Back after audio hiatus with some Infinity Quantum line source

[Ratamahatta 437]

I took a much needed break from audio  but after a hiatus I am back with some Infinity Quantum line source speakers. There is a high end audio shop nearby in Ft Collins CO. I went there just to look but when I saw these I was interested and after I listened I knew I had to have them.  They are in excellent condition, and all the drivers work, The shop owner re foamed the Watkins woofers and cleaned them up, they sound excellent but I know replacing the old caps and resistors will help them sound even better.  I also listened to some Vandersteen model 7 speakers truly outstanding but to rich for my blood. Anyone in the northern CO area should check them out http://www.audioalternative.com/ . I plan on either using Dayton 1% or Clarity cap PX on these and have to use 25w resistors from Madisound. Anyone have any experience with these? So far I am really impressed with these the vocals seem to cut right through your ears and play directly to your brain, everything sounds so natural. 

 

 

[Gene C 1,748]

Welcome back! A fellow Infinity connoisseur I to have been thinking about a recap on my Kappa 9's recently, but from the looks it might eat a day. Never heard those ones before but im sure they are of the best cut.

[Daddyjt 9,648]

Very nice looking speakers:-) are they power hungry? What are you feeding them with?

[zumbini 6,150]

Infinity recommended a minimum of 100 watts but did not specify a maximum rating.

 

[SteveFord 1,127]

That would have to qualify as power hungry.

[Daddyjt 9,648]

Certainly "sounds" like a job for Carver...:-)

[Ratamahatta 437]

Very nice looking speakers:-) are they power hungry? What are you feeding them with?

 

Thanks, Yeah a little bit, the Watkins dual VC with different impedance  woofer with 1100uf and 1400uf caps soak up a bunch. I Am powering them with a Rotel 990BX, should be 320 rms into a 4 ohm load.  

 

I am going to get a cap tester but know after 35 years these would probably benefit on a cap and resistor upgrade. 

[Gene C 1,748]

 

 

 

 

Very nice looking speakers:-) are they power hungry? What are you feeding them with?

 

Thanks, Yeah a little bit, the Watkins dual VC with different impedance  woofer with 1100uf and 1400uf caps soak up a bunch. I Am powering them with a Rotel 990BX, should be 320 rms into a 4 ohm load.  

 

I am going to get a cap tester but know after 35 years these would probably benefit on a cap and resistor upgrade. 

Now there's an idea! What kind of cap tester are you getting? 

 

[Ratamahatta 437]

I was thinking about this one, I don't want to spend a bunch on it.

 

http://www.amazon.com/Capacitor-Capacitance-Meter-Tester-20mf--200pf/dp/B007MHBCFG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1364147601&sr=8-1&keywords=Capacitance+Capacitor+Meter 

[Gene C 1,748]

 

 

 

I was thinking about this one, I don't want to spend a bunch on it.

 

http://www.amazon.com/Capacitor-Capacitance-Meter-Tester-20mf--200pf/dp/B007MHBCFG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1364147601&sr=8-1&keywords=Capacitance+Capacitor+Meter 

I was looking at that one on ebay as well. I don't mind spending money on one but don't want to buy a piece of shit. I PM'd Greg to see what he's working with.

[Nahash5150 10,775]

Welcome back! Keep us posted on your refurbish.

 

And of course, thanks for sharing.

 

As far as ESR meters, I need a better one. I've been using my Fluke meter, but it doesn't have a very good range.   

[Ratamahatta 437]

Yeah I don't need a multimeter I have several of those just a decent capacitance meter.

[Ratamahatta 437]

I was thinking either Dayton 1% for the mids and highs or Clarity cap PX. I am leaning more towards Clarity though. I have used Dayton caps in the past with good results but have to say I think Clarity caps are a notch higher, any thoughts? 

 I want to get a meter because if I don't have to I would like not to replace the caps on the woofer, they are some huge electrolytic caps and people that have replaced them have complained of weak bass response afterwards.

 

Not my photos. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Ratamahatta 437]

 

 

 

 

I was thinking about this one, I don't want to spend a bunch on it.

