Need some opinions to help choose - Blu-ray Forum

CBCstillmatic · 02-27-2010, 06:40 PM

I am trying to choose between the following speakers.

Jamo C401 from Vann's for $79 a pair
Polk Monitor 30 from J&R for $99 a pair
Polk T15 from Best Buy for $109 a pair
Polk r150 from Fry's for $99 a pair
Polk M10 from Electronic Expo for $45 a pair
Infinity Primus P152 from Electronic Expo for $84 a pair

All of the Polk's other than the monitor 30 pair with the same CSR center and all are listed together on Polk's website with identical specs. The M10 seam to be the most aggressively priced but I cannot find any reviews or info on any of these speakers.

The Jamo's are the only 6 ohm set and only set with 4" woofers, rest are 8 ohm with 5" woofers. All of the matching centers for any set are under $100 and I am sure all are great speakers. Unfortunately I cannot demo any and would be purchasing online.

I would just like some opinions and preferences on what seams to be the best deal. If anyone has heard these or owns any of these please give me your opinion. I like the Polk Audio brand and was kind of leaning that way but don't know which set to choose and I hear great things about Jamo. I have read through the owner's threads and got nice info on the brands but none really on these specific models.

I have a small to medium size room and don't need anything crazy and for around $300 for a centter and 2 pairs of any of these seams to be great values for the money and would all meet the WAF. Now I just need to choose.

callas01 · 02-27-2010, 09:07 PM

I would have to say that the Jamo and the Infinity are going to be the better of the speakers listed. You Denon will drive either set of speakers just fine. If you want the bigger driver the Infinitys would be nice, I know that the Jamos are really nice speakers too, and can play larger then expected.

I am not saying that polk speaker are bad, but comparitively they are probably not as good as the Infinity or Jamo.

CBCstillmatic · 02-28-2010, 04:02 AM

Thanks for the reply and I think I will consider the Jamo's. I was leaning towards the Monitor 30's and the P152's look nice too though. If you were to choose would it be the Jamo's or the Infinity's? both are around the $80 price range so I can't just say screw it and go for the cheaper pnes.

callas01 · 02-28-2010, 05:24 AM

well I like the fact that there is a little bigger driver on the Infinitys, however there is a bigger tweeter on the Jamo.

I think the Jamos may image the sounds a little better just knowing how they are, I have not heard Infinity speakers personally so I am unable to accurately say what I would prefer better.

I can say the Jamos will be a little laidback and have detailed mid-range and excellent highs and detail, I am sure the Infinitys would be a very good speaker too..... So I would say, go with what you would rather have....

I think reading the reviews of the Infinity that perhaps it may be the overall better choice it has more range and it has the larger driver, so that may be a little better at filling your room with sound.

CBCstillmatic · 02-28-2010, 01:03 PM

Ok so I think I have boiled it down to the Jamo set from Vann's but I keep getting caught up on the Monitor 30's from polk. I asked this same question on another forum and the only two answers I got were for the monitor 30's which they claim is the same identical speaker to the new TSi100 but for half the price. That doesn't really mean anything cause on Polk's website the TSi100 only retail for $20 more than the T/R/M series so how much more could $20 get you? Though the Monitor 30's were the only ones i could find reviews on and they were all pretty good, not helping my decision of leaning to the Jamo's one bit.

Plus the Jamo's supposedly retail for $400 so they still seam like the best deal if that is true. The TSi100 retail for $200, though I am unsure what the Monitor 30's originally retailed for($240 I believe CNET had them listed at in their review). The Energy pic you got tells me your unbiased and thanks for being so helpful. The 2 guys on the other forum I believe are Polk owners and didn't offer as much info as you. I will also save $50 going with the Jamo's, but does anyone know if they are wall mountable? I know the Polk's are but its not really that big of a deal nor a deciding factor. Just curious.

callas01 · 02-28-2010, 02:06 PM

Like I said, the Polks are not bad speakers, I think they make nice speakers, but comparitively I would rather have the others over the Polks.

