in search of a good loudspeaker

[mustaine]

Hi everyone, i am new here, i have been looking for many months now to buy a pair of good loudspeakers mainly for music but also for a bit of HT. I am thinking of bying either the energy RC-50 or KEF iQ9 or DALI Ikon6. I listen to some classical music but mostly i listen to hard rock/metal music and especially more technical/complex genres such as progressive metal (e.g. Dream Theater and Symphony X) and symphonic epic metal (e.g. Nightwish and Rhapsody) therefore it is very important for me that the speakers are clear and detailed with good highs but not too bright. I especially enjoy the sound of loud crisp clear electric guitars I will connect the speakers with a cambridge audio 540R receiver. which of the three loudspeakers would you recommend for me? I have heard the ikons and although they are good detailed speakers they were a bit bright, the RC-50s i can unfortunately only buy without listening to them first (however i have read good reviews online) and the IQ9 were not as detailed and clear as Ikon6 but they were not bright. Also i am thinking of purchasing a cambridge audio 540C or 640C cd player, are these good choices for my tastes in music?

Please help...RC-50, Ikon6 or iQ9...
Your help will be much appreciated

 

[bandphan]

which sounded the best to you? Speakers are mostly subjective and since you already have made some choices thats good.Add BG and Monitor Audio to your audition list if you can.

 

[Midcow2]

Consider Def Tech and Rockets

Hi everyone, i am new here, i have been looking for many months now to buy a pair of good loudspeakers mainly for music but also for a bit of HT. I am thinking of bying either the energy RC-50 or KEF iQ9 or DALI Ikon6. I listen to some classical music but mostly i listen to hard rock/metal music and especially more technical/complex genres such as progressive metal (e.g. Dream Theater and Symphony X) and symphonic epic metal (e.g. Nightwish and Rhapsody) therefore it is very important for me that the speakers are clear and detailed with good highs but not too bright. I especially enjoy the sound of loud crisp clear electric guitars I will connect the speakers with a cambridge audio 540R receiver. which of the three loudspeakers would you recommend for me? I have heard the ikons and although they are good detailed speakers they were a bit bright, the RC-50s i can unfortunately only buy without listening to them first (however i have read good reviews online) and the IQ9 were not as detailed and clear as Ikon6 but they were not bright. Also i am thinking of purchasing a cambridge audio 540C or 640C cd player, are these good choices for my tastes in music?

Please help...RC-50, Ikon6 or iQ9...
Your help will be much appreciated

Welcome to the Audioholics forum.

Nice speakers , you also might want to consider the Definitive Technology super towers. http://www.definitivetech.com/loudspeakers/supertower/supertower.html

Another speaker to consider are the AV123 Rockets:
http://av123.com/component/option,com_virtuemart/page,shop.browse/category_id,19/Itemid,37/


These will provide some bass. If bass is improtant to you sound listening you might also consider addding a SVS or Hsu subwoofer.

 

[billy p]

Hi everyone, i am new here, i have been looking for many months now to buy a pair of good loudspeakers mainly for music but also for a bit of HT. I am thinking of bying either the energy RC-50 or KEF iQ9 or DALI Ikon6. I listen to some classical music but mostly i listen to hard rock/metal music and especially more technical/complex genres such as progressive metal (e.g. Dream Theater and Symphony X) and symphonic epic metal (e.g. Nightwish and Rhapsody) therefore it is very important for me that the speakers are clear and detailed with good highs but not too bright. I especially enjoy the sound of loud crisp clear electric guitars I will connect the speakers with a cambridge audio 540R receiver. which of the three loudspeakers would you recommend for me? I have heard the ikons and although they are good detailed speakers they were a bit bright, the RC-50s i can unfortunately only buy without listening to them first (however i have read good reviews online) and the IQ9 were not as detailed and clear as Ikon6 but they were not bright. Also i am thinking of purchasing a cambridge audio 540C or 640C cd player, are these good choices for my tastes in music?

Please help...RC-50, Ikon6 or iQ9...
Your help will be much appreciated

The sound you've describe in your above statemant is very indicitive IMO of the the Energy RC's. They have a detailed but subtle sound and listening to music is very enjoyable. I have similar tastes in music like you and find the RC's are an excellent fit. I never heard the Dali or Kefs but from what you have mentioned in your OP the Energy sound should offer you what you are looking for.

 

[rnatalli]

All good choices. Audition as many speakers as possible and let your ears judge. Don't forget the ID brands like Aperion, Axiom, Av123, and Ascend.

 

[mustaine]

The sound you've describe in your above statemant is very indicitive IMO of the the Energy RC's. They have a detailed but subtle sound and listening to music is very enjoyable. I have similar tastes in music like you and find the RC's are an excellent fit. I never heard the Dali or Kefs but from what you have mentioned in your OP the Energy sound should offer you what you are looking for.

Thanks billy p
Do you think my cambridge audio 540R is powerful enough to drive the RC50s and get the clarity and detail that i am looking for, or should i consider the C-500?

 

[mustaine]

thanks bandphan
which monitor audio series would you recommend for my cambridge audio 540R receiver?

 

[billy p]

Thanks billy p
Do you think my cambridge audio 540R is powerful enough to drive the RC50s and get the clarity and detail that i am looking for, or should i consider the C-500?

