M Jarve
Audio Geek and NGE Freak
As I implied in another thread, the Infinity Quantum 3 is a good speaker capable of great potential. The tonal qualities, dynamic range, transient response, and so on are, in my estimation, very good. Indeed, it has the potential to knock my current #1 speaker (IMF Studio TLS-50) out of its long held throne. It would take a very good speaker indeed to do that, but the Quantum 3, as it is, cannot achieve that.
The weakness of the Quantum 3 is not in its drivers, crossover, or design (well, maybe a little) but rather in its so-so build quality and inattention to little details (apparently rectified in later versions). For instance, the cabinet is, to say the least, lively, and to say the most, awful. Perhaps that's too harsh, but I am used to a higher standard. Additionally, the version I have is not mirror imaged, although apparently there were mirror imaged versions sold, notably without the rear EMIT.
Even still, I managed to make the existing cabinet as sonically inert as possible, and I fiddled with location for (literally) hours on end, attempting to regain the imaging I had lost when I swapped out the TLS-50 for the Quantum 3.
Imaging, really good, holographic, pin-point spooky-good imaging is something that I have found I cannot live without. It's almost like listening to a well known recording on a system (amp and speakers) that can reproduce truly deep bass. You never knew what you were missing, but once you hear it, it's difficult to hear it any other way. The Quantum 3 was capable as imaging as well as any large speaker can in my room. But, its dimensional resolving power was outclassed by orders of magnitude by the TLS-50. Indeed, there are few speakers that can approach the TLS-50 in this regard and I have yet to hear a set that can actually surpass it. They throw a wide, deep, and exactly proportioned soundstage that is almost unsettling in its accuracy. The Quantum 3, could not do this... Rather it could, but only when the speakers were arranged in such a way that is impractical in my room, and caused faults to appear elsewhere. Placed in the location that had the least amount of problems caused vocals to sound unnaturally large (like a mouth, three feet wide), and prevented the image on the right side from extending past the right-speaker (quite unlike the left channel).
So it was that last night, almost in a fit of anger, I pulled the TLS-50 out of the corner they were tucked into and pressed them back into service. Although the Quantum 3 outclasses them in dynamic range and impact, they brought back the perfect soundstage I missed so much. Given the choice between the Quantum 3's "Big Speaker" performance, or the eery "life" of the TLS-50, I would take the TLS-50.
But, while I was cooling off, I put in a call to Boy Wonder and asked how quickly he could whip up a set of new cabinets for the Quantum 3.
Today wood and glue were bought, and panels rough-cut for a modern take on the Quantum 3. They will be stronger, more inert, and mirror imaged. All the original drivers and design elements from the original will be maintained, including the dimensions and proportions, as well as drivers, crossover, and driver layout, although the set will be mirror imaged. Indeed, I believe it is the lack of mirroring that has lead to such poor soundstage in my room.
The cabinets will be constructed in a more ordinary manor- that is, without our typical (until now) finger jointing. However, the material used will be somewhat experimental. It is a laminate material of alternating layers of hardboard and flooring underlayment. Each layer is approximately 1/4" thick, with each panel being made of 5 layers (two of the flooring underlayment, three of the hardboard). The idea is to have the underlayment provide strength and dimensional stability (the two layers have their grain perpendicular to each other), while the hardboard provides high density mass and additional strength. This is a material Bob though up when I first started designing the Compacts (re-christened the Stripes), and we glued up some samples to play with. Indeed, it is an exceptionally strong material and should make a fine cabinet, but the proof will be in the pudding, as it's said. I will post a picture of the sample block some other time (when I find the battery for my camera), but I will say (in addition) that it looks pretty good to boot.
As usual, pics and updates to follow as time and events allow.
The weakness of the Quantum 3 is not in its drivers, crossover, or design (well, maybe a little) but rather in its so-so build quality and inattention to little details (apparently rectified in later versions). For instance, the cabinet is, to say the least, lively, and to say the most, awful. Perhaps that's too harsh, but I am used to a higher standard. Additionally, the version I have is not mirror imaged, although apparently there were mirror imaged versions sold, notably without the rear EMIT.
Even still, I managed to make the existing cabinet as sonically inert as possible, and I fiddled with location for (literally) hours on end, attempting to regain the imaging I had lost when I swapped out the TLS-50 for the Quantum 3.
Imaging, really good, holographic, pin-point spooky-good imaging is something that I have found I cannot live without. It's almost like listening to a well known recording on a system (amp and speakers) that can reproduce truly deep bass. You never knew what you were missing, but once you hear it, it's difficult to hear it any other way. The Quantum 3 was capable as imaging as well as any large speaker can in my room. But, its dimensional resolving power was outclassed by orders of magnitude by the TLS-50. Indeed, there are few speakers that can approach the TLS-50 in this regard and I have yet to hear a set that can actually surpass it. They throw a wide, deep, and exactly proportioned soundstage that is almost unsettling in its accuracy. The Quantum 3, could not do this... Rather it could, but only when the speakers were arranged in such a way that is impractical in my room, and caused faults to appear elsewhere. Placed in the location that had the least amount of problems caused vocals to sound unnaturally large (like a mouth, three feet wide), and prevented the image on the right side from extending past the right-speaker (quite unlike the left channel).
So it was that last night, almost in a fit of anger, I pulled the TLS-50 out of the corner they were tucked into and pressed them back into service. Although the Quantum 3 outclasses them in dynamic range and impact, they brought back the perfect soundstage I missed so much. Given the choice between the Quantum 3's "Big Speaker" performance, or the eery "life" of the TLS-50, I would take the TLS-50.
But, while I was cooling off, I put in a call to Boy Wonder and asked how quickly he could whip up a set of new cabinets for the Quantum 3.
Today wood and glue were bought, and panels rough-cut for a modern take on the Quantum 3. They will be stronger, more inert, and mirror imaged. All the original drivers and design elements from the original will be maintained, including the dimensions and proportions, as well as drivers, crossover, and driver layout, although the set will be mirror imaged. Indeed, I believe it is the lack of mirroring that has lead to such poor soundstage in my room.
The cabinets will be constructed in a more ordinary manor- that is, without our typical (until now) finger jointing. However, the material used will be somewhat experimental. It is a laminate material of alternating layers of hardboard and flooring underlayment. Each layer is approximately 1/4" thick, with each panel being made of 5 layers (two of the flooring underlayment, three of the hardboard). The idea is to have the underlayment provide strength and dimensional stability (the two layers have their grain perpendicular to each other), while the hardboard provides high density mass and additional strength. This is a material Bob though up when I first started designing the Compacts (re-christened the Stripes), and we glued up some samples to play with. Indeed, it is an exceptionally strong material and should make a fine cabinet, but the proof will be in the pudding, as it's said. I will post a picture of the sample block some other time (when I find the battery for my camera), but I will say (in addition) that it looks pretty good to boot.
As usual, pics and updates to follow as time and events allow.
