B&W 604 S3 vs. Energy Connoisseur C-9

[fjhuerta]

This is week #2 of choosing speakers.

I just got a call from my dealer. Would I be interested in listening to the Energy Connoiseur C-9? They just started bringing them to México. Cost? $1K.

He said it would be a nice alternative to the $1.4K B&W.

Choices, choices. I can't listen to the Energys - they won't be on showrooms until next month. The drivers seem to be cheaper on the Energys. Yet, the reviews are nothing short of stellar....

Any opinions on anyone who has heard both would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,

Javier.

EDIT: Poll should read "B&W 604 S3", not "B&W 602 S3". I can't seem to be able to edit it now.

[pick-me-up]

I have not listened these, but I found some interesting URL to read about. I cannot find anything here in Scandinavia, but they seems to be great speakers for their price.

http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/energy_c9.htm

JJ

[Dave D]

I have Energy C-5's and have no complaints!

[Ian Lascell]

The poll lists the 602 model, but the title mentions the 604 model. Which one should we comment on?

[fjhuerta]

Sorry Ian, my bad. It should be the 604 floorstanding model. I can't correct the poll's optinos now, though. :(

[fjhuerta]

Originally posted by daved64
I have Energy C-5's and have no complaints!

That sounds great, Dave! What are the particular strengths of this model? Did you compare them to any other models?

[Dave]

Originally posted by fjhuerta
Sorry Ian, my bad. It should be the 604 floorstanding model. I can't correct the poll's optinos now, though. :(
At your service sir. ;)

[Ian Lascell]

No problem Javier. The reason I was wondering is because I own the B&W 602s3. And I am about to complete my 5 channel setup with the 604s3. I auditioned different speakers over a year ago when I made my decision to build a system out of the new 600 series speakers. At that time I didn't listen to any Energy speakers, but I am aware of their fine reputation overall.

I like the B&Ws, enough obviously to buy them. I would describe them as very accurate, they do not add a lot of excitement to music, nor do they muddy it up. I really enjoy high quality recordings on them, as they do reveal any shortcomings in the source. Acoustic instruments sound very good to me on these. Vocals, bluegrass, blues, jazz all sound great. I listen to a lot of classic rock material and it sounds good on this too, but not quite to the level as with the acoustic instruments. They are not overly bright at all, but will reveal a bright source readily. I especially appreciate their performance on quiet moments in music that I sometimes wasn't fully aware of with past speakers. A good example of their performance in this way is with the song "Six Blade Knife" by Dire Straits. There are some rather quiet moments of guitar playing that sound wonderful to me on these speakers. The 604s each have two 8" aluminum bass drivers that kick. I have heard from several people that use these as fronts in a home theater system and feel no need to buy a subwoofer. I will not be using a subwoofer either, although my main focus is music rather than movies. At $1400 they are quite a bit more expensive than those Energy speakers, so a careful look at the relative value of both will be important.

Oh yeah, other speaker lines that I listened to when originally auditioning included Meadowlark, McIntosh, PSB, Martin Logan, and Vienna Acoustics. I can't remember at this point what the model names were. Also compared closely the B&W 600 series with the Nautilus series to see how close they came. My final choice was dictated by price, perceived value, sound, dealer, and looks. So the B&Ws were the best combination overall for me, but none of the speakers I listened to were the best at everything.

I hope this helps. Hopefully somebody will chime in with more specific info on the Energy speakers to balance this out and give you more to compare. Good luck.

[Dave D]

Originally posted by fjhuerta


That sounds great, Dave! What are the particular strengths of this model? What would you say are its strengths? Did you compare them to any other models?

I was actually fortunate enought to win them, thru a radio contest. But I had Paradigm 11se Deluxes for 12 years that I loved. So I A/B'd the Energy's with the Paradigm's.....what a pain in the *** that was.....The Energy's had a bit more transparency than the Paradigm's....and a softer high end. but they are a newer technology, so......hope that helps!

[mcow1]

Originally posted by Ian Lascell


I like the B&Ws, enough obviously to buy them. I would describe them as very accurate, they do not add a lot of excitement to music, nor do they muddy it up. I really enjoy high quality recordings on them, as they do reveal any shortcomings in the source. Acoustic instruments sound very good to me on these. Vocals, bluegrass, blues, jazz all sound great. I listen to a lot of classic rock material and it sounds good on this too, but not quite to the level as with the acoustic instruments. They are not overly bright at all, but will reveal a bright source readily. I especially appreciate their performance on quiet moments in music that I sometimes wasn't fully aware of with past speakers. A good example of their performance in this way is with the song "Six Blade Knife" by Dire Straits. There are some rather quiet moments of guitar playing that sound wonderful to me on these speakers. The 604s each have two 8" aluminum bass drivers that kick. I have heard from several people that use these as fronts in a home theater system and feel no need to buy a subwoofer. I will not be using a subwoofer either, although my main focus is music rather than movies. At $1400 they are quite a bit more expensive than those Energy speakers, so a careful look at the relative value of both will be important.


Great description of the 604s, I feel pretty much the same about my 604s. The sound of acoustic intruments are amazing on them IMO.

[fjhuerta]

Originally posted by Dave

At your service sir. ;)

Dave, you are the best. Thanks a lot! :thumbsup:

[SamS]

I have had extensive listening with most all of the B&W speaker line, including the DM604's. Although I think they are very good speakers, you may want to listen to their CM line as an alternative. The build quality is in a different league altogether and the sound is much more refined IMO. The CM4 floorstanders go for around $1500/pr if I remember correctly. Not as much bass as a DM604, but a better midrange and top end and nicer dispersion characteristic due to the more narrow baffle.

