Alternatives to Energy Take5's???
#1
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I've read all the reviews for the Take 5's and am considering buying them with all the good reviews. I saw them at EE for 400. Is this a good price, and are there any other packages I should be considering for around the same price?
I'll probably be getting that sony sub (something something-40) until I can save up more and get a better one.
I'll probably be getting that sony sub (something something-40) until I can save up more and get a better one.
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Try Paradigm Atoms. For around $450-500 you could get 3 pairs and be set up for 6 channel surround and they are much better speakers than the Take 5's IMO
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Originally posted by jumbojp
Try Paradigm Atoms. For around $450-500 you could get 3 pairs and be set up for 6 channel surround and they are much better speakers than the Take 5's IMO
Try Paradigm Atoms. For around $450-500 you could get 3 pairs and be set up for 6 channel surround and they are much better speakers than the Take 5's IMO
agreed. the energy are nice speakes, but i heard the paradigms recently and they are definately a better sounding speaker.
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Oops, I should mention that the Atoms are not shielded so if you are going to use one for a center keep it at least one foot above/below/in front of the TV.
They may make a shielded version, I just know that mine are not shielded, but they are about one year old!
They may make a shielded version, I just know that mine are not shielded, but they are about one year old!
#7
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I don't have GoodGuys around here. Did you get the whole set for 250? That seems really good. I'll stop by the audio shop tomorrow and see if they have them.
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Re: Take 5
Originally posted by Idex
I bought my Take 5 set at GoodGuys for 250.
I bought my Take 5 set at GoodGuys for 250.
Seriously, there was a short lived sale on the Take 5s at $250 and I got mine as an open box deal.
I'm pretty sure the sale is long over.
#9
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Well, I stopped in the only audio store in town for the first time and they had crap for selection. Only thing they had was every big screen made. So I guess I'll have to do my shopping online.
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Audioshop (http://www.audioshop.on.ca) recommended the Axiom Epic micro surround system when I was shopping for Take 5s (the Axioms are equivalent to the Energy Encore series but for a much better price ~$667 including the subwoofer).
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As far as I can tell, there is only one Energy dealer in the KC area. They want $500 for the Take5 without the sub, $800 with. How does everyone feel about the Klipsch Quintets. I need to make sure to get a small set of speakers for the SO.
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Originally posted by Woody
Audioshop (http://www.audioshop.on.ca) recommended the Axiom Epic micro surround system when I was shopping for Take 5s (the Axioms are equivalent to the Energy Encore series but for a much better price ~$667 including the subwoofer).
Audioshop (http://www.audioshop.on.ca) recommended the Axiom Epic micro surround system when I was shopping for Take 5s (the Axioms are equivalent to the Energy Encore series but for a much better price ~$667 including the subwoofer).
By the way, may anybody provide information about Axiom's HT system?
Thank you.
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I don't know about packages but I'd look into NHT's.
My Super Two's, Super One's, and V2.1 (center) make
a great sounding set of speakers (I have another brand
sub) for not a lot of money.
My Super Two's, Super One's, and V2.1 (center) make
a great sounding set of speakers (I have another brand
sub) for not a lot of money.
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Would it be worth upgrading to Paradigm Titans in the front and leaving the rears Atoms? They are rated for higher input power, weigh twice as much, and don't cost too much more (according to Paradigm's website - I haven't shopped for them yet).
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Originally posted by Woody
You can pick up the Take 5s if you shop around even though Energy is discouraging mail or internet orders. I got a set for $400 delivered - white ones.
You can pick up the Take 5s if you shop around even though Energy is discouraging mail or internet orders. I got a set for $400 delivered - white ones.
Does the price include a subwoofer? May I have your email address?
Thank you,
Chichi
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I would have a hard time believing an Axiom speaker system would sound as good as the Take 5's. Axiom is not in the same league as some of the other Canadian manufacturers, like Energy, Mirage, Paradigm and PSB.
Here in Canada, you can get good deals on Canadian speakers, I just bought a Take 5 system for my family room for $600 (about $385 US) with an Energy 8 inch sub. Perhaps you could get someone to purchase it up here and ship it to you?
Rob
Here in Canada, you can get good deals on Canadian speakers, I just bought a Take 5 system for my family room for $600 (about $385 US) with an Energy 8 inch sub. Perhaps you could get someone to purchase it up here and ship it to you?
Rob
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I recommend the JBL NSP1 (four: JBL N24s w/omni-mount wall brackets/tools and one: JBL N-Center) as the alternative to the Energy Take5's. Read my webpage Why the Take 5 is not the price vs. performance Leader. You'll find three Take5 Speaker Review (2 linked).
Actually, the "JBL NSP1s" Speaker Review received these common accolades "Timbre matching; imaging; smooth, uniform response; pleasingly natural with stereo music" by no less than 5 Speaker Reviewers (3 from Sound&Vision; etown & Amazon.com). Read my webpage
Why you should add JBL N & S Series to your audition list!
http://www.geocities.com/p_iturra/JBL_Labs.html
Brent Butterworth wrote about the JBL NSP1s in his etown Speaker Review
A quick Price check @ CNet.com
http://electronics.cnet.com/cgi/CEML...4&sortby=price
shows the MSRP $549 JBL NSP1s can be purchased for $279.00 + S/H (w/o sub). You can use any 10" TO 15" sub because Brent wrote about the N24's
I personally use the AudioSource SW15 200w 15" and it rocks!!
