Well, I wondered that very same thing myself. I'm looking for an upgrade and so here's where I'm at mentally...
To directly answer your questions...
1. I have not listened to them (or any others), I don't have any options around me here in Paw Paw, MI.
2. What I want out of an upgrade is a higher quality HT setup... the "next step", if you will.
3. I can't say they are lacking... because, in my limited speaker experience, they're kinda all I really know.
There's only things mentally that cause me to doubt them and consider an upgrade... They company does not exist any longer. They are all but forgotten. Other speakers have gotten my attention because of the "homemade" feel I get with all things considered. I'm financially ready to upgrade. The grass is greener? You get what you pay for? There are a lot of things going on in my head right now.
Now here's the long-winded version of what's on my mind...
eD is no longer, we all know this. eD when in business, sold a lot of equipment. It's not to say I'm dissatisfied with what I have more than I was thinking these would be a good upgrade. I'm certainly not looking for something equivalent (I'm looking for an upgrade, not a lateral move). I've kinda fallen out of love with what I have. You know how upgradeitis can be. They seem "janky" to me because they're kinda like homemade. So I don't have the gut feeling that I have a great finished product.
I'm totally willing to buy sight unseen (or unheard
) but that's only after enough research. I never heard my eD's before I bought them.
When I bought them, at the end of 2010, I had only believed they were a good value for the sound I was getting. It was my first set of speakers that wasn't from an Onkyo HTIB.
At this point since eD is all but forgotten and I don't really have a good way to compare. I live in an area that doesn't have any options to go and listen for a comparison. I live in Paw Paw, MI (near Kalamazoo/Portage, MI).
I'm mostly in the belief that you get what you pay for. In my case, 4xA4.b's, ($136/pr), 1xA6.mtm ($175), and 2xA6.t ($425/pr), I spent a total of ~$875. It appears to me jumping into a $3000 7.0 set of DefTech's seemed to be a fairly large upgrade.
Right now, I have the impression the grass is greener...
I have nobody around me that I know where I can discuss and debate new purchases like this, hence, why I am now here asking for opinions.
Now as far as DefTech's... I'm not convinced these are "the ones", but they aren't shabby IMO. But I've now begun scouring all forums I can find but with as much info that's out there, I find it easier if someone (hopefully multiple someones) simply point out some "best bang for the buck" priced around $2000... kinda soliciting for someone to talking me out of the DefTech's if there is indeed something with a better bang for the buck I haven't run across yet.
Please remember, I'm looking for a 7.0 system.
Sorry for being long-winded.
Regards,
Jaime