RsIIIB any suggestions

[woodworks 5]

I am looking for a new set of speakers. I see a lot of people with infinity speakers on the site. I have always been partial to Infinity having owned a pair of 1001a's and a pair of the original monitors with the Walsh tweeters back in the late 70's early 80's. I found a pair RS3b locally that appear to be a good deal. I see these on Ebay asking 800 to 1200 bucks. Any one have any thoughts on pricing and the quality of the speaker it self. Down the road I would like to have some Kappas or Martin Logan but my pocket book is calling the shots right now.

[Jim Coash 126]

Having been in the A/V business for most of my life and sold a large percentage of quality speakers your question raises many more.  If you came to me to shop in one of the stores I worked in I would start with a series of basic questions.  One thing for sure; there is no reasonable answer to the question of which is the best speaker.  I have owned many pairs of speakers and everyone of them had both strengths and weaknesses.  If your budget is unlimited that is important, if not, then we need to discuss what you can spend.  Infinity is a good brand.  I prefer others.  Bose speakers are among the most requested but also, in my opinion, one of the worst buys.  Will you be using the speakers in a small room with a small amplifier? Do you plan to impress your friends with how loud they will play?  Is there someone else in your family who has preferences in terms of how they might look or how large they can be?  Are you planning on a home theater with more than two speakers?  How large is your listening room and do you envision having speakers in more than one room.  Are you more interested in absolute accuracy or perhaps willing to compromise and get a lot for your investment.  Will this speaker system be entertaining listeners who will be well off axis or is it just you, sitting right in front of them.  Basic rules; pay no attention to "specifications", choose by listening to and comparing several possible choices, keeping in mind that what you see is irrelevant.  Large woofers and many drivers do not indicate better performance.  A very good option given the technology available today are compact main speakers with a good powered subwoofer rather than two larger speakers.  Placement options can have a big impact on your choices too.  Fill in some of these blanks and then it will be possible to make some suggestions.  Jim

[trav0810 586]

A good friend of mine here in town has a pair of RSIII's (I can't remember if they are A or B's). That are some pretty nice speakers. I don't know your particular market, but around here they sell for between $600-800. Those prices change city by city. I's say if you can get them in that range and there is nothing wrong with them, you are doing OK.

[woodworks 5]

Hey Jim,

 

Know wounder you got all those sales awards. Right now they are going in my cabinet shop, its 28' x 32' x12H very live environment. right now I have some Infinity 1001's with radio shack woofers( only $40.00 on CR) that will be replaced with some Watkins woofers when the pocket book allows. Right now I am Using the preamp from my HR 752 and M500t amp that I just got yesterday to drive the Infinity's. Right now I am in the bang for the buck mode as far as speakers go. I need a preamp And I have a HR 895, PM 1.5, and MXR 130 that all need some work. realizing that everyone has a preferred taste in sound,my real question is, are the rsIIIb's one of the more desirable series of old school Infinity's. Right now I just need a decent pair while I am building my system.

[hewlew1 258]

I purchased a pair of 3B's about 2 months ago from a local sale. They had a few minor issues which did not become evident until I got them home. Be sure to audition with a female vocal as well as something with a piano. This will reveal issues with both the mids and tweeters. I  have them playing on a Sunfire300x2  which I find to be very pleasing. I paid 350.00 for mine

[woodworks 5]

Hey Hewlew

 

I don't know if I will be able to audition them. all the speakers work, they do need some woofer refoaming. They are a lot less than 350.00. you know the old saying, If it's to good to be true...

