Bang for the Buck: 2-ch. Audio Rig

[DeusExa]

Hey guys, posted in the 2-ch subforum, but wasn't getting many responses...

I've been wanting to get new bookshelves for my computer rig, a 2-ch setup, primarily for music, some composing, and a few movies...Listen mostly to orchestral film soundtracks (i.e. Dark Knight/Transformers), classical music (i.e. violin concertos/string quartets), and a bit of light alternative rock/pop/female vocals with guitar. So a lot of acoustic music.

I have my LSi15s downstairs as my main movie/2ch handler, and wish for a good performance when I'm also on my computer...the LSi7/9 are out of my budget (under $300)...and wanted to try some other brands
Heard good things about Energy Speakers, especially the RC-10.
(~$300, although MSRP is $600)...

Will be powering these with a Nuforce Icon Amp/DAC
relatively new (Stereophile Review) (http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=10&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.stereophile.com%2Fintegrateda mps%2Fnuforce_icon_usb-input_integrated_amplifier%2F&ei=K-RTSp76LYP-tQP7k8nrBw&usg=AFQjCNHwxYXr355xrckkfzbUq4yiwud-yw&sig2=CKatF9z6hTplxHFB-piB_Q)
Could pick up for ~$190...unless there's something else better out there...

suggestions and thanks!


EDIT: A friend just contacted me about his friend who has a pair of Focal Chorus 706V for ~$300, a demo pair he never used..so same price as the RC-10s...he lives a distance away, so an audition is not likely...would the Focals be a better bet? seems like the TAS review (http://www.avguide.com/review/focal-chorus-706v-loudspeaker) is positive..

Thanks!

[zarrdoss]

Thanks man! I was perfectly happy with my Klipsch Media speakers and now you have thrown another idea in my head. Just kidding, The Focal's sound good IMO.

[curved]

How about some Monitor 4's? A good set isn't that hard to come by.

[leroyjr1]

How about some Monitor 4's? A good set isn't that hard to come by.


I'm using monitor 4's with the peerless tweeters and it does a great job.

[DeusExa]

Thanks man! I was perfectly happy with my Klipsch Media speakers and now you have thrown another idea in my head. Just kidding, The Focal's sound good IMO.

lol...have you heard the Focal's?


Also, forgot to mention that I'm an aesthetics whore:cool:, and good-looking "sleek" newer speakers are what I'm looking for, of course, good-sounding, too!

http://s7d1.scene7.com/is/image/vanns/542373846?$medium_item$
Energy RC-10

http://imgg2.store.pchome.com.tw/~prod/M00870244/706v.jpg
Focal 706V

So, sorry, Monitor 4s are out of the question!

I love the look of the Focal 807V (sounds apparently good too), but they are ~$1000...

[Lasareath]

I use these for my main computer:

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/speakers_audio/home_pc_speakers/devices/224&cl=us,en

[Zero]

Hey kiddo, it's been awhile. I hope life's been treating ya well.

Given your situation, I'd like to direct you towards this amp:

http://store.virtueaudio.com/

It's not much more than the NuForce ICON and although it doesn't offer a DAC, you get a lot more amp for not much more cash. If you listen to classical music and movie scores, you will want an amp with good power so it can handle those many crescendo's, and the Virtue Audio amp can do that.

As for speakers, JM LAB and Energy both make good products. Another option in the affordable realm would be EPOS. I would recommend against going with the LSi-7's only because of their lack of air, limited dynamics, and questionable timbre.

[zarrdoss]

lol...have you heard the Focal's?



No. but I know they don't make crap.

[BigMac]

For a real sleeper of a speaker I would look at the Jamo C603. These speakers are very highly thought of and the music that these produce is outstanding. At under $300.00 for the pair it's an outstanding, if not awesome buy. They fit the type of music you are listening to perfectly. Instruments sounds lifelike and are not colored and vocals are very clear with a nice air about them. If you can find a new/used pair of Jamo C803 I would seriously consider them. Here is a review of the 803......
http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/bookshelf/jamo-c803-bookshelf-speaker-review

Some pics of the Jamo C603 for you:
http://666kb.com/i/bagwzrzmxrg8d1g6e.jpg
http://666kb.com/i/bagx5w8mvkbcgeyau.jpg
http://666kb.com/i/bagx6l9dojxi1z9ra.jpg
http://666kb.com/i/bagx7sgcxypfg8x0m.jpg
http://666kb.com/i/bagx8awzbs57ofpye.jpg
http://666kb.com/i/bagx97i1mqucl5cti.jpg
http://666kb.com/i/bagx9m4wy9lel0heu.jpg
http://666kb.com/i/bagx9wvifvaqfoqw6.jpg

[Face]

http://www.cambridgeaudio.com/summary.php?PID=213

You can't beat them for $100 on the used market. I believe they're around $200 new.

