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Infinity RS-II vs Quantum 3

Ross6860

Ross6860

Super Member
Anyone have familiarity with both of these speakers?

I have an opportunity to trade my RS-II for a pair of Quantum 3. I was curious what I may be gaining, or giving up, if anything. The RS-II is a newer design, but that doesn't necessarily mean they are better. The Q3 specs show they dig significantly deeper than the RS-II.

FWIW, I am not currently using the RS-II. My main speakers are Magnepan 1.7i. The Maggies are definitely "better" in my room with the rest of my gear, and my taste.

It's just a chance to try another pair of Infinity towers.

Neither pair has had the crossovers touched and are original, and I imagine they both could use a looking at after all these years.
 
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The specs for the base are difficult to compare without knowing more specifically where something like the +/-3 dB falls for each speaker. I can’t image making that trade myself, but then again, I have never listened to either speaker (but do own the RSIIb’s).
 
No experience with the Q3.
Part of the "magic" of the RS II is the dipole configuration of the mids and EMITs. You would be giving that up.
I assume the Maggies have a similar radiation pattern.
The Q3's might be a totally different type of sound field, in other words would possibly sound quite different compared to either of your current sets of speakers.
Better, only you can say.
 
goodolpg said:
No experience with the Q3.
Part of the "magic" of the RS II is the dipole configuration of the mids and EMITs. You would be giving that up.
I assume the Maggies have a similar radiation pattern.
The Q3's might be a totally different type of sound field, in other words would possibly sound quite different compared to either of your current sets of speakers.
Better, only you can say.
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Someone has that in their signature. "Different is easy, better, not so much.", or something very close to that.

I don't know how much a re-cap would help, but at the volume at which I listen, the Maggies win out. Higher volumes, the Infinity may pull away.

Obviously, I'll never really know unless I try them. Those are a couple big pair of speakers to haul around on a whim.;)
 
I previously owned a pair of Quantum 3's and was not overly impressed with them. I tried recapping the crossovers, but did not experience any improvement afterwards. I have heard some RS-II's at a friends house some years back and liked them. Another local audiophile has owned both models (as well as many other vintage high-end Infinities), but he sold his RS-II's long ago. He still has his Q3's, as he has a set of each model in the Quantum series. I don't know if he ever compared the two directly, so not sure if he has a preference sound wise. I'm on the hunt for a pair of RS-II's myself, and I would not consider the Q3's a step up or even sideways. Now if the OP was talking about the QLS-1's, that would be a true step up.
 
I appreciate all the comments, thanks.

I'll probably keep the RS-IIs. I got them from a fellow AK'er for whom I have a lot of respect. Besides, I already have a bunch of spare drivers for them.

I guess maybe a re-cap and some finish work will be in my future. I probably owe them a listen with everything up to snuff.
 
Ross6860 said:
I appreciate all the comments, thanks.

I'll probably keep the RS-IIs. I got them from a fellow AK'er for whom I have a lot of respect. Besides, I already have a bunch of spare drivers for them.

I guess maybe a re-cap and some finish work will be in my future. I probably owe them a listen with everything up to snuff.
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I think you have made the right choice. I have a pair of Quantum 2's and RS2's and I wholeheartedly think the RS2's are the better sounding of the two. I haven't heard Q3's, but I can't imagine that less drivers in the Q3's would sound better than the additional drivers in the Q2's. I really like my RS2's.

Larry D.
 
It would be a large step down.....those emits in the quantum series are lacking unless you are directly in front of them...IMHO the quantum series were really well made and had great crossovers, amazing woofers, Braun dome mids are quality, but the other components couldn’t live up to the rest of it....emits and mid bass are the bummer part of that line....again, just my opinion...
 
^ Bkphoto that is a very good point and my experience exactly. The big QLS-1 was a complete disappointment for me for that exact reason.
 
Bkphoto said:
emits and mid bass are the bummer part of that line....again, just my opinion...
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It's interesting to read that, since to most of us Infinity fans, it's the EMIT that contains the magic. The Philips lower mid I can't really comment on, as I haven't heard one in years, although they were very common back then.
 
goodolpg said:
Is that the same Phillips mid used in the Qb?
Seems folks think highly of the Qb.
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In theory, but the sheets on Infinity Classics give completely different part numbers (they're not exactly known for their accuracy, though). I recall reading on AK that the version used in the QLS had been modified by Infinity (or possibly it was a custom mod from Philips).
 
Not uncommon with Infinity, one model of 12" woofers were produced as a few different parts numbers, same for the 5" midranges.
I've seen same parts numbers for Infinity l-pads, even if they have different electrical specs. As you said, spec sheets are not 100% accurate.

Being the same time frame and series (Q) and appearance I'd think the phillips mid would be the same.
But appearances can be deceiving as they say.
 
Given the choice I’d take the RS-ll over any quantum speaker. The QLS-1’s I owned, unless you were in the exact right spot there was no magic from that line of emits off left or right. I thought something was wrong, and there was, the pots were corroded bigtime but I was able to clean and save them, It made no difference. I also bypassed the pot for them, again no difference. Dull and lifeless. The other thing when I got them Was that Phillips midrange was already replaced with an infinity car speaker.

I replaced it with a tang band Aluminium mid, that made a huge difference even though many here gave me grief over the switch it brought some Life to the speaker as a whole, the emits were still a disappointment though. To me it felt like they just weren’t getting the power to shine like what we’re used to.

The Quantum 5’s I got with those were opposite, while the mid and emit sounded good, the Watkins woofer was was way overpowering. When I got them sounding good the whole house would shake from that bass, not a bad thing just not very balanced.

The RS-ll and the 2B which Is another level all together are much more balanced, musical speaker IMHO.

My guess is that the whole QLS line would benefit from tone controls or an equalizer.

YMMV.
 
swechsler said:
It's interesting to read that, since to most of us Infinity fans, it's the EMIT that contains the magic. The Philips lower mid I can't really comment on, as I haven't heard one in years, although they were very common back then.
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They are not the same EMITs as on the RS-II, RS-III, etc. They look taller and more narrow.
 
Good thing I passed, the speakers had been "monkeyed with". Not all original drivers, hands in the crossovers (maybe well done, maybe not), etc.
 
Ross6860 said:
They are not the same EMITs as on the RS-II, RS-III, etc. They look taller and more narrow.
Click to expand...
That's correct, but the technology is the same, and was used in most of the Quantum models (all except the Jr, IIRC), all of which have been well reviewed.
 
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