I really think the Jamo and Infinitys will be better speakers. Jamo makes really nice speakers. So does Infinity. I read a review of the Infinity P150, and older version of the one your looking at and the review was very good. Also I know that Jamo speakers are really nice speakers too. I really am trying to unbiased, I think in your case as much as I like the Jamos from what I have heard, I would buy the Infinitys, but if you like the Jamos, I can tell you they will sound really awesome too.

Both will give you a nice open mid-range and superb highs, the Infinitys will get a little low frequencies, but you will need a sub for sure with each. The Jamos will be warm sounding and pretty well detailed. Do you have a sub?

CBCstillmatic · 02-28-2010, 02:09 PM

I also already have a pair of Klipsch RB-15 bookshelfs a buddy gave to me when he was moving. I have never used them and thought about selling them to put $ towards one of these systems or I was going to try and add to them. The new RB-10 just look so cheap compaired to the older models and are exspensive and not on sale anywhere. I have checked craigslist and other sites to see if I could grab up some used ones but nothing.

I could add a set of RB-10's for rears and an RC-10 for the center but they would cost over $500 and also only have 4" woofers so again the Jamo's seam like a much better and cheaper option.

CBCstillmatic · 02-28-2010, 02:12 PM

Yes I have a sub...a Dayton SUB-120 that came with the Dayton set up I am using now. I bought the Dayton set up for $100 of craigslist and all the satellites were still sealed in plastic. I bought it as a place holder. My girlfriend bought me the 1610 for xmas and I sold my Onkyo HTIB so I had no speakers and needed something with a powered sub. They actually sound pretty good, better than my Onkyo set up did but I am ready to move up but with out spending thousands. I am all about the best bang for the $.

If I can get speakers that are supposedly worth $1200 for under $300 then that will make me happy.

callas01 · 02-28-2010, 02:42 PM

Personally I don't like the sound of Klipsch speakers, it has more to do with the way the Horns project the sound of the highs, then the brightness of them, BUT I do prefer a warmer more laid back sounding speaker over a bright, in your face sound. Many people think the louder the speaker can sound the better, but that is not true, its the more detailed and true to the source that the speaker can be and the less coloration that speaker introduces makes a better speaker.

Well good that you have a sub. I don't know much about Daytons, but I hear they are decent subs, so you seem to be good there.

I bought my $1600 setup for $600, so I understand getting the most value for your money.

What are you leaning towards?

erict · 02-28-2010, 03:12 PM

Hear is a nice size comparison of the Jamo C401, Energy RC10 and Energy Take 5 speakers.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/attac...3&d=1266182682

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/attac...4&d=1266182682

callas01 · 02-28-2010, 03:36 PM

Yea, the RC-10 is a beast, they way 28 lbs each... that is a monster for a bookshelf.

CBCstillmatic · 02-28-2010, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by callas01

Personally I don't like the sound of Klipsch speakers, it has more to do with the way the Horns project the sound of the highs, then the brightness of them, BUT I do prefer a warmer more laid back sounding speaker over a bright, in your face sound. Many people think the louder the speaker can sound the better, but that is not true, its the more detailed and true to the source that the speaker can be and the less coloration that speaker introduces makes a better speaker.

Well good that you have a sub. I don't know much about Daytons, but I hear they are decent subs, so you seem to be good there.

I bought my $1600 setup for $600, so I understand getting the most value for your money.

What are you leaning towards?

I am really liking the Jamos but can't get the Monitor 30's off my mind...I like the idea of the bigger woofer but I have a feeling unless I stepped up to something with a 6" woofer its not gonna be a huge difference. Plus I do not need something to blow out my windows, hell I can crank the Daytons I have now(2.5" woofers I think) and they don't break up then I won't be stressing any of the speakers I choose here. Plus if I think they sound good I am sure I will fall in love with any of these.

