FYI: Energy C series speakers at Bay Bloor Radio

[warpdrive]

They are pricing the excellent Energy Connoiseur speakers at really aggressive prices lately. http://www.baybloorradio.com/main/products/catalogue?cat=speaker

Since I am in Ottawa, I had my local store (Audioshop.on.ca) price match them on a pair of C-3 bookshelf, but they were really surprised Bay Bloor was being so aggressive with their prices.

IMO, the C-3's are better speakers than the monitor series Paradigm speakers in this price range, they are a definitely a great buy at $449 a pair. They are a bit brighter than the Paradigms, but have a more tighter low end. One of the great budget bookshelf speakers around.

[dantey]

What would the C-3 and C-1 speakers be compared to in the paradigm monitor range? The Monitor 3 and Mini's?
Has anyone heard these energy's vs Axioms?

[trini]

Actually it was less a few weeks ago plus you could have traded in any old pair of speakers in any condition for $100.00 off as well.
Good speakers though.

[dvdvideo]

Definately nice stuff! I still have a set of C-1 for sale if anyone wants. I agree, I think they sound better than the Paradigms.

[warpdrive]

What would the C-3 and C-1 speakers be compared to in the paradigm monitor range? The Monitor 3 and Mini's?
Has anyone heard these energy's vs Axioms?

Don't get me started on the Axioms, they are really overrated IMHO. They were bad when they used to be sold in retail stores, and got cheesier (for lack of a better word) in build quality, now that they sell only direct. I'd definitely stick with Paradigm, PSB, Energy, Mirage who are still producing and R&Ding their own drivers.

It's hard to compare the C-3 directly to any Paradigm, sizewise they are about the same as the Mini Monitors but superior in sound, but they don't have the deeper bass extension of the Monitor 3's, but they have a tighter bass than the Monitor 3's.

In terms of sound quality, I would place them exactly in between the Mini Monitors and the Paradigm Studio 20's bookshelf, which makes the Energy C-3 at $450 a great deal (which is what Mini Monitors go for). At first, I was almost settled on the Studio 20's, but I kept coming back to the C-3 for value. Both the 20's and the C-3's have a bit of "dryness" in the midrange, but for the most part, they are very comparable except in the deepest bass where the 20's sound more solid.

I never listened to the C-1's, but since they use the same technology, they would be good as satellites in a home theatre system. If you want a 5.1 system crossed over around 65 Hz or above, they would do pretty well I'd imagine.

[warpdrive]

Actually it was less a few weeks ago plus you could have traded in any old pair of speakers in any condition for $100.00 off as well.


Man, I wish I knew about that deal (nobody posted that one?)

And I was in Toronto a few weeks ago (doh!)

As I said, BBR really surprised my dealer that their prices were so good. My dealer said those are wild prices for the C-3 and C-1 and didn't even believe me at first.

[frogger]

I saw the latest Paradigm Mini Monitors advertised for $347 and $348 at Kromer Radio and East Hamilton Radio for boxing week. Myself having a Yamaha receiver which tend to be on the bright side, the Paradigms are probably a better fit.

[warpdrive]

Myself having a Yamaha receiver which tend to be on the bright side

I have a RX-V2400 and I find it to be anything but bright. The newest Yamahas are actually pretty warm sounding. They've seem to have turned the corner regarding the brightness thing. Also, I used to dislike Yamaha because they always sounded a bit thin to me, they didn't have much punch when it got tough going, but they are much better in that regard now.

[dvdvideo]

Indeed the newer yamahas are much better balanced. I also agree that Axioms are overrated.

[milhaus]

A bit of a threadjack here, but anybody know where to get B&W speakers for cheap? I'm looking particularly for center channel (LCR60 S3) to match my 601s fronts.

[DavidY]

http://www.glubes.ns.ca/

It seems that other Energy dealers are also having excellent sale prices on the Connoisseur line including Glubes in NS.

Dave