Just Purchased Infinity RS2B / RSIIb owned RS 2.5


FYI Infinity Fans:
I have lusted after some RS2bs for 20 years after loveing my 2.5s. I thought the 2bs would fill in the middle and keep all of the strengths of the 2.5s. In reading the manual, I was unaware that the 2bs had a bass equilizer (not crossover) that was NOT optional. The bass equilizer has been lost. I hooked up my VTL compact 100s with several preamps & the sound was mud in the bass and boring in the emims/emits. One of the emits is even covered 50 percent, the top one in the front. These 2bs sound like monster cable . . . go figure. Monster cable was used in the speakers. Also, it turns out that ONLY the middle emim is hooked to the midrange control. The middle emim is the only one that sounds like the emims in the 2.5...they are running full out. The top and bottom emim are subdued and they are trying to mimic a good dome midrange....yes the lower vocals are better but who cares?? I have lost the magic of the emims. I have had some Infinity Sigmas in my room and one super emim did a better job than these three emims. Last night I hooked up a couple of transitor amps and the sound was MUCH improved... remember what older monster cable did to good solid state stuff? in the 80s. I guess I'm going to stay with threshold but I own several good tube amps that I love to hear the imaging etc etc. I might be nuts but the improvement I have gained with Kimber Kable 4TC and Audioquest jaguar interconects is lost in the old monster cable wire?? I am probably being to hard on these speakers, but I remember a german saying the 4.5s were the best of that vintage. How are the emims controled in the RS1bs?? are they all hooked to the crossover controls?? To be continued. Thanks for reading. Larry
apfdirtdoctor

Showing 2 responses by elizabeth

I had owned (from new 20 years) a pair of Infinity RSIIa. (the same as your IIb except yours has stiffer woofer cones and stronger EMIM magnets)
Yes it has an 'EQ' box. but, that only enhanced the low frequencies... Any EQ box can do that.
The EMITs came with small plates on some of the tweeters!
The dual outer pair of EMIMS are connected, and SHOULD have a lower individual output vs the middle EMIM. (two of them... vs one... )
Biamping is not so great with this Infinity.
The internal crossover is the real problem. If you want to keep these forevr, rebuilding the internal crossover is a must. (those caps in there are 25 years old!!) But finding the crossover schematic is also going to be impossible now.
And if you rewire, remember the pins on the EMIMS where the wires connect are the weak point of the driver! make certain the wiring does not vibrate, or pull on those clips. When they break, you need a new driver plate, which are NOT AVAILABLE!
Also, Infinity will NOT find you the schematic for the eq box, I had a hard time getting a copy, of a copy, of a copy of a copy 20 years ago!!! And THAT was only because they connected me right to the (at that time) testing facility, and some kind engineer found it and sent it to me, along with the crossover data (I do NOT have it anymore!)
Good luck!
The crossover is a five way: bottom 2 woofers, then the top and bottome EMIMS, then the middle EMIM, then the 'open' EMIT plus a rear EMIT, then the 1/2 covered EMIT.
The two outer EMIMS ARE different frequency band than the middle one.