BigAl87]

Originally Posted by Jwilly019

Copycat.

Justin

Must be the dialup connection thats to slow that's why he's late at seeing new posts

[callas01]

Originally Posted by statikcat

I wonder why the RC50 is only 2 way while the CF70 is 3 way with 1 extra speaker. I guess that is just a testament to the quality of components in the RC series.

So if I buy the RC50s tomorrow should I get the RC Mini center over the CC10? I know the CC10 is in the CF series but it might be a little better center in general? I am kind of picky about center channels and I have only heard the CC10. I am big on dialog quality. That's one thing I really love about my Infinity set. The towers could use some extra bass and mid range clarity but the center channel delivers excellent (3 way w 5 speakers). So I can't help being a little cautious going to a center that is 2 way and 3 speakers. I guess like what I said above... quality of components I'm sure make up for this.

Crossover Point 1.0kHz and 2.4kHz
Operating Range Tweeter: 1.5kHz and >, Woofer 1: ~ to 800Hz, Woofer 2:~ to 3kHz

This is the crossover and operating range of the speakers, it is actually a tapered 3-way design. Tapered because that is how Energy gets their linear design, the bottom woofer actually comes up into the mid-bass frequencies to about 800 hz before it rolls off. Then the top woofer plays from the 33 hz up to the 3k hz mark, and the tweeter plays above 1500 hz-23000 hz. The tweeters are responsible for a lot of the mid-range, so the complexity of the tweeters crossover is (as in all speakers) very important.

Also note there is a lot of overlay in the drivers, that allows for it to have better transients in rolling off from one driver to another, that adds to the smooth nature of the sound.

Here is the RC70
Crossover Point 600Hz, 2.4kHz
Operating Range Tweeter: 1.5kHz and >, Midrange: 500Hz-3kHz, Woofers 1 and 2:~ to 800Hz

note the 3-way tapered design, the tweeter and mid-range crossover at 2.4k hz, but there is a good amount of overlay between 1.5k and 3k hz, then the mid-range driver and the 2 woofers crossover at 600 hz, but the overlay is between 500-800 hz, and the woofers handle between 31hz to 800hz, I would bet there is a good amount of bass.

take the CF-70
Crossover Point 2kHz, 650Hz

it too is a 3-way design, we don't get the opperating ranges of the speakers, but I will bet they have a similar look to them as the RC-70 does.

[BigAl87]

Steve did you have apeak at the beautiful Cambridge Azur 650R yet assuming that your at work at 7:30 in the morning

Great response to explain the complexity of the Energy X-over you just answered my own question.

[callas01]

Originally Posted by Jwilly019

I guess I'm more concerned with the highs and mids since I have a sub that I don't mind using in a 2-channel application.

When I heard the 30s Saturday, I thought they were a large improvement over the 10s. However, I was in a different room with different components, so the comparison isn't completely valid.

I suppose the odds of me getting a chance to listen to the 70s are slim, so I'd never know what I was missing. Then again, Vanns still has 70s in stock that they might discount down the road.

Justin

Justin, again if we look at the design of the RC-30 and RC-50, they have the same tapered 3-way design as each other with the same crossovers points. However the operating range of the drivers will be different.

RC-30
Crossover Point 1.0kHz and 2.4kHz
Operating Range Tweeter: 1.5kHz and >, Woofer 1: ~ to 1kHz, Woofer 2:~ to 3kHz

RC-50
Crossover Point 1.0kHz and 2.4kHz
Operating Range Tweeter: 1.5kHz and >, Woofer 1: ~ to 800Hz, Woofer 2:~ to 3kHz


The two speakers are nearly identical, except for the size of the drivers and the bottom woofer on the RC-50 rolls off lower in the mid-range/Mid-bass region. Therefore, you will be a bit more kick to the bass side of the speaker. It will have more punch, both because of the drivers size and the different roll off points.

hope that helps.

[callas01]

Originally Posted by BigAl87

Steve did you have apeak at the beautiful Cambridge Azur 650R yet assuming that your at work at 7:30 in the morning

Great response to explain the complexity of the Energy X-over you just answered my own question.

yes, I did look at that... hmmm, I would really want to hear that one first... maybe I can email stereophile and HT mag to get opinions on anthem v cambridge.....

[callas01]

Originally Posted by statikcat

I wonder why the RC50 is only 2 way while the CF70 is 3 way with 1 extra speaker. I guess that is just a testament to the quality of components in the RC series.

So if I buy the RC50s tomorrow should I get the RC Mini center over the CC10? I know the CC10 is in the CF series but it might be a little better center in general? I am kind of picky about center channels and I have only heard the CC10. I am big on dialog quality. That's one thing I really love about my Infinity set. The towers could use some extra bass and mid range clarity but the center channel delivers excellent (3 way w 5 speakers). So I can't help being a little cautious going to a center that is 2 way and 3 speakers. I guess like what I said above... quality of components I'm sure make up for this.

I want to clear something up here.... I wouldn't worry about the 2-way vs 3-way v 2.5 way designs.

Many people like the 2-way design better. Why? Because there are less crossover slopes that get in the way, this helps because there is less transition from one driver to the next which if not done to precision you will hear it, subtle, but still noticeable to a keen ear.

I think some people get to overly concerned about how many drivers and how many crossovers there are.

One of the best speakers i have heard is a 1 tweeter/2 driver design, built in the D'appolio design of MTM, BUT its a Tower, Irronically it is a 2-way designed speaker. NO, its NOT a POLK Monitor....

[Show spoiler]http://www.amphion.fi/prio620.html

simple, yet extremely detailed and had the fun factor so many people desire, yet still able to produce very good bass and detail throughout the full range.

for people to say that a great speaker has to have 3-5 drivers is simply not true. I find my C-300s better then Polk Monitors, all of them, Paradigm Monitors, PSB Alphas, Klipsch WF and F(synergys), and I am sure there are still others. I have a single 6.5" driver that performs IMO better then these multi-driver speakers.

I have heard the Totem Sttafs that have a 2-way single driver design out perform B&W, MA, Paradigms, PSB, Kefs, Dali, Energy, etc etc.

[BigAl87]

Originally Posted by callas01

yes, I did look at that... hmmm, I would really want to hear that one first... maybe I can email stereophile and HT mag to get opinions on anthem v cambridge.....

It must be british sounding.