The Official Energy Speakers Thread

[callas01]

Originally Posted by Blu Balls

I just remeasured my tv stand shelves and it looks like neither the xpa3 or upa2 will fit in my stand. I have 17.5 inches of depth and there's a metal thing in the middle-back for support that would not allow me to get the plug in without making either amp stick out the front a few inches. Anyways I was looking at the Outlaw M-Blocks and from the dimensions (11.5 deep) they will easily fit in my stand. The question is, How good are they? Does anybody have any input on these? I was thinking that I could get 2. One for each CF50 and let the receiver push the CC10. Should I go this route or wait for the XPA3 to go on sale and go buy a new tv stand?

Outlaw has a very good reputation, they have been around longer then Emotive, and most of their amps are made by ATI I believe, which is a very good amp company. I don't think you could go wrong with the Outlaw. BTW, they are one I have considered for my setup as well.

[Blu Balls]

It's a tuff call. I feel the XPA3 would be a better value but, I don't know what to do. Hmmmmm decisions, decisions

[callas01]

Originally Posted by Blu Balls

It's a tuff call. I feel the XPA3 would be a better value but, I don't know what to do. Hmmmmm decisions, decisions

buy the outlaw.... you'll love it.

[callas01]

Originally Posted by callas01

buy the outlaw.... you'll love it.

or go this route too.

Im between eventually getting either the Outlaw Mini-monos or this Parasound 2-ch amp
http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=PAC2125

OR I may just get an Integrated Amp, like the Niam Nait 5i with a HT bypass, and use the Naim as my 2-channel amp, then the Integra for HT.

[callas01]

Originally Posted by callas01

or go this route too.

Im between eventually getting either the Outlaw Mini-monos or this Parasound 2-ch amp
http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=PAC2125

OR I may just get an Integrated Amp, like the Niam Nait 5i with a HT bypass, and use the Naim as my 2-channel amp, then the Integra for HT.

or this one, its a bit more, but Aces High has had both Emo and Parasound, and I think he was saying to me the other day that the Parasound is the best amps hes owned so far, and I think this is is 3 amp in like 6 months...

http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=PAHA23

[aces high]

I think it's been about a year, four different amp configurations within that year though. The value choice is the Emo, with the type of gear the op is using the Emo is more in keeping with the rest of the gear. If you ever plan to upgrade you speakers and AVR/pre-pro then you may want to look a little higher up the chain than Emo and just buy the right amp the first time. If your interested in the Parasound New Classic series go with the v2, they are a variable gain which may come in handy. The v1's have a fixed gain only but can be had right now for some good prices, your going to pay a bit of a premium for buying the latest model.

[aces high]

Originally Posted by callas01

or go this route too.

Im between eventually getting either the Outlaw Mini-monos or this Parasound 2-ch amp
http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=PAC2125

OR I may just get an Integrated Amp, like the Niam Nait 5i with a HT bypass, and use the Naim as my 2-channel amp, then the Integra for HT.

What you should get is three A23 Halo's and bridge them for your front three, you would then essentially have three mono blocks then.

[Clippins]

OK I just hooked up my new CF-70s to my Onkyo HT-RC180. I understand that these Energy's need about a 100 hour break in period. What volume level should I keep it on during this period? I currently have CDs of Paramore and Muse playing through the speakers at a level of -36db. I haven't changed anything with the receiver, just let it default to All Channel Stereo. Music sounds decent enough, but I'd really like to drive them at sometime. Granted once I fill in the system with other speakers and the sub it'll be perfect. Should I keep these at about the level I have them at to break them in?

Also, will I need to run the same break-in on the center (CC10) and surrounds (CR-10s) once I get those?

[-DLS-]

Originally Posted by Plexihead

I've noticed a definite difference in the sound of the 6.3's in the close to 3 weeks I've had them. The level of toe in can make a difference and I find the speakers to be fairly revealing.

