P362 vs. BP7000 vs. BP7001 vs. Others

[AJinFLA]

Are they better than (or equal to) the well respected Aperion or Ascend offerings for $1000? If so, many of us have been giving bad advice!

Not terribly familiar with either, so I looked at both those websites.
I would not put money against the the 362 in a controlled test, vs anything either of those offer. The key being controlled testing, not anecdote.

Who knows how much inference can be made about the P362 from the P162 bookshelf speakers? I'd assume the drivers may be the same(?). The P162's performed well, but were not standouts in this "shoot-out".
http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/bookshelf/budget-bookshelf-shootout-2009

None. They seem to share the same woofer and tweeter, but, there is no mid on the two way 162. So they attempt to match the directional characteristics of a small piston (3/4" dome) to a larger piston (6.5" woofer), without the benefit of an in between diameter driver (4" mid in the 362). You can see the result, horizontally and vertically:

162

360/362

There is also less smoothness in the direct on axis, due most likely to different diffraction signatures of the baffles/driver arrangement and XO filter (not sure about the rise above 10k).

162

360/362

The P362's certainly seem to offer a sweetspot in full-range speaker value!

It's a well executed design, for the price, from what data that is available/I have seen, it's unique.

The next question is how much more do you need to spend to get a significantly better speaker?

Define "better"? . For monopolar, vertically stacked driver box speakers, probably quite a bit, though you can get more output, lower LF performance. etc.
Some box speakers like KEF, with their coincident drivers, might give it a run for it's money (but cost more) and may exceed it in the spatial reproduction aspect. Magneplanar has a model for around the same list price that may sound better (2 ch stereo) to some, in some areas, not as good in others. It all depends.

cheers,

AJ

 

[evpj13]

I have em and I like em
Wouldn't have even known about them if I hadn't found this website!
Kudos to you fellas.

I'll second that notion!

 

[gmichael]

How did that happen?

I could have sworn I spelled "pervert".

Perverts ARE pefect.

 

[gmichael]

I must say, when I “upgraded” my mains from the 360’s to a set of speakers that cost me 4 times as much, the difference was not what I had expected. As much as I love the speakers I have now, if I had known then what I know now, I wouldn’t have spent the money.

 

[lsiberian]

I must say, when I “upgraded” my mains from the 360’s to a set of speakers that cost me 4 times as much, the difference was not what I had expected. As much as I love the speakers I have now, if I had known then what I know now, I wouldn’t have spent the money.

My only issue with the primus speakers are the tweeters. I think they sound a bit harsh. However internally the speaker can be improved by replacing the lining with some r11 or rockwool on the back wall. one could even add a few rib braces to further improve the speaker.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I must say, when I “upgraded” my mains from the 360’s to a set of speakers that cost me 4 times as much, the difference was not what I had expected. As much as I love the speakers I have now, if I had known then what I know now, I wouldn’t have spent the money.

It makes me wonder, though...

Are ALL Harman speakers > $300 this good?

If Harman International can make a $300 (listed) P362 with such amazingly flat on- and off-axis frequency repsonse, why can't ALL their speakers > $300 have the same amazingly flat on- and off-axis frequency repsonse?

I mean we know the Revel Salon1 & Salon2 have superbly flat on- and off-axis response, but what about the rest of the Revel speakers that cost > $400?

It would be weird if a P362 has better frequency response than some of the higher cost Revel & JBL speakers!!!

 

[gmichael]

It makes me wonder, though...

Are ALL Harman speakers > $300 this good?

If Harman International can make a $300 (listed) P362 with such amazingly flat on- and off-axis frequency repsonse, why can't ALL their speakers > $300 have the same amazingly flat on- and off-axis frequency repsonse?

I mean we know the Revel Salon1 & Salon2 have superbly flat on- and off-axis response, but what about the rest of the Revel speakers that cost > $400?

It would be weird if a P362 has better frequency response than some of the higher cost Revel & JBL speakers!!!

Sometimes synergy happens.

I remember decades ago, Maxel (who is also Memerex) was making a hi-biased casset tape. Memorex was making the same tape with “inferior” parts, but it somehow ended up having better properties than the Maxel. After a couple of years, the Memorex was discontinued because no one was willing to pay extra for the Maxel.

 

[lsiberian]

It makes me wonder, though...

Are ALL Harman speakers > $300 this good?

If Harman International can make a $300 (listed) P362 with such amazingly flat on- and off-axis frequency repsonse, why can't ALL their speakers > $300 have the same amazingly flat on- and off-axis frequency repsonse?

I mean we know the Revel Salon1 & Salon2 have superbly flat on- and off-axis response, but what about the rest of the Revel speakers that cost > $400?

It would be weird if a P362 has better frequency response than some of the higher cost Revel & JBL speakers!!!

A lot of brands share the same specs so it's possible you have a rebranded Primus in the other brands too. The Infinity Beta series is now the Revel Concerta series(exact same specs) I think it's a marketing deal. Some folks love JBLs and some Infinities. Some want a hifi brand name so they get Revel.

People have a mob mentality with speakers so non-blind tests have to be tossed out IMO. I think measurements will tell us what the best speakers really are for a room.

 

[Matt34]

It makes me wonder, though...

Are ALL Harman speakers > $300 this good?

If Harman can make a $300 (listed) P362 with such amazingly flat on- and off-axis frequency repsonse, why can't ALL their speakers > $300 have the same amazingly flat on- and off-axis frequency repsonse?

I mean we know the Revel Salon1 & Salon2 have superbly flat on- and off-axis response, but what about the rest of the Revel speakers that cost > $400?

