Why Infinity ?

[Listnnthdark]

Great Thread 7.62 loved your opening comment .
My Story
In 1984 I lived in Berkeley Ca .. Worked at an Art Supply store on univ ave called Amsterdam Art .
Had a pair of klh 2 ways my dad got me when I went to college . At some point I decided I wanted better . ( I started to realize the important role that Music played in my life and that it would be well worth it to invest in my musical life..) So with less than good judgement I bought a "Packge Deal " with a Marantz receiver and a stinker of a pair of speakers called "Aurora Sound " After a while I thought I would visit a few local stereo shops ( Pacific Stereo - Sounding board and a few others .. Was Shocked by what I heard ((.WOWED ME )). The contenders were . B+W ( to much $ ) Polk 7 - 10 Boston A 150 - Bang +Olufsen ( small 2 way ) When I visited pacific stereo I heard a few of the rs series and lusted mightily . But they were beyond my budget . Also heard the Infinity ES 200 . It was a contender based on price etc . I went back and forth listening and re listening . The decision was made based on my confusion and inability to decide . ( The Infinity ES 200 won out ). I sold the Aurora poopers to a friend for a 1/2 oz ..But I hadn't really HEARD the ES 200 till i got them home ( They smelled lovely out of the box - Mmm Fresh electronix ) When I started listening I was Awestruck by them !! Never had heard anything with Imaging power sounstage and I was THRILLED . They opened my ears to classical music ! and Also Rocked the house .. Many years later I worked in an audio shop in ct called "Sounds Alive " ( This was where I learned that I was in no way shape or form cut out to be a "Salesman " ) They had Kappa 6s Carver Amazing many others of the day . But lb for lb I thought the Kappa 6 was the best ! In 2006 I lost EVERYTHING in a Fire .. Including my mind . Shortly after the fire I moved in with a g f who had something called "Internet" .. So I started to peruse Ebay . Yay Ebay . I did not know that a second Series of Kappa had been made ,, and then I saw (( THEM )) . The Kappa 6.1 in perfect shape and I was visually smitten . And also absolutely broken by the fire and in need of healing . and knew that music could help to heal me . Then I thought back through my "Stereo Review " addiction and recalled a big ad ( and "To Do" ) about the New tweeter from Infinity with that little yellow ring ..(( The Emit-R ! )) My gf proded my hand toward the "Bid" button . and poof ! The guy was in the military and this was shortly after 9/11 and he must have been given the news that he would be away for many moons and was desperate to sell . The K6.1 was my very first ebay purchase .. I said when I bought the ES 200 that it was the best 350 I ever spent . The 293 inc shipping for the K6.1 .. Ditto .. . Now that I could afford to upgrade I don't even have the desire .. but if a pair of ren 80s comes around ??? < ( And I don't even drink - since my doc said it would kill me )

 

[InfinityDrew]

For me it was the RS-4B's in 2019. I had been looking for a sound that was eluding me .... went through Paradigm Studio 100's, Def Tech BP-10's, and many others. I was a reseller of pretty much anything at the time and ran across a pair of 4B's I think at a yard sale.. ? I think I paid $50 and was thinking I could get $150 easily. The CD was Billy Joel's Greatest hits, I was cleaning up something at the time and stopped dead in my tracks. The bass in these wasn't really deep but very quick and accurate through "Big shot" and then I got a chance to hear the Emit do it's thing through "Always a Woman" Goose bumps formed on my arms, and my entire soul felt the music, I felt 14 yrs old again! I knew then and there I had found what I was looking for. Later came the Kappa 8's, Cresendo 3009's, and at this very moment contemplating which to sell because I found a pair of Ren 90's that I mmust have lol. The question is which to sell? ..

