Infinity crossovers

ibanez59er

Active Member
I will demo a pair of RS2.5s this weekend. I own the QLS2, Qb,Qa. I am currently doing a refurb on the Q2s and have no idea what to do with the xovers. I have read that replacements are in order for equipment of this age but how can I be sure what needs replacement if any. They sound fine but will new "caps" etc. truly make a difference. Are original replacements available?? Kind of big to be lugging to a shop. Any info appreciated.
 
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One of the BIG drawbacks with alot of the bigger Infinity crossovers is they used large bi-polar caps that were made especially for Infinity; that are no longer available. Rebuilding Infinity crossovers can be done, but not by the average joe or even by the average repair shop.
 
how are you with a soldering iron, Ibanez? if you don't have one, they're fairly cheap and pretty easy to learn to use. i feel that once you have that down, it's not all that difficult to redo an Infinity Quantum crossover. what's nice about the big Quantum variety is that you can pretty easily detach the black plastic mounting board visible at the back (it's held by staples and a rubbery sealant) and then unscrew the wooden mounting board in the inside bottom of the cabinet - both of those pieces will be connected and pull right out of the woofer hole after you unplug/cut the wires heading from the crossover up to the drivers. you do need more than a passing ability to read circuit diagrams and translate what you see to real-world circuits, since the Q2 crossover is pretty complex. but once you're done, you WILL notice an improvement! Army is right that they don't make drop-in replacements for the big silver woofer capacitors, but it's pretty easy to put a couple new bipolar electrolytics in parallel (the values then add directly). if you'd like, i can pretty quickly put together a parts list from Parts Express and Madisound - it would be similar to what i recently did on my QLS1s. you can feel free to change it up however you'd like, of course, but i think it represents a pretty good price-to-performance ratio.
 
how are you with a soldering iron, Ibanez? if you don't have one, they're fairly cheap and pretty easy to learn to use. i feel that once you have that down, it's not all that difficult to redo an Infinity Quantum crossover. what's nice about the big Quantum variety is that you can pretty easily detach the black plastic mounting board visible at the back (it's held by staples and a rubbery sealant) and then unscrew the wooden mounting board in the inside bottom of the cabinet - both of those pieces will be connected and pull right out of the woofer hole after you unplug/cut the wires heading from the crossover up to the drivers. you do need more than a passing ability to read circuit diagrams and translate what you see to real-world circuits, since the Q2 crossover is pretty complex. but once you're done, you WILL notice an improvement! Army is right that they don't make drop-in replacements for the big silver woofer capacitors, but it's pretty easy to put a couple new bipolar electrolytics in parallel (the values then add directly). if you'd like, i can pretty quickly put together a parts list from Parts Express and Madisound - it would be similar to what i recently did on my QLS1s. you can feel free to change it up however you'd like, of course, but i think it represents a pretty good price-to-performance ratio.

Now that's what I'm talking about. All I want is to hear my Q2s the way they were meant to be heard. Yes I own a soldering gun but I am a bricklayer not a doctor damn it!!! I am this close to taking them to a shop at $60 per hour.
I am familiar with Parts express. Please make me the list, and while you are at it, I am buying a pair of RS2.5s on Sunday. I'm sure they are in the same boat, cause of age. If you could, send that list also, I can offer you something in return. let me know, thanks ..
 
One of the BIG drawbacks with alot of the bigger Infinity crossovers is they used large bi-polar caps that were made especially for Infinity; that are no longer available. Rebuilding Infinity crossovers can be done, but not by the average joe or even by the average repair shop.

recommendations??? Also should I buy the RS2.5s. is it worth it??
 
For the QLS2:

PARTS EXPRESS (you can tell quantity by dividing the price on the right by the price on the left):

027-456 Yes Dayton DFFC-0.33 0.33uF 400V By-Pass Capacitor
$1.26 $5.04
266-804 Yes 0.15mH 18 AWG Perfect Layer Inductor
$3.87 $7.74
100-016 Yes Dayton SKRL-16-50 16 AWG OFC Speaker Wire 50 ft.
$16.52 $16.52
027-210 Yes Dayton PMPC-1.0 1.0uF 250V Precision Audio Capacitor
$2.03 $4.06
027-212 Yes Dayton PMPC-1.5 1.5uF 250V Precision Audio Capacitor
$2.24 $8.96
027-214 Yes Dayton PMPC-2.0 2.0uF 250V Precision Audio Capacitor
$2.41 $4.82
027-252 Yes Dayton PMPC-20 20uF 250V Precision Audio Capacitor
$12.23 $24.46
Subtotal: $71.60

MADISOUND:

Bennic 1000 mfd Electrolytic Caps (x2)
$20.50

Bennic 500 mfd Electrolytic Caps (x2)
$14.70

Bennic 100 mfd Electrolytic Caps (x2)
$4.80

Bennic 200 mfd Electrolytic Caps (x2)
$7.30

Solen 40 mfd Fast Cap 400V (x2)
$27.90

2.7 ohm, 25 watt Wirewound Resistor (x4)
$2.60

5.6 ohm, 25 watt Wirewound Resistor (x4)
$2.60
Sub-Total: $80.40
 
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Wow that was fast. I have 4 -10" woofers from a pair of columnIIs at your disposal. REWARD for caring.. If you can use them let me know..:banana: And let me add, this question of should I refurb my xovers has plagued me for years. This is more exciting then learning how to replace surrounds....
 
