Beta 40 Owners

[speakerman39]

Hello people I just pulled the trigger on a set of Infinity Beta 40 towers and the C250 center. I wanted the C360 BUT it is just too darn big. Anyways, my question is will the
C250 do a good job or am I just waisting my money??? I would rather not have a center at all if the C250 is crap. Too bad the C360 is so big--weighing in at hefty 35 lbs. Dont want to put that much weight on top of my Sony tv. Just hope the C250 is not too weak. How would any of you compare the Beta 40's to speakers such as the Polk Rti8's, Paradigm Monitor 7's, and the Axiom M60's??? I am sure the Axiom M60's are much better but I got a good deal on the Beta 40's and as such could not pass them up. Lastly, what do you Beta 40 owners use for rears??? How are the ES250 mono/di/bi-poles sound??? I have to put them on the rear wall and my couch is right up next against the rear wall. No room for 7.1 only 5.1. LFE effects being handled via my Mirage S12 sub and am using a Pioneer 1015 for amplification. Will the 1015 work sufficiently? In other words, is the Pioneer 1015 and the Beta 40's a good sonic match??? Thank you for your time.
Phil

 

[gmichael]

Hello people I just pulled the trigger on a set of Infinity Beta 40 towers and the C250 center. I want the C360 BUT it is just too darn big. Anyways, my question is will the
C250 do a good job or am I just waisting my money??? I would rather not have a center at all if the C250 is crap. Too bad the C360 is so big--weighing in at hefty 35 lbs. Dont want to put that much weight on top of my Sony tv. Just hope the C250 is not too weak. How would any of you compare the Beta 40's to speakers such as the Polk Rti8's, Paradigm Monitor 7's, and the Axiom M60's??? I am sure the Axiom M60's are much better but I got a good deal on the Beta 40's and as such could not pass them up. Lastly, what do you Beta 40 owners use for rears??? How are the ES250 mono/di/bi-poles sound??? I have to put them on the rear wall and my couch is right up next against the rear wall. No room for 7.1 only 5.1. LFE effects being handled via my Mirage S12 sub and am using a Pioneer 1015 for amplification. Will the 1015 work sufficiently? In other words, is the Pioneer 1015 and the Beta 40's a good match??? Thank you for your time.
Phil

Hi Phil,

The C250 is a good center. But it's not as well matched to the Beta's as the C360 is.

 

[j_garcia]

I have a 38lb center on top of my Sony TV. No problem at all.

 

[speakerman39]

I have a 38lb center on top of my Sony TV. No problem at all.

Okay but what Sony tv do you have? I have the 32HS420 model which is a crt hdtv monitor. The stand I bought to go with my tv is already bowing--well the carboard pieces on the back are bowing out. The max weight is around 240 lbs BUT the tv is very heavy. Sony claims that it only weighs 165 lbs. BUT it is more like 265 lbs. The stand I plan to put atop my tv gives max weight of 30 lbs. Am scared to put the 35 lb. C360 on it and my stand collapse. So do you believe the C250 will do a good job? Do you own a set of the Betas?

 

[speakerman39]

Hi Phil,

The C250 is a good center. But it's not as well matched to the Beta's as the C360 is.

What do you mean NOT as well matched? Should I just not get a center then? What Betas do you have or did have shall I say?

 

[mike c]

the C250 is from the BETA line. it should match well in timbre sound. but what gmichael is saying probably is that the C250 has 5" drivers while the beta 40 has 6.5" drivers.

but, I really pushed for the C360 whatever lefts and rights would have been. I was not about to have regrets on buying something not "top of the line"

I have beta 10 rears (budget concerns) sometimes I have buyer's remorse and think I should have gotten the DI/BI pole surrounds.

 

[speakerman39]

the C250 is from the BETA line. it should match well in timbre sound. but what gmichael is saying probably is that the C250 has 5" drivers while the beta 40 has 6.5" drivers.

but, I really pushed for the C360 whatever lefts and rights would have been. I was not about to have regrets on buying something not "top of the line"

I have beta 10 rears (budget concerns) sometimes I have buyer's remorse and think I should have gotten the DI/BI pole surrounds.

Mike I agree BUT will the C250 work decently or should I just not use a center? I am putting my Paradigm
Studio 20 v.3's in the rear for now. I hope to eventually get the ES250 di/bi pole speakers for 5.1. I decided to go with towers and the Paradigm Studio 60's were way out of my price range so I decided to make a change w/in my budget. Will my Pioneer 1015 be enough power for the Beta 40's and the C250???

 

[mike c]

c250 is definitely better than NO center.
I am unfamiliar with the 1015 power ratings but if you have a sub, it should be ok. I used to run the beta 50, C360 and 3 pieces of beta 10 off a yammy 85wpc receiver

 

[speakerman39]

c250 is definitely better than NO center.
I am unfamiliar with the 1015 power ratings but if you have a sub, it should be ok. I used to run the beta 50, C360 and 3 pieces of beta 10 off a yammy 85wpc receiver

Mike the Pioneer 1015 is similiar in power to the yammie you mentioned. I did have a yammie RX-V757 receiver and the Pioneer has more power and seems to be more solid. The 757 was rated at 100 X 7. The Pioneer is rated at 120 X 7. So, tell me how do you have the C360 mounted? Is it on your Sony XBR? Are you using an omni stand? Does the C360 come with a kick stand for easier mounting? Is there just one or is there two?

 

[mike c]

http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?p=188053#post188053

I bought my TV stand for the specific purpose of fitting the center speaker. I wanted so many other stands but this is the only that can fit it. this is a Bell'O TV stand btw.

 

[Nick250]

I would want the center to match as closely as possible to the mains for a smooth frontal sound stage. Thoughts:

1. Put the center on the floor pointing up towards the sweet spot. There are even stands for this purpose.

2. There are stands that go behind your TV, that have an adjustable arm that juts out over your TV with a platform on it for your center speaker.

3. In the past there have been links here at AH to sites that sell all kinds of stands like the ones I mentioned but I did not save the link. Hopefully someone(s) reading this post can post that link.

Nick

 

[speakerman39]

Thanks everyone for all your help. Have decided to back out on the Infinity Betas. Got to do some more thorough listening and have concluded they are just not to my liking. Dont take me wrong, the Betas have a nice sound BUT the high end sounds rolled off and recessed. I mean they are definitely laid back. The midrange is very clear and realistic but maybe it is just the way the speakers image that does not sound right to me. Sounds like there is something missing or maybe it is just too detailed. I dunno just don't care for the sound too much. The low end was very good but slightly sloppy-not quite as articulate as I prefer. All in all, have learned a bit more about what I prefer and unfortunately the Infinitiy Betas dont have it.