 

[jazzmans]

For me it was the RS-4B's in 2019. I had been looking for a sound that was eluding me .... went through Paradigm Studio 100's, Def Tech BP-10's, and many others. I was a reseller of pretty much anything at the time and ran across a pair of 4B's I think at a yard sale.. ? I think I paid $50 and was thinking I could get $150 easily. The CD was Billy Joel's Greatest hits, I was cleaning up something at the time and stopped dead in my tracks. The bass in these wasn't really deep but very quick and accurate through "Big shot" and then I got a chance to hear the Emit do it's thing through "Always a Woman" Goose bumps formed on my arms, and my entire soul felt the music, I felt 14 yrs old again! I knew then and there I had found what I was looking for. Later came the Kappa 8's, Cresendo 3009's, and at this very moment contemplating which to sell because I found a pair of Ren 90's that I mmust have lol. The question is which to sell? ..

Between the two, all things considered, as long as you immediately replace/repair the polydome, keep the kappa 8 and sell the 3009. If you don't/can't replace/repair the polydome (and trust me, they need it NOW) keep the crescendos.


My story. I first heard about infinity through the magazines, and then in 1991 I heard a pair of Kappa 8.1. I was absolutely in love from the first moment, There's still nothing like the emit, and infinity woofers rule. I couldn't afford a pair of kappas, so as a divorce present in 1993, I bought a pair of RS 525. I, to this day, do not understand why the wonderful rs *25 series, with its amazing construction, and awesome crossover, didn't get the Emit tweeter. I still own them, and still love them.

Then finally in 1998, my brother was working at circuit city, and the kappa .1 series went on clearance, and I bought a pair of 7.1 at his price.

God I loved those speakers. I kept them until 2008 or 2009, when I picked up a pair of crescendo 3009 on the cheap. I sold the kappa 7.1 back to my brother in law. Eventually, I've found, RS4b, Qa, Qe, Infintesimal IV, and through an inmate here, who's also the OP, a pair of Ren 80, ren 90, Modulus, RS IIb, Maggie 2.5R,carver amazings in perfect condition, (which I immediately dropped and broke) and finally, recently (sorry dave) he sold me a pair of IRS Delta/Gammas. They ARE my end game speaker. simply the most amazing transducers I've ever, ever owned, and very possibly, ever heard. I'll own them until the day they die, or I do.

My brother in law has been 'loaned' my RS IIb, and he called me just this week to tell me how much he loves them. My Brother has a pair of my Crescendo 3009, and a pair of Crescendo 3007, both on long term 'loan'.

Infinity simply made the best speakers I've ever heard, although I've heard a lot of great speakers (soundlabs, martin logan, paradigm, B&W, Wisdom, Wilson, Ohm, Thiel, Vanderstein,

 

[tomlinmgt]

Because this...



From the first time I saw them, I knew I had to find a pair. Started reading up on them and it didn't take long to realize they are something very special.

My desire intensified.

Took a few years, but the opportunity finally developed when a near mint set (pictured) showed up on CL about four hours away. Brought them home, fixed several EMITS, recapped the x-overs and had the foam on the woofers replaced. Just awesome.

 

[InfinityDrew]

Between the two, all things considered, as long as you immediately replace/repair the polydome, keep the kappa 8 and sell the 3009. If you don't/can't replace/repair the polydome (and trust me, they need it NOW) keep the crescendos.



My story. I first heard about infinity through the magazines, and then in 1991 I heard a pair of Kappa 8.1. I was absolutely in love from the first moment, There's still nothing like the emit, and infinity woofers rule. I couldn't afford a pair of kappas, so as a divorce present in 1993, I bought a pair of RS 525. I, to this day, do not understand why the wonderful rs *25 series, with its amazing construction, and awesome crossover, didn't get the Emit tweeter. I still own them, and still love them.

Then finally in 1998, my brother was working at circuit city, and the kappa .1 series went on clearance, and I bought a pair of 7.1 at his price.

God I loved those speakers. I kept them until 2008 or 2009, when I picked up a pair of crescendo 3009 on the cheap. I sold the kappa 7.1 back to my brother in law. Eventually, I've found, RS4b, Qa, Qe, Infintesimal IV, and through an inmate here, who's also the OP, a pair of Ren 80, ren 90, Modulus, RS IIb, Maggie 2.5R,carver amazings in perfect condition, (which I immediately dropped and broke) and finally, recently (sorry dave) he sold me a pair of IRS Delta/Gammas. They ARE my end game speaker. simply the most amazing transducers I've ever, ever owned, and very possibly, ever heard. I'll own them until the day they die, or I do.

