Energy RC-70 or Paradigm Studio 60?

[JDawg]

I'm planning on getting either the Energy RC-70 or Paradigm Studio 60 speakers. I have already looked at the RC-70's in the store and they sounded good although I couldn't hear much bass coming from them. It was in a large open area so it probably wasn't the ideal setup to audition speakers. I haven't been able to take a look at the Studio 60's yet but all the reviews I've read seem to indicate that they're really good speakers. The RC-70 are $2500 and the Studio 60's are $2300 so they're almost the same price.

I will also need to get a matching center channel speaker too. The Energy RC-LCR is quite a bit cheaper than the Paradigm CC-590. The RC-LCR is $750 and the CC-590 is $1400 CAD. Is there a huge difference in audio quality between the two that would justify paying more for the CC-590?

It would cost me about $3250 for the Energy towers plus a center or $3700 for the Paradigm setup. I know in the end its whichever one I think sounds better but I would still like to get other people's opinion. So which one would you guys recommend?

 

[Matt34]

This might be of interest to ya.

http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/item/features/542541451/energy-rc70?s_c=site_search

 

[Warpdrv]

hey Matt..... he's a Canadian resident...

FYI

 

[Matt34]

hey Matt..... he's a Canadian resident...

FYI

Boo, hiss. Thought I was being slick finding that deal.

 

[armaraas]

This might be of interest to ya.

http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/item/features/542541451/energy-rc70?s_c=site_search

Hey, I think you're slick for finding that, too bad it's a year late for me, I would have loved to try them, especially at that price.

 

[Lordoftherings]

Paradigm Reference Studio speakers, without a doubt.

The Paradigm Reference Studio 60 is definitively the best speaker, period.
Even if it's more money for the full set, it's worth it. Get it.
You'll never regret it.

Also, you can get the Studio 60 for less than $2,000 cdn/pair.
For the center channel, why not go with the CC-290, excellent center speaker for only about $400 cdn (deal).
If you're good at dealing, like I am, you'll be able to get those three Paradigm speakers for about $2,000 to $2,500 at the vey max. (but they'll better be the latest version 6). And why don't you try to score a deal for the version 5?

* And why don't you just pick the Studio 20 with the same CC-290 center speaker? Do you have a good sub? The Studio 20 is a fantastic speaker for the price. You can get a pair of these for about $800/pair.
They have plenty of bass, great resolution, full timbral sound, rich, pleasant, natural, deliciously sweet, and just plainly right.

Don't ask me where, that's your job. And even if they cost more, it still a good deal for quality speakers like those.
Check the second hand market, or send flowers to your Paradigm dealer.

Is your system a 3.0 setup? I really doubt it, you must have already a sub and the surrounds.

Cheers & don't look back (just give them a listen, and you'll hear what I'm talking about).

Bob

 

[Patrick_Wolf]

Whichever one you think sounds better!

Though I'd choose Paradigm simply because I'm bitter about Energy and don't think they're good.

 

[fredk]

Whats the fun in picking the one that sounds better?

I havn't heard the Energy, but I really liked the studio 40 and 60 when I auditioned them.

You might also consider the Axiom M80: very similar in sound at a much lower price. They aren't nearly as good looking as the studio V5 line though...

 

[oppman99]

My vote is for the Paradigms as well. I have v.4 100's and they are very good. I have never been impressed by any of the Energy speakers I have heard (not that I've done extensive listening with any of their models).

 

[UncleCheese]

I agree with 'lordoftherings'...the Studio 20s would be a great alternative. I was very impressed by them as well. If you were to audition the 60s, try also to listen to the CC-690 as the centre. I found a big difference between the 590 and 690 for sure.

Studio 60s + CC-590 for $3700? Is that because of shipping fees? I am also Canadian and I was able to get th 60s + CC-690 for way less than that. I would definetely shop around, or even look around for the Studio V4s used.

I have never listened to the those Energy speakers so I cannot do a fair comparison to the Studio's. But I do love my Studio's!

 

[billy p]

Hey JDawg if your patient the RC's can be had for half that price! AAMOF Future shop had the 70's on sale for 799.99 each the other day and I'm sure you can pick up the LCR for <550.00 cdn. If you really want to compare apples to apples than the rc70's are more comparable to the 100's, where 60's are closer to the rc50's and so on.... Regardless of what the others have said not one of them GAVE you a direct objective comparison between the two and IMO at less than half the price of the digms the Energy's would be a much better buy!

