Sapphire XL Versus Essence Mains

jbhungvt · « **on:** 31 Dec 2005, 03:26 pm »

Hello All,
I'm new to this forum and I currently owned the Sapphire XL.

I bought it used from jbg and really like the sound of the sapphire xl. It's the best sounding speakers i've heard so far:-).

anyways, how this the sapphire xl compare to the essence mains? they are both at the same price point but the sapphire xl can go lower.

thanks for any input.

Glenn S · « **Reply #1 on:** 1 Jan 2006, 07:57 pm »

From what I can see, the XLs are designed to work well in stereo or HT systems and a sub is optional. The Essence on the other hand looks meant for HT and must be used with sub. I'm sure the Essence can play quite a bit louder with the big cabinet and bigger and mlore drivers

jbhungvt · « **Reply #2 on:** 2 Jan 2006, 01:29 am »

thanks Glen for the reply,

I'm mainly comparing the sapphire xl with sub and essence w/ sub. which will be better for music?
the reason i'm asking is because I want a system to work well for music and HT and which should I get. i hope the answer is not to buy both, one for music and the other for HT.

Anonymous · « **Reply #3 on:** 2 Jan 2006, 01:47 pm »

Are you taking about the Essence V compared to the Sapphire XL??

John

jbhungvt · « **Reply #4 on:** 2 Jan 2006, 02:19 pm »

Quote from: Anonymous

Are you taking about the Essence V compared to the Sapphire XL??

John

Yes I'm talking about the Essence V. Have you heard both?

Mike Dzurko · « **Reply #5 on:** 5 Jan 2006, 01:18 am »

In a small to mid sized room it is VERY hard to beat the musicality of the XLs. Even in a fairly large room, with subs they can more than hold their own.

What the Essence V brings to the table is sheer output capability and the ability to fill very large spaces at very high volume levels.

How large is your room and how loudly do you want your system to go?

jbhungvt · « **Reply #6 on:** 5 Jan 2006, 04:24 pm »

Mike,

So far I have never listened to the Essence V and currently own the Sapphire XL. It's the BEST speaker i've heard.
Since I like the Sapphire XL mainly for music, I was thinking of using it for HT also.

My dedicated HT room size will be 25x16x9. I want to have flexibity of watching movies at ref level.
I'm looking for a 7.1 setup and currently have the following
Essence Center
Sapphire XL (pair)
Emerald on wall (pair)
HSU VTF-3MK2
I need 1 more pair for rears or fronts. If the Essence V sounds the same for better than the Sapphire XL, I'll get the Essence V for mains and move the sapphire xl to rears. If not, then I'll just use the Sapphire XL for mains and possibility picking up the emeralds for rears.
Based on your experience and what should I do in this case?

thanks

Mike Dzurko · « **Reply #7 on:** 6 Jan 2006, 02:49 pm »

Quote from: jbhungvt

Mike,

So far I have never listened to the Essence V and currently own the Sapphire XL. It's the BEST speaker i've heard.
Since I like the Sapphire XL mainly for music, I was thinking of using it for HT also.

My dedicated HT room size will be 25x16x9. I want to have flexibity of watching movies at ref level.
I'm looking for a 7.1 setup and currently have the following
Essence Center
Sapphire XL (pair)
Emerald on wall (pair)
HSU VTF-3MK2
I need 1 more pair for rears or fronts. If the Essence V ...

I'd set up the room for 5.1 and see how it works for you. THEN you can decide whether you want to keep the XLs as your mains or go to the Essence V. Ref level is LOUD, frankly, it is louder than I personally want to do at home other than for product testing. In a smaller room it simply sounds louder than it does in a large theater space. When I watch movies or music DVDs for enjoyment I am typically at -15 to -10db occasionally at around -8db. Calibrate your system so you know when you're actually playing at ref. Do you have enough power to get there? You've got a good sub, but it won't get to ref with a lot of movies with ultra low content.

Another test would be to do a listening test of your Essence center vs. a Sapphire XL sitting right next to it in mono. Make sure you do the test with them both set to small and crossover to 80Hz. This will give you a pretty good idea of the differences.

jkscherk · « **Reply #8 on:** 14 Jan 2006, 04:38 pm »

I haven't heard the XLs yet, but I did own the Essence V for about a year. I really like them for HT as well as music. I actually preferred them over the highly praised Panorama (I had both in my system for a couple of weeks.) They seemed more open in the midrange than the Panorama. Probably a function of them not needing to go as low as the Panoramas go. I only replaced my Essence V to move up to a pair of Jaguars. I have the Jags paired with some Force subs for now, but I'll soon be switching to a Maestro and hopefully later adding the LFMs for the Jags.

