Ervikingo
Active Member
Happy days!
As I posted before, I sent Graz 4 EMIMs to have them restored and modified/updated with the latest version of his diaphragms. He calls them XLM.
They were delivered over the weekend and have been playing non stop since Sunday evening. I plan to share my impressions now and as they "relax".
They replaced the original EMIMs on my IRS Beta. For reference the crossovers have been recapped and the woofers were restored by Watkins. My Servo Control woofers were replaced with originals sourced and tuned by a dear friend and contributor to AK from the old continent that shall remain nameless but THANKS MUCH "A". They are connected to Threshold SA 12e on bass, and Manley Snappers on mid/high. Preamp is an Allnic 6500.
Back to the XLMs; quoting Graz: "Run them in gently, they are VERY tight from new, and need to relax into the role, around 70-80 hours real music (no tones or "burn-in" cd). Over this time there is a little bit of an electrical adjustment, but mostly mechanical relaxation. Once they have completed the 80 hours they will be at peak performance, and should give a good long service"
I gave them an initial listening and have a very long Qobuz playlist running at mid/low volumes except I gave them a listen again this morning with some of my "reference tracks".
Initial impressions:
- Service and communications from Graz: A+ all questions asked, craftsmanship is superb as was packing and shipping
- Cosmetically they look different (up close) but they look right in place with the speakers. Quoting my significant other: "they look very cool now". The circuit looks totally different than the original Infinity
- Sound:
I want to ask Graz about the radiation pattern and if he thinks it varies much from the original diaphragms. I use very little toe in on mine and will test different toe settings to fine tune.
I know that Graz has an account here ( @Apogee-Graz ) hopefully he can chip in some additional info.
I have joked that soon I will call my Beta "Beta Evo". I plan on updating the LEMIMs and one of my Servo Controllers is on its way to Bob S for service/updating (no known issues with it but it has been making beautiful music for almost 4 decades).
We know its not possible to properly experience our systems via video but here is a video for your enjoyment (recorded on iPhone):
Infinity IRS Beta with Apogee Acoustics XLM EMIM
(i have to improve on the routing of the positive lead)
As I posted before, I sent Graz 4 EMIMs to have them restored and modified/updated with the latest version of his diaphragms. He calls them XLM.
They were delivered over the weekend and have been playing non stop since Sunday evening. I plan to share my impressions now and as they "relax".
They replaced the original EMIMs on my IRS Beta. For reference the crossovers have been recapped and the woofers were restored by Watkins. My Servo Control woofers were replaced with originals sourced and tuned by a dear friend and contributor to AK from the old continent that shall remain nameless but THANKS MUCH "A". They are connected to Threshold SA 12e on bass, and Manley Snappers on mid/high. Preamp is an Allnic 6500.
Back to the XLMs; quoting Graz: "Run them in gently, they are VERY tight from new, and need to relax into the role, around 70-80 hours real music (no tones or "burn-in" cd). Over this time there is a little bit of an electrical adjustment, but mostly mechanical relaxation. Once they have completed the 80 hours they will be at peak performance, and should give a good long service"
I gave them an initial listening and have a very long Qobuz playlist running at mid/low volumes except I gave them a listen again this morning with some of my "reference tracks".
Initial impressions:
- Service and communications from Graz: A+ all questions asked, craftsmanship is superb as was packing and shipping
- Cosmetically they look different (up close) but they look right in place with the speakers. Quoting my significant other: "they look very cool now". The circuit looks totally different than the original Infinity
- Sound:
- a markedly wider soundstage I guess related to being able to reproduce frequencies that the originals could not reach or had stopped reaching after all these years
- vocals are very clear and lifelike with no sibilance whatsoever (there was a bit of that before on a particular recording)
- violins, violas etc are silky and reed instruments are in the room with you. You clearly "feel" the bow rasping the strings and the reeds vibrating
- guitars are lifelike, the depth of the sound is all there (I am partial to guitar and I am a frustrated player). The picking is all there.
- pianos are present, clear and deep
- I can hear details I had not heard before on recordings I am very familiar with (classical, jazz and hard rock
- even congas sound more lifelike
I want to ask Graz about the radiation pattern and if he thinks it varies much from the original diaphragms. I use very little toe in on mine and will test different toe settings to fine tune.
I know that Graz has an account here ( @Apogee-Graz ) hopefully he can chip in some additional info.
I have joked that soon I will call my Beta "Beta Evo". I plan on updating the LEMIMs and one of my Servo Controllers is on its way to Bob S for service/updating (no known issues with it but it has been making beautiful music for almost 4 decades).
We know its not possible to properly experience our systems via video but here is a video for your enjoyment (recorded on iPhone):
Infinity IRS Beta with Apogee Acoustics XLM EMIM
(i have to improve on the routing of the positive lead)
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