[DeusExa]

lol....this is why I love this forum...

@Lasareath: I'm pass that stage for music, (he put up a link for Logitech Z-5500), since I have Z-5300e already for gaming/movies...want something that can do my FLAC justice..

@Zero: Hey Sean!!! haven't talked to you in a long time, recently been in a car accident, wasn't too serious though, so I'm fine... (finally done with school year:eek:), and this summer's going to be fun and games...lol
I've never heard of Virtue amps, but I'll take your word for it...which particular model were you looking at?
p.s. how's your computer system doing? I've been slowly upgrading mine..

@BigMac: Jamo's look very interesting. Will consider (find a good price)
@Face: Budget was~$300 for speakers...although those are probably a good deal still!

[cnh]

All of those options look good...but I've only heard the Focals...which are very very nice--and can be powered by modest equipment!

Jamo...used to be a small rage in the 80s don't know what they're up to these days...but that is a nice looking pair of bookshelves....I've always wondered what the phallic center covers on some speakers were for...when so many other high end speakers often don't sport them? And some do!

Looks like you have some decisions to make.

cnh

[DeusExa]

All of those options look good...but I've only heard the Focals...which are very very nice--and can be powered by modest equipment!

Jamo...used to be a small rage in the 80s don't know what they're up to these days...but that is a nice looking pair of bookshelves....I've always wondered what the phallic center covers on some speakers were for...when so many other high end speakers often don't sport them? And some do!

Looks like you have some decisions to make.

cnh

lol...between Energy RC-10 and Focal 706V...heard the Focals were considered having a sharp/bright/revealing almost fatiguing high-end...

EDIT: ordered a pair of Energy RC-10 from Vanns, because they had a return clearance pair for ~$269.00 free shipping, with a 10-day or so return policy no restocking fee....hope they come without scratches or anything...the Focal would have been ~$330 shipped...

[Zero]

Hey lil stuff,

Yeah, it's been some time! Sorry to hear that you've been involved in a car accident. Were you the driver? What are the plans for the summer? I pretty much got all the vacation stuff out of the way. It's been intensely stressful, but fun just the same. Now its time to do that boring grown-up stuff called bringin' in da money.

Either amp will suit your application just fine. Be it the Virtue One or the Virtue Two.

My computer audio system is in the same state my main system is caught in: perpetual change. Right now I have a real spiffy pair of monitors attached to the rig, but its likely just a temporary thing.

I may be honing in on sealing the deal with my main two channel rig though. We'll see. I just can't wait for it to be over.

[DeusExa]

I got my Energy RC-10 bookshelves a few days ago- they arrived in the wrong color and one of the tweeters had been slightly bent, but i gave them a listen anyway. The Energy's are pretty amazing - incredibly smooth, almost sweet sounding high-end, completely uncolored, laid-back midrange, and an impactful, fast bass, extended for its size (down to ~50-55Hz) The RC-10s produce sound that is huge, almost like small towers, and they play so easily. They actually caught my eye at first because of their gorgeous look, real wood veneer with modern/exotic looking drive units...reminds me of Dynaudio build, but the sound would have blown me away if I had not owned quality speakers beforehand (Polk LSi15). I'm running them off a vintage Onkyo integrated amplifier for right now.

I'd say their highs aren't as, airy clean as the LSi ring tweeter on the 15s, but actually a bit smoother than the 15s. If I haven't heard the LSi15s, I'd be tempted to say that this was the best high frequency performance I've heard. Overall, the RC-10s are very balanced sounding, near-neutral, but with a slight warmth in the midbass range. I sent the pair back (for another color/undamaged tweeter new rc10), the new pair is coming Friday. After a good burn-in (Energy reccomends ~100 hrs lol), I'll have more feedback. Also, the sound of the Energys is completely unfatiguing. I could listen to them for hours at high volume, and my ears would not be uncomfortable. And they have this energy to its sound, laid-back, but dynamic.



No, my mom was driving and some guy accidentally hit us when we were turning...our car is amazingly fine...

Plans for summer....well, I'm doing some volunteer work with California Philharmonic concerts, working part-time at a robotics/engineering firm (next door to my dad's biotech firm), and doing some research in optimizing computer networks at a research university...busy summer for me! But at least I get to take some time off and enjoy some games, movies, and music...wanting to finally buy an LSiC, an Emotiva xpa-3 or 5 (still haven't decided which one), and some RTi dipole rears (still haven't decided which one), and a Cadence sub.

How was the vacation stuff? Do you know Ender? He actually lives ~20 min away from me.

[DeusExa]

P.S. Still deciding on an amp...the NuForce looks really enticing...