Monoprice 5.1 Home Speaker System $160 + ~$40 Shipping (similar if not same as Energy Take Classic 5.1)

I own the energy take classic 5.1 system. A few things I notice just from the pictures of the monoprice system is that the feet on the sub are different, the port on the sub is different and also missing the blue light that the energy sub has. The grills on these cubes are also different, the energy's are rounded on top and extend above the speaker cabinet, energy grills also don't extend all the way to the bottom of the cabinet like these. Could they be identical inside? Sure...are they identical to the take classic 5.1? No. Got mine for $299 on amazon, they go on sale there and newegg every once in a while.

Quote from AdamC6372 : I own the energy take classic 5.1 system. A few things I notice just from the pictures of the monoprice system is that the feet on the sub are different, the port on the sub is different and also missing the blue light that the energy sub has. The grills on these cubes are also different, the energy's are rounded on top and extend above the speaker cabinet, energy grills also don't extend all the way to the bottom of the cabinet like these. Could they be identical inside? Sure...are they identical to the take classic 5.1? No. Got mine for $299 on amazon, they go on sale there and newegg every once in a while.

These subs do have a little LED toward the bottom, right above the monoprice logo. This makes it look more similar to the Pioneer SW-8 than the Energy sub (which is the ESW-8 BTW)

Anyone know if these come with speaker wire and everything else that is needed? Just starting building a home entertainment system. Was thinking of grabbing these and then seeing what I can do for a decent receiver. If I do need other things (mounts, wires, etc.) then I might as well throw them in this order from monoprice if I get it. Also what is the difference/utility of banana plugs? Should one be grabbing a few of them as well?

Thanks

I have some Monoprice over ear eadphones that are supposed to be a rebadged pair of higher ends and they sound like it. im sure these speakers are similar and if so worth much more than they sell for

"INCENTIVE" coupon for 20% off is good site wide. If you're looking for a mechanical keyboard, I'd recommend this one

http://www.monoprice.com/products...1&format=2

It's a basic no frills mechanical with the clicky cherry mx blue switches that are used in Das Keyboard. I ordered one of these for work and Das Keyboard for home, Das has a new manufacturer that makes terrible products, I sent back the Das and ordered a second one of these.

What generally happens here is that a company looking for cost out chooses a supplier in China to build there products to their specifications to improve profit margins. The company that builds them then recognizes discounts in quantity and just makes more with a few modifications (name, color, etc.) selling more of these and making same cost to mfg. yes! sometimes they use cheaper parts, but you must understand the that lowers the quantity/number of the parts that they purchase and neglects the savings they might get along with the confusion of changing mfg. process. now some could also just buy the external case and then use their own internal parts but you would assume that the specs would be different and why reinvent the wheel. TV's use alot of the same screens from brand to brand and then the internals and case are different like Vizio. I remember finding out that the bread I bought at the store was the exact same bread as their store brand and was cheaper! Some though are just copycats. So this could easily be the exact same speakers to a T and the price difference is just that ENERGY knows they came get the higher price and the off brand can't and doesn't need to. It is not like USA where they would consider it a conflict of interest and the Chinese company probably would sign an exclusivity contract or even abide by it if they did!

Quote from mikechmi : Anyone know if these come with speaker wire and everything else that is needed? Just starting building a home entertainment system. Was thinking of grabbing these and then seeing what I can do for a decent receiver. If I do need other things (mounts, wires, etc.) then I might as well throw them in this order from monoprice if I get it. Also what is the difference/utility of banana plugs? Should one be grabbing a few of them as well? Thanks

doubt they come with anything other than the speakers.

you'll need:
speaker wire (14-16 gauge) length depends on your setup...I just did a 5.1 system and ran 100 feet in my smallish (12x20) living room.
a subwoofer rca cable length depends on how far you plan to place the sub from the receiver.
mounts depend on your setup...you can get on wall mounts, speaker stands, or just sit them on shelves/furniture you already have
banana plugs are optional, but make it easier to connect the speaker wire to the speakers and receiver (after you wire the plugs) you'll need 4 plugs per speaker (if you wire them at both the speaker and receiver ends.