Compare the JBL NSP1's Frequency Response with other equivalent and more expensive speakers @ my webpage Are Bose Speakers Over Priced vs. Performance??
Phil
[Edited by Phil I on 04-13-01 at 07:15 AM]
Actually, the "JBL NSP1s" Speaker Review received these common accolades "Timbre matching; imaging; smooth, uniform response; pleasingly natural with stereo music" by no less than 5 Speaker Reviewers (3 from Sound&Vision; etown & Amazon.com). Read my webpage
Why you should add JBL N & S Series to your audition list!
http://www.geocities.com/p_iturra/JBL_Labs.html
Brent Butterworth wrote about the JBL NSP1s in his etown Speaker Review
Look & Feel: This system certainly ranks a notch above most of what's available at this price.
Performance: I've already made detailed performance comments in my reviews of the N24 and N-Center. All I'll say here is that these speakers work together perfectly as an ensemble. The timbre matching is as good as any I've heard; that is, outside of systems that consist of five identical speakers.
The N-Center matches the sound of the N24 extremely well, better than Home Theater Direct's Level Three center matches the sound of its Level Three bookshelf. That excellent timbre matching lends coherence to the sound of the entire system, making movies seem more like I was hearing them in a real theater, not a home theater.
Performance: I've already made detailed performance comments in my reviews of the N24 and N-Center. All I'll say here is that these speakers work together perfectly as an ensemble. The timbre matching is as good as any I've heard; that is, outside of systems that consist of five identical speakers.
The N-Center matches the sound of the N24 extremely well, better than Home Theater Direct's Level Three center matches the sound of its Level Three bookshelf. That excellent timbre matching lends coherence to the sound of the entire system, making movies seem more like I was hearing them in a real theater, not a home theater.
http://electronics.cnet.com/cgi/CEML...4&sortby=price
shows the MSRP $549 JBL NSP1s can be purchased for $279.00 + S/H (w/o sub). You can use any 10" TO 15" sub because Brent wrote about the N24's
-- unlike the SuperZero XU or the ProMonitor 80, this speaker is very easy to match up with practically any subwoofer.
Compare the JBL NSP1's Frequency Response with other equivalent and more expensive speakers @ my webpage Are Bose Speakers Over Priced vs. Performance??
Phil
[Edited by Phil I on 04-13-01 at 07:15 AM]
#20
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Phil, how do those JBL's compare to Paradigm Titans for fronts and Atoms for rears? That's that setup that I was almost decided on till I saw your post.
Edit:Spelling error
[Edited by asabase on 04-16-01 at 06:29 PM]
Edit:Spelling error
[Edited by asabase on 04-16-01 at 06:29 PM]
#21
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The Mirage AVS 500 package is very comparable and made by the same company, I believe. I thought the Mirage's sounded a bit smoother than the Take 5's.The package comes with the AVS 100 center channel, 4 AVS sats and the very capable 8" subwoofer at 100 watts. The package sounds great on movies but a bit "light" on music so I have my old Bose 601 towers as the B speakers in the front driven by my Yamaha RX-V596. They sound real sweet on music with good additional bottom from the sub.I recently got the AVS 500 package with the Yamaha received for $999 at Tweeter in CT. This is my second home theater set up in my house. The first is a bit better on music, Yamaha RX-V1105 with Infinity RS-3's up front, Infinity CC-3 center and Infinity Quadropoles in the rear; no subwoofer; but the Mirage's are very good, and perfect for their use in a small living space.
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I have not done a direct comparison to the Paradigm's so I can't really comment on that. Sound&Vision reviewed 3 sets and I posted their Speaker Graphs on my webpage "Are Bose Speakers Over Priced vs. Performance??"
Paradigm Cinema
Paradigm Micro
Paradigm Legend
http://www.geocities.com/p_iturra/Misc_HT_Speakers.html
Unlike the Speaker MFG's speaker frequency graphs (1m on AXIS), these S&V Graphs are qualified by Tom Nousaine with this general statement:
Key to viewing the Speaker Graphs, The wider and flatter (smoother balance response) = the better
Phil
, how do those JBL's compare to Paradigm Titans for fronts and Atoms for rears?
Paradigm Cinema
Paradigm Micro
Paradigm Legend
http://www.geocities.com/p_iturra/Misc_HT_Speakers.html
Unlike the Speaker MFG's speaker frequency graphs (1m on AXIS), these S&V Graphs are qualified by Tom Nousaine with this general statement:
All of the response curves and measurements have been weighted to reflect the manner sound arrives at a listener's ears with normal speaker placement. The left/right front speakers were averaged over a ±30° window, with double weight given to the most common listening angle, 30°. Sound delivered to the listener's ears from surround speakers will be reflected from room surfaces, so their response was averaged over a ±60° window with double weight given to the widest off-axis angles. (If the set) uses identical speakers for the front L/R and surround channels, the variations shown here simply reflect the different weightings. The center speaker's response was averaged over ±45°, with double weight directly on-axis, where the primary listener will sit.
Phil