Back Again for Advice! KLH 23's to Infinity RSIII-A's?
- Thread starter davelarz
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- infinity rs3a klh 23's
davelarz
Well-Known Member
Just wanted to post here and say I got the RSIIIa's from AK'er Esprits4s in a very pleasant transaction. They're in great shape - probably need the foam replaced on the baffle around the tweeters but not an urgent situation. As far as my early thoughts in regards to issues that came up in this post:
1. My SX-850 drives them just fine. Lot of volume, no apparent strain in sq or amp. I had them running for a while at a decent clip the other day, maybe 10 straight album sides while I was working on the computer, and the 850 was warmer than I've ever felt it but nowhere near hot. That said, it is clear to me that these speakers will benefit from more power... and more power is on the way. Just picked up a Musical Fidelity a3cr from audio mart. 120 wpc 8 ohm/215 4. Should do the trick. Though I got a ridiculous price on that amp and I haven't received it yet - a little worried I'm being scammed somehow because price was just too good. Hopefully I just got lucky. We'll see.
2. As far as comparing the Infinitys to my KLH 23's, well, there is no comparison. Very quickly I realized that. There is and never will be a reason to compare these two speakers. They are in different classes altogether and in my brief round of A-B'ing there was nothing the 23's did better than these Infinitys. End of story. My only complaint with the Infinitys is a whiff of fatiguing brightness in the highs (I'm imagining a tube pre somewhere down the line) but the level of mid-range and high-end detail makes the 23's sound like... look I love those 23's so I'm not going to hate. They are simply outclassed in this comparison. I need to build another system around them somewhere else in the house.
Anyway, just wanted to report and thank everyone for their help. Very pleased with the purchase and an inarguably significant upgrade.
1. My SX-850 drives them just fine. Lot of volume, no apparent strain in sq or amp. I had them running for a while at a decent clip the other day, maybe 10 straight album sides while I was working on the computer, and the 850 was warmer than I've ever felt it but nowhere near hot. That said, it is clear to me that these speakers will benefit from more power... and more power is on the way. Just picked up a Musical Fidelity a3cr from audio mart. 120 wpc 8 ohm/215 4. Should do the trick. Though I got a ridiculous price on that amp and I haven't received it yet - a little worried I'm being scammed somehow because price was just too good. Hopefully I just got lucky. We'll see.
2. As far as comparing the Infinitys to my KLH 23's, well, there is no comparison. Very quickly I realized that. There is and never will be a reason to compare these two speakers. They are in different classes altogether and in my brief round of A-B'ing there was nothing the 23's did better than these Infinitys. End of story. My only complaint with the Infinitys is a whiff of fatiguing brightness in the highs (I'm imagining a tube pre somewhere down the line) but the level of mid-range and high-end detail makes the 23's sound like... look I love those 23's so I'm not going to hate. They are simply outclassed in this comparison. I need to build another system around them somewhere else in the house.
Anyway, just wanted to report and thank everyone for their help. Very pleased with the purchase and an inarguably significant upgrade.
I'm glad to see that you are happy with them! They are a lot of speaker for the money and are a great example of early 80's Infinity design.
Regarding the baffle foam, make sure you check out the active thread in the AK Infinity forum on exactly this topic if you haven't already.
Regarding the baffle foam, make sure you check out the active thread in the AK Infinity forum on exactly this topic if you haven't already.
davelarz
Well-Known Member
I will definitely check that forum, Gary, and thanks again for making the drive. It was worth it. Thought I'd be spending some time stacking them up against the 23's. I was quickly disabused of that notion.
And yes indeed Glenn, I will get some pics up, probably next week when I get back from LA.
And yes indeed Glenn, I will get some pics up, probably next week when I get back from LA.
davelarz
Well-Known Member
Here's a pic of one of the RSIIIa's in my home office (can't get both because of my triangular approach in the room) along with my tt's, my sx-850 visible on the lower shelf beneath my desk, my trumpet (1952 LeBlanc Medallion in orig case if anyone out there wants to geek out on trumpets) and yes, my trusty yellow spit rag on the floor. Pretty much my life in a nutshell.
Looking forward to getting that power amp hooked up, although the 850 is performing very well with the Infinitys overall. That said... I find myself thinking the words "tube pre" a lot...
Looking forward to getting that power amp hooked up, although the 850 is performing very well with the Infinitys overall. That said... I find myself thinking the words "tube pre" a lot...
GD70
Lunatic Member
Beautiful room for an office and system! The Infinities are a lot larger than I thought.
I occasionally think about a tube pre as well. Not a priority at the moment, but if the right one and price presented itself, I'd certainly try it out.