Infinity Primus Owner's Thread - Page 110

Burn in is a real phenomena, but it probably won't make that much of an audible difference if any. Regular use will be sufficient burn in. Just put in what you want and enjoy.

Hi guys, I'm a long-time reader but first-time poster. I just got my setup last week (all from two different vendors online). Center: PC351 Front: P363s Surround: P163s Receiver: Denon 1713.

The problem that I can tell is that the sound that comes from the center is not as clear as the others (mostly lacking the highs). The difference is not enough for me to say confidently that the center speaker is defective but the difference is audible enough similar to when you test listening to two different speakers at a store (for example, when listening to Polk Audio vs Boston Acoustics or some other brands). I even checked each driver of the center speaker to make sure that they produce sound (and they do). I've ran Audyssey set up numerous times already. At this point, I'm starting to think that the problem could be the receiver (maybe they dropped it too many times during shipping) ... so I'm not sure what is causing this issue.

If you own similar speakers, please let me know if this is normal. By default, can the sound produced by most receiver for the center channel be different than the other channels? I know the lows (below 80hz) are different but the high frequencies should reach 20khz, no?

Thanks in advance for the help.
Tiffany K.

Tiffany,

Congrats on your purchase.

First thing you can do to check is to plug the center speaker into one of the front channel speaker outputs. If you are still having an issue then it is the speaker. If not, it is the receiver. If you still lose the highs, it is the speaker or speaker placement. If you plug one of the 363s into the center speaker output of the 1713 do you still have this issue? If not, again, it may be the center speaker or the placement. You can try moving the center speaker to somewhere else temporarily to see if it is speaker placement. I'm assuming you don't have it tucked inside an entertainment center. If you do, pull it out and try it again.

If it is the receiver, did you run Audyssey calibration? If so, check the Audyssey graph for the center speaker. Audyssey may be cutting the high frequencies too much. Try disabling Audyssey and see if you are still having issues with the center channel amp. You can do this by running in Direct mode. Last thing I can think of that you can try is a microprocessor reset on the 1713 and see if that fixes anything.

To answer you questions about channels sounding different,. No, all things being the same, all channels should sound the same. If you were to be able to get the receiver (any receiver) to play a the same signal and you connect it to the same speaker, it should sound the same on all channels. If you had measuring equipment you can run a frequency sweep and measure the response using the same speaker on all amp channels. Audyssey should be disabled for this test. If it doesn't, then there may be something wrong with the receiver.

Duc

I have a Denon 1712, PC351, P363s, and P162s, and don't have the problem you do. I'm no expert, but if it were me, I would put the defective receiver or center as the least likely option (without other symptoms).

Have you re-run Audyssey using all 8 positions? Is your center properly setup? For example, is it set deep into a TV cabinet where surfaces below and/or above could be causing some reflection issues? Were you using a camera tripod or mic stand for your Audyssey microphone? Have you read all 54,525 posts in the Audyssey FAQ Thread? Twice?

If you haven't already, check on the FAQ in post one: http://www.avsforum.com/t/795421/official-audyssey-thread-faq-in-post-1

I found it very useful, and got some great results with a setup nearly identical to yours.

Duc, I looked at all the menus of the receiver (Denon 1713) during the last couple days, and I don't think it has the Audyssey graphs. I remember reading somewhere that with Audyssey XT, some additional data can be stored on a computer if it is hooked in so I probably will need to do that. I have not tried disabling Audyssey and just run in direct mode yet but will do so along with switching the wires between center and front speakers when I get home .

Guns&motorcycles suggested something that I have not tried which is running all 8 positions of Audyssey... the most that I've ran is 3. I'll read the Audyssey FAQ too and will post the update.

Thanks, guys.

On a separate note, I've been looking for a subwoofer. My budget is less than $500 and have narrowed down to these three (currently available for purchase online): Elemental Design A3-250, HSU STF-2, and Infinity Primus PS410 or PS312. I use the sub for about 70/30 music and movie and had a Velodyne sub (good for movies but not for music) in the past. If you have one of these subs with Infinity Primus speakers, please let me know how well they blend in musically. Thanks.

I would definitely run all of the positions first. From the Audyssey FAQ thread, "[...] we recommend taking 3 positions on the couch facing the TV and then 3 more positions about 3 feet in front of the couch and parallel to the first three. Measurements up against the back or side walls should be avoided." For position 7 and 8, I chose the position directly between where each of the three people would be sitting on the couch. I have a small room, and the positions weren't all that different, but Audyssey did a great job .

Also, with the mic setup on a tripod, I stood as far out of the way as I could before starting the calibration with the remote. If you're standing near the mic, the readings won't be as accurate.

With regards to the sub, I don't have a lot to add, except I would probably avoid Infinity. There are some great companies out there that sell directly to consumers online (Hsu, Rythmik, Epic, and others), and they seem to provide the best boom for the buck.

I just realized after trying your suggestions that the source material I was listening to before is 2-channel material so in all-channel stereo mode (multi), the Dennon 1713 has to modify the sound a little bit before sending it to the center speaker. When I tested with 5-channel material, the center speaker produces much better high frequencies. But, even in direct mode using 5-channel source material, the front and surround speakers still produce more highs (almost too harsh and not natural) than the center. I'll just keep playing around with this.