The Jamo's are a nice size, will meet the WAF, and are cheaper than the Monitor's. If the retail price is accurate then they are a much better steal too plus Vann's has free shipping so I think I have made my decision.

callas01 · 02-28-2010, 05:58 PM

understand that driver size is not neccessarily indicative of performance. Yes it does help to push more air, but I have seen a single 6.5" drvier on my energys outperform mulitple 3 5.25" drivers in polk Monitor 60s and I have seen a single 5.5" driver outperform my 6.5" Energy driver.

Basically I am saying that driver size doesn't dictate better performance. And yes the C401s and C 601s retail for $300.

I think if you want the larger driver, get the Infinitys, if you and the wife like the Jamos, I am sure you will not be displeased. Actaully when I go to look at new speakers the Jamo C 607 towers are speakers that I really want to consider. I will also be looking at a bunch of other speakers too, but they are on my list.

The reason that vanns.com has the Jamos, is that they were only available in Europe, and there were some overstock that vanns bought cheaply, so the Klipsch group let them have them for cheap so they could get rid of them.

CBCstillmatic · 02-28-2010, 08:06 PM

cool...probably why there isn't any reviews for the c401's. I understand what you are saying about the woofers and they will be helped by the Sub anyway. I will be ordering the Jamo's and I am pretty excited. I found a customer review that said they come with mounts and are wall mountable so that takes care of that question.

Now if I can sell my Klipsch's and even the Dayton's for cheap then I can save even more $. Thanks again for your help

callas01 · 02-28-2010, 11:37 PM

yep, let us know what you think about them once you have them.

CBCstillmatic · 03-05-2010, 01:35 PM

callas01 if I may ask your opinion on one more matter before I order. Would you go with 2 pair of the C401's and a C400CEN? or a pair of C401, a pair of C400SUR, and a C400CEN?
That is the last thing keeping me from ordering cause i can't make up my mind.

So please give me your opinion. I would think 4 C401's would be best but the C400SUR are made just for being rears. I know the rears are the least active and thus least important and the C400SUR looks like it be easier to wall mount. The C401 looks like it of course would easily sound better but what would be an advantage of going with the C400SUR?

callas01 · 03-05-2010, 05:24 PM

bi-pole surrounds are the better choice because they make sound behind you not seem so directional, and they would be easier to wall mount, however I have a bookshelf behind me, so I cannot use surrounds like those, however if you are going to wall mount, the C401 surrounds would be the better choice, make sure wall mount them about 1-2 feet above your head.

CBCstillmatic · 03-05-2010, 07:56 PM

Thanks for the reply. I finally pulled the trigger and ordered the C400CEN, 1 pair of C401's, and 1 pair of C400SUR. I can't wait till they get here and I will let you know how they sound. They seamed easier to mount and less distracting than another pair of C401's and just overall looked like they would be a better fit for where they are gonna go.

1 foot above my head shouldn't be a problem but why above your head and not ear level? The ones I got now are at ear height so moving it up should be easy anyway. Now with the depth of the center and bookshelfs I am afraid what they are going to look like wall mounted, at over 8 inches deep they will most likely stick out past my wall mounted TV but oh well I will figure out something.

02-27-2010, 06:40 PM	#1
CBCstillmatic Active Member Top contributor Member since:Sep 2008 Home Theater Gallery:5 Blu-ray collection:228 Trading Score:86	Need some opinions to help choose I am trying to choose between the following speakers. Jamo C401 from Vann's for $79 a pair Polk Monitor 30 from J&R for $99 a pair Polk T15 from Best Buy for $109 a pair Polk r150 from Fry's for $99 a pair Polk M10 from Electronic Expo for $45 a pair Infinity Primus P152 from Electronic Expo for $84 a pair All of the Polk's other than the monitor 30 pair with the same CSR center and all are listed together on Polk's website with identical specs. The M10 seam to be the most aggressively priced but I cannot find any reviews or info on any of these speakers. The Jamo's are the only 6 ohm set and only set with 4" woofers, rest are 8 ohm with 5" woofers. All of the matching centers for any set are under $100 and I am sure all are great speakers. Unfortunately I cannot demo any and would be purchasing online. I would just like some opinions and preferences on what seams to be the best deal. If anyone has heard these or owns any of these please give me your opinion. I like the Polk Audio brand and was kind of leaning that way but don't know which set to choose and I hear great things about Jamo. I have read through the owner's threads and got nice info on the brands but none really on these specific models. I have a small to medium size room and don't need anything crazy and for around $300 for a centter and 2 pairs of any of these seams to be great values for the money and would all meet the WAF. Now I just need to choose. Last edited by CBCstillmatic; 02-27-2010 at 06:44 PM.

