Infinity Quantum 3 - Redoing a Classic

[jbbouwkamp]

I've got some Infinity Quantum 3 speakers that I've recently been redoing. So far I've cleaned up the electronics/crossovers, redone the Watkins woofers, and redone the cabinets. What's left is redoing the tinsel on one of the dome midranges (I'd sooner not do it myself), taking care of a slight distortion in the other dome midrange (or replacing both - but I understand this tweeter is no longer avail), and figuring out why 1 of the 4 emit tweeters isn't working. Speakers are looking great but I need to figure out these 3 items - any suggestions???
Also, when I get them in good working condition what's normal range for a value on these speakers (I don't want to exceed it while redoing them!)

 

[Maxamillion]

Enlighten us, please.

What exactly does "redoing" each of the cited areas involve?

Questions like "how much is this worth" are poor etiquette on a first post, especially when they are disguised with what seem to be vague statements about nebulous rehab efforts.

Oh yes, and...

:worthless

 

[jbbouwkamp]

Thanks for the warm welcome! If requesting value of the speakers is "poor etiquette" I apologize. Anyway, veneer was coming off speakers so I've reattached, had to use wood putty in a few very small areas where veneer was completely off, I restained the speakers, and applied several coats of varnish. The pods in the crossovers were not providing good connections so I used an electrical lubricant in each one. I refoamed the Watkins drivers. So that brings me back to my previous post regarding the items remaining to do and seeking advise. Hopefully the attachments on this work - again, I'm a new member. The last pic shows the side where the veneer was reglued and some wood putty added (it turned out quite good).

 

[Maxamillion]

Much better, welcome to the site!

Didn't mean to come off as unwelcoming, but the site does get some "what are these worth" first timers who then never appear again. Those speaks look pretty nice. I have no idea what they are worth, that depends on how badly someone might want a set of Quantums - if you can find that person, you'll do nicely. Have you checked the usual auction site?

 

[Maxamillion]

Oh, regarding the EMITs - measure the DC resistance across the + and - with a multimeter; it should read a few ohms. If it reads over-limit (infinite) you have a break in the trace - this can be repaired with a conductive silver pen or rear defroster repair kit; there is a lot of info on this forum about EMIT repair, do a search.

 

[jbbouwkamp]

Haven't really seen many of these come up on auctions yet. So far my search for redoing the the midrange has consisted of some used ones on ebay but they went for $160+s/h (and were still old w/ the wonderful brittle tinsel) or 37mm Audax midrange domes, this would slightly change the appearance of the original speaker but from what I hear should sound similar or better than the original. I've found these for under $100/pr (new) on auctions.

 

[jbbouwkamp]

Thanks on the Emit info I'll check them as soon as I can. I'll let you know...could be a few days.

 

[Maxamillion]

Yeah, the Infinity replacement parts for auction go for a lot of $$ these days - it's even worse for the EMIM midranges on my RSIIb's. I've heard the new subs for the dome mids are pretty good, though.

 

[Sir.Byrd]

Looking good!

 

[cdfac]

ah, good to see another Iowan with some big Quantums! if you have a soldering iron, you can remelt the connection on the back of the EMIT and hopefully bring it back to life. if you have a multimeter and find that the DC resistance is less than 30 Ohms or so, this should work. as far as the dome midranges go, i'm sending you a private message. there are a couple options. with the distortion, it's likely due to the tinsel being too stiff (probably the coating they used), and this will likely require a repair to get back to normal. enjoy those babies, you shouldn't have to worry about sinking too much money into them to take care of your current issues.

 

[bobrown14]

Thanks for the warm welcome! If requesting value of the speakers is "poor etiquette" I apologize.

You've already been tuned in to the poor etiquette, and asking ?? about value is best posted in Dollars and Sense forum. Me thinks the moderator is letting you go since you are new here. The infinity Forum is for owners that are KEEPING Infinities or looking for info OTHER than price for flipping. Nuff said.