I thought them to be a little on the bright side on the upper mids/treble with the mid-bass lacking a bit for the first week or so but now they're much better balanced overall.

At first I was a little apprehensive, but now am really liking these speakers. The V-6.3's are keepers for me, they shine when playing some of the later MFSL SACD's (Doobies, Foghat, SRV).

Below is a pic to compare it to one of my RC-70's.

I agree about them being revealing speakers. Like th Paradigms it's easy to pick out bad recordings.

I've had these hooked up to an XPA-3 for a few days now and have moved them in a bit closer to the wall and back to 7th apart. They really throw a big soundstage that makes a lot of music feel live.

I'm having some issues today now and think the tweeters might have gone bad. I was playing Sabotage from Beastie Boys and I noticed an annoying static/distortion partway through the song. I thought I might have pushed it too hard even though to me it wasn't that loud. After checking with my SPL meter it was peaking at only 95db's and that's with both of my subs on. Now I can notice it on all tracks I played after but it's only on certain frequencies. These will be going back anyway but now I'm a litle worried about how loud I can push the SALK's that I have coming in. The Studio 100's can take alot more than what the 6.3'a were doing - I turned it up until it got uncomfortable for my ears but they probably could have handled much more.

How loud/hard have you pushed these? Have you had any similar issues?

[BigAl87]

Originally Posted by Clippins

OK I just hooked up my new CF-70s to my Onkyo HT-RC180. I understand that these Energy's need about a 100 hour break in period. What volume level should I keep it on during this period? I currently have CDs of Paramore and Muse playing through the speakers at a level of -36db. I haven't changed anything with the receiver, just let it default to All Channel Stereo. Music sounds decent enough, but I'd really like to drive them at sometime. Granted once I fill in the system with other speakers and the sub it'll be perfect. Should I keep these at about the level I have them at to break them in?

Also, will I need to run the same break-in on the center (CC10) and surrounds (CR-10s) once I get those?

You can raise the volume ot even -25db without problem it's not overkill even during break in just son't crank it too loud. Center and surrounds you could just watch 20 movies at -25 and you will be ok.

[callas01]

Originally Posted by Clippins

OK I just hooked up my new CF-70s to my Onkyo HT-RC180. I understand that these Energy's need about a 100 hour break in period. What volume level should I keep it on during this period? I currently have CDs of Paramore and Muse playing through the speakers at a level of -36db. I haven't changed anything with the receiver, just let it default to All Channel Stereo. Music sounds decent enough, but I'd really like to drive them at sometime. Granted once I fill in the system with other speakers and the sub it'll be perfect. Should I keep these at about the level I have them at to break them in?

Also, will I need to run the same break-in on the center (CC10) and surrounds (CR-10s) once I get those?

I would give them about 10-15 hrs of a lower listening volume, then turn it up and let it pump some current into those speakers,

[Clippins]

Originally Posted by BigAl87

You can raise the volume ot even -25db without problem it's not overkill even during break in just son't crank it too loud. Center and surrounds you could just watch 20 movies at -25 and you will be ok.

Cool deal. I raised it to -30. Figured it would give me a little more wiggle room if I wanted to make it louder. Just playing music through these since that's what the Energy manual recommended during the break in.

[Clippins]

Originally Posted by callas01

I would give them about 10-15 hrs of a lower listening volume, then turn it up and let it pump some current into those speakers,

Hopefully me turning it up to -30 from -36 wasn't too much too soon. So far seems decent enough. I'll just keep it at this level for the next 10- 15 hrs as you suggest before moving up to a max of -25 as BigAl suggested.

[callas01]

Originally Posted by Clippins

Cool deal. I raised it to -30. Figured it would give me a little more wiggle room if I wanted to make it louder. Just playing music through these since that's what the Energy manual recommended during the break in.

if you have or buy the Star Tracks CD, that is a good one to break in speakers, it has deep lows and because its orchestral music, it plays the full spectrum of sound.

