I just brought these speakers secondhand and am not happy with the sound AT ALL. For speakers costing $800 new they really have issues. For speakers with a 55Hz - 25000Hz, ±2.5dB response to have such muddy lower mid bass is amazing - I just can't seem to drive them properly, I have tried NAD amplifiers, single ended MOSFET and the best sounding was an EL34 PP.
The highs are there and set a nice sound stage with the polycell tweeters and the lower bass is ok for the size but the lower mid bass seems to converge (though they make up for it in imaging and cleanliness).
I still keep trying to unblock my ears thinking there is something wrong with my hearing! and then a guitar solo happens and it all sounds great again! Is there anything I can do to get rid of the boxxy sounding mid bass?? Or should I just replace them ASAP??? I am going crazy here! The only thing that "works" is new pop music.
SPECS:
Scheme 2 ways, 2 loudspeakers, a sealing scheme, and a bookshelf type
For low-pass: 16.2cm cone type
For high regions: 1.9cm dome shape
Frequency band 55Hz - 25000Hz, ±2.5dB
Output sound pressure level 90dB/W/m
Cross over frequency 4500Hz
Impedance 6ohms
Dimensions Width 228.6x height 361.9x depth of 225.4mm
Weight 5.3kg
The highs are there and set a nice sound stage with the polycell tweeters and the lower bass is ok for the size but the lower mid bass seems to converge (though they make up for it in imaging and cleanliness).
I still keep trying to unblock my ears thinking there is something wrong with my hearing! and then a guitar solo happens and it all sounds great again! Is there anything I can do to get rid of the boxxy sounding mid bass?? Or should I just replace them ASAP??? I am going crazy here! The only thing that "works" is new pop music.
SPECS:
Scheme 2 ways, 2 loudspeakers, a sealing scheme, and a bookshelf type
For low-pass: 16.2cm cone type
For high regions: 1.9cm dome shape
Frequency band 55Hz - 25000Hz, ±2.5dB
Output sound pressure level 90dB/W/m
Cross over frequency 4500Hz
Impedance 6ohms
Dimensions Width 228.6x height 361.9x depth of 225.4mm
Weight 5.3kg
You don't say how much did you payed for those now . Because I remember that I payed a lot for a simple 3 way ...way back in 1988 . It was about 1500 $.
That said , Mmmmh ...why did I have to pay alot ???🙄
Aaah ! SQ !! But they had to be mounted on special reclining stands .
During the last year of their 'service ' , they acquired dramatic dynamics with bi-amping 😎😛
For your special case ...
I suggest to do a complete or partial rebuild of the cabinet , trying to make 'slanted' ( crooked 😱 ) planes . That should improve the response in the mid's .
Also remove (or just ...move ) part of the acrylic filling .
Ps. Since you're there , you can cut a hole and place a duct , then you can close it if you don't really like it !!
That said , Mmmmh ...why did I have to pay alot ???🙄
Aaah ! SQ !! But they had to be mounted on special reclining stands .
During the last year of their 'service ' , they acquired dramatic dynamics with bi-amping 😎😛
For your special case ...
I suggest to do a complete or partial rebuild of the cabinet , trying to make 'slanted' ( crooked 😱 ) planes . That should improve the response in the mid's .
Also remove (or just ...move ) part of the acrylic filling .
Ps. Since you're there , you can cut a hole and place a duct , then you can close it if you don't really like it !!
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I only paid around AU$100 and they are in brand new condition, not even a scratch. They pull me in on some songs, and most parts of others, but the boxxy sound eventually becomes apparent and annoys me so I change the song.
These speakers have a great sound stage, especially for close listening - I give the polycell tweeters around 6.2/10 and the bass a 4.5/10 as they stand, I think I just answered my own question, but they keep seem to impress me at certain times and really perform and then it turns into a muddy mess! I will have to find the right sized allen key(!) to remove the woofers to see what is happening inside.... right now my random playlist went to a Queen song (lol) and it just blasted, sounded alive and dynamic, so do guitar and vocal solos, but it turns to mush when it comes together!! I'm confused and hope someone with experience can help!
These speakers have a great sound stage, especially for close listening - I give the polycell tweeters around 6.2/10 and the bass a 4.5/10 as they stand, I think I just answered my own question, but they keep seem to impress me at certain times and really perform and then it turns into a muddy mess! I will have to find the right sized allen key(!) to remove the woofers to see what is happening inside.... right now my random playlist went to a Queen song (lol) and it just blasted, sounded alive and dynamic, so do guitar and vocal solos, but it turns to mush when it comes together!! I'm confused and hope someone with experience can help!
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They sound clean until an instrument hits around 100hz where it gets a bit muddy sounding - near field and away from walls 🙁. I am looking at a set of Proac Tablete 2000 to replace these - does anyone have any experience with them?
Sorry but they are really mid-fi speakers but I guess for $100 you cant really complain.
Try adding some more internal stuffing which may help with the boxiness.
Try adding some more internal stuffing which may help with the boxiness.
OK so I am going to go with the ago old solution to a problem, throw some money at it! Would a budget of $1000 for a set of second hand bookshelf speakers improve things? I am looking at a set of Proac 2000; I want speakers not too revealing but slightly warm and musical without lacking detail. I have a PP EL34 amp, a NAD 3225PE and a MOSFET SE amp, would probably want the set to match the EL34.
