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Infinity Kappa 9 pros and cons

swechsler said:
That's right (assuming this graph is correct):

Crossover-Kappa9_02.jpg



Here's another, which would appear to confirm it:

Kappa9Impedance.jpg.340a528e36b90ff2b94f383547346fb2.jpg
Click to expand...
My amps ain't scared ... But one has to wonder why on earth the speakers ever made it to market.
 
damacman said:
My amps ain't scared ... But one has to wonder why on earth the speakers ever made it to market.
Click to expand...
At the price these originally sold at (IIRC $4K/pair in the late 1980s), one could be expected to spend a bit on electronics, and there were enough high current amps on the market that could handle them. I have several from that era.
 
I'm surprised to read the Adcom working with the K9, I ran one (was my first real amp) with Kappa 8's and it didn't take much for that amp to clip running the pair, it would get so hot you couldn't touch the top of that amp for more than a second or two.

Even with 2 in mono that's crazy but if it's working that awesome !

I know had I scored K9's I'd be straight to the one of the big chain stores for some serious crowns to deal with them.
 
swechsler said:
At the price these originally sold at (IIRC $4K/pair in the late 1980s), one could be expected to spend a bit on electronics, and there were enough high current amps on the market that could handle them. I have several from that era.
Click to expand...
My point being, why did it have to be that way? Why market a speaker that 90% of the power amplifiers being sold cannot drive? Obviously, we know the guys that designed them were genius' - but why not spend a bit more time to get the impedance flatter?

Today, when folks say they have Kappa 9s, it's almost as if it's bragging rights. Having never heard a pair, I have no idea if the sound is worth it.
 
7.62 said:
I'm surprised to read the Adcom working with the K9, I ran one (was my first real amp) with Kappa 8's and it didn't take much for that amp to clip running the pair, it would get so hot you couldn't touch the top of that amp for more than a second or two.

Even with 2 in mono that's crazy but if it's working that awesome !

I know had I scored K9's I'd be straight to the one of the big chain stores for some serious crowns to deal with them.
Click to expand...

I realize my reQuests are a much easier load relative to Kappa 9s, but I've played them quite loud with the GFA-555 and it's never clipped or got more than warm to the touch. Maybe your bias was set too high? I don't know.
 
I just had my polydome's done by MillerSound so I put the 9's back in today. The thing I like about them is they are easy to listen to at low levels AND they can rattle your neighbors windows if you so choose. If I had to do it over again I wouldn't hesitate to buy them again.

pic was from before the mids being repaired

 
Silentnet said:
I realize my reQuests are a much easier load relative to Kappa 9s, but I've played them quite loud with the GFA-555 and it's never clipped or got more than warm to the touch. Maybe your bias was set too high? I don't know.
Click to expand...

I don't know what any of that means? I'm just sharing actual experiences with the next speaker down in the line.

Those black kappas look awesome!
 
C6Bill said:
I just had my polydome's done by MillerSound so I put the 9's back in today. The thing I like about them is they are easy to listen to at low levels AND they can rattle your neighbors windows if you so choose. If I had to do it over again I wouldn't hesitate to buy them again.

pic was from before the mids being repaired

Click to expand...

Solid amp ... I just got the 7270 to drive my B&W 801s that are replacing 7 Kappas. But now I’ll have to drag them out for one final jam session before I part with them.
 
C6Bill said:
I just had my polydome's done by MillerSound so I put the 9's back in today. The thing I like about them is they are easy to listen to at low levels AND they can rattle your neighbors windows if you so choose. If I had to do it over again I wouldn't hesitate to buy them again.

pic was from before the mids being repaired

Click to expand...

Love the black ones. Nice !
 
Superampman said:
If they are the second series with the extended LF switch on the crossover, they will not be hard to drive with the switch the other way. Polydomes don't dent, they deteriorate/rot. The emit tweeters are relatively fragile. Even though there are polyswitches/breakers to protect them, abuse over time shows up with pin hole burns which eventually join together and tear it apart. However, they are not hard to find. Polydomes in good condition otoh are next to impossible to find. Rebuild services are available but probably not to original spec. Foams for the woofers are tricky in that most available are much heavier and less compliant than oem. Rick Cobb aka Loonietunes at Lansing Heritage or ebay has nice light compliant ones for that. You will not find actual cone kits. I would not substitute something that fits as the originals are graphite impregnated composite and rather high tech.
Click to expand...

Ill check if they are second series. I belive so.
 
Superampman said:
If they are the second series with the extended LF switch on the crossover, they will not be hard to drive with the switch the other way. Polydomes don't dent, they deteriorate/rot. The emit tweeters are relatively fragile. Even though there are polyswitches/breakers to protect them, abuse over time shows up with pin hole burns which eventually join together and tear it apart. However, they are not hard to find. Polydomes in good condition otoh are next to impossible to find. Rebuild services are available but probably not to original spec. Foams for the woofers are tricky in that most available are much heavier and less compliant than oem. Rick Cobb aka Loonietunes at Lansing Heritage or ebay has nice light compliant ones for that. You will not find actual cone kits. I would not substitute something that fits as the originals are graphite impregnated composite and rather high tech.
Click to expand...

Kappa%209_zpsgyiaq6dx.png
 
I'll tell you what.....those domes don't look to bad at all to me. I'm willing to bet and not to argue with anyone here, that pushed in dome is very salvageable. With some care and time.

I'd go to our Infinity forum and do some poking around at the threads we have about treating the domes, we have 2 preferred products, Mothers & Mequires. I've personally done this treatment on my Kappa 8.1 and Kappa 8 speakers, my son now owns the 8's. Several other members have done the same.

I think before sending them to Bill, who is the MAN you seek if they can't be saved, I'd seriously consider giving that a try if you do get them, they look totally fixable as a whole speaker. I can tell you if they were close to me there would be no negotiation, I'd buy them.

I'm sorry I don't know how to link, myself and others have posted pictures of how to treat the domes.

Good Luck, I hope you go for it !
 
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It should be mentioned that it doesn't matter if it's the series 1 or 2 ( the picture above with the metal mesh is a 2) the outcome is the same.
 
I was to slow on this deal, amps went to one guy and speakers had some bidding and went for around 1000 dollars to another guy...
 
kermit_xc said:
Solid amp ... I just got the 7270 to drive my B&W 801s that are replacing 7 Kappas. But now I’ll have to drag them out for one final jam session before I part with them.
Click to expand...

Prior to the 402 I was using a 7270 to drive them. It had no problems driving the Kappas.
 
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