02-28-2010, 01:03 PM	#5
CBCstillmatic Active Member Top contributor Member since:Sep 2008 Home Theater Gallery:5 Blu-ray collection:228 Trading Score:86	Ok so I think I have boiled it down to the Jamo set from Vann's but I keep getting caught up on the Monitor 30's from polk. I asked this same question on another forum and the only two answers I got were for the monitor 30's which they claim is the same identical speaker to the new TSi100 but for half the price. That doesn't really mean anything cause on Polk's website the TSi100 only retail for $20 more than the T/R/M series so how much more could $20 get you? Though the Monitor 30's were the only ones i could find reviews on and they were all pretty good, not helping my decision of leaning to the Jamo's one bit. Plus the Jamo's supposedly retail for $400 so they still seam like the best deal if that is true. The TSi100 retail for $200, though I am unsure what the Monitor 30's originally retailed for($240 I believe CNET had them listed at in their review). The Energy pic you got tells me your unbiased and thanks for being so helpful. The 2 guys on the other forum I believe are Polk owners and didn't offer as much info as you. I will also save $50 going with the Jamo's, but does anyone know if they are wall mountable? I know the Polk's are but its not really that big of a deal nor a deciding factor. Just curious. Last edited by CBCstillmatic; 02-28-2010 at 01:08 PM.

02-28-2010, 02:12 PM	#8
CBCstillmatic Active Member Top contributor Member since:Sep 2008 Home Theater Gallery:5 Blu-ray collection:228 Trading Score:86	Yes I have a sub...a Dayton SUB-120 that came with the Dayton set up I am using now. I bought the Dayton set up for $100 of craigslist and all the satellites were still sealed in plastic. I bought it as a place holder. My girlfriend bought me the 1610 for xmas and I sold my Onkyo HTIB so I had no speakers and needed something with a powered sub. They actually sound pretty good, better than my Onkyo set up did but I am ready to move up but with out spending thousands. I am all about the best bang for the $. If I can get speakers that are supposedly worth $1200 for under $300 then that will make me happy. Last edited by CBCstillmatic; 02-28-2010 at 02:22 PM.

03-05-2010, 01:35 PM	#16
CBCstillmatic Active Member Top contributor Member since:Sep 2008 Home Theater Gallery:5 Blu-ray collection:228 Trading Score:86	callas01 if I may ask your opinion on one more matter before I order. Would you go with 2 pair of the C401's and a C400CEN? or a pair of C401, a pair of C400SUR, and a C400CEN? That is the last thing keeping me from ordering cause i can't make up my mind. So please give me your opinion. I would think 4 C401's would be best but the C400SUR are made just for being rears. I know the rears are the least active and thus least important and the C400SUR looks like it be easier to wall mount. The C401 looks like it of course would easily sound better but what would be an advantage of going with the C400SUR? Last edited by CBCstillmatic; 03-05-2010 at 01:41 PM.

