I bought it with the intentions of auditioning...I am replacing Radio Shack RCA Pro LS-2 with matching surrounds and centers. They were supposedly made by MTX. Very shrill, built in xover at 200Hz. So you could say I was starving for midbass.
The E76C has amazing bass for a $125 speaker. It says it goes down to 50Hz, but I think it might go lower. I ran it on LOTR, through the explosion at Helm's Deep, and as much Treebeard as possible. It didn't flinch, and the trees' sounds were all there, very bravado. It's almost a bass heavy center. I've heard people call them pulpy (Cerwin Vega's in general), and I can understand that. It doesn't seem 'bright' enough...but then again, I am using crap/shrill speakers as a reference. My roomate worked at Circuit City for a few years, and listened to the Polks and JBLs. He told me last night that I have sold him on Cerwin Vegas. He said it sounded as good as any center channel he ever heard go through that store. I think that's a big compliment coming from him (he's pickier than I am).
I, too, am curious about the Classic Series. I was very impressed with the E series (for the price). The off axis (to my noobie ears) was very good. And compared with the $200+ speakers (center channels) I have heard, I have to say it's a better anchor than most. There were a few instances of 'potential' muddiness...but like I said, this could be skewed by my perception...maybe I'm finally hearing things like they are supposed to sound. Clarity doesn't suffer from what I've heard so far, just instances where there's a bit of resonance (my room is very boomy, I think it's more that than the speaker). I have listened to Athena and Klipsch, Jamo, and JBL (not the 3 ways), and I like the low end of the Cerwin Vega E76C ALOT better. My issue is with the highs. It seems like it could be brighter. Perhaps the Classic Series addresses this. A three way (dedicated midrange) could probably work wonders for that speaker. The Xover in the E series center is 4k, too...I personally think that's a little high for a beefy 6.5". I have no clue what the classic series xover is for their 6.5".
While I would like it to be brighter, I think that it does well with the highs, to where, before with the Radio Shack, and most other smaller cone woofers, they were obvious/annoying, and now, they are still there, but they aren't screaming at me anymore. Maybe I just need an eq. ;-)
Overall, I was impressed more by this speaker than disappointed, and had to think hard to find flaws in a $125 speaker. Treebeard sounded wonderful on it, and that voice will wreak havoc with most the centers I've heard. It almost doesn't need a subwoofer.
