assuming you want to look at sub/sat systems and not build up a set based on floor-standing speakers...

after lots of reading online and asking around, i tried out the energy take 5.2 system (around $900 street, $700 online) for about a week. one or two of the speakers had dud drivers (buzzing/vibration) so i exchanged them. the same day at home, i played them side-by-side with a set of definitive technology procinema 80's (were $750 on sale)... i was far more impressed with the deftech units both in the way they sounded and just by looking at the raw specs on paper. needless to say, the deftech set stayed, the energy set went back to the store.

i won't knock the energy speakers too much tho... they are both excellent buys, imho. if you do some research online, you'll see both models are very highly recommended. the one thing the energy speakers had that the deftechs did not, however, is a bypass-input for external crossovers/bass management (like the 1050 has). minor quibble, but some care about such things. the deftech satellites are also a bit bigger than the energy satellites (slightly bigger drivers) and the center channel (procenter 100) on the deftechs is MUCH larger than the energy center... that is, if space/placement is an issue.

i'm a bit busy today, but i can post some other thoughts later on when i have some more time... i took some pictures of the speakers aide by side if that might be of any use in comparing them.

happy hunting!

-e