Under $500 tower speakers for deep/mellow music

[leowiz]

I am looking for a pair of tower speakers with good performance for music. I see that the Polk 70s are on sale for $150 a piece but I am not sure how they sound. I listen to a lot of soft music and lot of vocals and I want something that sounds really deep and crisp/clear. I am not into noisy music but I hate any kind of hissing when I listen to music.

Any suggestions?

Thanks guys.


Music type: Bon Iver, Jack Johnson .... Some Guns and Roses kind, a little Metallica, a lot of instrumental. ...

 

[JerryLove]

Define "deep". Certainly vocals are not taxing of low-end extension. What seems to do the most good there is a dedicated midrange.

How about two Behringer 2030p's ($150 a pair), two Dayton Subwoofers ($270 per pair) and an external crossover to mate them?

 

[sholling]

A great example of why it's time for a $500 (street price) tower shootout.

I'm not going to get too deeply into this because it's been answered so many times but a good speaker that plays flat down to 40hz will have most music covered. For movies and some music you'll still need a subwoofer. Above all else sound quality counts.

 

[lmt9914]

A great example of why it's time for a $500 (street price) tower shootout.

I'm not going to get too deeply into this because it's been answered so many times but a good speaker that plays flat down to 40hz will have most music covered. For movies and some music you'll still need a subwoofer. Above all else sound quality counts.

Let's get it on! A great idea that needs to be followed through on. Come on Audioholics get this going!

 

[Alex2507]

A great example of why it's time for a $500 (street price) tower shootout.

http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=48411&highlight=shootout

It took me forever to find that but there it is. I know it doesn't exactly fit the bill but since I own the Infinities it makes me happy to read about them being the shiznit or whatever.

 

[shadyJ]

I am not into noisy music but I hate any kind of hissing when I listen to music.

Like the other guys said, if you want deep, you want a subwoofer. Also, hiss is usually not due to the speaker. If you are getting a hiss, its probably coming from somewhere else.

 

[sholling]

http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=48411&highlight=shootout

It took me forever to find that but there it is. I know it doesn't exactly fit the bill but since I own the Infinities it makes me happy to read about them being the shiznit or whatever.

I listened to the Infinities a couple of years ago and thought they were pretty impressive for the price.

 

[DLeague]

I am looking for a pair of tower speakers with good performance for music. I see that the Polk 70s are on sale for $150 a piece but I am not sure how they sound. I listen to a lot of soft music and lot of vocals and I want something that sounds really deep and crisp/clear. I am not into noisy music but I hate any kind of hissing when I listen to music.

Any suggestions?

Thanks guys.


Music type: Bon Iver, Jack Johnson .... Some Guns and Roses kind, a little Metallica, a lot of instrumental. ...

You really need to move up to $800, then you can choose higher quality speakers that you might want to keep for a long while. I listed them in no particular order or preference, as all are worth buying. Jamo has a beautiful dark apple finish available and the Swans have a wood finish and lacquer coating.

Energy CF-50 $800/pair
Jamo C607 $800/pair
Swan Diva 4.2 $800/pair

These speakers are normally only bought by experienced audio enthusiast that is beyond the hype and want speakers to get the best detail and wide sound stage. I have older model Jamo's and would never consider getting rid of them, but the Swans are equally appealing. These Energy speakers very good, has exceptional sound and nothing like their cheaper models

 

[JerryLove]

The infinity's are excellent for towers in their price. I have both an unmodified set of 360's and a heavily modified setof 362's.

The drivers are tremendous in the stock Infinity's, the cabinets however could use some real work.

 

[AJinFLA]

Hi Jerry,

I have both an unmodified set of 360's and a heavily modified setof 362's.

What are the difference(s) between the (unmodded) 360 and 362? Did you by chance measure either?

the cabinets however could use some real work.

Is this the heavy mod to the 362?
TIA

cheers,

AJ

 

[Alex2507]

Is this the heavy mod to the 362?

Fixed and Yes but that's not really a 362 anymore though. Read about it here.

