Which Tiny Speaker System: Energy RC-Micro or Mirage MX 5.1?

[Substance-P]

I am not sure if this is the best subforum for this question (ths system will not be for home theater but rather for the family room).

We are replacing an 40 inch 4:3 HD TV that currently had a Polk Surroundbar sitting on top of it with a PSW-111 sub with an up to date smaller TV (still 40 inches, but only an inch and a half deep instead of 28 inches Big Smile).

Anyway, we are going with a small stand and I have decided to sell the surroundbar to a buddy who can't swing a new system right now and have received the go ahead to buy a small 3.1 setup (but it has to fit in the shelf on the new TV stand...accept for the sub obviously).

So I have it narrowed down to the Energy Micro system

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_732RCMIC/Energy-RC-Micro-5-1.html?tp=184

and the Mirage MX 5.1

http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/item/features/501154958/mirage-mx-5-1?s_c=site_search

I see the sub as being better with the MX setup but I am not sure how the omnipolar will sound in a shelf and I don't know about the look of the three of them in close proximity to one another...plus it is more $ than the Energy (but Vann's is throwing in a new receiver with the MXs that I can sell to my buddy real cheap)

I prefer the aesthetic of the Energy micro (having a center channel that looks shorter and longer relative to the L and R speaker) and I prefer the price to the Mirage.

Does anyone have first hand experience with either of these systems or suggestions for one over the other?

 

[zieglj01]

I am not sure if this is the best subforum for this question (ths system will not be for home theater but rather for the family room).

We are replacing an 40 inch 4:3 HD TV that currently had a Polk Surroundbar sitting on top of it with a PSW-111 sub with an up to date smaller TV (still 40 inches, but only an inch and a half deep instead of 28 inches Big Smile).

Anyway, we are going with a small stand and I have decided to sell the surroundbar to a buddy who can't swing a new system right now and have received the go ahead to buy a small 3.1 setup (but it has to fit in the shelf on the new TV stand...accept for the sub obviously).

So I have it narrowed down to the Energy Micro system

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_732RCMIC/Energy-RC-Micro-5-1.html?tp=184

and the Mirage MX 5.1

http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/item/features/501154958/mirage-mx-5-1?s_c=site_search

I see the sub as being better with the MX setup but I am not sure how the omnipolar will sound in a shelf and I don't know about the look of the three of them in close proximity to one another...plus it is more $ than the Energy (but Vann's is throwing in a new receiver with the MXs that I can sell to my buddy real cheap)

I prefer the aesthetic of the Energy micro (having a center channel that looks shorter and longer relative to the L and R speaker) and I prefer the price to the Mirage.

Does anyone have first hand experience with either of these systems or suggestions for one over the other?

You can not put the omnipolar in the shelf. What is you total budget?

 

[GranteedEV]

In this type of speaker, personally the first thing I`d look at would be the crossover frequency I`m going to be setting. The closer to 80 Hz I can get, the more natural things are going to sound - The mirages satellites have an FR down to 110Hz, and the Energies have an FR down to 150hz. The mirage sub goes from 42-200hz, and the energy sub goes from 36-180hz. I`d say the Mirages will likely sound less localizable but their overall design makes me wonder if they even sound decent!

Did you have a problem with something like EMP`s compact speaker offerings?

http://store.audioholics.com/product/2815/66234/destination-audio-cs100-5-1-system-with-emp-subwoofer

http://store.emptek.com/special_eca.php

Overall though, if it isn't for Home Theater, and it's for a family room, even in that price range, wouldn't a smaller pair of towers in 2.0 be more practical and more importantly, be less localizable?

You know, something like a Boston Acoustics CS-226, EMP e5ti, Aperion Intimus 4T, or eD a6.3??

 

[zieglj01]

In this type of speaker, personally the first thing I`d look at would be the crossover frequency I`m going to be setting. The closer to 80 Hz I can get, the more natural things are going to sound - The mirages satellites have an FR down to 110Hz, and the Energies have an FR down to 150hz. The mirage sub goes from 42-200hz, and the energy sub goes from 36-180hz. I`d say the Mirages will likely sound less localizable but their overall design makes me wonder if they even sound decent!

