[inzomniak]

I'm contemplating on whether to pick up a set of Polk Audio RM 85 FS or a set of Energy Take Classic 5.1

Does anyone here have any experiences? The Energy speakers are an older model but I heard it's really good bang-for-buck.

Any insight please?

[sonick]

Energy all the way, no doubt. The entry level, low end Polks aren't very good at all. The one you have listed seems to be one of those.

[AsBannedAsItGets]

+1 on the Energy's. The lower model Polks aren't all that great. The only Polks that I'd be willing to buy are the LSi models.
Go for the Energys.

[_Hotsauce_]

Choose a couple songs you really know well, Burn them, test out both speakers then decide. If possible, make sure both speakers are running similiar sources, and are in a similar sized room.

Sure you can take peoples recommendations on how speakers sound, but other people aren't you and don't know what you like.

[Ducdesmo]

How about Klipsch?

[Manic!]

Buy 3 pairs of these:
http://www2.visions.ca/catalogue/category/Details.aspx?menuId=368&categoryId=160&productId=2903

or take a look at these:
http://www.sonicboomaudio.com/speakers-systems-sbs01-speakers-c-13_15.html

[skholla]

I have to agree that Polk Audios low end stuft is a bit lacking. At $900 the Energy package is an incredible value, I remember demoing this system and thinking of how large the sound was for such a small foot print, great sound too. Right now at Futureshop they have the Energy package bundled with a Denon receiver for $1300, great deal unless you had your eyes on a different or higher end unit.

Check out the Klipsch Reference series too, I could not be happier with the package I got from them, the sound is amazing. I got everything from London Drugs at 50% off, they have sales on Klipsch from time to time, check them out too.

[_Hotsauce_]

SVS products are incredible for the price, you can test them out, defiantly check them out. I own their lowest model sub, and it blows everything out of the water in the same price range; and I tested like 10 subs before deciding.

[Matsuda]

I have the Energy Take 5.1's and they're great

[sonick]

Wow the polk costs $1,300??? I'd say HELL NO. I thought it was a $800 set, tops.

Yeah, for that money, buy 3 pairs of matching bookshelf speakers and a sub. As mentioned SVS is incredible.

[_Hotsauce_]

If you want a wicked packaged deal, check out -->http://www.sonicboomaudio.com/sbs01-system-complete-home-theatre-system-p-15.html
You can upgrade the sub too if you want a bit more bump, but the PB10 is one hell of a sub for the price

[achiam]

Energy all the way, no doubt. The entry level, low end Polks aren't very good at all. The one you have listed seems to be one of those.

Energy over Polk. Its been several years (about 7) since I was last hardcore into reading about Home Theatre stuff, but Energy speakers were fine in my friend's set-up.

Energy products are mid-top end of the "middle market," and if you're running an average living room set up, its usually difficult to discern really fine sounds in movies (e.g. watching a concert DVD and hearing a tiny chime from a corner).

My friend who used Energy had a sound isolated room with egg shell sound absorbance wall-wall, powered by a DD sound processor which fed to 7x2 THX rack power amplifiers. This is the only way to achieve really low distortion and it really comes out in comparison to just using a typical all-in-one receiver.

Mind you though, this is from 7 years ago so stuff is probably much better now.

Also the only 2 places I learned anything at all were Commercial Electronics on Burrard, and another place on W Broadway/ Fir?.

The people at Sony/Future Shop are complete retards and I learned more off crutchfield.com in a day than asking sales people in several weeks.

[Cman333]

Energy>Polk for sure

[ime2006]

How about Energy VS Klipsch ?? :)

[inzomniak]

Well it's just that I get about 50% off for both sets so I'm deciding on which one.

I'm assuming Klipsch is the better brand?

[sonick]

Klipsch is in the same league as Energy, I'd say.

[Cman333]

I personally prefer Klipshe over Energy. But both are on equal terms I'd say in terms of price/value.

Don't buy speakers just for the brand. Every manufacturer is different. You should listen to them before you buy them. What may sound good to one, may not sound good to another. All speakers generally have different characteristics. Sound sound boomy, some sound flat, some sound sharp, some sound smooth. Etc etc.

If you're looking in the $1000+ range consider KEF. More of a musical SQ speaker but still kicks some ass. I have a good hookup for Clearance KEF towers. I'd have to check if they're still available though.

Should be something like this:
http://visions.ca/catalogue/category/Details.aspx?categoryId=155&productId=2926&menuId=368&parentId1=368&parentId2=''&parentId3=''&menuLevel=1

I think I can still get it cheaper too. If you're interested I can find out, just PM me.

