Looking for a strong front stage....

[Bill Valley]

Considering:
Infinity Primus P162 (Bookshelf) and PC350 - $600
Klipsch RB 61 and RC 52 - $850
JBL "L" Series L810 and LC1 - $949

This is for the main family room (19x15x8). Using a single BIC H100 (or similar). Receiver will be H/K AVR254. Goal is clear, powerful sound mostly for home theater. I would like to stay under $800 for the front stage, but I have some flexibility. I would also consider towers if they are hands down better for the size of my space. Infinity Primus towers could fit in my budget.

Try to stick with these as I can listen/buy all local.

 

[blued888]

Your Infinitys should come out to $400 total for a pair of P162 ($99.99 each) and a PC350 ($199.99).

You can get these cheaper if you're willing to get refurbs from Harman Audio at eBay. The bookshelves will go for around $70 each. Not sure for the center.

Are you located in the US? The Infinity P362 floorstanders _might_ go on sale at Fry's again sometime for $99 each or $199 per pair.

Have you listened to the L series of JBL? I found the highs harsh compared to that of the Infinity Primus.

 

[Bill Valley]

I have auditioned the JBL's, but not the Infinitys. They did seem to have a lot of high end. The demo room with the Primus was out of commission and salesman did not know how to override. I would like to hear the Primus speakers. Again, I want something that can sound powerful when needed.

Primus towers for $99?

I am located in the US (Nebraska).

 

[mazersteven]

Goal is clear, powerful sound mostly for home theater. I would like to stay under $800 for the front stage, but I have some flexibility.

Sorry but I had to

AV123 x-mtm encore Tower Loudspeaker
http://av123.com/component/page,shop.product_details/flypage,shop.flypage/product_id,175/category_id,21/manufacturer_id,0/option,com_virtuemart/Itemid,37/


AV123 x-cs encore Center Loudspeaker
http://av123.com/component/page,shop.product_details/flypage,shop.flypage/product_id,174/category_id,21/manufacturer_id,0/option,com_virtuemart/Itemid,37/

 

[j_garcia]

If there is a Frys Electronics in your area by chance, you can see if you can get the $99 dollar deal. That is each, not a pair, but still great price. Maybe you can get another place to match the deal since Frys will ship. Check to see if they still have that pricing, as the sale comes and goes. www.frys.com

All in all, I'd have to agree with the X-series speakers though.

 

[calnbs]

Lately, Frys been selling the Primus 362 in their stores only and I haven't seen them online for a while now. You can go to frys.com and do a store locator to see if one is near you. And even among the B&M stores, prices ranges as well too. Not all of them are on sale on a national scale.

The best price I see now is at amazon.com for $150/each on the Primus 362.
You can also check ebay and bid on HarmanAudio's speakers....they are refurbished but it's under warrenty.

AV123's X-series will also be a great choice but you have to make sure they are in stock. They are going throw some growing pain at the moment.

 

[blued888]

It's $150 + $49 shipping from Amazon via Electronics-Expo. So that's $200 for a piece. I think they're well worth the price if there's a chance you won't be able to catch the Fry's sale.

 

[bandphan]

Try to stick with these as I can listen/buy all local.

I understand were your comming from with local, but imo try at least 2 id companies that you have seen good reviews on so you do your dollar justice. You can just order the mains and get a great in-home demo. If not i suggest you do the same in-home demo with the B&Ms.

 

[Bill Valley]

With all due respect, I greatly appreciate the feedback......

With that being said, I have done a lot of research/testing on the car audio side and found that I like the big manufacturers for a reason. I have used CDT, ED, Alpine, MB Quart, Diamond Audio, etc., but found the Alpine stuff to be the most reliable and readily available.

Part of the reason I would like to go with Infinity or JBL is that I can hear them locally and then look for the best deal online.

I had an Elemental Designs 13Ov.2 in a 1.5 cu ft enclosure fed off of 300 rms and it would absolutely shred (I mean it would vibrate the hair on your scalp in my X5). I would strongly consider an ED HT sub for that reason, and the fact that they are 3 hours from my home, but I want something that has a professional finished look.

Enter the Infinity Primus; I can get a smoking deal, with good sound, and audition them locally before I purchase. Primus owners: are you feeling me? Is your sound adequate for your HT setup?

 

[blued888]

@Bill Valley

I too am getting the Primus line from Infinity. They definitely sound great! But I am coming from a Yamaha HTIB set so that might make a big difference in my sound perception (But hey, whatever makes you happy, right?). I've never had a "real" speaker setup, so to speak.

I will be getting the set sometime in September, it's because the speakers will be imported from the US to the Philippines. I can get them here but they would be $225 more expensive and they would come with all silver grills which I hate.

Some ID brands give you 30 days to try out their products and if you're not satisfied I believe they handle return shipping.

 

[3db]

With all due respect, I greatly appreciate the feedback......

With that being said, I have done a lot of research/testing on the car audio side and found that I like the big manufacturers for a reason. I have used CDT, ED, Alpine, MB Quart, Diamond Audio, etc., but found the Alpine stuff to be the most reliable and readily available.

Part of the reason I would like to go with Infinity or JBL is that I can hear them locally and then look for the best deal online.