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if the RS2.5s are fully working, i'd grab them. i've heard them and they are very nice, and will be a different beast than the Q2 (Army has a pair, he can tell you all about them). i think a recap of these probably isn't quite as important, but you might as well order the parts for both speakers all at once. the only thing i'd replace with these would be the capacitors, and that'll be pretty easy to do since the crossover is in the open on the back of the speaker. i'll take a look later and send you a list. with these you'll have to lay the speaker on its front while you glue (or epoxy) the new capacitors down (i also recommend zip-tying the paralleled capacitors together), unless you can find the right size of capacitor mounting block like they used on this website:

http://critesspeakers.com/rebuilding_a_set_of_type_aa.html
 
Thanks again, I'll give a report on the rs2.5s after I demo them on Sunday. I truly hope they have no problems.
 
I have read that replacements are in order for equipment of this age...
Not necessarily. Until a few months ago I owned a pair of 4.5s from the late '70s, and all of their caps were still in spec. Same goes for my RS-Is. This was determined by measuring the capacitance with a multimeter.
 
Thanks again, I'll give a report on the rs2.5s after I demo them on Sunday. I truly hope they have no problems.

99% of problems due to age with the 2.5's can be fixed and they are one my all time favorite speakers. They do require a good stout amp or even better bi-amped with two high current amplifiers. They have solid base down into the 20hz range and once you get an earful of them play electric guitar if you are like me you'll never let them go...
Good luck!
 
Not necessarily. Until a few months ago I owned a pair of 4.5s from the late '70s, and all of their caps were still in spec. Same goes for my RS-Is. This was determined by measuring the capacitance with a multimeter.

doesn't mean that new caps won't sound better, though.
 
Thanks again, I'll give a report on the rs2.5s after I demo them on Sunday. I truly hope they have no problems.

Went to demo them today. New diaphrams on the emims,new surrounds on the woofers, cabs and grills in good shape. I don't know the technical terms but they sounded great. Of course they were hooked to some Mark Levinson separates, hope my Pioneer does the job. They wouldn't fit in my car and he's going out of town so I can't take them home till next Sunday. I think I got a pretty good deal for $400. think that's a fair price?? Any idea of the original MSRP.??
 
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You will be loving them if you can drive em.
They really like power bi amp or a really and I mean really big single amp.
What Pioneer? I hope not a receiver....
No offense to the Pioneer but they will eat a Pioneer 1250, 1280 for lunch.
These drop below 4 ohms at certain freqs.
How much MSRP? 2300.00
Here is a link for you it will give you some more info.
http://www.infinity-classics.de/infinity/models/Reference-series-1+b-2-10+A+B-1981-86/index-Reference.htm
When you replace the foam on the panels I got it from Parts Express.
With the big Infinities you end up spending more on amps than you do on the speakers.
Welcome to the RS 4.5 / 2.5 club.
Enjoy
PS
A suggestion update your info to provide your city state its nice for others to know you may get offers for help like picking up your speakers.
 
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Nice call goat67. The one thing I didn't mention was the foam. It has some deterioration but I wasn't sure what it even was yet. Haven't gotten that far.
Psyched to hear it can be replaced, thanks for the heads up. Ya I've got the sx1250. sounds like time to upgrade, as I mentioned before I have a QSC USA900 pro amp,450w@4 ohms. maybe I'll try that for now..
 
Now were taking.... I have a buddy that has the 1250 a great receiver. You know it would be great to run the smaller Infinities with the 1250 you then could y cable off the preamp jumpers to the QSC for the 2.5s you never can have enough Infinities..... :D:D:D
 
Nice call goat67. ... Ya I've got the sx1250. sounds like time to upgrade, as I mentioned before I have a QSC USA900 pro amp,450w@4 ohms. maybe I'll try that for now..

Don't even try and hook up the SX-1250 with those speakers or it will become a doorstop. It wont take long either even at low volumes.... you've been warned. I did that with a set of QLS-IIIs and a lesser Technics amp 70 watts/channel.. lasted about 3 minutes at low volume and went into protection to never come back out... and I was warned. Moved quickly to pro Crown amps and never looked back. QSC-900 should be up to the task, plenty of high current power there. I noticed the current draw for this amp listed at >9A...woo thats good. Be sure to not overload the circuit you plug that amp into. I've got my Crowns and my system on their own circuit.

Good luck getting them home.

Cheers,
Bob
 
I understand what everyone is saying about the pioneer and I do plan on upgrading, but like I mentioned before, I have run it hooked to my Qls2s and JBL l65s at the same time and it didn't even hesitate, though you could probably fry an egg on it . Maybe it's a freak or I've just been lucky. What would it take to drive The rs2.5s and the Qls2s at the same time???? :music:
 
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