[skholla]

Both Energy and Klipsch offer great products, in fact Energy is owned by Klipsch. When you are doing your comparisons make sure that you select speakers from similar classes, and types. There is no fair comparison putting one brands mid-high end product against another brands low end, also think speaker sizes. A full size wood cabinet speaker is going to sound better and have a great output than a speaker a quarter of its size, make sure you compare apples to apples.

[inzomniak]

Thanks C, I was pretty close to buying a 5.1 set of KEFs, but then my brother told me he can get Energy Take 5.1 at a discount, so I held off.

The KEF towers look great, but there is no way I can take that back to Asia with me on the plane hahaha... plus my 700 sq.ft. apartment probably can't handle the power

I personally prefer Klipshe over Energy. But both are on equal terms I'd say in terms of price/value.

Don't buy speakers just for the brand. Every manufacturer is different. You should listen to them before you buy them. What may sound good to one, may not sound good to another. All speakers generally have different characteristics. Sound sound boomy, some sound flat, some sound sharp, some sound smooth. Etc etc.

If you're looking in the $1000+ range consider KEF. More of a musical SQ speaker but still kicks some ass. I have a good hookup for Clearance KEF towers. I'd have to check if they're still available though.

Should be something like this:
http://visions.ca/catalogue/category/Details.aspx?categoryId=155&productId=2926&menuId=368&parentId1=368&parentId2=''&parentId3=''&menuLevel=1

I think I can still get it cheaper too. If you're interested I can find out, just PM me.

[JHuJHu]

N R G! FTW!!

[Hondaracer]

SVS products are incredible for the price, you can test them out, defiantly check them out. I own their lowest model sub, and it blows everything out of the water in the same price range; and I tested like 10 subs before deciding.

I have the SVS 5.0 setup with the larger of the bookshevles all around + center

it's better then most of the high end systems i hear that friends/relatives have paied sometimes $5000 for, and i got all 5 of my speakers for under $1350

[Manic!]

Another option from a Canadian company. http://www.axiomaudio.com Buy from their factory outlet and save even more.

[Cman333]

Thanks C, I was pretty close to buying a 5.1 set of KEFs, but then my brother told me he can get Energy Take 5.1 at a discount, so I held off.

The KEF towers look great, but there is no way I can take that back to Asia with me on the plane hahaha... plus my 700 sq.ft. apartment probably can't handle the power

Most people I know that live in Asia buy the speakers in Asia becauses it's alot cheaper "supposedly". I've never shopped for speakers in Asia myself personally. Maybe you should hold off and see what you can get there.

Saves you the hassle of trying to bring back 5 speakers + a sub.

[Manic!]

If your buying speakers in Asia I would look at aurum cantus and Swan speakers.

http://www.aurumcantus.com/
http://www.swanspeaker.com/

[90Rxs5]

i love my harmon kardon computer set up, HK all the way

[sonick]

i love my harmon kardon computer set up, HK all the way

-1. Few consumer electronics makers can do speakers well, HK is no exception. For computers they may be decent, but for real home audio in a room (i.e. not in front of a desk) there are tons of brands better than HK.

Notice how all major speaker companies usually don't make anything other than speakers?

[Manic!]

-1. Few consumer electronics makers can do speakers well, HK is no exception. For computers they may be decent, but for real home audio in a room (i.e. not in front of a desk) there are tons of brands better than HK.

Notice how all major speaker companies usually don't make anything other than speakers?

HK also owns JBL and they make these:

http://www.harmanaudio.com/images/products/front_large/K2_S9800WG.jpg

[sonick]

HK also owns JBL and they make these:

http://www.harmanaudio.com/images/products/front_large/K2_S9800WG.jpg

Yeah, JBL makes them, not HK. High end JBL is good. My dad has a set of these:

http://www.trocmusic.com/images/annonces/upload/222976.jpg

[_Hotsauce_]

Check out www.audioholics.com if you want a bigger range of options, they have reviews on tons of stuff, and do comparisons of different brands with in specific price ranges on a regular basis. Their forum is also very helpful.

[inzomniak]

Thanks everyone.

I've done a lot of speaker hunting... and the prices range from cheap to super expensive... in fact it's kind of an overkill here in HK.

I'm not the one carrying the set back anyway, it's my brother, so I think it'll be okay hahaha...

Let me check out these sites and see what I can do, but I'm glad we are havng some good discussion with this

[Hondaracer]

AV123.com is having a really good sale on bookshelves right now, they are the cherry finish though but great deal