Which one of these Monitor?s would you choose?

Conradicles
Conradicles Posts: 6,134
edited January 2012 in Speakers
I have narrowed my search for some budget monitors down to these 3 models:
- Energy RC-10
- Epos ELS8
- Paradigm Atom

They are all about the same price.
These will get some occasional play in my small 2-channel system in my sig, in rotation with some vintage Polk Monitor 7A and Infinity RS7B.

Any thought or input is greatly appreciated!
Post edited by Conradicles on
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Comments

  • Joe08867
    Joe08867 Posts: 3,919
    edited December 2011
    I like the Energy RC-10 myself. The Para's are a close second, I have not heard the EPOS.
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  • jpena53
    jpena53 Posts: 68
    edited December 2011
    What's your budget btw?
    Fronts: Monitor 20s
    Center: CS2
    Rear: Monitor 30s
    Sub: PSW505
    AVR: Pioneer VSX-521K

    My first true audio setup :smile:

    Current Upgrade Plans
    Fronts: Monitor 70s
    Center: CS2
    Rear: Monitor 50s
    Sub: PSW505
    AVR: ???? No idea yet
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  • Conradicles
    Conradicles Posts: 6,134
    edited December 2011
    jpena53 wrote: »
    What's your budget btw?

    Around $260
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited December 2011
    Epos. It's the closest to the vintage MON and Paradigm would be my second choice. I wouldn't bother with the Energy but some folks like them. Look for some used KEF, Monitor Audio, Celestion, B&W or NHT.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • Conradicles
    Conradicles Posts: 6,134
    edited December 2011
    dorokusai wrote: »
    I wouldn't bother with the Energy

    Wow Mark that is a bold statement. Think I'll get them just because you said that lol.:biggrin:
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited December 2011
    Go ahead, makes no difference to me. I've never heard anything but hype from that brand and they sound like a Paradigm clone depending on the model...with a hint more warmth. If I wanted that, I'd just buy Monitor Audio, and I'm not even a huge fan of them either. Among the 3, I'd choose Paradigm...the Polk Audio of Canada.

    I LOVE Monitor loudspeakers and Planars. That's what I've played with for almost 10+ years, since I avoid monkey coffins if at all possible....that's not to say I don't own a pair(SRT), or two. My love of bookends and their ilk are well documented here.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • Conradicles
    Conradicles Posts: 6,134
    edited December 2011
    The Warfedale Diamond 10.1 gets great reviews for a few dollars more, and a less expensive Pioneer may be the sleeper of the bunch. Maybe I should buy them all, keep the winner of the shootout and return the rest.:cheesygrin:
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,217
    edited December 2011
    EPOS without even thinking about it.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • Conradicles
    Conradicles Posts: 6,134
    edited January 2012
    Think I've narrowed it down to:
    1. EPOS ELS8 = $250 on sale
    2. Energy RC-10 = $269

    Any more thoughts?
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 33,011
    edited January 2012
    Epos and don't look back. Has a more complete sound top to bottom. For the money, it's a tuff competitor.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited January 2012
    Between those two, Epos.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • Drenis
    Drenis Posts: 2,871
    edited January 2012
    dorokusai wrote: »
    Paradigm...the Polk Audio of Canada.

    Hmm... I've never heard that one before. Mind you, never listened to any.
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  • Conradicles
    Conradicles Posts: 6,134
    edited January 2012
    Well, I was so close to pulling the trigger on the EPOS but then a total shift of gear occured and I snagged a pair of Focal 705s. I like the fact that Focal makes their own drivers in house, and hopefully the engineering support will trickle down to these lower level bookies.

    I will say that the Monitor 7A's are breaking in quite nicely after the crossover upgrade and I really like them. A sleeper for sure.:cool:
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  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited January 2012
    Good choice. But aren't those "way" above your original price range. I've never seen a very cheap pair of Focals?

    Some guys above are not into Focals, but I like them quite a bit, they image well--have an almost holographic sound-stage and a sweet high end for an alum/mag tweeter. In fact I can't think of a Focal "tweeter" that I don't like!

    Did you UP your budget or just find something at a good price "used"?

    cnh
    Currently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!

    Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
    [sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash]
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  • Conradicles
    Conradicles Posts: 6,134
    edited January 2012
    Did up the budget a bit and bought a used pair in mint condition. CNH, do you have some RC-10's?
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  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited January 2012
    Yes, I do have a pair of RC-10s and contrary to some views above, they're not bad. In fact the high end is fairly "mellow" for an alum dome. The bass seems to reach deeper than my Rti-A3s but is not quite as "tight", but that can be addressed by placement and/or the foam port plugs that come with the speakers. They are picky about how close they are to walls. You need to make sure they're not too close or else the bass gets a little boomy.

    I think I'd agree most with zero, above. Although I have "not" heard the Epos. I do find the Energy a bit on the "warmer" side of things.

    If I had to rate them. I'd put them between my Rti-A3s and LSi-7s. Not quite as musical as the 7s but not that far from them either?

    The Focals, though, are really nice!

    cnh
    Currently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!

    Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
    [sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash]
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  • Conradicles
    Conradicles Posts: 6,134
    edited January 2012
    Thanks for the info man and the reviews on the RC-10's are stellar.
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  • Conradicles
    Conradicles Posts: 6,134
    edited January 2012
    The Focal mini-monitors are amazing. Here is a pic of mine. The inverted tweeter is sick smooth!


    705.jpg


    I want to get my hands on the LSiM bookies to give me a reason to sell these!
    705.jpg 267.7K
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  • deronb1
    deronb1 Posts: 5,021
    edited January 2012
    What about PSB? Alpha B1s?
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  • TNHNDYMAN
    TNHNDYMAN Posts: 2,145
    edited January 2012
    Hey Eric,

    If you still would like to try a few others for fun I have a pair of B & W DM110's and a pair of Paradigm Mini-Monitors (comparable to today's atoms) I'd be willing to part w/ both for less than your original budget. PM if interested and we could do another meet in Asheville if you wanted. I still need to go back and pick up my Carver amp.
    2-ch System: Parasound P/LD 2000 pre, Parasound HCA-1000 amp, Parasound T/DQ Tuner, Phase Technology PC-100 Tower speakers, Technics SL-1600 Turntable, Denon 2910 SACD/CD player, Peachtree DAC iT and X1asynchorus USB converter, HSU VTF-3 subwoofer.

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  • Conradicles
    Conradicles Posts: 6,134
    edited January 2012
    TNHNDYMAN wrote: »
    I have a pair of B & W DM110's and a pair of Paradigm Mini-Monitors (comparable to today's atoms) I'd be willing to part w/ both for less than your original budget.

    Wow thanks for the offer that is a great deal. But I must pass...my next purchase after I save some pennies is going to be a another huge subwoofer.:cool:
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  • Danny Tse
    Danny Tse Posts: 5,206
    edited January 2012
    Nice looking Focals. They kinda resemble my Monitor Audio Bronze B2, which MA reissued as the M2.
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