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I have been shopping around for a set of HT speakers and I think I'm down to either the Energy Encore or the B&W 300 series.
I went to Audioshop in Ottawa to get a listen of the Energy Encore and the first thing that striked me was how SMALL the speakers are. I have never seen the speakers in real and I always thought the speakers are bookshelf size ... so it was a susprise when I saw that the box's so small. I listened to a movie (Driven) and some music and I was surprised at how well these tiny little speakers perform. While I think the encores are better for movies than music, that's what I use it for 90% of the times anyways.
Audioshop quoted me Cdn$1,400 + tax for the set. I kindda wished I get a bigger sub than the 8" that comes in the system but it would do for now. I can always upgrade / add another sub later on.
I tried a few systems then, including Polk Audio and PSB Image series ... didn't come close to Encore for performance nor value, and I thought the Encores were a no-brainer.
But then I dropped by Regency HT systems in Toronto, and got a listen of the B&W 300 series. I never thought much of the 300 series cos honestly, I always thought most entry level speakers of these big name companies are crap. The 300 series turned out to be a pleasant surprise though ... the 300 series has a wider soundstage than the Encores, and has more resolution to it, potentially because it has a bigger box. I think while the Encores come out as 'sharper' and more accurate in the high end, the B&W sounded 'deeper'. The 300 series system comes out to be ~ $100 more than the Encores, and the guy said I could also upgrade the 2 front speakers to 601 for $200 more, and the center to LCR600 S3 for another $200. These prices are before negotiation so I can probably get them down a tad more. The other cool thing about the B&W system is because it doesn't come in a set like the Encores, I won't have to take the B&W Sub ... and I most probably won't. I'll probably get a HSU STM-2 or something like that instead for the $$.
So what do you guys think? I was impressed by both systems. On one hand i think the Encores sounded 'clearer' and 'sharper' at the high end, and are overall a quick response set of speakers, but on the other hand I think the B&W 300, maybe due to its box size, has more depth and resolution to it. I could also upgrade to the 601, which I probably will ... if just for listening to music. I am not sure the upgrade of the CS is worth it though.
I'm on a budget so I definitely want to get the whole speakers set for under Cdn$2000 ... and preferrably closer to $1.6-1.7k than $2k. Other than the speakers I've looked at, is there anything else you guys suggest at that price?
Meanwhile I'm also looking for a used receiver ... I like the marantaz 5400D ... if someone knows anybody who's selling one at good price please let me know.
thanks!
I went to Audioshop in Ottawa to get a listen of the Energy Encore and the first thing that striked me was how SMALL the speakers are. I have never seen the speakers in real and I always thought the speakers are bookshelf size ... so it was a susprise when I saw that the box's so small. I listened to a movie (Driven) and some music and I was surprised at how well these tiny little speakers perform. While I think the encores are better for movies than music, that's what I use it for 90% of the times anyways.
Audioshop quoted me Cdn$1,400 + tax for the set. I kindda wished I get a bigger sub than the 8" that comes in the system but it would do for now. I can always upgrade / add another sub later on.
I tried a few systems then, including Polk Audio and PSB Image series ... didn't come close to Encore for performance nor value, and I thought the Encores were a no-brainer.
But then I dropped by Regency HT systems in Toronto, and got a listen of the B&W 300 series. I never thought much of the 300 series cos honestly, I always thought most entry level speakers of these big name companies are crap. The 300 series turned out to be a pleasant surprise though ... the 300 series has a wider soundstage than the Encores, and has more resolution to it, potentially because it has a bigger box. I think while the Encores come out as 'sharper' and more accurate in the high end, the B&W sounded 'deeper'. The 300 series system comes out to be ~ $100 more than the Encores, and the guy said I could also upgrade the 2 front speakers to 601 for $200 more, and the center to LCR600 S3 for another $200. These prices are before negotiation so I can probably get them down a tad more. The other cool thing about the B&W system is because it doesn't come in a set like the Encores, I won't have to take the B&W Sub ... and I most probably won't. I'll probably get a HSU STM-2 or something like that instead for the $$.
So what do you guys think? I was impressed by both systems. On one hand i think the Encores sounded 'clearer' and 'sharper' at the high end, and are overall a quick response set of speakers, but on the other hand I think the B&W 300, maybe due to its box size, has more depth and resolution to it. I could also upgrade to the 601, which I probably will ... if just for listening to music. I am not sure the upgrade of the CS is worth it though.
I'm on a budget so I definitely want to get the whole speakers set for under Cdn$2000 ... and preferrably closer to $1.6-1.7k than $2k. Other than the speakers I've looked at, is there anything else you guys suggest at that price?
Meanwhile I'm also looking for a used receiver ... I like the marantaz 5400D ... if someone knows anybody who's selling one at good price please let me know.
thanks!
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