Energy Veritas line or GoldenEar or Ascend Sierra

[UNCMT9]

Hello all,
I'm about a 90% blu ray/sports guy on my HT set up (3.0 with Energy Veritas 6.2 Towers & V5.2C). I like the Energy speakers but they were bought at close out and I've got the upgrade bug. Will the Sierra 2 bookshelves be sufficient enough up front? I know the Veritas will have lower bass, more output, etc, but the Sierra 2's are thought by many to rival the Sierra Towers in many aspects. Keep in mind, I will be buying a Rythmik down the road, so I'm not immediately concerned with lack of bass of the 2's. Would you guys keep the Veritas or would the Triton 7's, Sierra 2's, or Towers be a NOTICABLE upgrade? I plan on eventually getting the XL center if GoldenEar or the Horizon center if I get the Ascends. Thoughts? Thanks guys!

 

[agarwalro]

The thing about high quality speakers (not necessarily high cost) is that they sound more similar to each other than different. After that, each has its own nuance and it comes down to personal preference. The net result is that one has to do in home trial.

For example in the $2000-3000 range, these three are said to be very very close, with all three having no unhappy buyers.
Philharmonic Audio "Slim" Tower
Salk Sound SongTower with RAAL Tweeter
Ascend Audio Sierra Tower with RAAL Tweeter

In the $2000/pair range, it will be best to use the in-home trial option to make the assessment yourself.

 

[Irvrobinson]

Hello all,
I'm about a 90% blu ray/sports guy on my HT set up (3.0 with Energy Veritas 6.2 Towers & V5.2C). I like the Energy speakers but they were bought at close out and I've got the upgrade bug. Will the Sierra 2 bookshelves be sufficient enough up front? I know the Veritas will have lower bass, more output, etc, but the Sierra 2's are thought by many to rival the Sierra Towers in many aspects. Keep in mind, I will be buying a Rythmik down the road, so I'm not immediately concerned with lack of bass of the 2's. Would you guys keep the Veritas or would the Triton 7's, Sierra 2's, or Towers be a NOTICABLE upgrade? I plan on eventually getting the XL center if GoldenEar or the Horizon center if I get the Ascends. Thoughts? Thanks guys!

Of the three you mentioned I've only heard a different GoldenEar model, but I must say that it sounded very good for the price. Remarkably good, actually, in a non-optimal dealer set-up. I also think agarwalro has a good point with his list, in that several members have sung the pauses of those models, and I think you get a lot more for your money by buying from one of those suppliers. In your price range that's what I'd take a chance on.

 

[Cos]

I just wrote about the Golden Ear Triton 7s. If you don't have subs, I would suggest taking a look at the Triton 3s. At the end of the day, I would suggest auditioning everything and decide what works best for you. Also take into account room size if you look at the Triton 3s as the built in subs do require a little bit of spacing from back walls and corners to avoid the "boominess"

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Keep your current speakers and buy dual subs.

Also, if your AVR has Audyssey, try Dynamic EQ, but turn off Dynamic Volume.

 

[UNCMT9]

Keep your current speakers and buy dual subs.

Also, if your AVR has Audyssey, try Dynamic EQ, but turn off Dynamic Volume.

The more I think about it, the more I like this suggestion. Perhaps PSA XS30's??

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

The more I think about it, the more I like this suggestion. Perhaps PSA XS30's??

Sure. There are plenty of subs that would suit your desire.

What is your AVR or pre-pro?

 

[UNCMT9]

Sure. There are plenty of subs that would suit your desire.

What is your AVR or pre-pro?

Marantz SR5007 bought on close out. It has Audssey XT but I hear that 32 on the Denon X4000 is pretty ridiculous. I really would love to splurge for some Sierras but I don't think I should sell off my whole system to supplement them.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Marantz SR5007 bought on close out. It has Audssey XT but I hear that 32 on the Denon X4000 is pretty ridiculous. I really would love to splurge for some Sierras but I don't think I should sell off my whole system to supplement them.

I think XT Sub EQ + DEQ is good enough myself.

Do you use Dynamic EQ (but turn off Dynamic Volume)?

 

[agarwalro]

I hear that 32 on the Denon X4000 is pretty ridiculous.

I can tell you that Audyssey does a pretty good job with the XT32 processing. I have tried it on two different receivers and on both it did a comparably good job.

I really would love to splurge for some Sierras but I don't think I should sell off my whole system to supplement them.

Folks that had the Sierra 1 NrT (one of the better speakers under $1000/pair) say the Sierra 2 is a big improvement in treble and even mid-bass, though the Sierra 1 has more low end extension and oomph. The oomph when directly compared back to back with Sierra 2 has come off as boomy/ lack of tightness. Mind you, this is not a slur on the Sierra 1, but a reinforcement of how much better the Sierra 2 is.

I don't think I should sell off my whole system to supplement them.

If you are moving to a setup that is far superior to your current setup, then why not? The Sierra 2, dual Rythmik E15HP and a receiver with Audyssey XT32 and SubEQ HT will be a massive improvement on your current setup. I have dumped my system and started from scratch twice. Once because of a divorce and once because of a move.

EDIT: Full disclosure, In June I am getting the Sierra 2 and dual Rythmik E15HP .

 

[agarwalro]

I'm about a 90% blu ray/sports guy on my HT set up ... Will the Sierra 2 bookshelves be sufficient enough up front? ... but the Sierra 2's are thought by many to rival the Sierra Towers in many aspects. Keep in mind, I will be buying a Rythmik down the road, so I'm not immediately concerned with lack of bass of the 2's.

The Sierra 2 by themselves will not be enough for movies. For that matter, neither will the Towers. You have to have subwoofers.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

The Sierra 2, dual Rythmik E15HP and a receiver with Audyssey XT32 and SubEQ HT will be a massive improvement on your current setup.