Did you have a problem with something like EMP`s compact speaker offerings?

http://store.audioholics.com/product/2815/66234/destination-audio-cs100-5-1-system-with-emp-subwoofer

http://store.emptek.com/special_eca.php

Overall though, if it isn't for Home Theater, and it's for a family room, even in that price range, wouldn't a smaller pair of towers in 2.0 be more practical and more importantly, be less localizable?

You know, something like a Boston Acoustics CS-226, EMP e5ti, Aperion Intimus 4T, or eD a6.3??

It is hard to argue the price. I prefer that the satellites go down to
80 hz - however, if they go down to 100 hz you should still get an
over all decent sound. Them prices are good. For a family room that
is not for home theater, then small towers will be nice. Also, good
strong bookshelves will work too. Onecall.com has the Boston VR1
tower speakers at a great price right know. They are good speakers.
I have to admit that the Mirages sound decent. Do not put the omni-
polars in a shelf.

 

[buzzy]

Tiny systems like that severely compromise the sound for looks and size. How about the RC Mini?

 

[bandphan]

Have you looked at Orb Audio?

 

[zieglj01]

It is hard to argue the price. I prefer that the satellites go down to 80 hz - however, if they go down to 100 hz you
should still get an over all decent sound.

I must correct myself - the Mirages with a 2 1/2" woofer will be more
than 3 db down at 110 hz. Try to find something where the satellite
speakers have at least a 4" woofer. I apologize for any confusion. I
have experience with bigger Mirages and they sound good.

 

[bandphan]

With any sat speaker you want to get a sub that covers well above 100hz so you can cross as high as possible.

 

[LimiterOne]

+1 for Orb Audio. The satellites are quite impressive for their size.

Peace

LO

 

[zieglj01]

With any sat speaker you want to get a sub that covers well above 100hz so you can cross as high as possible.

The lower the satellites can go - the more natural the system will sound.
A sub with a higher crossover setting - will draw attention to the sub.
Just as in a two way speaker system - you want a seamless crossover
from the woofer to the tweeter so that there is no distraction and an
even sound. When a sub is crossed over higher you tend to lose some
balance between mid bass, voices and instruments which should come
from the satellites. This is from my experience - however, I am not trying
to take joy from anyone and I respect people who enjoy their systems -
and the ones who are on a budget and are restricted on what they can
afford, or want to buy.

 

[bandphan]

The lower the satellites can go - the more natural the system will sound.
A sub with a higher crossover setting - will draw attention to the sub.
Just as in a two way speaker system - you want a seamless crossover
from the woofer to the tweeter so that there is no distraction and an
even sound. When a sub is crossed over higher you tend to lose some
balance between mid bass, voices and instruments which should come
from the satellites. This is from my experience - however, I am not trying
to take joy from anyone and I respect people who enjoy their systems -
and the ones who are on a budget and are restricted on what they can
afford, or want to buy.

I agree about localization, hence the comment about a good sub that plays "well" above 100hz. If the sats 3db is 110, 100, 95, 90 ect you want to be able to cross the sub higher than the 3db to better blend. The current polk will not cut it with this thought, and careful setup of channel levels must be done. Ive sold nano sats, orb, and monitor audio radius all crossed at 100hz or above with good success for the overall sound and without localization of the sub.

 

[zieglj01]

I agree about localization, hence the comment about a good sub that plays "well" above 100hz. If the sats 3db is 110, 100, 95, 90 ect you want to be able to cross the sub higher than the 3db to better blend. The current polk will not cut it with this thought, and careful setup of channel levels must be done. Ive sold nano sats, orb, and monitor audio radius all crossed at 100hz or above with good success for the overall sound and without localization of the sub.

Polk needs to do more work - a lot of people are having trouble crossing
over the small Polk. I would guess Monitor Audio sounds good.

 

[zieglj01]

I agree about localization, hence the comment about a good sub that plays "well" above 100hz. If the sats 3db is 110, 100, 95, 90 ect you want to be able to cross the sub higher than the 3db to better blend. The current polk will not cut it with this thought, and careful setup of channel levels must be done. Ive sold nano sats, orb, and monitor audio radius all crossed at 100hz or above with good success for the overall sound and without localization of the sub.

