| Search AudioEnz | |
| Articles | |
|
Current
reviews |
|
| News | |
| Community | |
| Buying | |
| About AudioEnz | |
About AudioEnz |
Energy Encore
Simply the best?
By Michael Jones
August 2002
The
Energy Encore system is, quite simply, the best sub-sat package I have
heard. It has the attributes of fine high fidelity speakers (very rare
in sub-sat systems) combined with the discrete size and appearance of
small sub-sat systems.
I can’t say that I’m greatly surprised that the Encore is a fine sounding system. Energy’s cheaper sub-sat package, the Take 5.2 system (reviewed in October 2001) was excellent. At $1000 more the Encore had a lot to live up to, but live up to expectations it did.
The Encore follows the general pattern of sub-sat systems: four smaller satellite speaker, a centre speaker with two woofers and an active (ie, powered) subwoofer.
The
satellite speaker is called the Encore 2. The cabinet is made from mdf,
with the front baffle manufactured from an injection-moulded resin. This
allows for the front baffle to be shaped while keeping it super-strong.
The drivers are a 28mm aluminium dome tweeter and a 112mm laminated woofer containing both aluminium and polycarbonate.
On the back of the Encore 2 is a bracket system which allows the speaker to be hung from the wall or ceiling, or used on a shelf.
The Encore 8 subwoofer includes a 150 watt mosfet amplifier driving a 200mm woofer. Energy claim that the woofer moves further (has a greater excursion) than many 200mm woofers for greater output.
The
Encore system looks great. The speakers are finished in Burnished Ebony
High Gloss (almost black) with the front baffles of the satellites and
centre speaker finished in silver. A matching stand ($399 per pair) is
also available for the Encore 2 which matches the looks. It really needs
to be filled though, as the stand will ring like a bell otherwise.
Sound and vision
In describing the sound of the Encore it is perhaps easiest to contrast
the Encore with the typical performance of many sub-sat packages. Many
of these systems are woeful underperformers, appealing more because of
their size rather than their sound.
Factors common with many sub-sats include a peaky and nasally midrange, a hole in the lower midrange between the sub and the satellite speaker (this robs musical instruments of their power) and a boomy, flatulant bass.
In contrast, the Encore is a delightfully smooth and integrated sounding speaker system. By “smooth” I don’t mean that sounds are rounded off. Paul McCartney’s guitar solo on the Beatles Taxman had lots of bite - which just leaves the question of why the Beatles bass player was soloing on guitar on their guitarists song...)
The transition from the Encore 2 satellite to the Encore 8 sub was effectively seamless. Unlike many sub-sat systems, there was no “gap” between them. this means that instruments and voices maintained their power and body.
Because this transition was well sorted, bass guitar and drums were well reproduced, with these instruments having both power and agility. And unlike many sub-sat systems, the lower frequencies did not appear to be coming from the subwoofer (this is a good sign). Back to the Beatles’ Taxman: McCartney’s bass lines are panned to the left channel in this track. Even though the lower part of his basslines are reproduced by the subwoofer, it sounds as if they’re coming from the left channel. Excellent stuff!
I finally had the chance to watch the movie Saving Private Ryan while the Encore system was in house. This DVD has a reputation for its huge amounts of bass (Max Christoffersen’s “my sub died on the beaches of Normandy” description in his Velodyne CT150 review is apt).
While the Encore 8’s 200mm sub can’t hope to compete with the big 380mm Velodyne, it still did a damned fine job of reproducing a lot of the power within this DVD.
Many movies don’t contain a lot of low bass, but the occasional use of it can be very effective. The Ocean 11 remake is an example. You’re sitting there watching the movie when a building is professionally demolished (don’t try this at home kids). The rumble of energy comes as a surprise, simply because of the lack of bass previously.
But movies are about characters and characters are largely defined with dialogue. Voices from the Encore system are superb: lots of clarity, no chesty boom or excessive sibilance.
Conclusion
A $4000 price tag may seem a lot of money to many people for a home theatre
speaker package. But there is no question is my mind that the Encore is
both an exceptional system and exceptional value.
Want to comment on this review? Click here for Feedback