Infinity RS IIIb - a little advice please

[Cropper]

Hi all,

My first post (although I’ve read thousands), so please bear with me, looking for a little advice please.

A couple of years ago I started collecting vinyl and then (unsurprisingly) the audio bug started to get me. I like to try and stick to a relatively tight budget, and I like ‘vintage’ stuff but I also like new things. Sounds familiar I imagine.

I currently have a fluance turntable (temporary, will post for advice on replacement separately) with ortofon blue, arc SP8, Bryston 4B ST and Kappa 8.1. Listen to a mix of classic rock, jazz, motown, folk mainly.

Saw these infinity rs iiib for sale locally relatively cheaply and wondered if they would be worth buying for a second system or perhaps even to challenge the kappas? I don’t mind using them as a first speaker project but do you think they look in relatively ok condition based on the attached photo at least? Seller says he’s done no work to them, but know they come up for sale fairly often and they’re not cheap enough to be a complete disaster.

Thanks, feel free to chime in on anything else I could do to change up my main system, buying these speakers won’t stop me improving anything else and appreciate the knowledge on this site. I just love the infinity emits...

 

[Boonaroo]

If you can get them for a decent price I would go for them. We typically don't discuss price here on this forum but if you can get them sub $200 I would be all over them.

You will need to consider that the woofers may need to be re-foamed. The replacements are cheap but you will need to be sure to use the proper glue as you do it. Consider replacing the caps at the same time.

I have owned a few Infinities and love the Emit tweeter. They do tend to deteriorate over time but those look ok.

As is, You may be ok to play them for a while but be prepared to do a bit of work on them. Once you do, they may become your main speakers!!!

 

[goodolpg]

Those surrounds appear to be in decent shape, maybe they've already been refoamed.
Since there are 4 woofers refoaming can be a bit involved if they need it.
Those are the polydomes that don't turn yellow and crack so good there.
You may notice a similarity in sound to the Kappas since they share the Infinity EMIT tweeters though the Kappa version are slightly different(magnets).

 

[swechsler]

I would definitely buy them if the price is right and you're looking to build another system. Doubt they're as good as the Kappas but shouldn't be too far behind.

 

[Cropper]

Thanks guys, appreciate it. I thought they looked pretty good but relatively untrained eye and noticed that there were different polydomes out there and that got me thinking I should check.

Yeah given the price I thought they wouldn’t be a bad one to start learning how to refoam etc.

I thought given the price they might be a shade behind the Kappas but you never know with these things, sometimes it’s just what’s popular.

Would the RSIIb speakers be an improvement on the kappas or pretty equal?

 

[swechsler]

The RS IIA/B is a better speaker all around, but if I was looking for something to play really loud, I'd probably stick with the Kappas.

 

[wmgwizard]

I owned a pair for about a year, this is what I learned....

Fairly sensitive to room placement but when set up properly present a very convincing soundstage.

They can occasionally seem bright/sibilant/harsh depending on the source material but ymmv.

They are power hungry, your Bryston should be up to the task.

The woofer foam looks original in the pic, plan on using them gently until you get them refoamed. Check with AK member Rick Cobb aka Looneytunes on eBay.

The foam material around the mid/tweeter dries out and will turn to powder if you so much as touch it. I replaced mine with some similar material I got from a fabric store. It does serve a purpose.

If the price is right you have nothing to loose. You might even find you have a new favorite pair of speakers.

 

[Cropper]

That’s great, thanks all. Think I’ll grab them to try out.

If I wanted to upgrade the kappa 8.1s but not spend a fortune (say under 3k), are the ren90s, rs2b and qls1 my best bet? Hard to choose a winner on here sometimes as people love them all, but maybe the Ren90s? These models all seem to go for over double what I paid for the kappa 8.1s, worth the investment?

 

[tubed]

RSII

 

[Cropper]

Haha this might be my first thread, but that’s not the first time I’ve seen you post that pic Tubed. Appreciate the advice!