I had an Elemental Designs 13Ov.2 in a 1.5 cu ft enclosure fed off of 300 rms and it would absolutely shred (I mean it would vibrate the hair on your scalp in my X5). I would strongly consider an ED HT sub for that reason, and the fact that they are 3 hours from my home, but I want something that has a professional finished look.

Enter the Infinity Primus; I can get a smoking deal, with good sound, and audition them locally before I purchase. Primus owners: are you feeling me? Is your sound adequate for your HT setup?

I understand your reluctance to shy away from the brands you've mentioned but if I were in your shoes, I would investigate the speciality stores and get away from the big chain stores. The sales people are generally more knowledgebale then the kids working at Best Buy, Circuit City, etc and can offer more sound advice. In doing so, see if there is a PSB dealer in your neighbourhood. The Image series by PSB present a phenomenal soundstage with great resolution of instruments. Good luck.

 

[mazersteven]

With all due respect
Enter the Infinity Primus; I can get a smoking deal, with good sound, and audition them locally before I purchase. Primus owners: are you feeling me? Is your sound adequate for your HT setup?

With all due respect

Sounds like your more interested in getting "a deal" (or what you think is a deal), then sound quality. Are you feeling me?

"A Good Deal is a State of Mind" I guess you can convince yourself of anything.

 

[calnbs]

With all due respect, I greatly appreciate the feedback......

With that being said, I have done a lot of research/testing on the car audio side and found that I like the big manufacturers for a reason. I have used CDT, ED, Alpine, MB Quart, Diamond Audio, etc., but found the Alpine stuff to be the most reliable and readily available.

Part of the reason I would like to go with Infinity or JBL is that I can hear them locally and then look for the best deal online.

I had an Elemental Designs 13Ov.2 in a 1.5 cu ft enclosure fed off of 300 rms and it would absolutely shred (I mean it would vibrate the hair on your scalp in my X5). I would strongly consider an ED HT sub for that reason, and the fact that they are 3 hours from my home, but I want something that has a professional finished look.
Enter the Infinity Primus; I can get a smoking deal, with good sound, and audition them locally before I purchase. Primus owners: are you feeling me? Is your sound adequate for your HT setup?

When comes to car audio, Alpine, JL Audio, Kicker, and Rockford Fosgate is KING to Me. I completely understand.

I own both B&M and ID speakers. Store brand: Infinity Primus; Internet Direct: AV123 Rockets. Don't let the Internet non Mass production fool you that it's not good compare to mass production speakers. Overall quality of finish and sound goes to Rockets in a heart-beat (of course, Rockets cost more). To ME, my Infinity is like a Toyota Camry...good and gets the job done at a NICE price. My Rocket is like a Lexus LS400...looks and does its job on a higher level. No comparison. Sound is subjective to many people, but there is NO DENYING THAT when it comes to finish....my Rockets put my Infinity to shame.

They both sound different in their own ways. Good thing I am not too picky when it comes to sound. I love both of them in their own ways. I can live happily ever if I had to sell one and live with the other. Have you had the chance to audition the Primus? I can't argue about how good of a deal Primus is at its clearance price but don't overlook ID speakers as well.

For what I paid for....$99/each Primus 362.....Hell yea...it's a good deal for a HT set up. I don't even need speakers....but for that price, I couldn't say "NO".

 

[jcPanny]

Speaker brands

In my experience Infinity and JBL are much more popular in the car audio market than they are in Home Theater.

If you want some of the popular mainstream brands, go to a local B&M dealer and look for Paradigm, Klipsch Reference, Energy, and others.
You should be able to get the Paradigm Monitor series in your budget, or if you are willing to buy used, the Paradigm Studio 20's and matching center.

I understand you hesitation for trying some of the ID companies but some of them off a risk free trial and all have a liberal return policy to allow you to try them in your home.

 

[j_garcia]

Big names are good for some things, however audio isn't necessarily one of them, especially when it comes to the numerous quality internet direct speaker manufacturers. With no middle man, you are paying for the product, not the marketing and the name, so you can think of it as getting a lot more for your money, plus you are dealing directly with the source, not a distributor in most cases.

 

[mazersteven]

Big names are good for some things, however audio isn't necessarily one of them, especially when it comes to the numerous quality internet direct speaker manufacturers. With no middle man, you are paying for the product, not the marketing and the name, so you can think of it as getting a lot more for your money, plus you are dealing directly with the source, not a distributor in most cases.

Are you feeling me?

 

[Bill Valley]

With all due respect

Sounds like your more interested in getting "a deal" (or what you think is a deal), then sound quality. Are you feeling me?

"A Good Deal is a State of Mind" I guess you can convince yourself of anything.

It is absolutely my top priority to get "a deal". Sound quality is important, but not the most important. Please read original post; I am looking for a clean, powerful front stage and wondering if the JBL, Klipsch Reference, or Infinity Primus will do the job. Also, I can purchase any of the aforementioned interest free for 18 months and use my $100 coupon. Will the ID companies extend the same courtesy?

 

[mazersteven]

Will the ID companies extend the same courtesy?

Well since you inquired about it.

http://av123.com/content/view/141/150/

And if your credit is good enough for store credit it should also be good enough to apply for a credit card with 0% for the first year or something.

Just a thought to try to help.

 

[Bill Valley]

Well since you inquired about it.

http://av123.com/content/view/141/150/

Now were talkin.....

 

[mazersteven]

Now were talkin.....

Ya, but "Are You Feeling Me"?