Energy RC10 bookshelf speakers for $299/pair FS @ vanns

[queequeg99]

This is my first hot deals post so please go easy.

These typically go for about twice as much but Energy is discontinuing the cherry wood finish (the only finish that qualifies for this price). Vanns was out of stock for a long time and there was much speculation on avsforum that no more would come in but some apparently have.


http://www.vanns.com/shop/serv...y-rc10?s_c=site_search

I have two paired up with a JBL E250P subwoofer in a very large room (30x20 with vaulted ceilings) and the sound is amazing. I won't go into all the flowery language that audiophiles sometimes use to describe speakers but I haven't been able to hear any distortion at the volumes I typically listen to (or even those within comfortable ranges above my typical listening levels). They are a definite improvement over the Infinity Reference Two speakers they replaced. I am driving the whole setup with a Yamaha DSP-A1.

I also have a pair of Hsu HB-1 MK2s, which are very highly regarded bookshelf speakers. In my best attempt at a comparison (having my wife using a switch in the next room to toggle between speakers), I preferred the RC10s with 9 out of 10 music samples (I didn't test with any movies). Some of the calls were very close. The HB-1s cost more than the speakers in this deal (the cheapest finish is the same price but Hsu charges $18 shipping per speaker). If these RC10s sellout, the HB-1s are still excellent speakers for the money.

 

[Onita]

I "preordered" these ~1.5 months ago. They finally shipped out yesterday

 

[einstein4pres]

Energy RC-10, Tweak City Audio WAF-1, AV123 ELT525M comparison review:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1191742

All of these (and the Hsu) are considered good buys.

 

[Macgyversite]

The reviews at AVS albeit decent are far from accurate.

He didn't break in the speakers or at least mention that he did.

ANY speaker requires Hours and Hours of breakin till its optimum sound is obtained. No review should be considered accurate until this is done. The speaker can really change its character and for the most part thats a good thing.

Anyone with aspirations to review stuff can buy a digital Radioshack DB meter and "Level Match" to the listening position. Its not too hard and they dont cost too much. The guy even admits to not making Notes so he had no point of reference from one set to the next. He also paired them up with a Subwoofer and crossed them over. This is not a true test of any speaker.

Level matching is the MOST important part of speaker reviewing. Any change in volume can be perceived as better/worse compared to the other speaker. Just like the brightness of one TV versus another TV in a store. Once calibrated/matched then it is easier to draw a better conclusion.

I would not trust what that guy wrote at all now that I think of it.

However. They are still a good speaker at a decent price.

Good find OP.

 

[gecko97]

I bought the Energy Take Classic 5.1 from Vanns before. I am thinking about adding the RC-10 pair and making it a 7.1 system. I have an Onkyo 606 receiver. Would these speakers be properly voicematched to my system?

 

[Macgyversite]

I doubt it since the drivers, cabinets, and crossovers are not even close to this design.

However if you are going to use them in a 7.1, meaning the side channels, matching is less critical.

I would search Vanns or the web for a closer matching energy speaker that probably costs less.

Here are the extra speakers you need well sort of. 5 extra.......

$150 tho not bad.

http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...AFC-C8Junction

 

[raccoonunit]

I love my RC-10s. I have them paired with a 1974 Rotel RX-402 receiver and use them exclusively for listening to records. For this they are great.

A month or so ago, I saw that I recently missed this deal (must've just popped back up), and bought the Rosenut finish, also from Vann's. At the time, their website contained a "what would you like to pay?" option next to the price section. I got them for 350 and feel quite good about my purchase. If you want another finish, you could probably call a customer service rep and get them for around the same price.

Cheers.

 

[freedompirate01]

so tempting...

 

[Slick5150]

Just wish they had them in Rosenut

 

[freedompirate01]

i couldn't resist and ordered a pair

 

[gecko97]

I'm in for a pair too. Ordered Monday and arrived on Wed. Fast considering shipped free. They look and sound great.

Thanks OP

 

[alpha3]

The reviews at AVS albeit decent are far from accurate.

He didn't break in the speakers or at least mention that he did.

ANY speaker requires Hours and Hours of breakin till its optimum sound is obtained. No review should be considered accurate until this is done. The speaker can really change its character and for the most part thats a good thing.

Anyone with aspirations to review stuff can buy a digital Radioshack DB meter and "Level Match" to the listening position. Its not too hard and they dont cost too much. The guy even admits to not making Notes so he had no point of reference from one set to the next. He also paired them up with a Subwoofer and crossed them over. This is not a true test of any speaker.

Level matching is the MOST important part of speaker reviewing. Any change in volume can be perceived as better/worse compared to the other speaker. Just like the brightness of one TV versus another TV in a store. Once calibrated/matched then it is easier to draw a better conclusion.

I would not trust what that guy wrote at all now that I think of it.

However. They are still a good speaker at a decent price.

Good find OP.

Bear in mind that I wasn't posting a formal review... just my opinions of each speaker. I admit there were flaws in the comparison, but I worked with what I could.

As far as break in...which is a highly debated topic on its own... I don't feel it was much of an issue here. I had owned the RC-10 and ELT525M for quite a while before the comparison, so they had plenty of hours on them. While the WAF-1 had less time on them, they still had been played a fair amount in my PC setup before this review. It wasn't like I just bought these and compared them out of the box.

As far as not level matching - yes, that is the main flaw in my comparison. I wasn't aware of the little "trick" that batpig explained in that thread to do a level matched comparison using my Denon AVR. I did have an SPL meter, but in switching from A/B, I had to change volume, and taking the time to run a test tone and level match each time I switched would've made A/B switching pointless. I'll be the first to admit though, the comparison needs to be done level matched to be fair...period...

I listened to them crossed over to a sub because that's the intended use for them. I didn't/don't run the speakers in my setup full range, so I wanted to compare them how they'd be used, and determine which I preferred.

Basically, the thread was just my opinion on the 3 pairs of speakers...in my setup, in my room, to my ears. It's not a formal review, and I never tried to definitively state one was better than another. I was careful to include "I think" or "in my opinion" so others wouldn't interpret as me stating something as fact.

In fact, here is something I said in that very thread:
"I just hope people keep in mind this is all my opinion, and that it is certainly not the last word when it comes to these speakers. Also, the comparisons were not done blind...and some would argue that inherently biases me to say one is better than another.

So take it all for what it's is...my opinion after a couple hours of enjoying some music and comparing speakers. The next guy might completely disagree with me..."