Compact, High Quality Energy Bookshelf Speakers Take 2.2

Howard Heiber founded Audio Products International in 1973 in Scarborough, Ontario, as a builder of private-label speakers. Energy says its brand dates from 1973; other sources point to the late 1970s or early 1980s, when API took on the Energy and Sound Dynamics names.

Research in Canada. Energy took part in the National Research Council of Canada's listening-test research from 1977 to 1986, and its speakers were built at API's Scarborough factory, which it shared with Mirage.

Veritas and Connoisseur. The Veritas v2.8 flagship was shown at the 1993 Winter CES, and the Connoisseur series followed in the mid-1990s. The Take 5 satellite system arrived in 1997.

New owners. Klipsch Group of Indianapolis bought API, with Energy, Mirage and Athena, in August 2006, and production moved to China around 2006 to 2007. VOXX bought Klipsch in 2011, and Gentex bought VOXX in 2025.

Veritas (1993 onward): the flagship line, such as the three-way v2.8.

Connoisseur (mid-1990s to mid-2000s): models such as the C-2, C-3, C-6 and C-8.

Reference Connoisseur (RC): including the RC-70 towers and the RC-mini, one of our best sellers.

Take 5 and Take Classic (1997 onward): small satellite-and-subwoofer systems.

XL and e:XL (2000s): the entry line. Our best-selling e:XL-S8 subwoofer and e:XL-C centre come from here.

C-series (late 2000s): the vinyl-finished budget line, from the C-50 to the C-500, including the C-300 towers.

Subwoofers: the ESW and S-series, such as the ESW-8 we sell often.

Aluminum-dome tweeters. Owners report broken tweeters on some Connoisseur models. Look closely for dented or cracked domes.

Powered subwoofers. Owners report failed plate amplifiers on some S-series subs. Any sub should play cleanly at volume.

Surrounds. Most Energy woofers of the 1990s and 2000s use rubber surrounds, but some models, such as the RVSS dipole, used foam. Press gently on each woofer surround.

Where it was made. Energy speakers were made in Scarborough into the mid-2000s and in China from about 2006 to 2007. Check the rear label if Canadian manufacture matters to you.

Everything we list is inspected, tested and serviced as required here, and comes with our warranty.