About the sub, I'll probably pull the trigger soon and go with either Hsu STF-2 or eD A3-250 based on the forum reviews of their owners since there is no way to test listen. Most bass addicts seem to agree that the STF-2 is better with music while the A3-250 is better with movies. Should I be concerned that the STF-2 is a product that is almost a decade old and many of the professional reviews that endorse it are 5 or more years ago? Has the technologies changed a lot during these years?

I apologize if some of these questions sound a little silly :-) I just want to get it right this time since the last time I purchased speakers, I did not pay too much attention and just went with whatever the salesperson recommended. I had to listen to music in my car mostly because the sound is much better than in the living room.

Certain principles of speaker design have remained the same for decades. The subwoofers you are looking at are relatively simple, driver construction, cabinet and port design are well understood and are not likely to change for a long time. The electronics, on the other hand, have evolved somewhat, but those advances are not going to affect the subwoofers at your price point very much.

Thanks for the quick response, ShadyJ. Your answer helps me a lot in deciding which one to go with. Although not advertised, they probably have updated a few things (paint finish, amplifier...) during the last ten years, no? I just came across a few threads that suggest (and speculate) that the sub being sold today is not the same exact sub that came out a decade ago.

Hsu sometimes makes small modifications to their subs, but nothing major will have changed certainly. It will perform roughly the same as it always has.

Just a heads up for those of you close to a Fry's. The P363 is back on sale for $100 a piece. They had a few sets left when I picked mine up this morning at the Downers Grove IL store.

However, I have not unboxed my set yet because I want to make sure that my Denon AVR-591 is going to be adequate in driving these speakers. I read on another site that entry level AVRs won't cut it for the older P360 on account of them being 4 ohms. The specs state 8 ohms for the P363, but now I'm paranoid my Denon is going to be underpowered for these. Would anyone have any input on this?

Not familiar with your AVR, but 8ohms and 93 sensitivity sounds pretty easy to drive.

Despite the manufacturer's stated specs, they're more like 4-ohm and 87dB 1w/1m

http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/floorstanding/primus-p363/primus-p363-measurements

It will drive them but then you have to consider how large your room is and at what level do you expect to listen to them. I personally would prefer an AVR that was rated at 100 watts into 8 ohm. 75 watts into 8 ohms may not be optimal.

That's what I was afraid of. My living room is designed oddly, and measures 11'9" x 17' at its widest point, though I only consider 10" of that width as the living room. The rest of that area is just kind of wasted space, but obviously that's still room that will affect acoustics. However, it's an apartment, so I can't exactly have my stereo blasting without getting kicked out rather quickly. I've never had the current bargain basement Polk Audio T15 bookshelves I'm running up above -15db (very seldom above -25db), but if driving the new Infinitys is going to put a significant strain on the receiver, I'd rather not take a chance. I can't afford to get new speakers AND a new AVR right now, and I don't want to risk messing up the current AVR by running the Infinitys, so as much as I'd hate to do it, these may have to go back.

That's disappointing.

If that is all you are going to do, I would keep the Infinity P363s. They will sound a lot better than the Polks. There aren't going to be many, if any, floor standing speakers that compare at @$100. The next speaker to consider is the center one which you should match up with the PC351 or whatever the current model is that has exactly the same number of drivers as the P363.

I recently bought a pair of these at Fry's for the $99.00 each price, and I just saw that audioholics review last night and now have similar concerns as others have mentioned.

I am driving them with a Denon AVR-1712 receiver, which is rated at 90 watts per channel, and on the back of the receiver it says, "Speaker Impedance /Front, Center, Surround, Surr. Back/Amp Assign: 6 ~ 16 Ohms". I currently have the crossover for the mains set at 60Hz.

Do I have reason to be concerned, or will the Denon AVR-1712 drive them without any issues?

I wouldn't worry at all. I had p362's in the past powered by an hk254, never had an issue with power. Going from 70watts to 100 watts shouldn't make much difference either. Entry level avr's should power these fine.

I would guess you'd be fine. If you plan on listening at really high levels and/or your receiver gets excessively hot and/or shuts down, then I would start worrying

Hey guys, thanks for the heads up on this sale. I finally picked up a pair from Fry's yesterday. I had a rain check since November of 2011; however, they never did get it in stock in time.

I bought those Andrew Jones Pioneer towers last year instead (for $100 a pair). They are good speakers, but a little flat. For $200, this may be the best deal on full range tower speakers. I will say that the Energy RC-10s @$220 will be hard to beat for music.

Agreed, on both counts.

That depend entirely on the music.

Wish I had a fry's close by.

Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk 2

They're back! ... 2 day sale

Have a wonderful and safe Fourth of July everyone.

Has anyone modified the p363 cabinets to make them more robust or changed the tuning of the port? Any pics of such modifications?

Any deals on the P363 for those of us without a Fry's nearby?

OH MY! i think i need to jump and get these speakers. ive read so many good reviews and will be hard to miss out on that awesome frys sale. must convince the wife somehow, lol

try the new purse or shoe method it seems to work most of the time.{my wife owns 30 purses and 50 pairs of shoes and it still works) lol

Hi r3skyline, don't get in too much of a hurry as the sale has been extended to 07/12.