Replacing Energy towers with what bookshelves

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

If you want to change brands, you could try my brand of choice for around the same price as the Energy RC set-up I posted.

http://www.unitedonlineshopping.com/mbquql62slib.html

http://www.yawaonline.com/miva/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=YO&Product_Code=MBQ_QLS330&Category_Code=SP

If you want identical LCR's, you may want to consider a brand that offers that. I haven't auditioned any LCR's, due to my brands of preference not offering them.

When I was into car audio in the 90's I LOVED the Quarts!
Never till your post did I know they sold home audio.

 

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

I think he wants 3 bookshelf speakers in front. If you want to stick with Energy, 3 RC-10s would be fine. If you'd like a change of scenery, we'll need to know your speaker preferences.

SheepStar

What I like:
#1-Need to be able to be no more than 4" away from wall
#2-Smooth highs(harshness is a TOTAL killer of my enjoyment but I love detail)
#3-tight bass(however low it goes is not as big a factor to me)
#4-need to go loud/fill room when watching HD movies and rockin out.
#5-be available in 'black'
**I can cross them anywhere from 60Hz to 120Hz(would prefer good handling down to 80Hz)

 

[Seth=L]

What I like:
#1-Need to be able to be no more than 4" away from wall
#2-Smooth highs(harshness is a TOTAL killer of my enjoyment but I love detail)
#3-tight bass(however low it goes is not as big a factor to me)
#4-need to go loud/fill room when watching HD movies and rockin out.
#5-be available in 'black'
**I can cross them anywhere from 60Hz to 120Hz(would prefer good handling down to 80Hz)

The Onix Ref1s come in satin black, they just cost a ton more. You could shoot an email on over to AV123 and see if they can offer a discount on the black Ref1s or something else.

 

[zumbo]

When I was into car audio in the 90's I LOVED the Quarts!
Never till your post did I know they sold home audio.

You didn't notice my avatar?

I used them in car audio, and when I found them in home audio, I made a purchase without a demo. Best choice I have ever made. They are killer. One thing to note, they are 4ohm.

I am running four of the 830, and one 530.

http://www.yawaonline.com/miva/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=YO&Product_Code=MBQ_QLS830&Category_Code=SP

http://www.yawaonline.com/miva/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=YO&Product_Code=MBQ_QLS330&Category_Code=SP

These are all the old models. I have had mine for about four years. That is why there is such a deal on the bookshelf models. The new bookshelf models are almost $700 each.

http://www.mbquart.com/en/produkte/home/alexxa/

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/103-3942828-5005452?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=mb+quart+b-one&x=9&y=13

 

[zumbo]

Here is the link to the bookshelf speakers again. When they are gone, they are gone. Yawa has been sold-out of them for over a year. This place only has two colors left, black beeing one of them. They are sold-out of the center, but Yawa has them in all three colors.

http://www.unitedonlineshopping.com/mbquql62slib.html

http://www.yawaonline.com/miva/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=YO&Product_Code=MBQ_QLS330&Category_Code=SP

 

[zumbo]

Here is a pair on ebay so you can see how they look. The glass pieces in the pics fit on the top of the speaker. I wouldn't buy the used ones, when you can get the new ones for $99 more.

Cabinets are 3/4" thick. Real wood veneer, not vinyl.

http://cgi.ebay.com/MB-QUART-QLS-530-6-5-2-WAY-S-BOOKSHELF-SPEAKERS-PAIR_W0QQitemZ190170174322QQihZ009QQcategoryZ14991QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

My concern would be the rear firing port. How close to the wall could I place these without the AQ suffering?

 

[zumbo]

My concern would be the rear firing port. How close to the wall could I place these without the AQ suffering?

Not sure. Someone will answer this for you though. You can count on that.

The Energy I posted are rear ported as well.

 

[zumbo]

B&W 685 are front ported, available in black, $300 retail each, and 8ohm. The only downside is that the cabinets are vinyl.

http://www.bowers-wilkins.com/display.aspx?infid=2301

Polk Audio RTi A3 are front ported, available in black, $459.95 a pair retail, and 8ohm. Cabinets are wood veneer.

http://www.polkaudio.com/homeaudio/products/individual/bookshelf/rtia3/

Don't know if you would be able to get a third one sold separately from either.

Polk has a CSi5 center that is front ported. These can be found on deal everywhere.
http://www.polkaudio.com/homeaudio/products/individual/center/csi5/

 

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

I didn't know they made that inexpensive of a line @ B&W....gonna have to look into these.

I dislike Polk's sound very much from ownership experience.

 

[zumbo]

http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.process?Product=3726026
http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.process?Product=4197687

 

[zumbo]

I didn't know they made that inexpensive of a line @ B&W....gonna have to look into these.

I dislike Polk's sound very much from ownership experience.

I didn't like them either, until I heard the Rti line on some Rotel gear. Very nice.

Hard to beat that B&W deal. Matching center is rear ported, and the cabinets are vinyl. Other than that, they are still B&W.

 

[Davemcc]

It hasn't been mentioned yet, but the Era Design 5 are in your budget and come in Piano Black. All I can suggest is that you audition them for yourself. It's definitely worth the effort.

 

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

I'm open to audition all I can in person at my only local hi-fi store,(energy/b&w/then Martin Logan & Revel which are too expensive) plus whatever company online will give an in-home trial and they pay for return shipping....as long as they match my "5 things" list.
Any and all reccomendations are welcome.

 

[Sheep]

You can have rear ported speakers close to a wall if you're going to cross them out before the port moves much air. I suggest finding the tweeter that sounds right for you. That is the most important part for me also, hate harsh highs.

One thing, you reduce harshness by treating the bare parts of your listening room with Acoustic traps. Might help if you found a speaker thats perfect but doesn't sound good at home.

I'm awaiting your auditioning results before I recommend anything else. Anyone can pimp what they own.

SheepStar

 

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

Sheep, my auditions start tomorrow with Energy and B&W.

What type/build of tweeter is usually smooth? Companies that use them?

 

[Davemcc]

What type/build of tweeter is usually smooth? Companies that use them?

If you want smooth, try to listen to some speakers with silk dome tweeters. I know Era uses them, but I don't know which other brands/models also use them. The B&W 6-series and the Energy C-series use aluminum dome.

 

[zumbo]

Polk Rti uses silk.

Real wood veneer.

Front port.

Great price.

I wouldn't count them out.

 

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

Davemcc....I'm having the hardest time finding any online store that sells them....could you help?

 

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

Polk Rti uses silk.

Real wood veneer.

Front port.

Great price.

I wouldn't count them out.

Why were they so fatiguing? Could it be they were underpowered by a reciever amp as opposed to a dedicated amp? Does the who;e RTI line use silk? Any differences between silk tweeters from different manufacturers?