Can this set up be improved?

[GranteedEV]

The center is what will make the difference for HT though

Not really. I don't use a center at all. Even sitting at the side wall couch 45 degrees off axis from the TV, with the way I have things set up, the sound still seems like it's coming from the t.v. screen in the center.

In fact with a center in place the sound was "too" centered and unnatural whereas without the center the sound spans the whole TV screen.

I'm not saying that centers are evil, but i'm not sure they're necessary.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Even if the primus sounded like 2% better, i think the e55ti looks about 100% better

But Like I said, without a side by side comparision I just don't know which sounds better.

Well, if you give me a free choice between the e55ti or P363, of course I will take the e55ti.

The most important are the front L/R and subwoofer. Second is the Center speaker.

 

[GranteedEV]

Well, if you give me a free choice between the e55ti or P363, of course I will take the e55ti.

Too bad there's a $0.50 difference in cost

 

[lsiberian]

Well, if you give me a free choice between the e55ti or P363, of course I will take the e55ti.

The most important are the front L/R and subwoofer. Second is the Center speaker.

The Center is overrated IMO. You can phantom it very well in many cases that said I still prefer having one.

 

[GranteedEV]

The Center is overrated IMO. You can phantom it very well in many cases that said I still prefer having one.

I think a center is great to have if you've got an acoustically transparent screen and can put a matching tower behind it.

But in my living room setup I thought horizontal center underneath the TV did more harm than good. Pulled the sound below and between the TV rather than at TV height spanning the whole screen.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Too bad there's a $0.50 difference in cost

What? I thought the EMP are like $800/pr and P362 are $400/pr?

EMP Tek E55Ti Tower Speakers

Infinity Primus P362 Single floor-standing speaker at Crutchfield.com

 

[GranteedEV]

What? I thought the EMP are like $800/pr and P362 are $400/pr?

EMP Tek E55Ti Tower Speakers

Infinity Primus P362 Single floor-standing speaker at Crutchfield.com

EMP Tek Clearance E55Ti Tower Speakers

As long as you can live with the (very nice) Black Ash finish. I thought the primus was 199 but it's actually 199.99 so i was wrong though. The difference is about $1.48 in favor of the EMPs

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

The Center is overrated IMO. You can phantom it very well in many cases that said I still prefer having one.

Agree. Center and 9.2/11.2 surrounds are way overrated.

Nice to have a good center, though.

 

[Crackerballer]

EMP Tek Clearance E55Ti Tower Speakers

As long as you can live with the (very nice) Black Ash finish. I thought the primus was 199 but it's actually 199.99 so i was wrong though. The difference is about $1.48 in favor of the EMPs

I don't think EMP makes it clear, but the clearance speakers are BLEMS! I have some minor hazing under the surface on both of mine, but if I didn't tell you, you'd probably have to look at them pretty hard to notice, but it is there.

Still, compared to the Infinity, the EMP is a Ferrari to the Infinity Mustang. Both can perform, but the looks aren't even close.

 

[GranteedEV]

I don't think EMP makes it clear, but the clearance speakers are BLEMS! I have some minor hazing under the surface on both of mine, but if I didn't tell you, you'd probably have to look at them pretty hard to notice, but is is there.

When I ordered them My E5Ci center and both sets of E5Bi surrounds were all black ash finish "scratch n dents" while my E55Ti towers were both perfect condition Red Burl.

I never did find the blemishes, and I thought the black ash finish was nice. Unless I tell you no one would know, especially not even 3-4 feet away. I'll find the blemishes on the center one day, but the surrounds are up and mounted.

The Red Burl is just sweet though. You can stare at that thing for minutes at a time.

 

[lsiberian]

I think a center is great to have if you've got an acoustically transparent screen and can put a matching tower behind it.

I place my center channel below the screen. It's still good enough. to make a nice impact.

 

[nioveratus]

Those EMP tower are beautiful...the only think I don't line is that there is no 30 days home trial on them..once you buy them you are stuck with them even if you don't like them ...

I just saw they have this http://www.emptek.com/inventoryclearance.php for $800.00 with the subwoofer(I don't need the sub)...are the E5ti tower any good or to small for my place??

 

[zieglj01]

I just saw they have this EMP Tek Inventory Clearance for $800.00 with the subwoofer(I don't need the sub)...are the E5ti tower any good or to small for my place??

I would say - go for it. You can sell the sub. Having a good sub in your room,
mating with this system - will be fine.

 

[GranteedEV]

Those EMP tower are beautiful...the only think I don't line is that there is no 30 days home trial on them..once you buy them you are stuck with them even if you don't like them ...

I just saw they have this EMP Tek Inventory Clearance for $800.00 with the subwoofer(I don't need the sub)...are the E5ti tower any good or to small for my place??

The e5Ti would be a step down from the e55Ti. The e55ti has twice the midrange radiating surface area, and 50% more bass surface area. I wouldn't sacrifice the front speakers just to get a "package deal"

 

[Crackerballer]

The clearance ones may not allow for the 30 day return period, but other ones do:

I am betting if you got the clearance E55tis and didn't like them, you could easily sell them for as much or MORE than you paid for them.

 

[nioveratus]

The only think I don't like about the primus is that they are ugly...Polk looks so much better...I just auditioned some polk tower(tsi400) and they sounded really good but I have never heard any other good brands so I could not compare....Based on reviews from others here I can see that the primus are well more liked than the Polks and pretty much everybody agrees that they sound better...Can somebody tell me how much better the primus sound compare to the polks??

I'm also considering the EMP towers but they just have them in black and the matching center and bookshelves are not currently available in black

Thanks.

 

[j_garcia]

For speakers, I will take better sound over appearance any day of the week It is hard to say how much better they are, but unless the cost was significantly different, you are still better off with the Infinitys. Are they twice as good? Probably not, but are they worth it? That's kind of for you to decide. If you are happy with the sound, that's the important thing. I'd say it is worth auditioning the Infinitys to get an idea yourself.

I haven't heard the EMPs, so can't comment on them.

The TSIs are basically the same speaker as the Monitors.

 

[Crackerballer]

The only think I don't like about the primus is that they are ugly...Polk looks so much better...I just auditioned some polk tower(tsi400) and they sounded really good but I have never heard any other good brands so I could not compare....Based on reviews from others here I can see that the primus are well more liked than the Polks and pretty much everybody agrees that they sound better...Can somebody tell me how much better the primus sound compare to the polks??

I'm also considering the EMP towers but they just have them in black and the matching center and bookshelves are not currently available in black

Thanks.

The center is channel is, just full retail not b stock. I emailed, the surrounds/bookshelves are expected to be back in stock in late Feb.

 

[zieglj01]

Based on reviews from others here I can see that the primus are well more liked than the Polks and pretty much everybody agrees that they sound better...Can somebody tell me how much better the primus sound compare to the polks??

The Infinity's sound more natural to me, compared with the Polk.
The Polk sound somewhat artificial, and lacking in the midrange.
In the end, it comes down to you - and is your decision.

 

[j_garcia]

The Infinity's sound more natural to me, compared with the Polk.
The Polk sound somewhat artificial, and lacking in the midrange.
In the end, it comes down to you - and is your decision.

To me, that is the problem with most of the Polks. The midrange tends to be what I don't like about them. I was surprised by the RTiA-3s that I reviewed though, in that they were very neutral sounding compared to previous recent Polks.