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02-27-2010, 09:07 PM	#2
callas01 Blu-ray Prince Top contributor Member since:Jun 2008 Location:Riverside, CA Home Theater Gallery:42 Blu-ray collection:230 DVD collection:47	I would have to say that the Jamo and the Infinity are going to be the better of the speakers listed. You Denon will drive either set of speakers just fine. If you want the bigger driver the Infinitys would be nice, I know that the Jamos are really nice speakers too, and can play larger then expected. I am not saying that polk speaker are bad, but comparitively they are probably not as good as the Infinity or Jamo.

02-28-2010, 04:02 AM	#3
CBCstillmatic Active Member Top contributor Member since:Sep 2008 Home Theater Gallery:5 Blu-ray collection:228 Trading Score:86	Thanks for the reply and I think I will consider the Jamo's. I was leaning towards the Monitor 30's and the P152's look nice too though. If you were to choose would it be the Jamo's or the Infinity's? both are around the $80 price range so I can't just say screw it and go for the cheaper pnes.

02-28-2010, 05:24 AM	#4
callas01 Blu-ray Prince Top contributor Member since:Jun 2008 Location:Riverside, CA Home Theater Gallery:42 Blu-ray collection:230 DVD collection:47	well I like the fact that there is a little bigger driver on the Infinitys, however there is a bigger tweeter on the Jamo. I think the Jamos may image the sounds a little better just knowing how they are, I have not heard Infinity speakers personally so I am unable to accurately say what I would prefer better. I can say the Jamos will be a little laidback and have detailed mid-range and excellent highs and detail, I am sure the Infinitys would be a very good speaker too..... So I would say, go with what you would rather have.... I think reading the reviews of the Infinity that perhaps it may be the overall better choice it has more range and it has the larger driver, so that may be a little better at filling your room with sound.

02-28-2010, 02:06 PM	#6
callas01 Blu-ray Prince Top contributor Member since:Jun 2008 Location:Riverside, CA Home Theater Gallery:42 Blu-ray collection:230 DVD collection:47	Like I said, the Polks are not bad speakers, I think they make nice speakers, but comparitively I would rather have the others over the Polks. I really think the Jamo and Infinitys will be better speakers. Jamo makes really nice speakers. So does Infinity. I read a review of the Infinity P150, and older version of the one your looking at and the review was very good. Also I know that Jamo speakers are really nice speakers too. I really am trying to unbiased, I think in your case as much as I like the Jamos from what I have heard, I would buy the Infinitys, but if you like the Jamos, I can tell you they will sound really awesome too. Both will give you a nice open mid-range and superb highs, the Infinitys will get a little low frequencies, but you will need a sub for sure with each. The Jamos will be warm sounding and pretty well detailed. Do you have a sub?

02-28-2010, 02:09 PM	#7
CBCstillmatic Active Member Top contributor Member since:Sep 2008 Home Theater Gallery:5 Blu-ray collection:228 Trading Score:86	I also already have a pair of Klipsch RB-15 bookshelfs a buddy gave to me when he was moving. I have never used them and thought about selling them to put $ towards one of these systems or I was going to try and add to them. The new RB-10 just look so cheap compaired to the older models and are exspensive and not on sale anywhere. I have checked craigslist and other sites to see if I could grab up some used ones but nothing. I could add a set of RB-10's for rears and an RC-10 for the center but they would cost over $500 and also only have 4" woofers so again the Jamo's seam like a much better and cheaper option.

02-28-2010, 02:42 PM	#9
callas01 Blu-ray Prince Top contributor Member since:Jun 2008 Location:Riverside, CA Home Theater Gallery:42 Blu-ray collection:230 DVD collection:47	Personally I don't like the sound of Klipsch speakers, it has more to do with the way the Horns project the sound of the highs, then the brightness of them, BUT I do prefer a warmer more laid back sounding speaker over a bright, in your face sound. Many people think the louder the speaker can sound the better, but that is not true, its the more detailed and true to the source that the speaker can be and the less coloration that speaker introduces makes a better speaker. Well good that you have a sub. I don't know much about Daytons, but I hear they are decent subs, so you seem to be good there. I bought my $1600 setup for $600, so I understand getting the most value for your money. What are you leaning towards?