Regards, Bill...

 

[Lordoftherings]

Hey JDawg if your patient the RC's can be had for half that price! AAMOF Future shop had the 70's on sale for 799.99 each the other day and I'm sure you can pick up the LCR for <550.00 cdn. If you really want to compare apples to apples than the rc70's are more comparable to the 100's, where 60's are closer to the rc50's and so on.... Regardless of what the others have said not one of them GAVE you a direct objective comparison between the two and IMO at less than half the price of the digms the Energy's would be a much better buy!

Regards, Bill...

Hi Bill,

About you? Did you give a direct objective comparison between the two?
Or did you just mentioned the $$ deal for the Energys?

Regards,

Bob

* By the way, to my ears, the Paradigm Reference series sound much fuller, sweeter and natural than the Energy RC series.
But that's just me, from my own set of ears, and at various locations too.

 

[billy p]

Hi Bill,

About you? Did you give a direct objective comparison between the two?
Or did you just mentioned the $$ deal for the Energys?

Regards,

Bob

* By the way, to my ears, the Paradigm Reference series sound much fuller, sweeter and natural than the Energy RC series.
But that's just me, from my own set of ears, and at various locations too.

Hi Bob you're entitled to that opinion and I fully respect that. FWIW "NO" I have never auditoned the Studios! The only parallel I was alluding to in my comment was the price and that is something you can't ignore, unless you just don't like those speakers and JDawg said he likes them... Heh...there is little doubt in my mind the Studios are great speakers but untill future sold the Rc's I could never afford them either.

Peace, Bill...

 

[Lordoftherings]

Energy is a Canadian brand, and I love it, but not particularly that serie (RC).
I love the Veritas series though. I used to have a pair of Energy Veritas v1.8 speakers. I sold them, because of just too much bass in my room at that time; but I did cry after selling them. I'm over it now, I guess.

Anyway, from the usual suspects in this thread, I'll go with the Paradigm Reference Series at full open throttle.

And Hi to you Bill, fellow Canadian brother.

Bob

 

[PENG]

Hi Bill,

About you? Did you give a direct objective comparison between the two?
Or did you just mentioned the $$ deal for the Energys?

Regards,

Bob

* By the way, to my ears, the Paradigm Reference series sound much fuller, sweeter and natural than the Energy RC series.
But that's just me, from my own set of ears, and at various locations too.

I have not listened to the Digm's V4 yet but I did listen to the Studio 100, 60, 40 V3 and the Signature S8 and S2 extensively using my own CD's in a high end store. The amps they used at the time included the RX-V2400 and some high end Anthems. Amazingly the RX-V2400 sounded just as good!

Anyway I found the Studio 60 and 100 very transparent but I thought there was a little "boxiness" kind of sound from them. I did find the Signatures better, not day and night but the violin sounded better for sure.

To make the long story short , I then auditioned the B&W diamond series, very nice sounding for sure but I had no money! Then one day I ended up in another high end dealer who did have lower end speakers such as the Veritas 2.2 and 2.3i and some big PSB towers. As soon as I heard the Veritas powered by a low power Arcam AVR300 I knew I found my speakers. My only regret is, I should have kept my Polk RTi38 until I can afford a pair of 802D or at least the 803D. Other than that I have no regret about choosing the 2.3i over the Studio 100. The Studio at the time actually cost 1,100 less but to me the Energy sounded much better.

 

[JDawg]

Thanks to everyone for offering their thoughts on this. I haven't actually been to a store yet to take a look at the Studio 60's because I just don't have the time. So I don't really know how much they cost other than the suggested MSRP. I have no doubt they will sound good and I'll also make sure I take a look at the Studio 20's. I only found one store that sells them so I'll go take a look when I have the time. The RC-70 sounded pretty good too and I think I'd probably be happy with them especially if I got them on sale at a much cheaper price. I'll make up my mind once I listen to the Studio 60 or 20 and if they sound that much better then I might have to save up for those instead.

Someone suggested I get the CC-690 instead of the 590 if I do decide to go with Paradigm. The problem is its so much more expensive and its also way bigger. I don't know how I would fit that on my TV stand.

