braminator said:
I have found Bohlender-Graebener Z-7's brand new for $499. z-5's for 69.99 and z-1's for 149.00.
What I am really after is the Z-7's for a stereo set up with a M&K powered sub.
Does anyone have and or use them?
I can get Aurum Cantus Leisure 2 SE with stands bran new for 750.00. I listen to Classic Rock and Metal. How will these or the BG's do for this kind of music.?
The Aurum Cantus Leisure 2 SE speaker works well for classic rock. I don't tend to listen to metal, so I probably am not the person to ask, but I expect that they would work for that too.
I should mention that there are different versions of the Aurum Cantus speakers around; the U.S. versions are the best (the others can be had for less, and are still quite good). See:
http://www.kellsieavdesign.com/Speakers.htm
(Although the site above sells the U.S. version, most of the reviews are for the lessor "export" versions, as, for example, the U.S. version is not generally available for the British magazines to review.)
In the case of the Leisure 2 SE, the U.S. version is slightly more efficient (probably due to differences in the crossover), has flatter, deeper bass (due to the different port and different internal acoustic insulation), and the midrange (due to differences in the crossover) is said to be better. The finish on the cabinet is supposed to be better on the U.S. version, but they have improved the finish on the "export" version, so perhaps that is no longer true. The basic cabinet design is the same for both, as are the drivers (except for the dust cap on the woofer being different for the U.S. version). The model made for the Chinese market uses different drivers and a different cabinet, and should probably be called a different model (I expect it is decent, though I have never heard it, so I obviously cannot be sure). You really can't go wrong with either the U.S. or the "export" version (i.e., the version not made for the Chinese market, but made for everywhere else except the U.S.), but the U.S. version is a little better, and costs a little more.
Given the price you mention, I would expect that you are talking about the "export" version, and would be a good price. If it is the U.S. version, then it would be an exceptional deal, and if the Chinese version, you can do better.
Edited to add comments in italics:
It seems that Kellsie & Aurum Cantus have come out with yet another version of the Leisure 2 SE, which is the U.S. Signature version:
http://www.kellsieavdesign.com/products/Leisure2SE.htm
I cannot tell you what is different about it, though it is even more expensive than the regular U.S. version. You will want to contact the above web site for information on what is different about it, if you have the money for such speakers.
I have different BG speakers than you are talking about, so I cannot comment on them directly. But the ones I have (both more expensive and less expensive than the Aurum Cantus Leisure 2 SE U.S. version) are inferior to the Aurum Cantus in sound quality and build quality. And the Aurum Cantus speakers are exceptionally beautiful to look at. The pictures online do not do them justice.