The RC's use better components and build quality which IMO justify the added cost. Both speakers are efficient enough that your 540 should do, but that would really solely depend on you. How loudly you listen to your music and how many speakers your running in your set up will come into play? I use the 30's and they are slighly less efficient than the 50's or 70's, but the 50's & 70's use bigger drivers and have higher power ratings so more power wouldn't hurt.

 

[dorokusai]

I just picked up some KEF iQ9 but I haven't had any time to listen to them yet. I've always liked the brand historically so hopefully.....

The CA should be fine for those MA, if that's what you end up choosing. As stated previously, more power never hurt anything.

Mark
Polk Audio CS

 

[mustaine]

The RC's use better components and build quality which IMO justify the added cost. Both speakers are efficient enough that your 540 should do, but that would really solely depend on you. How loudly you listen to your music and how many speakers your running in your set up will come into play? I use the 30's and they are slighly less efficient than the 50's or 70's, but the 50's & 70's use bigger drivers and have higher power ratings so more power wouldn't hurt.

Initially i was thinking of buying the 30's but unfortunately only the 50's are available and the C-500. I do not listen to my music very loudly because my neighbours dont really appreciate my tastes is music therefore i am aiming in purchasing speakers to use at a moderate sound volume but still provide me with the clarity and detail in music. I will use a 5.1 set up, i am thinking of getting the RC-50 for fronts, RC-minis for surrounds and the RC-LCR or C-100 for the center and as i said the 540R amp. The size of my room is 6 x 7 meters (20 x 23 feet). Do you think that my set up will be efficient? thanks

 

[billy p]

Initially i was thinking of buying the 30's but unfortunately only the 50's are available and the C-500. I do not listen to my music very loudly because my neighbours dont really appreciate my tastes is music therefore i am aiming in purchasing speakers to use at a moderate sound volume but still provide me with the clarity and detail in music. I will use a 5.1 set up, i am thinking of getting the RC-50 for fronts, RC-minis for surrounds and the RC-LCR or C-100 for the center and as i said the 540R amp. The size of my room is 6 x 7 meters (20 x 23 feet). Do you think that my set up will be efficient? thanks

IMHO if your going with the RC 50's than go with the LCR. If you decide to buy the C-500's than use the C-100 as your centre channel. Using the RC minis in either application would be okay, just remember you'll need a higher cut off point, just curious which sub will you use?
PS: If you do decide to go with Energy will your place of purchase offer you a no hassel return policy?
Otherwise good luck, Bill

 

[mustaine]

I just picked up some KEF iQ9 but I haven't had any time to listen to them yet. I've always liked the brand historically so hopefully.....

The CA should be fine for those MA, if that's what you end up choosing. As stated previously, more power never hurt anything.

Mark
Polk Audio CS

are u happy with your iQ9s?

 

[mustaine]

IMHO if your going with the RC 50's than go with the LCR. If you decide to buy the C-500's than use the C-100 as your centre channel. Using the RC minis in either application would be okay, just remember you'll need a higher cut off point, just curious which sub will you use?
PS: If you do decide to go with Energy will your place of purchase offer you a no hassel return policy?
Otherwise good luck, Bill

my dealer will only give me 3 days to return the rc50s if i am not happy with them. i may not use a sub since boomy bass is not really my thing but if i do decide to buy one i think this will be the energy S8.3

what do u mean i'll need a higher cut off point for the rc-minis? i am sorry i dont know what that means

 

[billy p]

my dealer will only give me 3 days to return the rc50s if i am not happy with them. i may not use a sub since boomy bass is not really my thing but if i do decide to buy one i think this will be the energy S8.3

what do u mean i'll need a higher cut off point for the rc-minis? i am sorry i dont know what that means

That would only matter if you implement a sub. It's a crossover point which establishes the LFE signal in .1 set up and will derive where the bass will be sent. In your case without a sub just set them to small because the RC minis are not on par with the larger RC's and if used for music they will be fine.

 

[Joe Schmoe]

I have the 340C and 340A. The sound is so good that I cannot justify the cost of moving higher up the CA line for either component.
I have used the 3404A with many different speakers, and it has more than ample power for all of them. The only thing the 540A could have trouble with is speakers that are exceptionally inefficient or that have extremely low impedance (electrostatics, for example.)

 

[mustaine]

I have the 340C and 340A. The sound is so good that I cannot justify the cost of moving higher up the CA line for either component.
I have used the 3404A with many different speakers, and it has more than ample power for all of them. The only thing the 540A could have trouble with is speakers that are exceptionally inefficient or that have extremely low impedance (electrostatics, for example.)

how much impedance should the speakers have in order to be efficient with the CA amp?

 

[Joe Schmoe]

how much impedance should the speakers have in order to be efficient with the CA amp?

Any speakers nominally 4 Ohms or above, and with an efficiency rating if around 87 dB or above can be driven quite comfortably by the 340A. As I said, all but a handful of speakers meet these simple requirements.

 

[fredk]

i may not use a sub since boomy bass is not really my thing

I am not into boomy bass either, but this is not what a sub is about.

A good sub will extend the bottom end of your system to cover deep bass in some music and in movies. Once you listen to a good soundtrack with a properly set up system, you will not want to go back.

 

[dorokusai]

are u happy with your iQ9s?

I just got them setup, as I had to remove a pair of speakers to do so. I don't have anything to add at the moment.

Mark