My brother in law has been 'loaned' my RS IIb, and he called me just this week to tell me how much he loves them. My Brother has a pair of my Crescendo 3009, and a pair of Crescendo 3007, both on long term 'loan'.

Infinity simply made the best speakers I've ever heard, although I've heard a lot of great speakers (soundlabs, martin logan, paradigm, B&W, Wisdom, Wilson, Ohm, Thiel, Vanderstein,

Hey Jazz! The very Man that guided me through a lot of this Infinity journey. Always appreciated. I picked up the Kappa 8's in 2021. Absolutely mint! Polydomes reconstructed by Miller Sound in 2018 so I think I'm good for awhile. God I hate selling these Crescendo's! lol but the price people are paying for them is unbelievable. I picked those up for I think $300 but replaced the 5" mids on both, it was cheaper than a re-foam lol. That's another thing that makes this hard, parts are super cheap. But I need to unload something and the Ren's just don't come up every day and got a cool friend who is no hurry.

Good hearing from ya Brother.

 

[InfinityDrew]

Because this...

View attachment 2659785

From the first time I saw them, I knew I had to find a pair. Started reading up on them and it didn't take long to realize they are something very special.

My desire intensified.

Took a few years, but the opportunity finally developed when a near mint set (pictured) showed up on CL about four hours away. Brought them home, fixed several EMITS, recapped the x-overs and had the foam on the woofers replaced. Just awesome.

My lord, I just saw a pair of those for $1500 and had to stop myself from going to the bank lol. I have Kappa 8's, CS-3009's, 4B's and picking up some Ren 90's this month. I may need a vintage Infinity rehab. Ok. I do. lol

 

[krautmaster]

I caught the Infinity bug in the audio store at Anderson AFB Guam in 1986. Everybody else was buying the horrid looking carpet covered 15" woofer Cerwin Vegas, Klipsch Hershey Bars, or Bose 901s... all sounded like **** to me one way or another (Cerwin's had too much bass and no midrange, the Hershey bars with their screechy horn tweeters sounded like fingernails on a chalk board with muddy bass, and the 901s were just plain mud all over the spectrum). One day they got in a shipment of Infinity RS3b, RS 4b, and RS 5 & 6. I liked the sound of the 3s & 4s, but the RS3b seemed too large & heavy for me to haul around all over the world, so I picked the RS4b as they sounded great with all types of music and were very well balanced. I still have them and they still sound fantastic (I have replaced the woofer foam and the crossovers and added a 1/4" thick foam backing around the mids & tweeters like the stuff on the RS3b).

 

[hick.man]

not currently running in my setup but I have these in my arsenal of extra equipment in the back room. saved them from a goodwill for 60 bones, sitting there with rotted foam around the woofers, covered in matted animal hair, the grills had massive white stains, just filthy as it gets but the polly's looked great. they looked so sad, so I took them home, re-foamed the woofers, pain staking cleaned and cleaned, dyed the grills. they now put out beautiful sound. I especially love vocals from them. as I type this I find myself wondering why I dont have them out here but just cant bear to part with them.

 

[krautmaster]

I find it interesting that many speakers from the 80's-90's (Infinity in particular) were made very wide and and very thin, whereas todays speakers are narrow and deep (and produce much more bass).

 

[hick.man]

I find it interesting that many speakers from the 80's-90's (Infinity in particular) were made very wide and and very thin, whereas todays speakers are narrow and deep (and produce much more bass).

I hear ya, these produce alot of bass but its not tight punch you in the face/chest bass "like my klipsch RF-7s do, which I love" I would say they are more suited for instrumental/jazz/orchestra and like I said earlier vocals are stunning from them, to me anyway. they do take a massive amount of power to run them properly too, unfortunately.