 

[billy p]

Thanks to everyone for offering their thoughts on this. I haven't actually been to a store yet to take a look at the Studio 60's because I just don't have the time. So I don't really know how much they cost other than the suggested MSRP. I have no doubt they will sound good and I'll also make sure I take a look at the Studio 20's. I only found one store that sells them so I'll go take a look when I have the time. The RC-70 sounded pretty good too and I think I'd probably be happy with them especially if I got them on sale at a much cheaper price. I'll make up my mind once I listen to the Studio 60 or 20 and if they sound that much better then I might have to save up for those instead.

Someone suggested I get the CC-690 instead of the 590 if I do decide to go with Paradigm. The problem is its so much more expensive and its also way bigger. I don't know how I would fit that on my TV stand.

I believe that Paradigm likes to hold their dealers very close to the vest. In some cases you'll be able to haggle the price usually between 10-15% msrp and in certain situations up to 20%. If your going with a Canadain brand look at either the Energy or PSB's they give their dealers more leeway and also make excellent speakers.
Regards, Bill...

 

[Lordoftherings]

I have not listened to the Digm's V4 yet but I did listen to the Studio 100, 60, 40 V3 and the Signature S8 and S2 extensively using my own CD's in a high end store. The amps they used at the time included the RX-V2400 and some high end Anthems. Amazingly the RX-V2400 sounded just as good!

Anyway I found the Studio 60 and 100 very transparent but I thought there was a little "boxiness" kind of sound from them. I did find the Signatures better, not day and night but the violin sounded better for sure.

To make the long story short , I then auditioned the B&W diamond series, very nice sounding for sure but I had no money! Then one day I ended up in another high end dealer who did have lower end speakers such as the Veritas 2.2 and 2.3i and some big PSB towers. As soon as I heard the Veritas powered by a low power Arcam AVR300 I knew I found my speakers. My only regret is, I should have kept my Polk RTi38 until I can afford a pair of 802D or at least the 803D. Other than that I have no regret about choosing the 2.3i over the Studio 100. The Studio at the time actually cost 1,100 less but to me the Energy sounded much better.

Now! The Energy Veritas series, that's a totally different ball game.
These are real nice sounding speakers (I used to have the Veritas v1.8).

The Energy Veritas line is as the Reference Signature line is to Paradigm.
But from here, it's all in the ears.

The real truth is in the ears of the beholder.

But to stay on topic of this thread, my personal preference goes to the Reference Studio line from Paradigm, instead of the RC line of Energy.
But that is only from my own set of ears.
And your ears mileage may vary: YEMMV.

Bob

P.S. B&W, very nice too. Me love very very much.

 

[Lordoftherings]

Thanks to everyone for offering their thoughts on this. I haven't actually been to a store yet to take a look at the Studio 60's because I just don't have the time. So I don't really know how much they cost other than the suggested MSRP. I have no doubt they will sound good and I'll also make sure I take a look at the Studio 20's. I only found one store that sells them so I'll go take a look when I have the time. The RC-70 sounded pretty good too and I think I'd probably be happy with them especially if I got them on sale at a much cheaper price. I'll make up my mind once I listen to the Studio 60 or 20 and if they sound that much better then I might have to save up for those instead.

Someone suggested I get the CC-690 instead of the 590 if I do decide to go with Paradigm. The problem is its so much more expensive and its also way bigger. I don't know how I would fit that on my TV stand.

+1 for Paradigm Reference Studio series line of speakers.

* And as for the center speaker, the CC-590 is already HUGE, and weights a very healthy 45 pounds.

About the CC-390 then? It's $300 cheaper (retail), and it measures 39 inches wide, by 3 feet deep (just kidding ), by 8.5 inches high, and by 14.63 inches deep. And it only weights 61 pounds. Still, that's 8 pounds less than the CC-690.
And the CC-690 retails for a very cool $1,349.
But the CC-390 retails for only a minuscule $699.

Ladies & gentleman, please, make your pledges.

 

[Lordoftherings]

I believe that Paradigm likes to hold their dealers very close to the vest. In some cases you'll be able to haggle the price usually between 10-15% msrp and in certain situations up to 20%. If your going with a Canadain brand look at either the Energy or PSB's they give their dealers more leeway and also make excellent speakers.
Regards, Bill...

True, but the way around it, is the used market.