[fjhuerta]

Sam, the CM4's cost basically the same as the DM604's (well, they cost $60 more than the DM604s).

I wrote a B&W representative. He told me the DM604's were their "fun" speaker, with lots of dynamics and nice detail, but that the CM-4's were their "refined" model - not as fun as the DM's, but, as you said it, better top end.

Can you please elaborate on the build quality? Something I do remember about the CM4's - they are as solid as a brick. The old "knucle-rap" test left me with sore knucles, actually... and they do look pretty.

I'll include them in my Friday audition. Thanks a lot for bringing them up. :)

[SamS]

Javier,

I would agree 100% with the B&W reps assessment of DM604 vs. CM4s.

The fit 'n finish of the CM4 with the real wood veneer gives them a very classy look. My biggest knock against the DM series is they look like a nice Circuit City speaker. Plastic baffles, plasticy big cabinet....just not that attractive to me.

Even though the price is similar, the CM4s are just in a different level of design and refinement IMO. You may not even notice that much difference in bass response depending on your placement of them. Your ears should tell you a big difference, assuming the dealer has them set up properly.

Please let us know what you think after Friday!

[mcow1]

I compared the 604s with the CM4s when I was shopping and preferred the 604s. I didn't like the rear baffle on the CM, as my speakers are in the corner. I didn't think there was a better top end, they use the same tweeter. I thought the mids were better also. On the 604 there is a dedicated mid cone, on the CM there is a mid/bass cone as it is a 2.5 way speaker not a 3 way.

[Ian Lascell]

If you are considering the CM series over the 600 series, you may want to just skip ahead to the CDM NT series. The CM series has gotten mixed reviews and although the cabinets are attractive, I do not like the look of their baffles at all. I recall a Stereophile review in particular where they were given a respectable grade, but the description of their sound really turned me off. They were described as probably being fine for home theater applications in so many words. The CDM NT series are well respected across the board, although cost more as well. But if you are considering spending more money for a smaller speaker, then the CDM NT may be a better investment. Just my opinion of course.

[SamS]

The CDM NT series is discountinued ( I think the CM series may be as well), in favor of the "700" Series. Check into discounts.

[fjhuerta]

Thanks for all your help. I haven´t been able to audition the speakers yet, but will do so tomorrow. I called the store - they haven't any CDM's anymore. They have the Nautilus line, the entire DM line, and the CM4.

The fact is, I already have an "accurate" speaker. As a metaphor, I'd think I already own a Dom Peringnon, speaker-wise (my Margules A3.2). Now, I need a good beer (say, a Nochebuena), for those moments when friends come by, and you feel the need to have fun.

Hmm. That's a good reason to get the DM604's, I guess. :)

[fjhuerta]

So...

I just came back from the dealer. I *AM* a really happy guy.

After my experience with MartinLogan, I decided to be a bit more careful this time regarding the speakers I'd buy, since I expect them to last for at least the 14 years my JBL's lasted for. I was weary about buying the lowest-priced (read: cheapest) model I could find.

So I was expecting to get the CM4s. Wrong!

After three weeks of thinking about it, auditioning several different models, comparing them with the Veritas line by Energy, going back and forth, reading reviews, and trusting my ears... I went for the DM604's. They are all I looked for in a speaker, and more. Even though the CM4s had a nicer mid-range, the bass response in the 604's simply blew me away. After listening for about an hour and a half to both models, I felt pretty confident that, for half the price of the Veritas, the B&Ws delivered more than half the performance of the Energys.

The CM4s made me want to sit down and listen closely. The Veritas made my jaw drop to the floor (pretty hard). The DM604's made me want to stand up and boogie, while mantaining a fair balance between accuracy and power. Which is *exactly* what I was looking for.

Come next Thursday, my new 604's will be at my home.

Thanks to all of you... it's the second time I really choose a speaker based on information, and not merely by brand name. And I'm sure I'll be more than satisfied for (hopefully) a decade, or more. :)

[Ian Lascell]

Congratulations! Good to hear you found something you are really happy with. I'll be interested to hear your thoughts after you have had time to listen to them at home for a while.

[fjhuerta]

Again.... update.

I hadn't heard from my audio dealer... so by Friday, I was pretty nervous about the speakers. I called the shop, and was greeted by a very cold salesman, who told me he couldn't remember selling the speakers to me. A couple of calls later, said salesman told me my speakers would arrive "by Monday or Tuesday". I asked him to tell me the model I had bought - and he couldn't tell me.

So I was worried.

The hi-fi store I go to has various departments, with people specifically assigned to different lines. This is my first transaction with the B&W people... and, by yesterday, I was pretty worried.

So I headed back to the store, and went to talk to my regular salesman. He asked me (politely) to listen again to the B&W's. Gave me the keys to the room (the B&W salespeople weren't around). I listened to the speakers again.

I was pretty surprised to realize the speakers were a bit strident at high volume, and bass wasn't as strong and deep as I remembered. I told this to the salesman, and he told me the B&W people had "turned a couple of db's up" the bass knob when I listened to the speakers. I couldn't believe this - but I went back to the room, and, indeed, the receiver was now set in the "direct" position, and the speakers sounded different to what I remembered.

He asked me to wait until Tuesday, and to compare the 604's to the Connoisseurs. He promised me I'd be *very* surprised. Then, we listened again to the Veritas 2.2i and 2.4i. Great sound. :)

So I'll wait.

Ain't hi-fi shopping wonderful? :)