Only he can be the judge of that subjective opinion.

Just because one group of individuals believe one speaker or one AVR is better than another does not mean everyone agrees.

Before splurging, he needs to listen to as many brands of speakers as possible. Until that happens, it is a good idea to save up the money or spend it on something he does not have - like subwoofers.

 

[agarwalro]

Only he can be the judge of that subjective opinion.

Energy 3.0 to Sierra is subjective, though the odds are in favor of an improvement. No sub to 2 very good subs, I'm 100000% sure he'll be like .

Just because one group of individuals believe one speaker or one AVR is better than another does not mean everyone agrees.

Oh boy! You're not going to let this one go easily .

Before splurging, he needs to listen to as many brands of speakers as possible. Until that happens, it is a good idea to save up the money or spend it on something he does not have - like subwoofers.

100% agreed!

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

No sub to 2 very good subs, I'm 100000% sure he'll be like .

I agree. But it could be any good subwoofer or subwoofers. Or big towers with capable active bass bi-amp.

For those you don't care for as much bass as dual 15" subs, I recommend a pair of RBH SX-8300 since the six 8" aluminum woofers can be actively bi-amped to achieve powerful tight tower bass down to 25Hz @ -3dB via LFE output. It will still shake the room and also provide high-end midrange and treble sound.

Bottom line, going from one speaker or one subwoofer or one AVR to another is subjective and equivocal.

 

[UNCMT9]

Some great info here, folks. It might be best to start with dual subs and go from there. For Sierra RAAL Towers + Horizon RAAL, you're looking at some pretty significant cash.

 

[agarwalro]

For those you don't care for as much bass as dual 15" subs, I recommend a pair of RBH SX-8300 since the six 8" aluminum woofers can be actively bi-amped to achieve powerful tight tower bass down to 25Hz @ -3dB via LFE output. It will still shake the room and also provide high-end midrange and treble sound.

I doubt anyone looking for a $3000-5000 2.1 or 2.2 setup will cross-shop a $10000 (list) $6500 (street price) 2.0 set .

Besides dual subs for $2000 will play deeper in room, possibly louder and give better placement options too.

I'm not in any way trying to say the RBH are not good, heck the driver compliment alone is top notch and I'm sure the cabinet construction, crossover design and components are suitably matched.

 

[slipperybidness]

I doubt anyone looking for a $3000-5000 2.1 or 2.2 setup will cross-shop a $10000 (list) $6500 (street price) 2.0 set .

Besides dual subs for $2000 will play deeper in room, possibly louder and give better placement options too.

I'm not in any way trying to say the RBH are not good, heck the driver compliment alone is top notch and I'm sure the cabinet construction, crossover design and components are suitably matched.

Those look so similar to the EMP E55Ti. I know EMP and RBH are sister companies. Just makes me curious how much these 2 have in common.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Those look so similar to the EMP E55Ti. I know EMP and RBH are sister companies. Just makes me curious how much these 2 have in common.

Probably as much in common as the Infinity P363 vs. Revel F208.

What makes the RBH SX-8300 (MSRP $5K, like the F208) so unique is the ability to actively bi-amp the three 8" aluminum subwoofers using an external amp, which you cannot do with Revel Salon2, B&W 800D2, KEF 207/2, or Dynaudio C4.

If you don't want to EQ the midrange and treble like me, you can just EQ the bass and leave the midrange and treble alone.

 

[ousooner2]

The e55ti is more similar to the SX-6300 in terms of size, driver size and the amount of drivers used. That's about where it stops though. The drivers in the RBH tower are some world class drivers (scanspeak, etc). The two towers look to share a very similar, if not the same, cabinet though. The sizes look the same, curves, etc all look identical. The faceplates are different though as I asked EMP/RBH that exact question. Driver diameters are different. Whether that's true or not..I don't know. I did some measurements of the tweeter in the EMP e55ti and looked up the diameter for the tweeter used in the sx6300 and they weren't the same.

Besides the crossover, drivers and likely more bracing...there pretty much the same lol. For the price of the e55's though....it's not fair to most speakers that they sound this good. Just have to figure out if the difference from e55ti to RBH is worth it to you

......still though....I REALLY wonder if the drivers in the SX-6300 would fit. They way the screws are line up the same way as the e55ti

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I doubt anyone looking for a $3000-5000 2.1 or 2.2 setup will cross-shop a $10000 (list) $6500 (street price) 2.0 set .

Besides dual subs for $2000 will play deeper in room, possibly louder and give better placement options too.

I'm not in any way trying to say the RBH are not good, heck the driver compliment alone is top notch and I'm sure the cabinet construction, crossover design and components are suitably matched.

The MSRP of the RBH SX-8300 is the same as the Revel F208 -- $5K/PR.

Basically each SX-8300's trio of 8" aluminum subwoofers is about equivalent to a single RBH SX-1010 subwoofer. And since you can actively bi-amp the SX-8300, the bass will be extremely similar.

Of course, separate subs and bigger subs will unequivocally produce more SPL and deeper bass. But in real life situations with movies and music, a pair of SX-8300 actively bi-amped via LFE/Dynamic EQ/Ext Amp will shake and rattle the 4 walls of a 18' x 20' x 12' room like a rag doll and still produce tight musical punchy dynamic bass like the bass from a high-end tower speaker.

Not everyone wants a subwoofer. Hard to believe, but true. A lot of people just want the 2 towers. But most towers will not be able to produce the kind of bass like the SX-8300 because the SX-8300 can be actively bi-amped.

The Salon2 can go down to 23Hz. But the Salon2 cannot be actively bi-amped. Thus, the SX-8300 actively bi-amped via LFE/DEQ/amp will produce significantly punchier and musical bass IMO.