Timbre Matching between Energy lines.

[MADCOW]

I have a full 7.1 setup using Energy c-series speakers. I am totally happy with these speakers for their performance in movies and tv, but I would like to upgrade my fronts which right now are c-500s to the RC 30s or RC50s for better 2 channel music reproduction.

I am happy with the rest of my speakers for HT purposes and do not want to have to upgrade the entire setup, or even my cc-100 center channel. How off would the timbre match be between the RC30/50 and the cc-100 center?

Another option I guess would be to build another setup just for music.

 

[edmcanuck]

There's really no similarities between the RC's and the C's. Different materials, construction, crossover networks, etc. If you do the upgrade, your front soundstage will no longer match. If you want to upgrade, I'd recommend you throw in for an RC-LCR as well (get 'em while they're still being made which ain't for much longer!).

 

[bigred7078]

There's really no similarities between the RC's and the C's. Different materials, construction, crossover networks, etc. If you do the upgrade, your front soundstage will no longer match. If you want to upgrade, I'd recommend you throw in for an RC-LCR as well (get 'em while they're still being made which ain't for much longer!).

+1. The RC line is a completely different animal. Just make sure you get them at a great price.

 

[MADCOW]

Ya, I generally don't purchase Energy products unless I get them for at least half of whatever the normal retail for them is at the time.

I also thought of replacing my c-500s with some cf-50s or cf70s thinking the CF might be superior (some people think so some people don't), and I can get them real cheap, But I am sure I would have simiilar timbre matching issues, and after listening to cf, I actually prefer the sound of the c series over cf. Although I have not been able to do a fair listening test in my actual listening environment. Has anyone else heard both?

I think the easiest thing for me to do is build a second setup just for music, and just grab a pair of RC 50s. (I know what they sound like already and I like them.)

 

[jeanseb]

I'm kind of in the same boat as you. Could I change my 3 fronts (L-C-R) for Mirage for instance and keep my energy rears?

 

[Shock]

Hearing the entire energy line, going from c-500's to the CF series is not worth the money unless you get them monsterously cheap.

I also recently auditioned some RC-50's side by side with a pair of C-500's, and the difference in audio depth was minimal. The RC's definetly had a unique sound but which one was more pleasurable to listen to when blasting some Don't Stop Believing by Journey was hard to say.

The one thing I have noticed with the C-500's is that is requires a decent amount of power for them to hit the low frequencies. On low to medium volume they don't quite hit the bass that some people prefer.

All in all though unless you're getting the CF or even the RC's at an incredible deal then it's not value for the money.

 

[MADCOW]

Thanks,

Any ideas on speakers that would be noticeably better for music than the c-500s, without spending a fortune. Keep in mind shipping racks up costs quickly so I'd rather not have to do it, and I'm willing to supplement with a subwoofer if need be.

I could just put the new speakers in a different room and use only for music, in which case timbre matching to my c-series is obviously irrelevant.

I am open to suggestions.