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Infinity RS1B ? Buy or runaway

I have an opportunity to buy a set of RS1B in excellent condition. They have been well taken care of and are very close to home. Years ago at a Stereophile show, I heard them, wow! The sound and their presence were fantastic! My fear is that like a lot of other things I look back on and lust after look ALOT greater in my memory than they actually perform. Given my current set up and room, I wanted to get some opinions about buying. Or will I be disappointed, maybe due to equipment or the room limitations? I don't think I would get rid of the Apogees unless the RS1B's surpass them in sound quality. Very nervous laying out over 4k for something that won't move quickly if I end up not enjoying them.
My room dimensions are 13' 9" X 25' (Converted garage)
All equipment is located on the front (13' 9") wall with an entry door at the front right corner. Listening position is approximately 13' from the front wall
Current equipment
VPI HW 19 MKIII
Rotel RSX1067 ( for HT)
Audio Research SP4 (lightly modded)
Audire Forte amps x 2 (bi-amp)
Apogee Caliper Signatures
McIntosh MVP891


drf24

Showing 5 responses by playthebody

playthebody
10 posts
 
Have the rs1b's and rs2b's in house. Bought the 2bs new in the 80s and 1bs in 2004.  I have had many speakers over the years and auditioned many others in house but have yet to hear anything at anywhere near the price that can make my hair stand on end like either of the 2 pairs I own. 

Yes they are older and may require recaps...but I have found that even with that cost in mind, they are worth it to me. Bob S. at PS audio has a complete redo of the mid-tweeter xover that is on my agenda this month.

I will say that the 2bs are easier to position in most rooms.  But once properly positioned in the right room...the 1bs with the right ancillary equipment are breathtaking.


playthebody
10 posts
 
Nice. Enjoy! Be careful with room treatments.  IMO rs1bs sound much better with no absorbing treatments directly behind the mid-tweeter panels. I highly recommend tubes to power the mid-high and SS for the woofers. 
playthebody
10 posts
 
I was introduced to Bob Stadther by Paul McGowan. Bob is Pauls chief engineer  at PS Audio and is the responsible for the rebuild of the IRS V's that Paul uses as his current reference. I believe that Bob had access to Arnie Nudell and basically built the xovers that Arnie would have built with todays available parts/technology.  Well Bob did this complete redo for my RS1B's as well.  I am still getting and handle on the entire picture but so far I am extremely impressed with the dramatic improvements in virtually every parameter that i perceive. I will report further if anyone is interested as I spend more time with the system.
 
playthebody
10 posts
 
@phomchick:

·       All printed circuit construction

·       Mundorf M-Cap capacitors on tweeter circuits

·       Jantzen  Crosscap capacitors on midrange circuits

·       Jantzen P-Core for iron core inductors

·       16AWG Foil for air core inductors

·       Rheostats replaced with step attenuators using metal film resistors

·       PS Audio binding posts

·       Terminal blocks for connection to existing wires

The sound is quite amazing. Apologies for the delayed response


playthebody
10 posts
 
@phomchick
Did not quite fit in the stock base so I added  3/4 X 3/4 inch strips of wood painted flat black to the rim of the original base and it fit perfectly. It looks original, just 3/4 inch deeper.



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