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A boxy sound around 100hz is often due to too small a closed box for a given speaker.
Cutting a hole at the back and stuffing it more or less will make it sound better. (aperiodic vent).
The cabinet will appear to be larger (+1/3)
Cutting a hole at the back and stuffing it more or less will make it sound better. (aperiodic vent).
The cabinet will appear to be larger (+1/3)
I think for now I will just put them in storage and bring em out at a later date and see what I can do with them. I have a few projects to complete before starting another one 😀. Thank you for all your responses and time for me to go shopping.
This site is DIYaudio. The best solution is to build your own!
So many great designs out there, what's stopping you?
If building isn't an option, check out these little beauties which are in a whole different league to your Infinitys.
Usher Audio S520 speakers Cherry Color | eBay
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Epos-M5i...Fi_Speakers&hash=item2a14173793#ht_1833wt_905
So many great designs out there, what's stopping you?
If building isn't an option, check out these little beauties which are in a whole different league to your Infinitys.
Usher Audio S520 speakers Cherry Color | eBay
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Epos-M5i...Fi_Speakers&hash=item2a14173793#ht_1833wt_905
For $1,000, you can build a very good pair of active three way speakers and recoup some cash by selling the amps.
Frank
Frank
Many small loudspeakers have an exaggerated bass response around 50-100Hz in order to give the impression of good low frequency extension.
Your comment here is a bit puzzling:
Nearfield is not the opposite of "near walls". Have you tried them free-standing? Say, sitting 2m to 3m away from them, try moving them away from the front wall in 50cm increments. There should be a difference. With the problem you describe, it would also be a good idea to keep them away from corners.
Your comment here is a bit puzzling:
Nearfield is not the opposite of "near walls". Have you tried them free-standing? Say, sitting 2m to 3m away from them, try moving them away from the front wall in 50cm increments. There should be a difference. With the problem you describe, it would also be a good idea to keep them away from corners.
Oops, forgot to say, I did. (But I had no amp to sell; it was self made and died a fiery death at the "hands" of the Rolling Stones. 🙂 )
Now playing on speakers is Red Hot Chilli Peppers newy, I'm With You. Great album.
Frank
I have built many amplifiers but never a set of speakers. I am not the best at woodwork and think it would be much harder to get a set of DIY speakers sounding nice than a DIY amplifier, but hey, as you say this is DIY audio and maybe now is the time for me to start.
I suppose that would be the next question.... where to start? I guess I will have to spend a few hours looking around at designs posted on here.
My feelings are bookshelf would give a tighter midrange/mid-bass with a sub woofer completing the bottom end, something like a 6.5" or 8" mid-bass with a beautiful and smooth tweeter (maybe ribbon) kicking in at around 2.5 kHz.
I suppose that would be the next question.... where to start? I guess I will have to spend a few hours looking around at designs posted on here.
My feelings are bookshelf would give a tighter midrange/mid-bass with a sub woofer completing the bottom end, something like a 6.5" or 8" mid-bass with a beautiful and smooth tweeter (maybe ribbon) kicking in at around 2.5 kHz.
riot,
If you were closer, I'd invite you over to have a look but Brisvegas is a bit far.
I agree with your thinking but need to ask; how big is the room (or rooms) that they might be used in? Is there a reason for a bookshelf size? Is there WAF to consider?
Frank
If you were closer, I'd invite you over to have a look but Brisvegas is a bit far.
I agree with your thinking but need to ask; how big is the room (or rooms) that they might be used in? Is there a reason for a bookshelf size? Is there WAF to consider?
Frank
At the moment the room size is pretty small but thats soon to change. I made the change to bookshelf size after listening to a few sets and being able to easily place the tweeters at ear height, also heard better and tighter mids from bookshelves.
I am willing to buy/build any configuration. I would rather try 30 sets of speakers to find the one for me than settle for something less than perfect for my tastes.
I am willing to buy/build any configuration. I would rather try 30 sets of speakers to find the one for me than settle for something less than perfect for my tastes.
Hmmmmmm, this is where you might have dissociate yourself from experience because that experience is, almost by definition, limited and coloured by friends/acquaintances personal preferences. What you heard may be good bookshelf speakers because you heard fairly good quality bookshelf speakers. But, there are many very good three way speakers that will probably be better. Remember, what you are talking about, with a two way and woofer, is a compromised three way; asking the small woofer to do very good mid-range duty but still go low enough to cross over to a sub-woofer.
The next question is; does the music you listen to have much, if any, content below, say, 40Hz. You will be surprised by how many songs don't have much at the low frequencies.
Frank
Lots of nice kits at Madisound and Parts Express to whet your apetite.
http://www.parts-express.com/wizards/searchResults.cfm?srchExt=CAT&srchCat=769
Speaker Kits: Madisound Speaker Store
http://www.parts-express.com/wizards/searchResults.cfm?srchExt=CAT&srchCat=769
Speaker Kits: Madisound Speaker Store
I find it better to buy an existing design and make your own improvements or adjust it to your liking. I have a pair of $100 speakers that, imo, perform like those costing more than $500.
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