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Update on RS-4.5 and RS_2.5

Kev_rat

Kev_rat

Active Member
Over the past few months I have been putting together an update (? upgrade) to both my RS-2.5 and RS-4.5 speakers
The initial problem is that they are both pretty rare and I didn’t want to screw them up – the option to return to original spec must always remain. This means that I needed to acquire a full set of good original replacement EMIM drivers to ensure that I could always return them to original condition.
The mods consist of Graz replacements for the RS-2.5 EMIM driver diaphragms and both GRAZ diaphragms and more powerful magnets with spacers for the RS-4.5 EMIM drivers.
The replacements were initially tested in the RS-2.5 set and, once proven to be ok, and then the higher level spec was subsequently installed in the RS-4.5.

So far I have had them installed for a couple of weeks and despite the (not inconsiderable) cost, I am pleased with the outcome. The RS 2.5 seemed to show the biggest improvement to my ears and now has an ability to handle louder volumes (SPL) with aplomb, but the RS -4.5 have also been improved. The improvement in this case basically seems (to my older and untrained ears) to be, that the voices seem more real in my listening space – I keep looking about to wonder who is talking to me more than I did before. The further big improvement for the RS-4.5 is that they previously had a sensation on poorer recordings that rendered some voices with a slightly shrill character (sounded like tinnitus). That shrill effect has diminished and voices are now very, very (even more so) realistic. The merciless character of the RS4.5 on crap recordings remains however. They can in no way be considered "forgiving".

I am very pleased with the result and have lost any urge to further attempt to “improve” these fabulous speakers (except perhaps a recap???). Given the rarity of the 4.5s especially, I would not feel good about trying to play any further as I feel that I am really a bit more in that character of a curator to a museum piece than having a toy to play with.
I had not seen much written on the higher strength magnets so the inclusion of that mod was a bit of gamble. The good thing is that I now have (along with other spares) the ability to preplace all drivers in both speaker sets at least once – I’m set for the looonng haul and am very happy with the result.

I must give thanks for all the good advice I have read here along the way - I have saved mysef from many accidents and poor decisions by reading as much as I can

Kevin
 
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Kevin, great job, glad you are pleased with the Graz diaphragms. They will sound even nicer after you play them a couple weeks. Very nice product.
Jim
 
Off the bay
always979 was the vendor
They were not that cheap (nothing is cheap by the time it gets to over here though), but all was good and they certainly have much stronger magnets. I believe the same arrangements have been installed in a set of IRS-V.
Fitting both the magnets and Graz diaphragms was a bit of a chore on 8 EMIMS, but OK if you take your time. I didnt get them for the 2.5 as well, but may at some point in the futrue. For now Im pretty happy. I now have lots of spares.
 
Thanks for posting this experience.

For your RS-4.5's, if you were to approximate, how much improvement is due to the Graz diaphragm and how much is due to the new magnets? I know that this is very subjective and difficult to quantify, so I am just looking into what best you think. Do you have the active crossover too? If yes, what is the difference between using it and not using it?

Your post makes me itchy to start putting together my RS-4.5's. I have all the parts, including the active crossover. I am really curious and I think that I will be pleasantly surprised to hear how good it is, even compared to the RS-1b's.
 
It is hard to tell and my ears are somewhat untrained, so it could be simple confrmation bias that says you spent this much effort/cost therefore you will hear this much improvement. I do hear an improvement - and it seems to move them ahead of my other speakers a bit more - AR-9 and Q3. The AR-9s have more bass, the Q3s are more rolled off, but neither has the evenness all over the frequency range (again possibly my hearing may the limiting fafctor here), nor the imaging of the RS4.5, or the ability to bring out small details.
I think the diaphragms make the biggest improvemnt at normal levels. I tested that configuration in the RS-2.5 first with the magnets and diaphragms second. The magnet kit has cardboard spacers between the clamshells and the diaphragm to bring back the field strength a little, but aslo allow more movement - so in theory allow higher output. Ive not had a chance yet to run serious power through them to test this, but with what listenting I have done - the effortless nature and other important features of the speakers remained, so at this point no harm was done at least an given the option I would still do the mod.
 