02-28-2010, 03:12 PM	#10
erict Blu-ray Baron Top ranked HT gallery Top contributor Member since:Apr 2009 Location:In the country Home Theater Gallery:92 Blu-ray collection:7	Hear is a nice size comparison of the Jamo C401, Energy RC10 and Energy Take 5 speakers. http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/attac...3&d=1266182682 http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/attac...4&d=1266182682

02-28-2010, 03:36 PM	#11
callas01 Blu-ray Prince Top contributor Member since:Jun 2008 Location:Riverside, CA Home Theater Gallery:42 Blu-ray collection:230 DVD collection:47	Yea, the RC-10 is a beast, they way 28 lbs each... that is a monster for a bookshelf.

02-28-2010, 05:58 PM	#13
callas01 Blu-ray Prince Top contributor Member since:Jun 2008 Location:Riverside, CA Home Theater Gallery:42 Blu-ray collection:230 DVD collection:47	understand that driver size is not neccessarily indicative of performance. Yes it does help to push more air, but I have seen a single 6.5" drvier on my energys outperform mulitple 3 5.25" drivers in polk Monitor 60s and I have seen a single 5.5" driver outperform my 6.5" Energy driver. Basically I am saying that driver size doesn't dictate better performance. And yes the C401s and C 601s retail for $300. I think if you want the larger driver, get the Infinitys, if you and the wife like the Jamos, I am sure you will not be displeased. Actaully when I go to look at new speakers the Jamo C 607 towers are speakers that I really want to consider. I will also be looking at a bunch of other speakers too, but they are on my list. The reason that vanns.com has the Jamos, is that they were only available in Europe, and there were some overstock that vanns bought cheaply, so the Klipsch group let them have them for cheap so they could get rid of them.

02-28-2010, 08:06 PM	#14
CBCstillmatic Active Member Top contributor Member since:Sep 2008 Home Theater Gallery:5 Blu-ray collection:228 Trading Score:86	cool...probably why there isn't any reviews for the c401's. I understand what you are saying about the woofers and they will be helped by the Sub anyway. I will be ordering the Jamo's and I am pretty excited. I found a customer review that said they come with mounts and are wall mountable so that takes care of that question. Now if I can sell my Klipsch's and even the Dayton's for cheap then I can save even more $. Thanks again for your help

02-28-2010, 11:37 PM	#15
callas01 Blu-ray Prince Top contributor Member since:Jun 2008 Location:Riverside, CA Home Theater Gallery:42 Blu-ray collection:230 DVD collection:47	yep, let us know what you think about them once you have them.

03-05-2010, 05:24 PM	#17
callas01 Blu-ray Prince Top contributor Member since:Jun 2008 Location:Riverside, CA Home Theater Gallery:42 Blu-ray collection:230 DVD collection:47	bi-pole surrounds are the better choice because they make sound behind you not seem so directional, and they would be easier to wall mount, however I have a bookshelf behind me, so I cannot use surrounds like those, however if you are going to wall mount, the C401 surrounds would be the better choice, make sure wall mount them about 1-2 feet above your head.

03-05-2010, 07:56 PM	#18
CBCstillmatic Active Member Top contributor Member since:Sep 2008 Home Theater Gallery:5 Blu-ray collection:228 Trading Score:86	Thanks for the reply. I finally pulled the trigger and ordered the C400CEN, 1 pair of C401's, and 1 pair of C400SUR. I can't wait till they get here and I will let you know how they sound. They seamed easier to mount and less distracting than another pair of C401's and just overall looked like they would be a better fit for where they are gonna go. 1 foot above my head shouldn't be a problem but why above your head and not ear level? The ones I got now are at ear height so moving it up should be easy anyway. Now with the depth of the center and bookshelfs I am afraid what they are going to look like wall mounted, at over 8 inches deep they will most likely stick out past my wall mounted TV but oh well I will figure out something.

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