 

[AJinFLA]

Ouch. That much surgery. Heidi Montag's got nothing on those

 

[JerryLove]

Hi Jerry,

What are the difference(s) between the (unmodded) 360 and 362? Did you by chance measure either?

They are *very* modified (http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=56392&highlight=firm)

Is this the heavy mod to the 362?

And then some: but I'm confident that a great deal of improvement can be had by far less modification.

More-better acoustic stuffing would be good, and is easy. Though what was done on mine was complex: improving the bracing of the cabinet (almost always a good idea on towers) can be done at several levels of effort: from the person on here who used wood glue, hocky pucks, and all-thread to make bracing, to opening up the back and rebracing the whole thing.

The bass extension is limited. Not generally a big deal. Easiest is to add as subwoofer (indeed, one solution I've seen Chris do is to pair Primus 152s with custom-built subs).

After stuffing, bracing, and adding a sub (and making sure that the seals are good between the chambers, my next suggestion would be replacing the tweeter... but that requires modifying the crossover.

Since you are in my neck of the woods, you are welcome to come listen: though right now I have some signifigant room-interaction issues to fix on them.

 

[AJinFLA]

They are *very* modified

I realize that now.
I was really hoping to find whether Infinity upgraded all/some/any of the drivers, xo, etc. between models, since I've seen data for the 360, none for the 362.

And then some: but I'm confident that a great deal of improvement can be had by far less modification.

I agree

Since you are in my neck of the woods, you are welcome to come listen: though right now I have some signifigant room-interaction issues to fix on them.

Yes, I know, since they are monopoles...vented too.
I really appreciate the offer, may take you up on it once/if my crazy schedule slows up. Thanks again.

cheers,

AJ

p.s. maybe I'll bring along a gradient system with me, to see if it's the room, as most like to blame...or the source.

 

[JerryLove]

I realize that now.
I was really hoping to find whether Infinity upgraded all/some/any of the drivers, xo, etc. between models, since I've seen data for the 360, none for the 362.


I agree

Once on another board Chris said he had heard that the 362's used lesser drivers. I don't know: but he was very happy with the MMD drivers in general. Certainly the 362's don't appear to use improved drivers over the 360's.

Infinity's next driver up would appear to be their CMMD line in the Betas.

Yes, I know, since they are monopoles...vented too.

Actually: my modified ones are sealed.

p.s. maybe I'll bring along a gradient system with me, to see if it's the room, as most like to blame...or the source.

I welcome any assistance in improving my results: but since I've run other speakers here (B&W 801s for example) from the same sources, I don't think that's the cause.

 

[AJinFLA]

I welcome any assistance in improving my results: but since I've run other speakers here (B&W 801s for example)

Those are anything but a gradient loudspeaker.

I don't think that's the cause.

We'll see

cheers,

AJ

 

[PENG]

The infinity's are excellent for towers in their price. I have both an unmodified set of 360's and a heavily modified setof 362's.

The drivers are tremendous in the stock Infinity's, the cabinets however could use some real work.

Just a silly question, in terms of accuracy/neutrality and overall sound quality can the much talked about 360/362 in stock form compete with speakers such as Paradigm (Studio series), PSB, B&W (say 804s) that are 3 to 6 times their prices?

 

[JerryLove]

Just a silly question, in terms of accuracy/neutrality and overall sound quality can the much talked about 360/362 in stock form compete with speakers such as Paradigm (Studio series), PSB, B&W (say 804s) that are 3 to 6 times their prices?

I preferred the sound of the 60v3's I had to the stock 360's. I've not really done a back-and-forth (much less A/B) comparison; and so I'd have to do some work to really explain why.

I do agree with Matt that the 360's real strength is their midrange driver.

 

[JerryLove]

Those are anything but a

I believe my point was "I've replaced the speakers in the equasion and had the particular problem go away: therefore the issue is with the speakers themselves or with the interaction between the speakers and the room".

 

[3db]

If you can find a pair, I'd suggest PSB's ImageT45, the previous series from whatt PSB has now. You should be able to pick up a pair for around $350.... I have had a pair for the last 5 years and am very pleased with them.