 

[Magfinity]

Between the two, all things considered, as long as you immediately replace/repair the polydome, keep the kappa 8 and sell the 3009. If you don't/can't replace/repair the polydome (and trust me, they need it NOW) keep the crescendos.


My story. I first heard about infinity through the magazines, and then in 1991 I heard a pair of Kappa 8.1. I was absolutely in love from the first moment, There's still nothing like the emit, and infinity woofers rule. I couldn't afford a pair of kappas, so as a divorce present in 1993, I bought a pair of RS 525. I, to this day, do not understand why the wonderful rs *25 series, with its amazing construction, and awesome crossover, didn't get the Emit tweeter. I still own them, and still love them.

Then finally in 1998, my brother was working at circuit city, and the kappa .1 series went on clearance, and I bought a pair of 7.1 at his price.

God I loved those speakers. I kept them until 2008 or 2009, when I picked up a pair of crescendo 3009 on the cheap. I sold the kappa 7.1 back to my brother in law. Eventually, I've found, RS4b, Qa, Qe, Infintesimal IV, and through an inmate here, who's also the OP, a pair of Ren 80, ren 90, Modulus, RS IIb, Maggie 2.5R,carver amazings in perfect condition, (which I immediately dropped and broke) and finally, recently (sorry dave) he sold me a pair of IRS Delta/Gammas. They ARE my end game speaker. simply the most amazing transducers I've ever, ever owned, and very possibly, ever heard. I'll own them until the day they die, or I do.

My brother in law has been 'loaned' my RS IIb, and he called me just this week to tell me how much he loves them. My Brother has a pair of my Crescendo 3009, and a pair of Crescendo 3007, both on long term 'loan'.

Infinity simply made the best speakers I've ever heard, although I've heard a lot of great speakers (soundlabs, martin logan, paradigm, B&W, Wisdom, Wilson, Ohm, Thiel, Vanderstein,

I've had every kappa out there from the 5 till the 9 goes for the series I and II (still own the kappa 8 as my mains. Also has the rsII and the rs1b in black ash veneer from factory (most rare version) needless to say fan here too.

Best I ever heard , no not even close really. The kappa 9 I sold purely because of the demand the speaker lays upon my system. It's to demanding for what it is.

That being said you have pry my 8 from my dead cold hands. We all get the many issues the old nudells have (demanding, and need some work to be original again) but I don't think . There are even today many speakers that sound as complete on everything they need to do than infinity has.

I think that's the true strength of them , you can even get a smaller rsB for a few hundred bucks and just sound incredibly satisfying.

I don't deem nudells the best sound out there , or even I have had (had for years a magnepan Tympani I ) but I do dare to state for the coin spend. You get a very complete satisfactory loudspeaker that can last you a lifetime on the satisfaction scale.

I just restored my k8 with original OEM clear domes , gave me goosebumps seeing them original like this again.

Also had the Renaissance 80 wasn't that impressed with them. Not a huge fan of emims , had that same feel with my rs1b , 14 emims and I still preferred the polydomes ! I know , nuts

 

[TheMarco]

First as we approach the New Year I'd like to wish all of you Infinity people a Happy New Year ! Many of you I've never met but would consider you friends, brothers in the hobby. So much great info has been shared.



Looking at the forums here we have a pretty low post count compared to other places, and in general looking around the web it's pretty small, cmpared to other speaker, stereo forums. Yet we are a very dedicated bunch.

So of all the choices out there, what did it for you ?

You know, that defining moment where you stoppd dead in your tracks and said H.S ! That's IT !

Regardless of the componets, the sound of Infinity grabbed you .

I know mine and have shared it before, and will again. Let's share shall we, you first .

When I was a teenager I was a budding audiophile with limited budget. I had the nicest setup I could afford:

- Denon PMA-720A amp
- Philips CD-473 CD player (TDA1541A, no wonder it sounded ridiculously good!)
- some JVC cassette deck
- KEF Chorale speakers

This wasn't "much" I guess but for a 16y old it was pretty sweet!

Me and my buddies would sometimes go to fancy audio stores and one thing we all drooled over was Infinity Kappa speakers. Sometimes nice store clerks would let us listen to them even though we were never gonna be able to afford them. The experience always stayed with me in my memory. Infinity Kappa. The best speakers ever.