 

You are happy with yours, were those what you were looking for or what you ended up with

 

Paul

[Jim Coash 126]

Well, first get in on the Bose 901 IV Karma, if you can.  Then start looking around.  The KEF Reference Ones now playing in my living room I found on eBay.  I knew them well having had them before, upgraded from them to Reference Twos, which my younger son fell in love with and they went to his living room.  I have a nice pair of KEF 102 speakers that I bought off eBay cheap.  In fact, there were three and I have all of them.  The cabinets were all rough.  Rosewood vinyl, badly scratched, as though they had been dragged along a concrete floor on all sides except the front and back.  All worked fine.  I bought my Sunfire Signature Sub, used the high pass filter and drove the best looking pair of 102s with my main set-up for more than a year.  When I saw the Reference Ones they were listed as "not working".  The winning bid was $200.  When I got them they needed the two high/mid Uni-Q drivers re-built which was done in GR by The Circuit Shop for about $80.  I contacted the seller and told him that if he didn't have the original cartons, he should have at least packed them separately instead of both in one box with no bags, or baffles to keep them apart.  They arrived with some scratches and dents.  Both grill covers needed fixing.  A week later he refunded my money and apologized!  I used some epoxy on the grills, some black shoe polish on the cabinets, installed the repaired drivers and they sound as good as new.  There are deals out there.  You can also get some very nice kits to build several respectable speakers if you look on-line, including clones of some you say you like.  Lots of choices.  Jim

[HappyTrails 498]

I own a set of iiib's of which I purchased late last summer. These speakers had been "went" through which meant upgrade the caps on x-overs, internally braced more and re-foamed. I took them and upgraded the posts. Cabinets were in very good condition. I was lucky I found these within driving distance.

 

I paid $450 if I recall. On top of that was the post upgrades (<$50) and some Herbie feet as they sit on hardwood floos ($100 approx)

 

Ebay prices were what you mentioned, way too high!

 

I have owned Infinity since the late 70's to early 80's and love the sound. I am pleased with these big boys, they suit my listening taste well, or maybe my ears are used to Infinity

 

They are powered by my M1.5, and soon to be testing a 500 mkii on them.

 

Paul

[woodworks 5]

Hey JIM and Paul,

 

I don't know, I may still be to new of a member to get in on the Karma. I am a cabinetmaker so beat up boxes don't bother me, like Jim said it's what's on the inside that counts. That is what started this looking on Ebay. I have also been told the old EPI's 100's 201's are pretty decent also

DCM time windows.

 

I have mainly had Infinity's so I know where you are coming from Paul. I had a pair of 1001A's and a pair of the original Monitors with the Walsh tweeters. Infinity's seam to be pretty popular

With the Carver crowd

[hewlew1 258]

Actually I went with the intention of picking up a pair of Cambridge Soundworks M-80's and also listening to a pair of Klipsch Heresies. It was during conversation that he mentioned he had a pair of RS3B's so I asked could he hook them up. I ended up leaving with the Cambridge M-80's and the Infinitys. The klipsch speakers I thought were way to bright for me.

[Jim Coash 126]

If you can build good solid boxes you can build a good pair of speakers.  Get a pair of good, close out, well designed woofers that the T/S numbers are available for and make the correct box.  Get a pair of Vifa tweeters or some other good pair and a Dayton crossover.  Terminal cups are all over and not expensive.  I have built a couple dozen pairs of speakers and most of them sound very good.  Keep it simple, buy good parts and you are home free.  Go to a speaker building site and buy a package of matched parts along with directions for the box and make it your way.  Jim

[woodworks 5]

Thanks for the info Jim, I never really thought about going that way. Any sites you recommend, speaker brands, etc.

 

My wifes sister and her husband live in Cascade, we get over to GR a lot. might have to track you down on of these days.

 

I think I saw a post you made about getting some tubes. I was looking at some lamps online and they used old tubes. Do you have any that would work for something like that an maybe some sockets. Bigger the better

 

[oldtexasdog 2,456]

 

 

Hey JIM and Paul,

 

I don't know, I may still be to new of a member to get in on the Karma. I am a cabinetmaker so beat up boxes don't bother me, like Jim said it's what's on the inside that counts. That is what started this looking on Ebay. I have also been told the old EPI's 100's 201's are pretty decent also

DCM time windows.

 

I have mainly had Infinity's so I know where you are coming from Paul. I had a pair of 1001A's and a pair of the original Monitors with the Walsh tweeters. Infinity's seam to be pretty popular

With the Carver crowd

 

Old set of EPI's are a good choice. Can be had pretty cheap also on CS with local PU.