Energy Take Classic 5.1 System for $240 @ Newegg.com YMMV

Quote from silow : Speakers are definitely subjective due to a person's bias towards either base, highs, or neutral sounds. However I love it when a review claim that a system that cost X "blows" every speaker in it's range out of the water and competes with systems that cost 2X. Maybe if you don't do your research and shop around you can easily make claims like that. At best it is marginally better and again that's completely up to a listener's preference. But the overall construction and sound quality of those systems are very comparable. This is true at just about all price levels.

Question #1) Have you listened to these speakers?

Quote from Parachute07 : Sure they are. But let's not be stupid about it.....as subjective as it may be, we can univerally agree that the stock car speakers in a 1975 Pinto don't sound as good as a pair of brand new polk speakers, right? Beauty is subjective.......but we can agree that most of us think that actress A is beautiful. I think what the person you quoted was saying that the vast majority of the experts say that this system blows everything else in the same price range out of the water. I looked for a deal on these speakers for months and didn't see them go below $319 (and they sold out at that price before I saw the deal) and I eventually went with the Pioneer tower/bookshelf system. If these had been $240, I'd definitely have the Take Classic 5.1 set. 242 reviews and 4.5 stars on Amazon can't be that far off.

I get what you're saying but honestly speakers are probably one of the most subjective things. Reviews are just about useless (especially random reviews from people on forums who use words like "musical tonal balance"). I can't see how anyone can definitively say that these blow everything else in the same price range out of the water. I know speakers that you can get for $30/pair that would most likely give these a good run for their money. But like I said, it's completely subjective anyway. I've heard sound systems that competed with speakers that were 1000% the cost.

Do they prefer exaggerated mids? lows? highs? Do they want clean bass? Do they want the speakers to color their music?

Bottom line, I'd never buy speakers online. I need to hear them in person. But that's just me.

Quote from nfs924 : Bottom line, I'd never buy speakers online. I need to hear them in person. But that's just me.

I prefer to hear speakers first, and then buy them online, but that's just me. If possible, I would really prefer to hear the speakers in somebodies (a friend, coworker, etc.) home. I have heard these speakers, and they are pretty impressive for their size. They did seem a little directional, and placement seemed to really help the speakers. The system I listened to these on had Audyssey enabled. I enabled and disabled the Audyssey, and noticed it definitely helped "widen" the sweetspot. This is just my opinion.... There are plenty of SDers who have bought these, so perhaps owners can sound off for those looking to buy?

I do enjoy my Infinity Cascade speakers. I prefer the sound of Infinity's CMMD speaker technology to others, but that's just me. I also like Klipsch horn technology, but others would argue this "colors" the music, which I agree, but that is why I like it!

Quote from puddnhead : good deal OP, but ... oh god, if the mods put these speakers on the FP again, I will scream. Enough! Anyone who wants these, already bought them the first 6 times they put them on FP this year. getting the sub for $110 more than the speakers alone (the last deal) does not qualify them to go there again. I hope.

Actually this is the 5.1 system, but it's YMMV. You're getting the sub for 90 bucks extra compared to just the Take 5 speakers.

Just because they go on sale a lot, doesn't make it not a deal. These are like the highest rated and purchased speakers I've seen on SD. I was considering pulling the trigger just to use the rears and the center, but there appears to be some quality issues, and I don't want them to break since I don't use my HT too much.

I just don't see how everyone can be so satisfied with satellites for fronts, and without a subwoofer if you buy the standard package. Must have amazing highs then.

Out of Stock.

Quote from aznnp77 : Actually this is the 5.1 system, but it's YMMV. You're getting the sub for 90 bucks extra compared to just the Take 5 speakers.

The 5.0 system last went for $130, so what i said in my last post is correct, $110 for the sub vs the last deal, not $90.

Quote from aznnp77 : Just because they go on sale a lot, doesn't make it not a deal. These are like the highest rated and purchased speakers I've seen on SD.

We're arguing about semantics here, but if its this price fairly regularly (every 2nd or 3rd week) then I would disagree, it may be a good value, but it is not a "deal."

Also, even as a buyer of these -- I very strongly disagree that these are the best speakers that have been on SD. Not by a mile. These are inherently limited by their size & the laws of physics. They may be the best speakers of their size that have been on SD, but they are not the best speakers, period. Not even in the same league.