A week or two ago I ran into a pair of Kappa 7.1 Series 2 for 300 bucks and I just couldn't resist. And I'm glad I did. A childhood dream realized. Hah!

Maybe the 8 or the 9 is even better but I have a fairly small listening space so these are probably perfect here. They sound as good as I remember. Smooth, yet detailed. Powerful but controlled. Amazing stuff.

 

[TheMarco]

not currently running in my setup but I have these in my arsenal of extra equipment in the back room. saved them from a goodwill for 60 bones, sitting there with rotted foam around the woofers, covered in matted animal hair, the grills had massive white stains, just filthy as it gets but the polly's looked great. they looked so sad, so I took them home, re-foamed the woofers, pain staking cleaned and cleaned, dyed the grills. they now put out beautiful sound. I especially love vocals from them. as I type this I find myself wondering why I dont have them out here but just cant bear to part with them.View attachment 2680015 View attachment 2680016 View attachment 2680017

Kappa 8s at Goodwill? For 60 bucks? Talk about an epic find. Nice! Are these still drivable with a 200wpc amp? Wonder if they would work for me if I ever get lucky like that. (B&K 4420 EX 200wpc / 350wpc at 8ohms)

 

[radiokom]

When I bought Dodge Charger in 2006, the first thing I done I replaced original audio with Infinity Kappa Perfect front and Kappa rear + Vibe woofer and Infinity and JBL amplifiers.
However in studio and everywhere I prefer Tannoy studio monitors (DMT 15, 215, Precision).
This was one of the first Chargers in Europe.

 

[Magfinity]

When I was a teenager I was a budding audiophile with limited budget. I had the nicest setup I could afford:

- Denon PMA-720A amp
- Philips CD-473 CD player (TDA1541A, no wonder it sounded ridiculously good!)
- some JVC cassette deck
- KEF Chorale speakers

This wasn't "much" I guess but for a 16y old it was pretty sweet!

Me and my buddies would sometimes go to fancy audio stores and one thing we all drooled over was Infinity Kappa speakers. Sometimes nice store clerks would let us listen to them even though we were never gonna be able to afford them. The experience always stayed with me in my memory. Infinity Kappa. The best speakers ever.

A week or two ago I ran into a pair of Kappa 7.1 Series 2 for 300 bucks and I just couldn't resist. And I'm glad I did. A childhood dream realized. Hah!

Maybe the 8 or the 9 is even better but I have a fairly small listening space so these are probably perfect here. They sound as good as I remember. Smooth, yet detailed. Powerful but controlled. Amazing stuff.


View attachment 2766468

Fantastic find man ! I paid substantially more for both my 8's

 

[TheMarco]

Fantastic find man ! I paid substantially more for both my 8's


View attachment 2766779

Those are Kappa 8 and 8.1 right?

I feel like the only speakers that could kick mine out of my setup would be Kappa 8s. I'm totally in love with these. I can now listen to digital for hours without my ears ringing. So smooth. So nice. Love them.

 

[Darwindan]

Those are Kappa 8 and 8.1 right?

I feel like the only speakers that could kick mine out of my setup would be Kappa 8s. I'm totally in love with these. I can now listen to digital for hours without my ears ringing. So smooth. So nice. Love them.

I started with Kappa 6.1's in the early 90's, later I bought a set of 8.1's and I fell in love. I used to use a 12" Velodyne sub to help the 6.1's, but not needed for the 8.1's. But, like all aging Kappas, the polydomes started to turn yellow and then brittle. It's inevitable. I just found a fantastic replacement for them that are just like the originals. Not aftermarket replacements, identical rebuilt Infinity with clear domes. Not cheap, but perfect replacement and original sounding. They brought my 8.1's back to life. They came from SoundSense in Alabaster, Alabama.
You can also send them your broken ones and they will rebuild them. Look them up.
They were selling them on E-Bay and after asking many, many questions I was convinced that they knew what they were doing. I did not want paper or fabric domes others offer, I wanted original. I am so happy with them, I highly recommend them.
This has prolonged the life of my favorite speakers. I needed to share this with other Kappa lovers!!!

