Quote Originally Posted by RGA
Energy is sold at A&B Sound which should be in Calgary -- and you can demop the Energy's against the Totems as they also carry Totem. Dynaudio is tougher to find as more high end dealers carry them not big retail chains.

The reason I mention Energy is because the C9 (with the exception of build construction) is very much on par with the Paradigm Studio 100V3 and at prices between $1100 - $1250.00 a pair list is a vertiable bargain. They're also tube amp friendly play real loud and have pretty darn good bass response. A set of these in front and C3 in rear their center channel and a good sub will be well under $3k Cdn.

Energy is also made in Canada. PSB's Image series might be worth a listen as well. Totem is nice but often ooverpriced for the sonics in that a lot of the money went to the nice cabinetry. The Energy's are a bit boring looking but a good deal IMO. http://www.energy-speakers.com/v2/pr...age.php?id=22#
RGA: Even Energy won't make a clam that the C9 is even in the same ballpark as the Studio 100...Personally, I'd avoid either speaker but let's be realistic.

Totems additional cost for cabinetry is actually not nearly as much as you'd think. Go visit the Totem factory in Montreal, it's at an old bank building, really cool. The added cost might be 5-10%, maybe. And that's only at the lowest priced speakers they offer...their competitors usually have nicely finished cabinets as well. Just a different style, no additional cost though. When you sell as many speakers as these guys do and have the high grade industrial equipment they do it's easy to keep costs down. IMO Totem offers far superior sound than most other speakers they compete with, they just have a different approach altogether...smaller instead of bigger. Nice looks don't hurt either.
I'm surprised you don't like Totem and that they're on your top 3 list of speakers to trash...they have a very European flavor to them and sound quite similar to many speakers you recommend.

jjjanzen: Use your own ears to be the judge - RGA notwithstanding, many, many fussy people have chosen Totem for the wonderful sonic refinement (and awesome midrange, imaging, and soundstaging) their speakers deliver. Try them out - you've got nothing to lose.