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need help choosing $150 -200 speaker

post #1 of 17
7/4/09 at 7:09pm
Thread Starter 
Guys,

Need some help choosing front L/R speakers for my HT system in the $150-200 price range each. This is not a dedicated home theater room, but rather a living room setup so style is of importance to me but so is audio quality. I'm looking for a good mix of both in this price range. The speakers will be coupled with an Onkyo 607. This room itself is very open (2 stories high) and about 16 x 20 feet. I've narrowed it down to these 4 and would like some opinions and recommendations:

1) Wharfedale Diamond 9.5
2) INFINITY PRIMUS-P362BK
3) MIRAGE OMNISAT v2 FS
4) ENERGY Take TWR

The first two are a traditional design, while the latter two are a compact design. My gut feeling is that the Wharfedale are probably the best sounding but I'm not crazy about the look. I can't audition any of these except for the Inifinity, since no local dealers carry them.

Much appreciated,

Maciej
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post #2 of 17
7/4/09 at 7:12pm
Add the Jamo E680 to your list...$129 each.

http://www.wwstereo.com/#/ecommerce/...103__0_0_0_-1/
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post #3 of 17
7/4/09 at 7:27pm
Thread Starter 
This only makes it more difficult, let's add these as #5 to the list. They look pretty nice, any opinion of how they compare sound wise to the others?

Regards,

Maciej
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post #4 of 17
7/4/09 at 8:12pm
I am looking for a speaker near that price range for a friend. If I can butt in the thread a little bit, I was wondering how the Polk Monitor 60's would compare to the others on the list. Maybe the OP could consider them as well.

They are on sale right now on new egg for about 110 with free shipping so it is pretty tempting with the msrp being around 300. My friend would want to push the speakers pretty hard so I am not sure if the 5.25 in drivers could keep up. What do you guys think.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16882290017

http://www.polkaudio.com/homeaudio/p...ent/monitor60/
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post #5 of 17
7/4/09 at 8:25pm
I have the Jamo E680 in my room. I think they sound great. Better than my Athena AS-F1 towers. I've heard the Infinity P362 but only in a fry's store. not really easy to compare the two like that. its a good sounding speaker though.

Drop the Take twr, its not in the same league. Its a compromise speaker mean to look good with flat panel tv's.

I'd drop the little omnisat also. If you want Mirage, get these towers.
http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/it..._c=site_search

It should be between the Wharfedale, Jamo, P362 and maybe add this Polk Monitor 60 into the mix.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16882290017
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post #6 of 17
7/5/09 at 3:31pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks for the feedback so far. Dropping the compact designs is probably the way to go, which leaves me with the following:

1) Wharfedale Diamond 9.5
2) INFINITY PRIMUS-P362
3) Mirage OMNI 550
4) Jamo E680
5) Polk Monitor 60

Personally, on the design side I'm partial to the curved designs, since I find it more aesthetically pleasing (Wharfedale, Mirage, and Jamo). The Wharfedale I can only find in silver at a good price but I would prefer to go with a wood looking finish. So I'm leaning towards either the Jamo or the Mirage. The primus have a pretty nice design as well, but I could only find them in black.

Thanks,

Maciej
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post #7 of 17
7/5/09 at 3:46pm
For the price i'm going to second the Jamo's.
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post #8 of 17
7/5/09 at 10:08pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by spookynice View Post

Thanks for the feedback so far. Dropping the compact designs is probably the way to go, which leaves me with the following:

1) Wharfedale Diamond 9.5
2) INFINITY PRIMUS-P362
3) Mirage OMNI 550
4) Jamo E680
5) Polk Monitor 60

Personally, on the design side I'm partial to the curved designs, since I find it more aesthetically pleasing (Wharfedale, Mirage, and Jamo). The Wharfedale I can only find in silver at a good price but I would prefer to go with a wood looking finish. So I'm leaning towards either the Jamo or the Mirage. The primus have a pretty nice design as well, but I could only find them in black.

Thanks,

Maciej

Hey, if you want to find out more about the primus 362 (also the earlier model the 360) check out the primus thread. It's a ridiculously good speaker and when they're on sale at Fry's none of the above speakers come remotely close to being as good a deal. If looks are pretty important then I third the Jamo - they look extremely cool. But if you're into sound quality keep in mind the Infinity's were designed in one of the most sophisticated labs on planet earth. Check out the primus thread. Lot's of good reading about this here.
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post #9 of 17
7/6/09 at 5:49am
I just picked up a pair of the Infinity primus 362s when Fry's had them on sale last week, and I'll put in a plug for them and say that they sound great. If you can find them at a good price, you can't go wrong with them. I've also heard some good things about the Jamo's, but I've never heard them in person.... Those are the two from that list that I would vote for.
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post #10 of 17
7/7/09 at 7:38am
Thread Starter 
I listened to the 362s last night and have to admit they they do sound pretty good, not too bright, and rather balanced. Does Fry's run these specials on them often? At this point I'm leaning towards the Jamos if I can get them in the mapple color.

Thanks,

Maciej
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post #11 of 17
7/7/09 at 7:59am
I don't know the Fry's price on these, nor the regular prices of the Primus', but Crutchfield has them on sale now.. Might be worth a look.
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post #12 of 17
7/7/09 at 8:04am
I am a fan of the Infinity Primus 362 speakers as well (I don't own them, but have spent some time with them). I cannot compare them directly to some of the speakers mentioned on the list, but they are solid for HT usage.

Amazon is selling them via Electronic Epo for $123 apiece + shipping. Should come in under your pricepoint of $200.

Have not heard those Jamo towers, but they look beautiful and appear to be an excellent deal.

You mentioned that this is for HT usage. What center speaker will you be using?
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post #13 of 17
7/7/09 at 10:04am
Quote:
Originally Posted by spookynice View Post

I listened to the 362s last night and have to admit they they do sound pretty good, not too bright, and rather balanced. Does Fry's run these specials on them often? At this point I'm leaning towards the Jamos if I can get them in the mapple color.

Thanks,

Maciej

Those Jamo's don't come in maple. Its either black or Dark Apple.
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post #14 of 17
7/7/09 at 12:08pm
Thread Starter 
afrogt - that's what I was meaning to say. Not sure where are got maple from. Thanks for correcting that.

ack_bk - if I go with the Jamo's, then I will probably try to go with a Jamo center channel as well: S 60 CEN maybe?
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post #15 of 17
7/7/09 at 12:21pm
They sell the E680 and S60 center as a package for $350
http://www.wwstereo.com/#/ecommerce/...103__0_0_0_-1/
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post #16 of 17
7/7/09 at 12:33pm
Thread Starter 
Yup, saw that as well. I contacted them and am just waiting to see if I can get the package in dark apple.
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post #17 of 17
7/9/09 at 7:40am
I ordered that e680 package from WW Stereo in Dark Apple a couple of weeks ago. They don't have them in stock, but are able to order them from the distributor.

Mine are supposedly arriving at WW Stereo this week, so I'm hoping to see them sometime next week.
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