Thanks Kev_rat. Another thing that I am curious is - as you have both RS-2.5's and RS-4.5's, do you think that the RS-2.5's sounds the same as the RS-4.5's except that the latter can play at louder volumes with less distortion? I hardly listen at ear splitting volume and don't care for rocks or blues. I still have a pair of RS-2.5's and though I do not get much time to listen to it, I do not feel at all that it is in the same class as the RS-1b's, especially the imaging. I hope to hear from you that the 4.5's are not just similar to the 2.5's but are indeed "better". Any insight?
 
Hi Waudio
Again Im not an expert - but that said, the 4.5s, to me, are quite different with much more imaging and more detail. Simailar basic sound, but the 4.5s are more revealing - at least in my experience. They are also less tolerant of crap recordings. Some report that the 2.5s have better in mid bass. Dont know really as I dont really notice a hole as such - the 4.5s however seem more even all over. They are the ones I leave connected just about all the time and that I get the most satsifaction from, especially when I come back to them after listening to others in the herd.
 
Amen to the crap recordings. this is definately 1 thing you buy when you do get those older infinity speakers, isn't it? They just reveal what a poor job being done by somebody somewhere in the chain.

That said, what it did do was force me to go to imports and best pressings available. Now I also have like Japaneese pressings of things like Who albums. Or german pressings of Black Sabbath stuff. UK pressing of Led Zeppelin. Still poor. Good top notch pressing allright, but that's it.

Horrible. It would have to improve some to hit poor. The other end of the spectrum is properly produced stuff. German pressings of Alan Parsons stuff. EU pressings of Chemical Brothers.

It changes everything.

I've also heard the same with other highly revealing speakers like say, Apogee.

What a mediocre job most producers and engineers did. And what a mediocre quality control department was utilized in the manufacturing process itself. I think often times as much consideration was given by a record company to the photography and album cover as was the recording process to a finished product.


The other big thing those 4.5's handle is dynamics. Big big dynamics. Like good pressings of drummers using their feet. Or vocalists with the power to break glass. That stuff sure is right in that wheelhouse of those 4.5's, isn't it?

As an aside, I'm guessing you are similar to myself---I just cannot tolerate speakers incapable of doing just that. And how many do?
 
Has anybody been inside the bass cabs of a 4.5? Does each woofer has its own box like dual woofered (is that a word?) ADS speakers, or is it one undivided box?
 
One big box - there was a thread that explored some improvement to that box by checking the sealing to good effect.
 
I also have both, the 2.5 and 4.5s, There is no real comparison, the 4.5's just simply out do them in bass, imaging and soundstage, the 2.5's are will perform in small rooms quite well though.
Al
 
Sorry, would love to see pics of these great speakers in their native habitat.

:worthless
 
Thanks Kev_rat and InAp. I am finishing a few house projects for next month or two. One project is the living room where the RS-4.5's will be. I plan to put priority on restoring the RS-4.5's and I may follow what rabbit did with his pair.
 
I would have to agree with InAp - just a whole lot more there. Right now, even better than the RS-1s I picked up. But, they will be getting updates to them in the future as I feel there is some more potential to be gotten out of them - the RS-1s. Would love to hear the 4.5 with the Graz drivers.
 
I to would like to hear his drivers,as for now mine are still very good, I replaced them all when the diaframs were still $45 a piece from Infinity
 
audiomagnate said:
Sure would be great if they made up another batch. BMW woke up a few years ago and started supporting their older models. One can only dream.
Click to expand...

I realy feel for the owners of crippled later IRS series with the newer emit, emim, and Lemims. Their drivers are not often found in the used market and when they are they are $$.
Jim
 
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