Quote from square_one : doubt they come with anything other than the speakers. you'll need: speaker wire (14-16 gauge) length depends on your setup...I just did a 5.1 system and ran 100 feet in my smallish (12x20) living room. a subwoofer rca cable length depends on how far you plan to place the sub from the receiver. mounts depend on your setup...you can get on wall mounts, speaker stands, or just sit them on shelves/furniture you already have banana plugs are optional, but make it easier to connect the speaker wire to the speakers and receiver (after you wire the plugs) you'll need 4 plugs per speaker (if you wire them at both the speaker and receiver ends.

True dat. I just purchased these a week or so ago (at a higher price) and you just get the speakers. You need to supply your own connections.

+1. Right on. Question is, are these made by the same plant that makes the Energy, or are they true knock offs. Owners please chime in.

On another note, my local BB just dropped the old Klipsch Quintet 5.0 system to $136 from I guess $436/$236/$164. Add a Pioneer SW8 and you'd be right around $200. . .for anybody not willing to gamble on monoprice.

Quote from cookken1 : What generally happens here is that a company looking for cost out chooses a supplier in China to build there products to their specifications to improve profit margins. The company that builds them then recognizes discounts in quantity and just makes more with a few modifications (name, color, etc.) selling more of these and making same cost to mfg. yes! sometimes they use cheaper parts, but you must understand the that lowers the quantity/number of the parts that they purchase and neglects the savings they might get along with the confusion of changing mfg. process. now some could also just buy the external case and then use their own internal parts but you would assume that the specs would be different and why reinvent the wheel. TV's use alot of the same screens from brand to brand and then the internals and case are different like Vizio. I remember finding out that the bread I bought at the store was the exact same bread as their store brand and was cheaper! Some though are just copycats. So this could easily be the exact same speakers to a T and the price difference is just that ENERGY knows they came get the higher price and the off brand can't and doesn't need to. It is not like USA where they would consider it a conflict of interest and the Chinese company probably would sign an exclusivity contract or even abide by it if they did!

Does anyone know if these can be connected straight from the TV via the line-in red/white on the sub? I know there are only 2 speaker connections from the sub so you'd be limited to just the 2 speakers plus the sub.

Side question: Anyone know if it would work to run 2 splitters on an input (red white) so 2 audio sources can be output at the same time on my receiver? I'm trying to have audio from the TV & a Karaoke Mixer output at the same time on 1 receiver. I don't know how to do it other than splitting the or getting a 2nd receiver. I do have an A/B option on my Onkyo but I don't think they work simultaneously.

Thanks & reps to come!

Quote from tigerfinds : Does anyone know if these can be connected straight from the TV via the line-in red/white on the sub? I know there are only 2 speaker connections from the sub so you'd be limited to just the 2 speakers plus the sub. Side question: Anyone know if it would work to run 2 splitters on an input (red white) so 2 audio sources can be output at the same time on my receiver? I'm trying to have audio from the TV & a Karaoke Mixer output at the same time on 1 receiver. I don't know how to do it other than splitting the or getting a 2nd receiver. I do have an A/B option on my Onkyo but I don't think they work simultaneously. Thanks & reps to come!

no...you need to connect to a receiver...

Quote from tigerfinds : Does anyone know if these can be connected straight from the TV via the line-in red/white on the sub? I know there are only 2 speaker connections from the sub so you'd be limited to just the 2 speakers plus the sub.

The speaker connections on the sub are for high-level input/output. They provide no amplification. Only the sub is amplified, you still need an amp/receiver to run the other five speakers.

Quote from tigerfinds : Side question: Anyone know if it would work to run 2 splitters on an input (red white) so 2 audio sources can be output at the same time on my receiver? I'm trying to have audio from the TV & a Karaoke Mixer output at the same time on 1 receiver. I don't know how to do it other than splitting the or getting a 2nd receiver. I do have an A/B option on my Onkyo but I don't think they work simultaneously.

You're going to need a mixer of some kind. You can't just hard-wire two audio sources into one output and have it mix the audio for you.

Quote from square_one : no...you need to connect to a receiver...

Quote from swechsler : The speaker connections on the sub are for high-level input/output. They provide no amplification. Only the sub is amplified, you still need an amp/receiver to run the other five speakers.

Thanks guys. Repped. Any ideas about my sub question with splitting the inputs? Don't know how much it would affect the audio quality. Thx.