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Unexpected project...Infinty IRS Beta

tomlinmgt

tomlinmgt

Lunatic Member
Next to having two healthy kids, a great relationship with my family, pretty good health of my own, and success in my entrepreneurial endeavors, finding these (and the circumstances related to the acquisition) is one of the greatest allotments of good fortune I've ever had bestowed upon me by the powers that be. Almost a week later and I'm still walking around with that "did that really just happen" feeling. If you're interested in details of the acquisition it's been discussed here...

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=502966

Short of it is they are in excellent physical condition with exception to needing a good cleaning. All the drivers in the planar panels work and as of right now a refoam of all eight of those glorious polygraphite woofers is the only other thing I can tell that's needed. I got the servo control unit for the bass towers as well but have no way to test its function (or the woofers themselves) until the new foams are on......so I'm keeping fingers crossed. Once I get past that hurdle it seems to be clear skies ahead. Some pics for your perusal.....

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You can see just how heavy the layer of dust is where I drug my finger through it in a few places on the frame....

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I had a very non-critical listen to the planar towers yesterday and the clarity and detail is like nothing I've ever heard. I have a feeling these speakers will have several sonic characteristics that turn out to be like nothing I've ever heard. :yes:

Woofers go to Doug (dc270) this week for refoam. Fortunately the QLS-1's with the new Threshold amp, Dared pre and Grant Fidelity tube DAC-11 are sounding better than I've ever heard them sound....which prior to the upstream gear additions was already quite impressive. So I'm in no rush for the finish line with the Betas. I just want them to be right as they have the potential to be almost perfect specimens.

With the QLS-1's I'm now finding myself asking "how much better can it get".

I think I'm fixing to find out.

- Michael
 
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Well I gotta say, these speakers couldn't have went to a better home. I only say that because I know how much you appreciate Infinity speakers and, considering how much work they're going to need, you're going to get it all done, and properly. :thmbsp:

Personally, I'm stoked for you. Projects like these are always a lot of fun - the rewards greatly outweigh the work that's needed to be put into them. The IRS Beta's I think are gonna tip the scales big time when it comes to that. :)

Very much looking forward to seeing how this project goes. When you say "How much better can it get" well.. I guess we're gonna find out.
 
canuckaudiog said:
Well I gotta say, these speakers couldn't have went to a better home. I only say that because I know how much you appreciate Infinity speakers and, considering how much work they're going to need, you're going to get it all done, and properly. :thmbsp:

Personally, I'm stoked for you. Projects like these are always a lot of fun - the rewards greatly outweigh the work that's needed to be put into them. The IRS Beta's I think are gonna tip the scales big time when it comes to that. :)

Very much looking forward to seeing how this project goes. When you say "How much better can it get" well.. I guess we're gonna find out.
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Man....thanks for the very kind words, c-dog!
 
Never having heard the Beta's but owning the RS-1b's, I think you going to find them in a whole new league from the QLS-1's in dynamics, and soundstage. I think your going to really enjoy them, and I didn't get a chance to see the other link as I have been not very active lately here on the PC, but I am sure it will be a purchase your won't reget, nice score!
 
I'm now insanely jealous and don't like you anymore!:D

Seriously, good luck with what are my "Holy Grail" speakers!
 
Those are in beautiful condition.
It looks as if you'll have plenty of listening space.
Have fun dialing those in!
 
Super deal here Michael!! Congrats- how ya gonna top this? NOT with much else I'ld guess!

You might pull the L-Pad plate and DeOxit those pots- bet they are getting a bit dry by now!

See ya soon
DC
 
Cut it out....you bastards are gonna' make me cry. :D

Far too generous with the compliments, gentlemen, but thank you just the same.
 
As an Infinity "hoarder", those are beautiful... good luck and happy listening... they will blow you away once you get the re-foams done and some Watco oil on those cabs...

Nice find...
 
With those woofers hanging there by the spiders since the surround is gone, I would be marking each woofer as to orientation to allow installation upside down from the way they have dangled for 15 years. This may help recenter the voice coil if there has been some sag.

That is not very much dust. Look at the pic of my SX-5580 if you want to see a dust pack. They look like they will clean up very nicely and with the refoam should perform as new.
 
Blue Shadow said:
With those woofers hanging there by the spiders since the surround is gone, I would be marking each woofer as to orientation to allow installation upside down from the way they have dangled for 15 years. This may help recenter the voice coil if there has been some sag.
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That had crossed my mind. Good advice and thanks.
 
I've never felt the overwhelming urge for such big speakers but man... I gotta say I'd love to be able to spend some time with them in someone else's digs and on someone else's dime.

:thmbsp:
 
How many now?

tomlinmgt said:
Cut it out....you bastards are gonna' make me cry. :D

Far too generous with the compliments, gentlemen, but thank you just the same.
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O.K., I officially hate you :D
I would say that you have too many great speakers for one man to enjoy, except that's impossible. The "too many speakers" part that is. Enjoy :music:
 
Blue Shadow said:
With those woofers hanging there by the spiders since the surround is gone, I would be marking each woofer as to orientation to allow installation upside down from the way they have dangled for 15 years. This may help recenter the voice coil if there has been some sag.

That is not very much dust. Look at the pic of my SX-5580 if you want to see a dust pack. They look like they will clean up very nicely and with the refoam should perform as new.
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Just thinking since they are getting refoamed and part of the refoaming process is centering the voice coils I doubt it would matter, unless there is something I am missing. But IMO what is really important is being very careful with the bass drivers that have the Accelerator device that measures the voice coil movement and sends back the signal to the servo controller. If that is damaged your in for real trouble. Last I knew AK member Numbdiver had some of those and the slave drivers for sale from a pair of Betas that he parted out, might want to send him a shout to see if he still has any parts left.
 
What you might be missing is the suspension of the woofer is the surround at the front and the spider at the back. If the spider is sagged from years, putting a new surround is not going to make that correct. It may help a good bit but why make the driver which was born horizontal with no gravity pulling on the cone to one side or the other have to continue life with the same pull on the spider that has been there for 25 years. Time for the other side to provide a little support.
 
Ken Boyd said:
Just thinking since they are getting refoamed and part of the refoaming process is centering the voice coils I doubt it would matter, unless there is something I am missing. But IMO what is really important is being very careful with the bass drivers that have the Accelerator device that measures the voice coil movement and sends back the signal to the servo controller. If that is damaged your in for real trouble. Last I knew AK member Numbdiver had some of those and the slave drivers for sale from a pair of Betas that he parted out, might want to send him a shout to see if he still has any parts left.
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Like Shadow said, spider sag is my concern. The spider is a more rigid membrane than the surround so it could apply more offset force to the cone than the pliable surround could correct resulting in a pull in the direction of the sag. Sure as hell can't hurt to flip 'em.

And yes, Numbdiver has extended a very helpful hand of support to me.
 
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