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Infinity RS-II vs. Klipsch RP-5

Hi all,

I was wondering if anyone has any experience with the Infinity RS-II tower speakers??

I just came across a once in a life time deal, and these speakers are part of the package. I would simply try them out myself, but considering I live on the second floor in a condo and they weigh ~100lbs each I would prefer just to move them only once (ie sell them, and deliver to someone else's home)

My musical sources are all digital flac or apple lossless, and genre ranges from classical to classic rock to the occasional hip-hop or reggae.

If it helps, here are my components:
digital source 24/96 --> Monarchy DIP Upsampler -----> Emotiva XDA-1 DAC -----> AES AE-3 tube preamp ---> Mcintosh MC2125

Any thoughts or recommendations?? THANKS!!
hockey4496
hockey4496 OP
104 posts
 
Side note - if I were to sell these, does anyone have an estimate on their value?

They are in excellent condition and had the woofers professionally replaced a few years ago...just a ballpark price, bc I have no clue what they are worth...
elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
Well, the original RSII speakers had 3 small cone midrange, and two large woofers in each panel. They were only around $1,500 new, the pair.
When the same design was used for the RSIIa, the tree cones mids were replaced with EMIMS, the rectangular 'reference' from the famed RS and RS1.
The Infinity RSIIa were $3,000 retail, and I owned a pair for 17 years.

I have seen some folks trying to sell RSII as if they were RSIIa.. and the ad was pulled after complaints.
So SEE what you have. EMIMS? $$$ (rectangular plate midrange with shiny slits for midrange?) or three common round poly cone midrange speakers.cheap cheap cheap.

The RSII are just ordinary speakers, perhaps worth $400 the pair.
The Emim RSIIa are worth twice that, $800.
And I had my RSIIa in a tiny 11' by 10' room. LOL.
EMIM units are still worth up to $200 each used. Just for one Emim.
hockey4496 OP
104 posts
 
Great info, thanks!

So, the exact model of these speakers is "Infinity RS II A & B", does that mean I have the RSIIa you mentioned?
elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
The Infinity RSIIb had slightly better EMIM magnets, and better woofers.
The list price was only slightly higher than the RSIIa
The 'b' IS a slightly better speaker than the 'a' version.
====================
The one with midrange cones instead of EMIMs was very inferior.
As I wrote, the main feature is the rectangular EMIM drivers on the upper panel,
Three of them in a vertical array for RSIIa and RSIIb
(with two EMITs next to the, and one EMIT on the rear)

if you have three 3" round poly (clear plastic) cone midrange, then you do NOT have the 'a' or 'b'

OPS, if you fool around with the wiring to the EMIMS, be very careful to not stress the pins the wires connect to on the EMIMS, they will break off from vibration really easily, So best just do not mess with them if they are working well.
And replacement 'inner' parts were recently available, but they can disappear fast. So assume if you damage an EMIM, you are SOL.
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