Should I bail.....pre-buyers remorse...infinity P363

[ptsawyer]

Ok... I am getting ready to make my first foray into quality audio. I am close friends with an owner of a rock recording studio, so I know the difference between quality and junk sound. That being said, I am on a budget, and want to put together the best system I can.

I was leaning towards the infinity P363s as my fronts ($400 a pair), with a 5.1 system built around them. I cant audition them in my area, so I was basing my best guess on reviews.

I made a stop at best buy today, and listend to the Klispch KF-28 ($900 a pair) and I dont think I have ever been less impressed.

Boomy, harsh, lack of detail, bright, anything bad you can say about a speaker, these had it.

It could be a TON of reasons, store acoustics, bad reciever, bad source, etc, but it became clear these arent the speakers for me. It made me think I may be too picky for a "low budget" system.

I am considering forgoing 5.1 setup, and just building a 2.0 setup and addibuilding to 5.1 over a year or two as budgeting allows. I was thinking $1k to $1.2k a pair fronts.

1) Is this a good idea?

2) What towers would you suggest? (thinking Aperion, just because a workmate has some and I can hear them in person)

 

[Adam]

I'm a big fan of low-risk purchases. Meaning, I like to either buy something that I already know that I like, or I like to buy something that won't cost much if anything to return if I don't like it.

With speakers, it's best to be able to try them out in your listening space. Aperion is great in that you can try them at no risk. Free shipping both ways and no restocking fee. Can you purchase those Infinity's somewhere that will let you do something similar? If so, then you can always try them out at your place and then decide if they are for you.

 

[bikemig]

I agree with Adam about low risk purchases. I also think that the OP's idea of starting out with a 2.0 or 2.1 set-up and adding surrounds later is a good one given budget constraints. You'll end up with great speakers you really like. I'm running a 2.1 set-up and I'm not sure if I'll ever get surrounds since I like what I have. In terms of which towers to get, you might want to try out the PSB Image T-6 floorstanding speakers at $1200 a pair. I like mine a lot and they get great reviews as well.

 

[zieglj01]

To audition in home is a good choice - another one to look at, along with
the Aperion - would be the Wharfedale Evo, a good close out price.
http://www.musicdirect.com/p-15538-wharfedale-evo2-50-black-pr.aspx

If you can stretch the budget a little - The Focal 716 is a good option, they have a
real good midrange and treble, and throw a nice sound stage.
http://www.musicdirect.com/p-41253-focal-716v-havana-tower-speaker-pr.aspx

 

[GranteedEV]

If you've got the budget for 'em, I would be looking at these:

http://philharmonicaudio.com/philharmonic1.html

But I don't think the P363s will be boomy or harsh. The cabinets might be a bit resonant and the tweeter might not be the most detailed but I don't think these speakers will sound "unbalanced".

 

[Warpdrv]

Ive been looking at those Philharmonic 3's.... I'm really curious how that BG planer mid does... It seems that anything Dennis Murphy touches turns to gold, so I'd imagine that they would be pretty impressive...

Not much to me in the looks dept, but thats just me...

 

[GranteedEV]

Ive been looking at those Philharmonic 3's.... I'm really curious how that BG planer mid does... It seems that anything Dennis Murphy touches turns to gold, so I'd imagine that they would be pretty impressive...

Not much to me in the looks dept, but thats just me...

The BG Neo8 mid looks excellent. I know In the Industry has said that the BG Radia, which uses the Neo10 in a line array, is one of the best speakers he's ever heard. The distortion measurements are really clean on that thing. I doubt it's an accuton, but it ain't priced like one.

The fact that it's such a narrow midrange means it's one of the few traditional speakers that can have wide horizontal polar response in the midrange, so I suspect it will blend very well to the ribbon, and have a very wide, consistent response and room reflections will be of the desirable, non timbre changing, sort.

And since it's open back, it will have a soundstage depth to it that monopole speakers don't have, when properly setup of course.

Since it's crossed around 350hz or so, the bulk of the acoustic power will go to the 8" woofer instead, so output won't be a concern.

And of course, Dennis Murphy is Dennis Murphy. The LSPCAD MASTER.

 

[yepimonfire]

Ok... I am getting ready to make my first foray into quality audio. I am close friends with an owner of a rock recording studio, so I know the difference between quality and junk sound. That being said, I am on a budget, and want to put together the best system I can.

I was leaning towards the infinity P363s as my fronts ($400 a pair), with a 5.1 system built around them. I cant audition them in my area, so I was basing my best guess on reviews.

I made a stop at best buy today, and listend to the Klispch KF-28 ($900 a pair) and I dont think I have ever been less impressed.

Boomy, harsh, lack of detail, bright, anything bad you can say about a speaker, these had it.

It could be a TON of reasons, store acoustics, bad reciever, bad source, etc, but it became clear these arent the speakers for me. It made me think I may be too picky for a "low budget" system.

I am considering forgoing 5.1 setup, and just building a 2.0 setup and addibuilding to 5.1 over a year or two as budgeting allows. I was thinking $1k to $1.2k a pair fronts.

1) Is this a good idea?

2) What towers would you suggest? (thinking Aperion, just because a workmate has some and I can hear them in person)

that's klipsch for you.

very colored sound.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

If you want something a little bit more "high-end" than the Primus speakers, I recommend the KEF Q900 speakers for $570 each:

http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/KEFQ900CH/KEF-Q900-Q-Series-8-inch-Cherry-Floorstanding-Speakers-Each/1.html