So congrats on your set of QLS-IIIs - I got mine for a song off CL and had the woofers re-foamed along with the mid-bass couplers at Miller Sound. Once you get them working you may opt to keep ahold of them. Also be VERY careful with the AMP you run these with, it won't take long and I mean a few minutes, if that to blow a lesser amp not capable of driving them. You need an amp capable of driving a 2 Ohm load. That alone kicks 90-95% of consumer gear to the curb, and I mean that literally.

For warned is for armed - you get the idea. Go ahead and plug em in and turn em up... I dare ya!!

Puff the magic dragon .... down by the amp.
Theres a ton of fire shooting out the top!

Well maybe not fire but maybe some magic smoke for sure!

Cheers,

Bob

 

[avguytx]

I've got a set of Quantum 3's I just about have finished up. Matter of fact, the only thing left is putting some new velcro on the ends of the "posts" that hold the grills off the cabinets. I can't find any of the opposite velcro to mate up with the original so I guess I'll make new ones. The grills were really the worst part of the speakers and that was only because the top piece had separated from the back piece. I made new top pieces, wrapped them in some new grill cloth, and glued them back into the back frames and reattached the emblems. The cabinets only required some light sanding and I finished them with some Watco Walnut Danish Oil and they look great.

Thankfully all the drivers are working properly and no work was required on them. These get used in my office system running off a Soundcraftsmen rack of gear with an A5002 (250/ch @8-ohm, 500 @ 4 I believe?). Great sound. Love 'em. Yours look great!

 

[SicMan]

you may want to keep them after you listen to them, they do sound excellent. I have 2 sets of Q3's and a set of Q5's.

john

 

[motorstereo]

you may want to keep them after you listen to them, they do sound excellent. I have 2 sets of Q3's and a set of Q5's.

john

Remember when you told me same thing about my q3's? I had picked up a pair of q3's a few years ago with the intention of them headed out to you. One quick listen and I decided there wasn't any way I could part with them. Thanks John for the good advice.

 

[lha1992]

Very nice speakers you got there!

I almost got a pair of Quantum 5's but I missed out on the CL ad because I was to busy with other stuff.

 

[jbbouwkamp]

Thanks to all for compliments on the speakers...there a very classy speaker and even listening w/o mid and tweet working on one they sound great. The midrange I think I'm going to go with the Audax come mids...unless anyone has some other great ideas. Also, regarding the bad emit tweeter, I've checked ohms and they are the same on the one that doesn't work as with the others that do work. Someone mentioned to make sure my amp will handle low impedence loads. I have a Denon AVR-2805 as preamp running to 3 - Niles SI245 amps (one for each of my front 3 channels). Unfortunately the Quantums can't handle bi-amping. Specs on the Niles amps are 45wpc x 2 @ 8ohms and 70wpc x 2 @ 4ohms. Manual also states they are stable to 2.67 ohms. So I should be OK impendence wise. They may not make the speakers sing like a larger amp, but in my brief listening a couple nights ago they played quite loud with amazing bass!

 

[SicMan]

Infinity Domed Mids

You may want to post in the "wanted ads", I was supposed to buy a couple of repaired domed mids but backed out for lack of funds, and a job. I forgot the AK'er because I deleted all my messages. DooH !

Also I have a set of excellent Audax mids that I removed from a set of Q5's to put the originals in their place.

John

 

[jbbouwkamp]

John - which do think sounded better the Audax or the original mid domes? Did the Audax domes (TW037?) drop right in? And, why did you go back to the originals?

 

[SicMan]

I went to the originals to keep it original, as far as the Audax & stock mids it seemed to my ears that the infinity ones were a little more crisp sounding. But if I boosted the drive to the mids and tweeters with the adjustments on the back, they sounded very good also. But I have not tried the Audax in the Q3's they may sound totally different, cabinet size etc. You can use the Audax to complete them and look around for some originals, that way you have both. The hole pattern is a little different on the Audax I have.
Hope that helps.
AUDAX ---------------------------------- Original

John

John - which do think sounded better the Audax or the original mid domes? Did the Audax domes (TW037?) drop right in? And, why did you go back to the originals?