Budget Floorstanding Speakers Face-Off

I would save up more and try to look in the $800-1200 range if you want a substantial step up from the 162's.

I'd add the PSB Image T45, $500 + shipping at saturday audio. Just had a chance to listen to the newer (and much more expensive) T5, and it was amazing. T45 shouldn't be too far behind.

I'd consider these, which would probably be a step up from most if not all of whats on your list. Simple is going to be better when shopping for a budget speaker; the less drivers, the less complexities you have with integration and ease of driving.

To take that a step further, all you're really getting with floorstanders is a bit more extension. With budget floorstanders, you're almost always going to be outperformed by a bookshelf in bass control and speed because there is less enclosure to brace. A bookshelf speaker that has the better dynamics that you want might be worth considering. Not everything will sound like the P162s. The 6.5" bookshelf market is heavily saturated and with all sorts of different sounds, so there might be something out there that you find adequate.

If you are handy, this DIY speaker kit seems like a steal for $200:
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...number=300-702

-Max

Monitor, far and away. That would be my choice.

I don't understand, why do you care what they sound like without a subwoofer? If you don't have a sub that is where you should be spending your money.

Ron

The polk 60 and the primus 362 would be interesting to hear side by side.

I'm pretty sure the Primus towers have some enclosure and port noise issues. Not sure if the Diamonds are better, but I think I'd buy those over the Primus.

The 9.6 is supposed to be relatively hard to drive, so unless you're using a high quality amp the 9.4 might be a better idea. And again, less drivers = less that can be done wrong. That said, you'll definitely get the better extension out of the 9.6, and the dome mid is pretty interesting. Listening would of course be the best way to determine which sounds right to you, but Wharfedales are hard to find in the US so you may have to take a chance if you're really interested. Infinities shouldn't be hard to find, though.

If you're looking at the primus 362's, keep an eye out for beta-40's and 50's on ebay.

The Primus will probably extend lower, but most likely at the expense of control and definition. I'm not sure how low the Diamonds would go, but with proper placement I'm sure they are adequate. Is this for music or movies?

I'm not sure if it will be superior, but it will be different. Wharfedales are very smooth in the midrange but a bit laid back, and from what I remember of Infinity Primus' (been years since I last heard them, though I've read things online that reinforce what I remember) Is they were a little more forward but bloated. The voicing is going to be similar to your 162s, so if thats what you're looking for they may be worth considering more.

Never heard any Jamos, but I know recently there was a thread about the new series being significantly lower quality than the older ones. There were some pics of the internals and they left a lot to be desired in build quality, and the thread was about someone burning a tweeter out.

Really I'm not sure how much you should read into this. The Polk guys would push Polk, the Infinity guys will push Infinity. I'm a Wharfedale guy so I'm pushing Wharfedale. Whats right for you may not even be any of the above. Listening is the best thing you can do....But as a Wharfedale guy I think trying the Diamonds is worth a shot. You could probably get most of your money back selling them on Audiogon or Ebay if they don't work out.

I have the Primus 362's in a second room and I can assure you the enclosures (barring defect) are rock solid. Minimal port noise as well.

I paid $120 for them, like-new, 2 months old!

Very, very well performing loudspeaker for the money...even at 250-$300, IMO.

Haven't heard the others.

good luck,

James

How deep do you want them to extend? If this is for HT you really want a powered subwoofer, there are good ones that only go down to low/mid 30hz which should be OK for most apartments.

The P362s are great, I wouldn't bother with the p252 - you just don't save that much money. I've always been a fan of Wharfedales but heard them and Infinity's too far apart and can't say which I prefer.

Ron

Not sure, I have the Evo2-10s which are a closer relative to the Diamond 9s than 8s. Maybe you could try calling STO, I've heard the guy there is nice, and see if he'll let you try the 8s and if they don't work out trade in for the 9s. Not sure how bad of a shipping hit that'd be, but I don't think that much.

That said I'm pretty sure the 9s were improved in every way over the 8s. I think they're a "safer" bet.

if you'er near a populated area...search surrounding communities craigslist listings. I for instance live in Milwaukee WI...so I always check out Madison, Chicago, Green Bay, etc. What's an hour or two of driving for a great deal?

Used, but well-maintained, quality, A/V equipment for a song is nearly THE key to obsessing over/enjoying this hobby, IMO.

James

Why did you remove the Polk Monitor 60 and Jamo E770 from the list?

What receiver/amp are you using to push these speakers? The wharfedale's have a low efficiency at 86db and will need a strong amp to get the most out of them whereas the monitor 60's, for example, have a 90db efficiency and wouldn't require as much power. I only suggest this because it seems as if you're on a budget and probably wont be getting a receiver with a ton of power.

The Primus P362 has a sensitivity of 93db which will make it much easier to drive than the Wharfedale.

Don't usually post links, and I don't know how reliable a site that uses the word "oderable" is, but, sigh, these would be right at $300+ shipping.

http://www.theaudiovideosource.com/InfinityPrimus.html

appear to be "b" stock, too.
James