Energy, Paradigm, And B&W Speakers

[braxus]

One company that does speaker tests and reviews on speakers mentioned they won't sell their pair of Energy 22 Reference Connoseurs because nothing since then has better'd them. Comments of newer designs haven't really improved anything of what the 22 RC speakers can do. I actually heard a set of these and they did sound very good indeed. Bass was low for a 7 inch woofer. The tweeters in these things are supposed to be rated up to 45Khz. They call those the million dollar tweeters. These models were out in the early to late 80s. The newer replacements from Energy went down hill.

I've also had a set of Paradigm speakers. 5SE Mk2 speakers. Good low end and smooth sound. I'd probably safe to say the newer models didn't get any better, but worse in some ways. The new V5 series is an example of that. Auditioning their 11 model and it had no low end what so ever. Not progress.

I've started with B&W and came back to them again. Currently own the 602 S3 speakers. Nice sound. Be looking at the 804 or 803 speaker down the road.

I am getting a set of bookshelf Energy speakers, the C200. Again pretty good low end for a small speaker. But Energy has admitted their current speakers are a shadow of what they once were, ever since Klipsch bought them out.

[no1maestro]

I have recently become a big believer in smaller speakers. I find that if I use them in coordination with a decent , small sub, the results are excellent. The sub is used only to supplement the smaller speaker and it is much easier to adjust for a nice placement.

I recently picked up a small pair of Velodynes and was really surprised at the quality and image they put out. It was a great buy for me.

I love my larger speakers but I don't turn up my nose at the smaller ones anymore. I'm probably not alone in this thought!!:-)<-

[braxus]

Anyone here a fan of B&W speakers? Or Paradigm and Energy? Still like to get myself a set of B&W 804S or 803D speakers, but that may not happen for years- if ever. Im currently on my third pair of B&W bookshelf speakers, though the 602S3 speaker is hardly small.

[Scorpion8]

I've also had a set of Paradigm speakers. 5SE Mk2 speakers. Good low end and smooth sound.

I own a pair of 7Se MkIII's, and love them. Nice low end from the passive radiator side along with a woofer, but no need for a sub. I haven't listened to any of the newer models, but all the ones I'd heard in that xSe lineup were good performers to my ear. Some smaller Paradigms were on Stereophile's Recommended Equipment List for a long time.

I had heard B&W's, but had not had a chance to seriously audition them.

[gamve]

Brax, Still reckon you ought to consider modifying your 602's as we discussed. It absolutely transformed mine at very little cost apart from a bit of time and a lot of swearing. The mods are a bit fiddly.

[speakerman1]

I have a pair of Epos 12.2s which are bookshelfs sound alot bigger.

[BroonsBane]

I've owned a great many pairs of Energy's and am a big fan, at least of the originals. Since API International was bought by Klipsch they aren't the same. The new lines, all made in China, are cheap and pale in comparison.
The only pair of Energy's I have in the house at the moment (don't blink as something will have changed) are Ref 22's. The absolute best pair of Energy's and the best overall pair of speakers I've ever heard were the Veritas 2.8's pictured below for your eye candy enjoyment :)


http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k163/Graciefloydie/EnergyVeritas28-3.jpg

[CanJet]

I've got a set of B&W 685's set up with my Parasound Halo gear. They sound fantastic IMHO. Nice build quality, great company. Price was decent for bookshelfs.

I thought they couldn't get better, then I paired them with some rock solid Target stands from the UK. Even better.

[CanJet]

Forgot to mention:

A good friend of mine has a set of Paradigm Studios 20's which are about equal to or a small step up from the 685's. Great speakers, Canadian designed AND manufactured. Tough to beat for a bookshelf in the 1K range.

[braxus]

Due to budget considerations, I've had to chew down my choice for my next speaker upgrade. I was going to get either a 804S or 803D from B&W, but now may opt for just the simple 805S and a sub. The 4th picture is the color I want.