 

[BrocLuno]

Well #1, why not ...

Since I started in the audio hobby as tike with a tube mono radio listening all night, I had to grow in the sonic world. In the 50's we used to pull drivers from old TV consoles and make our own cabs. Some worked well, some not so much. But over time I got better at making speakers work for cheap. In the 70's I worked for GRT/Chess/Janus records at the tape plant in Sunnyvale. There, I was exposed to real professional gear in the studios and the mixing room. Then I got my first set of real headphones. Koss KV-L1's and that brought into focus a sound signature, or profile I actually liked. But how to share...

When we moved to the Napa Valley in the 80's I "accidentally" built a full range driver box with another old TV speaker from a Sylvania commercial monitor that reminded me of the Koss sound I liked. It was just a kick around box, but playing in a corner while I was pounding nails building our home, it put the bug in me for real speakers I could run in a 2-channel system when we had some rooms finished.

I came across some RS-3000's for dirt cheap - like free. They needed a lot. The poly's were OK, but the woofers were toast. I tried to find the specs on the woofers, but could get real hard numbers ... So, I tossed a dart and hit on some Westra woofers that I thought would work. More discussion here: https://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/rs-3000s-sing-crazy-rebuild.124136/#post-1328321 So that established the correct values for working woofers in Infinity mid sized bookshelf speakers. And they got me hooked. The other speakers I was toying with went into storage, or got traded away. And I've been a mostly Infinity person ever since. Have 3 sets

Although the Boston Acoustics T-930's in the living room are very nice

 

[gizzyman47]

While I've been aware of the Infinity brand for years, I'd never heard any of their offerings.
Recently while browsing the classifieds I came across an ad for a pair of Kappa 8's for sale.
Did some research on them and thought I'd like to have a pair. My Mac amp would be sufficient to drive them I figured. They had the woofers refoamed and the poly mids replaced with Simply Speakers versions.
Called the sellers and set up an appointment to see and audition them.
Turns out that the seller didn't have them at his house but at his father in laws place, so I had to pack an amp "Yamaha M60" and a cdp to try them out.
Audition went fine and the seller was a great guy who took less than what he was asking.
Got them home cleaned them up and did a good going over of the speakers tightening all the screws on the drivers, stand bases.
I first set them up in the living room system: Yamaha MX2000 amp, Audio Research tube pre, Denon DP-59L, Sony DVP-S9000es, and a Sansui TU-9900 tuner.
Sounded great but I was concerned that the Yamaha amp wouldn't be up to the task. Besides, I knew that the K8"s would ultimately go to the man cave system downstairs.
So that's where they reside now. Got them dialed in and recently installed different sound treatments.
These speakers sound VERY satisfying! So much so that I've started thinking about selling off many of my other speakers that I thought would be keepers. ADS l810's, Yamaha NS-690's, Yamaha NS-1000m's and several others.
Right after buying the Kappa 8's, a friend of mine gifted me a pair of Kappa 5's that he's owned for a long time but never used due to the woofers needing refoamed. I refoamed them and now they are in my bedroom system.
Anyway, that's my Infinity story and how I came to be a new Infinity fan.

 

[Ken Boyd]

I started when I started collecting vinyl records when everyone was giving away the old gear and going into Home Teather surround sound. People were giving me their vinyl records and I was making daily runs to thright stores up and down the Florida coast. Came across a pair of Quntum 2's and I was hooked. Seeked out a pair of Quantum 1 Line Sources, then a couple of pairs of RS-1b's, Kappa 8's then Kappa 9's, then several more sets of Quantum 2's as they were cheap, then RSIIb's. Then it was Alecs, the Yamaha's NS1000m, Phase Linear Andromeda's, just enjoyed the hunt and listening to new stuff. But my main collecting all these years has always been the killer records.

I still have them all with the exception of one pair of my RS-1b's I sold to fund some amps.