 

http://www.amazon.com/Capacitor-Capacitance-Meter-Tester-20mf--200pf/dp/B007MHBCFG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1364147601&sr=8-1&keywords=Capacitance+Capacitor+Meter 

I was looking at that one on ebay as well. I don't mind spending money on one but don't want to buy a piece of 5hi7. I PM'd Greg to see what he's working with.

 

I dont know what happened but the price went from 16 to 66? I ordered this one  http://www.ebay.com/itm/290751854076?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

 

I will give my impressions 

[Gene C 1,748]

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was thinking about this one, I don't want to spend a bunch on it.

 

http://www.amazon.com/Capacitor-Capacitance-Meter-Tester-20mf--200pf/dp/B007MHBCFG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1364147601&sr=8-1&keywords=Capacitance+Capacitor+Meter 

I was looking at that one on ebay as well. I don't mind spending money on one but don't want to buy a piece of 5hi7. I PM'd Greg to see what he's working with.

 

I dont know what happened but the price went from 16 to 66? I ordered this one  http://www.ebay.com/itm/290751854076?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

 

I will give my impressions 

WTF? Im looking at it right now and it says $16.68 with free shipping.

[Ratamahatta 437]

 

I dont know what is going on I just had to accept some new e-bay user agreement, I wonder if that has something to do with it? Anyway all the prices from US sellers went up on that model, same price at amazon though. The one I got is probably the same on the inside.  

[Ratamahatta 437]

Well I got it in and it seems to work fine it powered right up out of the box, its funny how all my old Polk caps were not that far off. I will test it on whatever new caps I get. I will start a new thread in the speaker modification thread on the re-capping of these. 

 

 

 

[galaxyoilcan 88]

These QLS-1 look fantastic! I share your enthusiasm for them and have a wall of vintage speakers with a collection of Infinity Quantum speakers that range from an unfinished rebuild of a pair of QLS-1, to working pairs of Quantum 2, 3 and 5 models. I also have a working pair of Qb's with the same cool metal stands as I have for the Quantum 5's. I either need to complete the collection or start selling it off.

 

You are absolutely correct about the Watkins dual voice coil woofers being the power hogs. They are designed to trade adequate power for accurate bass response as low as you care to go. Line array rules!

 

I can't wait to see more on your QLS-1 rebuild project. Maybe it will help me figure out how to finish mine. I wonder if there are any crossover mods or upgrades that Infinity fans have come up with over the years?

 

[Gene C 1,748]

 

 

Well I got it in and it seems to work fine it powered right up out of the box, its funny how all my old Polk caps were not that far off. I will test it on whatever new caps I get. I will start a new thread in the speaker modification thread on the re-capping of these.

Thats not surprising. What I've recently learned is that some eletrolytics in speakers are underrated by 20% so that when they age the values will stay somewhat intact. And as well they are not prone to leak like the caps we replace in our amps. Glad your happy with your capacitor tester.

 

[Ratamahatta 437]

 

 

These QLS-1 look fantastic! I share your enthusiasm for them and have a wall of vintage speakers with a collection of Infinity Quantum speakers that range from an unfinished rebuild of a pair of QLS-1, to working pairs of Quantum 2, 3 and 5 models. I also have a working pair of Qb's with the same cool metal stands as I have for the Quantum 5's. I either need to complete the collection or start selling it off.

 

You are absolutely correct about the Watkins dual voice coil woofers being the power hogs. They are designed to trade adequate power for accurate bass response as low as you care to go. Line array rules!

 

I can't wait to see more on your QLS-1 rebuild project. Maybe it will help me figure out how to finish mine. I wonder if there are any crossover mods or upgrades that Infinity fans have come up with over the years?

 

 

That it a load of speakers! You will have to post some pics of them all set up. I have not made up my mind if I will keep these for a long time or not, maybe eventually sell all my speakers and get one good newer pair but who knows, I am really enjoying these fort the time being.

   I pulled them apart yesterday and tested all the values and all capacitors and resistors were in acceptable range so were the resistors, so I just touched up the solder joints, cleaned them up and sprayed a little D5 in the pots and put them back together and they sound better than ever. I will have to make up my mind if I want to replace caps or not. I took some pictures but now am having memory card error, so that sucks.