I’m often asked which speakers I recommend for a solid performing yet affordable home theater system. One of the finest entry-level sub/sat (subwoofer/satellite) systems I’ve ever reviewed was Energy’s TAKE 5.  It’s an extremely compact, elegant system that packs a mighty punch for its size. Over the years, Energy (now part of Klipsch) has updated the system a few times and it’s now known as the Take 5 Classic. A few years ago, when I first reviewed the Take 5, its price tag was in the $700 range. And I thought it was a bargain. Energy seems to have just recently discontinued the system, but the last list price I could find was $599. That’s an even better bargain.  So you can imagine my surprise this morning when I discovered NewEgg.com selling the Take 5 Classic (sans subwoofer) new for $149 plus free shipping.  Yes, you read that right. ONE FORTY NINE. As my good friend Michael put it when I told him about it, “Holy crap!” Holy crap, indeed.

So what’s the catch? Near as I can tell, the only catch is that Energy’s matching ESW-8HG subwoofer is not included. BUT… Amazon is selling that subwoofer a la carte for $149 plus free shipping. That means you can get the complete Take 5 Classic, with subwoofer, for under $300. That’s a steal if ever I’ve seen one and I guarantee the Take 5 Classic will blow the doors off any of the one-box systems you’re apt to find at Best Buy and the like. Happy shopping!

Tags: Audio, Deals, Hardware, Home Theater, Speakers