Quote from aznnp77 : I just don't see how everyone can be so satisfied with satellites for fronts, and without a subwoofer if you buy the standard package. Must have amazing highs then.

I suspect most people who bought them -- including me -- bought the 5.0 set so we could spend more to get a better sub than the one included in this package. I got the Energy M8 for $250 (which actually was a deal, it's been that low only once this year). But to your larger point, yes I agree, it is not a good idea to get these speakers without also planning on getting a sub. I would think they would sound pretty bad like that.

In for one. I hope they sound as good as they look. I hope I made the right choice, since the alternative was the Klipsch 5.1 set or spend around the same amount on some bookshelf speakers. Also IMO these look better, Plus the reviews seems to be positive.

I got these a few years ago (they were $150 back then too, but I got it without the sub.) I was underwhelmed, even with a PA-120 sub.

Now I have EMP Tek Tower Speakers (E55Ti). Boy are they worth the extra price. Bought em w/o demoing them because the store is in Utah. Guess I lucked out, but I did a good amount of research and figured they were worth the shot for half off.

But guess what, not everyone wants to spend $400 on two speakers. :-D If you want your front speakers to give you a full sound, you just will not get it from the Energy Take 5's. A subwoofer can only go so far to make up for lack of bass.

Quote from puddnhead : The 5.0 system last went for $130, so what i said in my last post is correct, $110 for the sub vs the last deal, not $90.

Agreed. Except the Take 5 classic micro is the one that goes on sale for $130 regularly. The take 5 classics are $150 pretty much when they are on sale.

As an owner of these, do you think they're worth 150 if I'm going to use the center and the rears, and make the fronts a B set?

Quote from aznnp77 : Agreed. Except the Take 5 classic micro is the one that goes on sale for $130 regularly. The take 5 classics are $150 pretty much when they are on sale. As an owner of these, do you think they're worth 150 if I'm going to use the center and the rears, and make the fronts a B set?

What are you using for mains? Left, Center, and Right speakers should match.

Quote from Xeno057 : What are you using for mains? Left, Center, and Right speakers should match.

I have some decently old KLH floor speakers. I realize that they aren't the best speakers, but I originally bought them when I was in the 6th grade or so. They produce decent enough bass that I've been able to go without a sub for this many years. I'm actually pretty satisfied with them and don't feel the need to replace them just yet (although I have an itching to grab some Monitor70s if they ever go on sale again). I get really turned off by the cherry finish though, so it would have to be the black ones.

The KLH's are 3 way with a 12" woofer, and mid, and a tweeter.

I really cheaped out of the rest of the speakers though. I'm running fisher wood satellites and for the rears and center. Also have a crappy set of fisher bookshelves for a B set. The fisher center and rears were only $30 at the time. A shocking deal, even if it wasn't that great a brand.

Quote from Furinax : Sigh, where was this deal 3 months ago...

Sh*****t I have the same question..I paid $399/- @amazon

Quote from aznnp77 : Agreed. Except the Take 5 classic micro is the one that goes on sale for $130 regularly. The take 5 classics are $150 pretty much when they are on sale. As an owner of these, do you think they're worth 150 if I'm going to use the center and the rears, and make the fronts a B set?

I'm still waiting for my receiver (just bought it friday, finally). But I have been thinking along same lines, though using the 2 fronts as part of the 7.1. My main concern is that the center won't be up for it, I'll need a larger one (since my fronts would be larger).

Quote from puddnhead : I'm still waiting for my receiver (just bought it friday, finally). But I have been thinking along same lines, though using the 2 fronts as part of the 7.1. My main concern is that the center won't be up for it, I'll need a larger one (since my fronts would be larger).

I feel the same way. It's already a huge investment for me if I were ever to get Monitor70s. I've considered Monitor50s, but the lack of bass would probably annoy me since I'm not planning on getting a sub.

If I were to get the Monitor70s, I would almost have to get the CS2 center that's another $120, but I don't even like 5.1. So much emphasis on the Center when you're spending gobs of money on some nice mains. Right now I'm running 5 channel stereo off my yamaha receiver.