I'd agree with Mike on trying the XLs for awhile and see how they do. If you really are looking for high output levels, I think you'd probably be better suited with the Essence V.

jbhungvt · « **Reply #9 on:** 18 Jan 2006, 01:58 pm »

Quote from: Mike Dzurko

Ref level is LOUD,..quote]
You're right Mike but I want the option of showing off to friends when they come and visit...that's all:-)

I'll probably keep the xl in my HT for a while for both music and movies until I find a better room just for music, then I would probably get the Essence V.

jbhungvt · « **Reply #10 on:** 18 Jan 2006, 02:01 pm »

Quote from: jkscherk

I haven't heard the XLs yet, but I did own the Essence V for about a year. I really like them for HT as well as music. I actually preferred them over the highly praised Panorama (I had both in my system for a couple of weeks.) They seemed more open in the midrange than the Panorama. Probably a function of them not needing to go as low as the Panoramas go. I only replaced my Essence V to move up to a pair of Jaguars. I have the Jags paired with some Force subs for now, but I'll soon be switching to a ...

Thanks for the feedback on the Essence V. I haven't heard the Panorama but also heard many good things about it also.

stryder · « **Reply #11 on:** 14 Aug 2006, 10:37 pm »

OK, so I'm still trying to get my bearings with respect to the kind of speakers I will use once my HT entertainment center is finished. The plans I've drawn up for it will allow installing speakers the size of the sealed LCR Essence V. I did not really want to go the entertainment center route but certain compromises had to be made with She Who Got the Last Word On This One.

Honestly, craigsub's review of them nearly sealed (no pun intended) it for me, and now I see that they are being discontinued in favor of the Sapphire XLs. Sure there are still some available and at a closeout price to boot, but by the time I get the center finished and ready funds available for the speaker purchase, well I’m not sure I'm ready to buy into a discontinued product and I don’t see the ported Sapphire XLs working very well in a cabinet.

Bummer.

Mike Dzurko · « **Reply #12 on:** 15 Aug 2006, 01:01 am »

Quote from: stryder on 14 Aug 2006, 10:37 pm

OK, so I'm still trying to get my bearings with respect to the kind of speakers I will use once my HT entertainment center is finished. The plans I've drawn up for it will allow installing speakers the size of the sealed LCR Essence V. I did not really want to go the entertainment center route but certain compromises had to be made with She Who Got the Last Word On This One.

Honestly, craigsub's review of them nearly sealed (no pun intended) it for me, and now I see that they are being discontinued in favor of the Sapphire XLs. Sure there are still some available and at a closeout price to boot, but by the time I get the center finished and ready funds available for the speaker purchase, well I’m not sure I'm ready to buy into a discontinued product and I don’t see the ported Sapphire XLs working very well in a cabinet.

Bummer.

I don't see it as a bummer . . . I see it as a GREAT opportunity to get just what you want . . . at a lower price to boot! I remember when a given car model was being discontinued and it was just what I had been planning to get. . . only now I could get an even better price. I am so glad I jumped on that opportunity! Being discontinued doesn't change it from perhaps being the perfect product for you . . . closeout pricing just makes it even more of a great thing!

stryder · « **Reply #13 on:** 15 Aug 2006, 05:06 am »

Quote from: Mike Dzurko on 15 Aug 2006, 01:01 am

I don't see it as a bummer . . . I see it as a GREAT opportunity to get just what you want . . . at a lower price to boot!

Point well taken, Mike. I bought my first pair of speakers, Klipsch Chorus, about 20 years ago. They are also the last pair I bought. They have served me well all that time; I don't change equipment much....

I am over simplifying but products gets discontinued either because the demand isn't there or because the manufacturer hits on a better idea. In either case, the product, maybe golden in its time, just isn't now. Since I would be buying these based, not on listening experience, but on reputation, I have to decide if something that is past its prime, is something I should invest in, given my history of not changing out my gear much.

Mike Dzurko · « **Reply #14 on:** 16 Aug 2006, 04:16 pm »

The Essence is still gold

And you'll probably have them for at least 20 years . . . so I fail to see how there is any downside. If I had a room with built - in speakers I wouldn't hesitate to own them myself. Just set up a very good friend locally with a set and plan to enjoy them at his place for the next 20 years . . .