This week my dad and i got onto Ebay to buy myself my own "real" speaker finally. Ive been using a Sony HTiB for a couple years. That thing was "pretty good" and served my room and i well, but i though it was time for an upgrade.

Anyway, do any of you guys think that the Infinity Primus 362 towers are going to be any better then my Dads Blows, er uh, Bose 401's? Hes a Bose fanatic, but i didn't buy the P362's just to prove he's wrong or anything. The refurbished ones on H/K site on Ebay looked so tantalizingly cheap, so i bid and won one this week, going to try to get another one tomorrow.

But yeah, he said the "not-as-good as Bose" speakers wont be able to compare to his Bose 401's. Any thoughts?

This week my dad and i got onto Ebay to buy myself my own "real" speaker finally. Ive been using a Sony HTiB for a couple years. That thing was "pretty good" and served my room and i well, but i though it was time for an upgrade.

Anyway, do any of you guys think that the Infinity Primus 362 towers are going to be any better then my Dads Blows, er uh, Bose 401's? Hes a Bose fanatic, but i didn't buy the P362's just to prove he's wrong or anything. The refurbished ones on H/K site on Ebay looked so tantalizingly cheap, so i bid and won one this week, going to try to get another one tomorrow.

But yeah, he said the "not-as-good as Bose" speakers wont be able to compare to his Bose 401's. Any thoughts?

The 362's should be significantly better sounding that the 401's, IMO. Let us know your thoughts after your own comparision.

Any thoughts?

Sure; most of the crap Bose gets is for their Acoustimass systems; their 'direct/reflecting' stereo speakers aren't that bad, but you can do much better bang for the buck with a classic 2-way or 3-way box speaker, especially on the used market. The best advice is to go around to all the local shops and listen so you can to get an idea of what you like. However, no matter what you end up with, don't expect him to acknoledge it; through their marketing, Bose has cultivated a fanatical following of lemmings who think Bose is the best, period. You could bring home some five-figure Wilson Audio, McIntosh or B&W Nautilus speakers and he'd probably argue his Bose sound better!

About the only speakers not better than Bose are from companies that specialize in electronics and only make speakers as a sideline (eg Sony, Pioneer.)

Your Dad's paying right? Don't piss him off by showing him up.

Has your dad had his hearing checked lately ?

Wow, i never thought id get so many replies, this is the most ive gotten in one day, lol. I don't really have a lot of experience with forum postings though.
The 362's should be significantly better sounding that the 401's, IMO. Let us know your thoughts after your own comparision.
Alright sweet, and will do! :)
Sure; most of the crap Bose gets is for their Acoustimass systems;. . . . You could bring home some five-figure Wilson Audio, McIntosh or B&W Nautilus speakers and he'd probably argue his Bose sound better!
Yeah, thats how my dad thinks too. I don't think he has even heard those companies before! (ill try to ask him ;))
About the only speakers not better than Bose are from companies that specialize in electronics and only make speakers as a sideline (eg Sony, Pioneer.)
Yeah that's true, but i don't think Sony makes speakers that expensive that are sold in America, Pioneer has some has "expensive" (like sub-$5k) ones, but probably just expensive for almost the same reason Bose is.
Your Dad's paying right? Don't piss him off by showing him up.
In a way yes, he used his Credit Card to buy the speakers, but i am giving the money back to him this week by check which my mom will write. Im only 17, so i really cant do all this stuff, but i might have been able to buy the speakers myself with my debit card, but since its connected to my moms account, im not sure how high the bank will allow me to spend in one day.

And i don't really think im pissing him off or anything, he wasn't, like angry or whatever, just a little disappointed that i "had to buy crap speakers from a crap company" (ok so he didn't say that exactly but im guessing that's what he wanted to say but didn't want to be mean or whatever).
Has your dad had his hearing checked lately ?
lol, i guess not! I guess its just that he really thinks that Bose is the best of the best for the money or something, idk. Oh well, its his speakers, he likes the sound of it, so everyone's happy.

Btw, he has polk in-walls for his surrounds, very weird. But they were on a big sale at Crutchfield. Also, i do appriciate everyones replies and comments. :cool:

Anyone else want to chime in?

Yeah that's true, but i don't think Sony makes speakers that expensive that are sold in America, Pioneer has some has "expensive" (like sub-$5k) ones, but probably just expensive for almost the same reason Bose is.


I did not mean "at the same price". $300 Bose speakers are only very slightly better than $30 Pioneer speakers.

Wow, i never thought id get so many replies

Mentioning Bose around here always seems to get attention! :p

just a little disappointed that i "had to buy crap speakers from a crap company"

While most would not consider Infinity a true 'high end' company, they have produced some nice speakers and their ownership by Harman puts them in better light than Bose. You got decent entry level speakers from a respected company; Bose is far closer to his "crap speakers from a crap company" comment.

Just wait until he hears them; I've had people think a Bose Lifestyle system was the best home theater you could get and asked me why didn't I buy Bose. After hearing my system they shut up PDQ.

You got decent entry level speakers from a respected company.

Very much so! There are obviously better speakers in absolute term than the Primuses, but not at the price. Similarly-priced Polks and such are about equal in quality.

I did not mean "at the same price". $300 Bose speakers are only very slightly better than $30 Pioneer speakers.
Very much so! There are obviously better speakers in absolute term than the Primuses, but not at the price. Similarly-priced Polks and such are about equal in quality.



Oh, sorry i didnt know. :o And speaking of 'similarly-priced', i was originally trying to look for Polk monitor 50's but i couldn't find any on sale for under $150. I got one Infinity P362 for $116, including S&H. Its a refurb though, but i hope its ok.

While most would not consider Infinity a true 'high end' company, they have produced some nice speakers and their ownership by Harman puts them in better light than Bose. You got decent entry level speakers from a respected company; Bose is far closer to his "crap speakers from a crap company" comment.

Just wait until he hears them; I've had people think a Bose Lifestyle system was the best home theater you could get and asked me why didn't I buy Bose. After hearing my system they shut up PDQ.

Yay! I went with the Infinity's because of some of the owner comments here on AVS, as well as the cheaper prices on Harman's Ebay site. Im not really looking for Uber-awesome speakers, just "something" better then what i have right now, as well as that i probably wont need to upgrade them for a decade or so, but hay, you never know. :D

Btw, this may be OT but will an H/K AVR 340 do well with towers? I can find them for less then $250 on Ebay, but was/am concerned about their present quality of their products. On the otherhand, i was originally going to get a Pioneer VSX-817, but compared to the quality (and weight) of that and the H/K, the H/K would seem alot better.