I have only heard these in the showroom (back when Good Guys was still around), but from what I remember I would choose the NHTs. They sounded tighter and faster to my ears. The Energy is a nice speaker, but lacks a little energy, so to speak.

If you're going to be ordering online or mail-order, look for a reseller with a money-back guarantee (some will even pay for shipping). These speakers can be had from many online retailers, so you've got options. Consequently, there are also a few other online-only manufacturers you might want to consider too (AxiomAudio for example).