It would be weird if a P362 has better frequency response than some of the higher cost Revel & JBL speakers!!!

I know RMK! loves his JTR speakers and they suit his needs perfectly but I would have had a hell of a time letting go of those beautiful Revels!

 

[gmichael]

I know RMK! loves his JTR speakers and they suit his needs perfectly but I would have had a hell of a time letting go of those beautiful Revels!

Oh great. Now I'll have to run my reports over again. I can't turn these in after drooling all over them.

 

[STRONGBADF1]

It makes me wonder, though...

Are ALL Harman speakers > $300 this good?

If Harman International can make a $300 (listed) P362 with such amazingly flat on- and off-axis frequency repsonse, why can't ALL their speakers > $300 have the same amazingly flat on- and off-axis frequency repsonse?

I mean we know the Revel Salon1 & Salon2 have superbly flat on- and off-axis response, but what about the rest of the Revel speakers that cost > $400?

It would be weird if a P362 has better frequency response than some of the higher cost Revel & JBL speakers!!!

Aesthetics and marketing costs figure into the cost of a speaker so...

is this a case of 10% of the money gets you 90% of the performance and then you pay through the nose for diminished returns and aesthetics or an unusual personal preference?

FWIW, Alex looked at me when we were at Rickster71's and commented that his Infinities weren't as great as everybody says after listening to Sig8's and Maggies... (paraphrasing of course)

I do have a need to compare these Infinities to my speakers in my room now.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Oh great. Now I'll have to run my reports over again. I can't turn these in after drooling all over them.

One day soon I will have to check out a Revel dealer (probably Texas) that actually has a Salon2 to audition.

Stupid Revel dealer in OKC only has bookshelf speakers. The nerve!

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I do have a need to compare these Infinities to my speakers in my room now.

The FORCE is strong with this one (P362).

 

[gmichael]

One day soon I will have to check out a Revel dealer (probably Texas) that actually has a Salon2 to audition.

Stupid Revel dealer in OKC only has bookshelf speakers. The nerve!

Dam all those beautiful speakers. I find myself wanting ALL of them. I’d need a mansion to hold them all.

Please send all donations to:

CheapAss McBroke
1313 Ineed Money drive
Poorville PA 18337

Disclaimer: The above is not a real address. Don’t send any money to it.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Dam all those beautiful speakers. I find myself wanting ALL of them. I’d need a mansion to hold them all.

Please send all donations to:

CheapAss McBroke
1313 Ineed Money drive
Poorville PA 18337

Disclaimer: The above is not a real address. Don’t send any money to it.

I wish I had a mansion with 20 HT rooms and fill each one with the flagship speakers from all the top companies.

I'm sorry, but I don't think there will be room for any P362s in my $20 million dollar mansion.

 

[gmichael]

I wish I had a mansion with 20 HT rooms and fill each one with the flagship speakers from all the top companies.

I'm sorry, but I don't think there will be room for any P362s in my $20 million dollar mansion.

There will always be room for my 360's. Even if I just set them up in the attic.

 

[Tarub]

I wish I had a mansion with 20 HT rooms and fill each one with the flagship speakers from all the top companies.

I'm sorry, but I don't think there will be room for any P362s in my $20 million dollar mansion.

I can put it and replace my old system on my 4 wheel drive bicycle.

 

[Alex2507]

FWIW, Alex looked at me when we were at Rickster71's and commented that his Infinities weren't as great as everybody says after listening to Sig8's and Maggies... (paraphrasing of course)

I was just being polite.

Seriously, if I ever hit those SPL's in condo land my neighbors ... I just wouldn't ... and if I ever tried for those SPL's my rec'r would probably melt ... and if I ever reached those SPL's my 360's would explode ... not to mention my poor 10" sub drivers ... I'm not going to mention them because they have self esteem issues as it is due to not being dual 15 inchers.

Yeah, the Sig's with the Epik made me a little tingly.

The Maggies are cool 'cause they stand alone do it all well. Great bass integration. I think my 360's are going to be a little weak in the bass because of all the stuff I jammed into them. Some of my insulation was faced. ... but that's what subs are for. Rick also had the room for good placement with those Maggies. The poor Coherent Pulses I think suffered from poor placement (too close to each other) and I doubt they liked being that close to the Maggies which resemble sound panels.

I wonder what would happen to the graphs and charted listener preferences if the room was bigger and the SPL's were higher. Would the 362's still maintain their composure? The 362 is rated for 200 watts. What if you just want speakers that will take more and still sound good? I bet the price goes through the roof ... like maybe right into freakin' orbit.

 

[jostenmeat]

What if you just want speakers that will take more and still sound good? I bet the price goes through the roof ... like maybe right into freakin' orbit.

Commercial type speakers as made by JTR, Seaton, JBL, and the like? I'm not sure how much a pair of Sig towers cost, but it might be enough to afford 3x JTR triple 8s, along with matching surrounds to boot. I've never heard these speakers, nor any Seatons, but the word on the street is that they sound very, very good, while having the ability to crank. What I don't know much about is the whole "constant directivity" thing, if that's what they call it. If I had to guess it's probably related to a controlled sens/efficiency. But, there is supposed to be a dramatic drop off in SPL once outside this "range" or whatever. How would they compare in stereo mode with bare sidewalls depending on off axis response, compared to some Infinities, in DBTs? No idea. But one will sound better at reference level from 12ft away, I would bet.

 

[Alex2507]

I'm not sure how much a pair of Sig towers cost,

Over 8 grand for the current ones. One thing about them that can't be discounted is how they look. Once you see them it's like you don't even care what they're gonna sound like. I've had girlfriends like that.