ISO Tower Speakers Advice

[rkellz]

Hello,

I am looking at the Polk Audio Monitor 65t's or the Infinity Primus P363. The Infinity's are cheaper, but by a negligible amount, and I was wondering what people thought of the two?

I am not an audiophile and I am having trouble comparing specs. I understand that really the final determination is listening to each and what sounds good to me, but I was wondering if there is a general consensus on which is the better set of speakers.

Any helpful replies are appreciated, thanks!

 

[j_garcia]

Specs won't tell you which speaker is better. You need to listen to a few speakers to get an idea of what you like, but from my experience, the Polks would not be in the running. In the same price class the well reviewed Pioneer FS52 is certainly worth a listen as well though. I've owned the BS22s, Infinity P163 and currently own the FS52s and find the Pioneers to be better than the Infinity Primus line.

Pioneer SP-PK52FS 5.1 Floorstanding Speaker System Review | Audioholics

 

[rkellz]

Thanks for the tip. The Pioneer FS52's get very high praise around the web, and are significantly cheaper than either the Polk or Infinity to boot (at least where I've seen them advertised). I have heard very good things about Pioneers from other people as well, and I appreciate the advice!

 

[slipperybidness]

Personally, I would stay away from Polk.

The Infinities aren't bad, I have a pair of the 362s. If you have a Fry's near you, they routinely put the 363 on sale for $200 a pair and that is a pretty good price.

 

[rkellz]

Thanks Slip. More and more I read the Polk's get panned more than other brands, and it appears Garcia and you agree with that assessment. I purchased a pair of the 363's off Amazon a few weeks ago for $107/piece, but they still haven't shipped yet. I do have a Fry's near me and did note they go on sale for $100/piece, but since Amazon (thankfully) doesn't charge tax in Illinois it turns out to be a little cheaper, albeit the wait much longer! I did check audioholics which have given the 363 a fairly good review but gave the pioneer's a fairly higher rating. Other sites have given the Pioneer's similar ratings as well. Amazon has the FS52's on sale right now for $86.99/piece.

 

[j_garcia]

The Infinitys aren't bad, and the FS52s aren't perfect either and one shouldn't expect that of any speaker really; but you kind of can't really lose. The 52s are pretty tough to beat for the price though. Frys has a sale on the 52s once in a while too...I got my pair for $129 at Best Buy price matched to Amazon who price matched Frys lol. At that price they sold out at Frys literally in under 2hrs.

 

[rkellz]

Wow that's a great price! Mind me asking when those price matches were made?

 

[rkellz]

Around December 4th 2013, I imagine?

 

[j_garcia]

I do think it was around that timeframe. The 363s go on sale far more often.

 

[rkellz]

Thanks for all the input. One last question, and again understanding the answer is subjective, but do either of you know about Infinity RS4 tower speakers? Infinity Systems RS4 Floorstanding Speakers reviews - Audioreview.com I have a friend selling a set of them, and these seem like a different class of speaker than the FS52's or 363's. Are we talking apples and oranges here? Also just wondering in general if the RS4 was considered a good line of speakers. Thanks again.

 

[j_garcia]

Seems like those ones are from the 90s era. They look from images to be closer to something like a precursor to the Alpha line and are probably better than the Primus line and likely the FS52s as well, though being that old I'd probably give them a listen first. What I could find said poly woofer (also shown in that pic) and a silk soft dome tweeter, and also from a time when Infinity was seen as a higher end brand.

 

[rkellz]

Appreciate all the input! You both helped out!