I really hate to write this review because these really are excellent loudspeakers. However, I feel that I should relate a personal experience which calls into question Energy's famed reliability. I first purchased a pair of RC-10's back in May from Audio Advisor. When I opened the box, I marvelled at how beautiful the speakers were (these were the rosenut version). However, when I hooked them up and listened I was distinctly underwhelmed. No bass, mediocre imaging, and highs that didn't really sound that extended. And these were demo models so they had already been (at least) partially broken in. Well, I kept the speakers for about a week before deciding to return them.

That should of been the end of the story, except that a few months later I saw that Audio Advisor was discounting the RC-30's. After reading some rave reviews, I decided to take the plunge feeling that maybe the RC-10's had simply been too small for my room. As soon as I had my new speakers hooked up, I could immediately tell something was amiss. One of the speakers sounded much duller than the other. Turns out that the tweeter was not outputting any sound. (BTW, I've owned many pairs of different loudspeakers and know how to check to make sure my connection are good, etc. so when I say that the tweeter wasn't working you can believe me!) Needless to say, I returned the RC-30's but felt guilty about doing so and therefore decided to purchase another pair of RC-10's for my bedroom.

This pair of RC-10's sounded great...at first. In fact, they sounded so good that I moved them into my living room and hooked them up to my main stereo. Now this was more like it! The speakers had plenty of bass and such sparkling highs that I began to suspect the last pair must have been damaged. Unfortunately, soon after I started to detect an occassional buzz emanating from one of the tweeters. It was intermittent, but definitely there. When I looked closer at the offending tweeter, I noticed that it was visibly blemished with spots of something (glue maybe?). But when I called Audio Advisor, the salesman scoffed at my suggestion that perhaps Energy had a quality control problem and implied that I just didn't know how to hook up speakers! This angered me naturally, but I really wanted to own a pair of these so I reluctantly agreed to an exchange even though the salesman made it clear that this would constitue a Final Sale.

Well I now have this final pair of RC-10's and I'm happy to report that they sound fantastic! However, cosmetically one of the tweeters in this pair is even more visibly blemished than the tweeter from the last pair, though so far this has not had any sonic consequences. Also, though it probably sounds like I'm just being picky, the wood finish on this pair of RC-10s doesn't look as professional as the other 2 pairs I owned.

The reason I'm relating this story is to warn potential buyers about a possible quality control problem in the Energy Reference Connoisseur line. These speakers are afterall made in a Chinese factory and not in Canada like the former Connoiseur line. Also, I'm wondering if Audio Advisor is maybe knowlingly or unknowlingly selling B stock merchandise without labeling it as such. Anyway, caveat emptor!

Very clear and detailed. Smooth, not bright or dark. Amazing bass. Nice punch and depth regardless of size, but for a 5.5 " driver much more than I would expect. Top notch build quality and finish. I love a bargain and consider these one of the best I have gotten.

Nothing I can fault for the price.

I was looking for a smaller monitor speaker to replace my older B&W DM310's. I love the 602's s3 but for the space I was working with they were a bit large physically.
I had auditioned the B&W 685's and had planned on buying them for my family room. Then saw the Energy RC-10's on sale and read the review that Soundstage had written. I didn't have a local shop that carried the RC's so had no way to audition them. Decided to buy the RC's based on the strength of the review and figured I'd return them and be out the shipping cost if they were junk. I am so pleased that I took the chance. To my ear they are very, very close to the new B&W's in sound quality and at almost half the price. And, I am using them with lesser equipment by far. The B&W dealer was playing through a McIntosh amp and I am using a lowly HK3380 to drive the RC's. So figure with high end equipment the may be even closer to equal. Also, the finish on the RC's is much nicer than the vinyl veneer of the B&W's. I got the rosenut finish and they are a nice looking speaker. The binding are really good quality and they're bi-wireable. And the magnetic grill attachment is nice too. Anyway, there's my humble take on these. My wife weighs in that I can never sell them.

Similar Products Used:

B&W DM310, B&W 600 s3, B&W 603 s3, Wharfedale Diamond 8.4', AR-6, AR-4

This review will be brief because "Soundstage Magazine" put together a review that I really can’t improve upon, or add to, only agree with. The article can be found with a simple web search.

I purchased these several months ago to replace my 8 year old PSB Century 300i’s. Those served well for many years but I wanted something more refined in sound as well as appearance - time to get away from black boxes in my living room.

I listened to everything in town priced from $500 to $5,000, and don’t want to slander others that I found didn’t touch these in the price range. Only by spending $2,500 or more could I find something a little better (including Energy's own Veritas Series).

So what do I like about these…very smooth sounding top to bottom, great detail but never harsh or fatiguing, forgiving of average quality recordings, huge soundstage and depth, unmatched cabinetry in the price range. Proper break-in takes at least month of daily play. With the grills removed, they look great and sound a little better.

Rest of the system…Marantz 2275 receiver, Integra CDC 3.4 CD player, Kenwood KD5070 Turntable with Pickering UV15 cart. Music…all types and artists.

Who should buy these…an Audiophile on a budget, for a smaller room or den, perhaps an apartment, where blasting out neighbors is not an option.

My five star rating is of course based on the price catagory (Cdn $'s).