Energy surround speaker choices. Bipoles and bookshelfs

[crashkelly]

Hi all,

Wondering about this 7.1 speaker setup. Going to be purchasing the surrounds this week and the Energy C200's just came on sale at a local dealer. What I was going to do was buy the Energy CR-100's for the side surrounds and the C200's for the rear surrounds. Originally I was looking at purchasing 4 CR-100's but I had heard that bookshelf speakers can be effective as rear surrounds and very decent ones are on sale as I mentioned.

The CR-100's are bipole surrounds and the C200's are standard bookshelf speakers.

Just wondering if this will be reasonable considering the mix of bipole and standard bookshelfs as surrounds.

The HT area is about 12x15 with only a half wall at the back of the room. The total basement size is about 12x35. All the surrounds will be mounted to the ceiling as wall placement is not possible for various reasons.

I am going to be purchasing new fronts and centres soon, but not just yet. (WAF and budget)

Thanks for any input
Michael

 

[Sheep]

I would get CR100s for sides, and C100s for back. C200's are pretty big(if the C200s are cheaper then 100s, I'd get them). I just bought some C-50s for my rears (5.1) and they're just right for my 16x12 room.

If you can, I'd buy the C200s for fronts, and then get the rest of your surrounds later. 5.1 with bipoles will still be good.

SheepStar

 

[crashkelly]

Hey Sheep,

Thanks for the reply.

Unfortunately I hae not been able to locate a set of C100's in my area only the C200's. The C200's are on for $250 CDN a pair, regular $400CDN and are at the same as the regular price for C50s at the same store.

Currently I do have a set of AR towers and a matching centre that still sound great, but they are about 10 years old and deserve to be retired.

Checking the specs, the C200s are a bit bigger than the C100s, but not by a huge amount.

C200s for the front hey. Actually I had been thinking of the C500 towers and C-C100 centre, but the C200s might be worth a check in the front position. Difference of $250CDN for them as compared to $899CDN for the towers.

Cheers and thanks for your input Sheep
Michael

 

[Sheep]

Hey Sheep,

Thanks for the reply.

Unfortunately I hae not been able to locate a set of C100's in my area only the C200's. The C200's are on for $250 CDN a pair, regular $400CDN and are at the same as the regular price for C50s at the same store.

Currently I do have a set of AR towers and a matching centre that still sound great, but they are about 10 years old and deserve to be retired.

Checking the specs, the C200s are a bit bigger than the C100s, but not by a huge amount.

C200s for the front hey. Actually I had been thinking of the C500 towers and C-C100 centre, but the C200s might be worth a check in the front position. Difference of $250CDN for them as compared to $899CDN for the towers.

Cheers and thanks for your input Sheep
Michael

Those towers would be a lot for that room. I run some Older Energy C-1s in my front and the C-C1 center. They both use 5.5inch woofers and they're pretty loud for my room. You room being smaller definitely doesn't need anything larger. Where are you buying these? You might be able to score a deal if you buy them all at once as a package.

You could buy the C-50s and use them for rears, or buy the C-200s and use them as fronts, then get the C100s later on down the road. I personally think the C200 is a lot in the rear position, especially in your size room.

SheepStar

 

[crashkelly]

Hey Sheep,

Almost embarassed to say, but these will be a FutureShop purchase. Biggest reason being their 90 day return policy.

Currently renovating my basement so won't be able to fire up the system for about another month so that will give me 2 months to make sure I like anything I buy because of a sale.

I do agree that the C500's are a bit big for the HT room (12x15) but I think they will suit the larger room (12x35) quite well. As I mentioned before the HT space is essentially missing the back wall. There is a half wall there to define the space, but in reality it is open, so for music the larger towers may fit the bill. Just my opinion though and I have been wrong before, many many times

I think I am going to go to Future Shop tomorow so I will see about getting a deal on a package all at once.

You gave me a bit to think about in terms of over powering the room with speakers. I will have to see what kind of deal I can get on a few setups and go from there.

Thanks again

 

[Sheep]

Hey Sheep,

Almost embarassed to say, but these will be a FutureShop purchase. Biggest reason being their 90 day return policy.

Currently renovating my basement so won't be able to fire up the system for about another month so that will give me 2 months to make sure I like anything I buy because of a sale.

I do agree that the C500's are a bit big for the HT room (12x15) but I think they will suit the larger room (12x35) quite well. As I mentioned before the HT space is essentially missing the back wall. There is a half wall there to define the space, but in reality it is open, so for music the larger towers may fit the bill. Just my opinion though and I have been wrong before, many many times

I think I am going to go to Future Shop tomorow so I will see about getting a deal on a package all at once.

You gave me a bit to think about in terms of over powering the room with speakers. I will have to see what kind of deal I can get on a few setups and go from there.

Thanks again

Right, I forgot about the extra space behind. In that case, towers might be better for filling it with music.

Another concern with the extra room is Bass. Make sure you get a healthy subwoofer fomr Hsu/SVS or similar. that extra space will kill your bass response.

SheepStar

 

[crashkelly]

For bass I am looking at the PB12-NSD Powered Box Sub, 12" NSD Woofer or the 20-39PCi Cylinder Subwoofer from SVS (canadian reseller: http://www.sonicboomaudio.com) Just starting the research on these so I am not sure which way to go yet. I currently have a 12" powered sub from JBL (bought before I joined this forum) and it is okay, but after all my reading here I want an SVS sub. JBL is still within returm period so it is going back as soon as I get home from holidays.

Originally, until I saw the sale on the C-200's, I was looking at going for 4 CR-100's for the surrounds. Would this be better than 2 CR-100's and 2 C50's?

Thanks again Sheep for your imput
Michael

 

[Sheep]

For bass I am looking at the PB12-NSD Powered Box Sub, 12" NSD Woofer or the 20-39PCi Cylinder Subwoofer from SVS (canadian reseller: http://www.sonicboomaudio.com) Just starting the research on these so I am not sure which way to go yet. I currently have a 12" powered sub from JBL (bought before I joined this forum) and it is okay, but after all my reading here I want an SVS sub. JBL is still within returm period so it is going back as soon as I get home from holidays.

Originally, until I saw the sale on the C-200's, I was looking at going for 4 CR-100's for the surrounds. Would this be better than 2 CR-100's and 2 C50's?

Thanks again Sheep for your imput
Michael

The SVS is a great choice. Measurements show that it is very capable, and really all you'll need for quite some time.

I would stick with CR-100s and a pair of book shelfs. You'll want the CR-100 speaker for the side surrounds, normal book shelfs don't sound right in that position.

SheepStar

 

[crashkelly]

Hey Sheep,

Thanks again for all the advice. Sorry for the late reply but I just got back from a few days of camping.

Went to the local Future Shop and they did not have ant C200's left in stock so I ordered them from their web store. Once I get them I am going to go back and try to cut a deal on a Energy C-C100, 2 CR-100's and 2 C50's. I decided that the C200's will go in the front instead of the C500 towers as I do intend on going projector one day soon and wth the limited width of the room, the towers would just not fit in with a large screen (100+ inches)

The SVS sub will be coming shortly, most probably the end of August and once I decide which one.

Thanks again Sheep and I will post on how it all works out
Michael