[Clippins]

Originally Posted by callas01

if you have or buy the Star Tracks CD, that is a good one to break in speakers, it has deep lows and because its orchestral music, it plays the full spectrum of sound.

I may have to make a trip to FYE tomorrow to see if I can find that one. Currently just using a mix of Black Eyed Peas (The Beginning), Muse (The Resistance), and Paramore (Final Riot Live). Muse has a whole orchestral section spanning the last 3 songs and BEP uses a lot of different bass and beats so I figured those would be decent enough. I did end up scaling back the volume to -34. No real reason as to why, just figured I would. Can't wait to give these speakers a real workout. They haven't even broken a sweat.

[callas01]

Originally Posted by Clippins

I may have to make a trip to FYE tomorrow to see if I can find that one. Currently just using a mix of Black Eyed Peas (The Beginning), Muse (The Resistance), and Paramore (Final Riot Live). Muse has a whole orchestral section spanning the last 3 songs and BEP uses a lot of different bass and beats so I figured those would be decent enough. I did end up scaling back the volume to -34. No real reason as to why, just figured I would. Can't wait to give these speakers a real workout. They haven't even broken a sweat.

those are good, but when the Tympani drum hits on the March of them Empire track, it produces some serious slam from speakers. And our receivers are basically the same, yours pulls a little more juice, my probably has slightly upgraded parts. but they cost the same new.

[Clippins]

Should I try bi-amping during this break-in period or just leave it normal? I still haven't messed with any settings on the receiver. All I did was get everything connected, turned on the receiver, turned on the PS3 and started playing music. Should I mess with any of the receiver settings during break-in? I mean I'm just running a stereo config with no sub so what would be the point, right?

[callas01]

stereo is fine, run them set to large so they get fed as much frequecy as they can get.

[Plexihead]

Originally Posted by -DLS-

I agree about them being revealing speakers. Like th Paradigms it's easy to pick out bad recordings.

I've had these hooked up to an XPA-3 for a few days now and have moved them in a bit closer to the wall and back to 7th apart. They really throw a big soundstage that makes a lot of music feel live.

I'm having some issues today now and think the tweeters might have gone bad. I was playing Sabotage from Beastie Boys and I noticed an annoying static/distortion partway through the song. I thought I might have pushed it too hard even though to me it wasn't that loud. After checking with my SPL meter it was peaking at only 95db's and that's with both of my subs on. Now I can notice it on all tracks I played after but it's only on certain frequencies. These will be going back anyway but now I'm a litle worried about how loud I can push the SALK's that I have coming in. The Studio 100's can take alot more than what the 6.3'a were doing - I turned it up until it got uncomfortable for my ears but they probably could have handled much more.

How loud/hard have you pushed these? Have you had any similar issues?

Sorry to hear that, looks like you do have a problem with the tweeters. Mine are running fine so far, but I haven't really cranked 'em just yet. I just took a quick measurement at about the loudest volume I've been breaking them in at and it fluctuates around the 78db mark. Pure direct mode with no sub, just the two fronts and the meter roughly 10ft from the speakers situated in the middle pointing directly forward roughly 4ft off the floor. I'm using a Marantz combo to power the speakers (AV7005 pre/pro & MM7055 amp @ 140watt/channel).

That's disconcerting to hear the tweeters could be fried though, hopefully you just got unlucky but for both to go certainly raises concerns. Will be interesting to see what Energy says.

I should note I listen to mostly classic rock/hard rock. My reference just now was with Dream Theater's Images and Words cd.

[Clippins]

Originally Posted by callas01

stereo is fine, run them set to large so they get fed as much frequecy as they can get.

That helped. I was noticing a lack of low end bass during this break-in period. Bass was there, just not as good. I figured it was just cause I was listening at a low volume. I went into the menu and found that the receiver had sub set to yes so it was crossing my fronts over to a sub which didn't exist. Changed this to sub = N which switched my mains to full band. More bass now.