Infinity Primus P162 Bookshelf Speaker Review
Infinity Primus P162 Bookshelf Speaker
Summary
- Product Name: Primus P162 Bookshelf Speaker
- Manufacturer: Infinity
- Performance Rating:
- Value Rating:
- Review Date: April 09, 2009 12:00
- MSRP: $ 159 (each)
- Specifications
-
Frequency Response (±3dB): 49Hz - 20kHz
Recommended Power Amplifier Range: 10 - 150 watts
Sensitivity (2.83V @ 1m): 90dB
Nominal Impedance: 8 ohms
Crossover Frequency(ies): 3,000Hz; 24dB/octave
Low-Frequency Driver: 6-1/2" (165mm) MMD®
High-Frequency Driver: 3/4" (19mm) MMD®
Dimensions (H x W x D): 14-3/4" x 8-1/4" x 11" (375mm x 208mm x 280mm)
Weight: 16.1 lb (7.3kg)
Finish: Black Wood-Grain Enclosure
Pros
- Wide soundstage
- Rock solid center image
- Decent bass
- Perfect for entry-level/budget-minded 1st purchase
Cons
- Ho-hum aesthetics
- Fatiguing highs
- Need to be placed fairly high relative to seated position
Introduction
The Infinity Primus P162 Bookshelf speakers have been selling like hotcakes at the Audioholics store - that's just a fact. They've got a lot of buzz right now. If I was designing a set of budget bookshelf speakers and I wanted to sell, I'd focus on a few things. Great center image, wide soundstage, and the lowest response I could muster. Well, Infinity hit the nail on the head with this one. These are the perfect entry level speakers.
Post Reply
lsiberian posts on April 27, 2009 11:00
GOYA;558728
There is a glaring omission in the P162 review: allowance for a break-in period. Maybe the reviewer did allow for this but the noted harsh highs and decreased bass extension could very well be a result of out-of-the-box performance.
As an owner of these speakers I can atest to the improvement of the speakers performance after 10-14 days of moderate use.
This isn't a glaring omission.
http://www.audioholics.com/education/loudspeaker-basics/speaker-break-in-fact-or-fiction/ [audioholics.com]
Read the above article for further education on the subject.
I will summarize by saying break-in is time it takes for you ears to tolerate bad sound or to adjust to good sound after years of bad sound.
This is why FR is probably your best measure of loudspeaker quality. However do to several factors most manufacturers compromise something to fit size constraints. Listening helps a person to determine what they can tolerate.
GOYA posts on April 27, 2009 10:23
There is a glaring omission in the P162 review: allowance for a break-in period. Maybe the reviewer did allow for this but the noted harsh highs and decreased bass extension could very well be a result of out-of-the-box performance.
As an owner of these speakers I can atest to the improvement of the speakers performance after 10-14 days of moderate use.
As always, the first thing I do with a new set of speakers is it test out their low end response.
As an owner of these speakers I can atest to the improvement of the speakers performance after 10-14 days of moderate use.
redman_43 posts on April 15, 2009 16:50
I couldn't agree with the review more. I've got a pair in my system for the fronts and will be moving them to the rear for surround duty when I upgrade to towers up front. Awesome little (relatively speaking, of course) speakers for not much dough.
Thumbs up to Infinity for a job well done.
Thumbs up to Infinity for a job well done.
Alex2507 posts on April 14, 2009 23:22
tbergman;553063
Yeah, pretty sure I'm going to pick up the P142's sometime. I'm really liking the betas and these should be a good match for some surrounds that won't cost too much and will do for my system until I get out of school.
Get the 152's. Then you can cross everything over at 80Hz as opposed to the 100Hz for the 142's and they are not much more money. The best place to get them is here:
http://stores.shop.ebay.com/Harman-Audio__W0QQ_armrsZ1 [stores.shop.ebay.com]
Full warranty at auction prices blah blah blah. Something is wrong with the site at the moment but they'll get it sorted out.
Rock on Dude.
allargon posts on April 14, 2009 22:54
No site is the definitive end-all be all. I read various websites and research any product I plan to purchase as much as possible. Audioholics is pretty good. They are among the best. Are they perfect? Of course not. Gene just said Consumer Reports likes Bose. Bose and CR don't have the best history.
Consumer Reports has been off on cars, appliances, electronics, lawn equipment, etc. They're not perfect, either.
I am an Infinity Primus owner. I like my Primus'. They're fine for the budget I paid for them. Are they fatiguing? Well, I hate my center channel. However, I don't find them fatiguing. Tom found the bookshelves fatiguing. Well, that's Tom. He's a professional reviewer whom I trust. However, it's subjective. I despise bright speakers. I won't go near Klipsch or Polk. However, others love them. Different folks (even reviewers) have different preferences.
Consumer Reports has been off on cars, appliances, electronics, lawn equipment, etc. They're not perfect, either.
I am an Infinity Primus owner. I like my Primus'. They're fine for the budget I paid for them. Are they fatiguing? Well, I hate my center channel. However, I don't find them fatiguing. Tom found the bookshelves fatiguing. Well, that's Tom. He's a professional reviewer whom I trust. However, it's subjective. I despise bright speakers. I won't go near Klipsch or Polk. However, others love them. Different folks (even reviewers) have different preferences.
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