I should also say thank you for your response - It is good that one
buys from a place with a 30 day return policy. Their room and ears
are the final judge.

 

[Substance-P]

Thank you for all of the thoughtful feedback thus far. I have been given a lot to look over and investigate further.

In answer to the questions about whether or not a small book shelf or floorstanding speaker option would be better-the answer is yes. If framed in a different way: would I be able to sell my Wife on that option-the answer is no. She has been more than supportive of the home theater upstairs; however, she asks that whatever goes into the family room fit on the TV stand itself (either next to the TV or on one of the shelves)...and we are trying to find a relatively small stand to open up the room a bit more.

With respect to overall budget for speakers and a sub-it is flexible. I was hoping to keep it between $400-$750-the lower the better as we are doing a handful of home improvement projects.

I have been looking at these 5.1 bundles-however I really only need 3.1 at the most (and could do 2.1).

One of the challenges is that the TV stand
l---FFFPPP-X--l
l--------------l
l--------------l
l--------------l
(represented by the X [fire place represented by FP) is setup so that the TV has to be turned to be viewed from the left side of the room. The speakers would be pretty right side loaded if just put in a shelf fireing forward, so if I can angle them a bit to the left, that would be great.

There is a chance I could sell some thin floorstanding if I could get them to fit behind the stand (or maybe to either side of the TV stand...but there is not much space there).

Room is 20X15.

 

[Substance-P]

As I have been thinking about this, there is a another option as well. If I went with one of the smaller units (Orb, RC-Micro, etc.), I might be able to be mount them on the outside of the TV stand directly and tilt them in a more ideal location. The more I look at these orbs, the more I wonder if I could mount them that way.

 

[GranteedEV]

If space/clutter is the primary factor, I'd consider some quality on-wall speakers... and possibly wall-mount the flat panel TV as well

http://www.axiomaudio.com/m2-onwall-speakers.html
With
http://www.axiomaudio.com/vp100-onwall-center-channel.html
plus
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=300-635
and
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=109&cp_id=10828&cs_id=1082806&p_id=3724&seq=1&format=2

 

[bandphan]

If your looking to do 3.1 and WAF situation, you might consider a product like this. The speakers are mounted to the display with grills to match the display size. The center channel is incorporated into each L/R. Here is a review of the "sketch" series. (I linked the Portrait series). They are not cheap but considering its 3 speakers not two and with a strong sub provide a very nice home theater experience.

 

[buzzy]

she asks that whatever goes into the family room fit on the TV stand itself (either next to the TV or on one of the shelves)...and we are trying to find a relatively small stand to open up the room a bit more.

<snip>

Room is 20X15.

That would still seem to leave the option to get something bigger than the tiny, tiny speakers you're talking about, as long as you get the right stand or whatever. Tiny speakers will be disappointing in the room and setup you describe.

 

[Substance-P]

That would still seem to leave the option to get something bigger than the tiny, tiny speakers you're talking about, as long as you get the right stand or whatever. Tiny speakers will be disappointing in the room and setup you describe.

The challenge is finding the right TV stand to fit on the wall without obscuring the A/C vent that is on one side. The vent makes it tricky to find the combination of characteristics we want.

 

[zieglj01]

The challenge is finding the right TV stand to fit on the wall without obscuring the A/C vent that is on one side. The vent makes it tricky to find the combination of characteristics we want.

I know you are in a situation and it is complicated - maybe marriage and
buying a car is easier. I am going to reccomend something and maybe you
can find a way to make it work. Go to Bostonacoustics.com and go to
their online store and click on refurbish products. Move down and find the
E40 speakers - I have owned them and they are serious sounding. Try and
get 3 of these for the front channels and find away to fit them. They were
the high level before Boston switched to the VS series. Go to Emotiva.com
and look at the Ultra 10 subwoofer - it is worth looking into. This would be
good if you can find away to make it work. You will have to spend a lot
more to beat the E40 and they are good at handling power - they play
down to 75 hz which is nice.