Go with the new speakers. The Infinity speakers are 40 years old!
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Your Project puts out more than enough power for either option. But as @yogiboy suggests, the Infinitys may need more than just re-foaming; their caps may need replacing as well and the wiring is probably due for replacement. They spec at 89db (which I think is a bit generous), while the Triangles are at 92 db. The Borreas are going to give you a more neutral, crystal sound - balanced throughout - while the RS's will give you more warmth in the midrange (though not as warm and bassy as most Infinity speakers from the '80's)
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Age is baloney, spend a few dollars reform, rewire recap if necessary doesn’t take a rocket scientist and is not expensive. the Infinity’s are a Dipole speaker and have a sound well worth listening to. The RS 111a’s and RS111b’s are essentially the same and given their MSRP alone show they’re certainly a better speaker. Do yourself a favour and listen to both if possible…you’ll walk away with the infinity’s.
Cheers
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What 1971gto455ho said. Infinity. Imagine what the Infinity's would cost in today’s dollars.
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Loudspeaker technology has vastly improved over the last 25 years! There is no logical reason to repair a random 40 year old speaker other than to sell them. Unfortunately many in this hobby have a skewed emotional connection with vintage audio gear that has very little or anything to do with performance levels.
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This feels like attempting to purchase speakers based on reviews. It's like buying a mattress you've never slept on. Really bad idea.
Assuming you like the sound of them, the only issues with the IRS IMHO are the impedance curves were really punishing. No idea about the Triangles, but not really my cup of tea, but perhaps yours.
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@dayglow
This response is spot on! The advancement in driver technology and measuring techniques makes a modern speaker difficult to match by an older design. With that said, I have never heard of the newer speakers you are interested in, but the Infinity’s will be very dynamic because of their size and you may need to go with a large speaker to match that. MoFi 888’s come to mind for a large room filling speaker that won’t break the bank.
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- Speaker technology has changed, but to what degree it’s still drivers in a box. The dollar isn’t worth what it used to be that aside a $1500 speaker 40 years ago generally eats a $1500 speaker today, that’s a fact. I think people should spend more time, especially in a 20 x 30 room, listening rather than Price shopping, newer is better is that a rule ?
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It appears that the infinity's sell in the $500-$700 range. Refoaming is relatively inexpensive. But if they need the crossovers refreshed/updated I would think you are looking at spending about the cost of the speakers for the update.
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@dayglow 100% correct. The only reason to go with vintage speakers is the same as going for vintage cars vs. newer cars; it’s for the emotional connection and not even remotely for objective performance.
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How much these vintage speakers would cost today has nothing to do with how they sound and perform by current standards. Dont waste your time on vintage speakers.
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There’s a closed mind attitude. Point is the man wanted Sound opinions between two very different speakers. As usual it morphed into anything but that. My opinion is the larger dipole speakers in a room that size plays well for the infinity’s plain and simple. And I might add there is no such thing as current standard it’s what you hear that counts and standing in a room listening to the two one being middle to higher end of an era comparing it to a lower priced current box store speaker…. Good luck with that.
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I have the Triangle Comete (40th anniversary ver) and it is really really good for a bookshelf unit. I believe it shares some drivers with the Borea. So I recommend Triangle over vintage anything.
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@honkykong7777 With a room as large as yours consider the larger "Flagship" series model BR09.
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Thanks guys. This is all great information. I was wanting to ask. Are there any other suggestions of speakers in this price range I am not considering. I was looking at the triangle’s because they seemed to have good reviews and were in my budget. I was wanting to be in the 1k range and could stretch up to 1500 but that is about max for me. I looked up the mofi 888 that was suggested bit tose looked to be in the 4-5k range.
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Given the size of your room and the size of your budget, I think you’re almost forced to go vintage. I don’t share the view that newer is better. People have known what sounds good from the 1930’s until now. It’s not so much the technology, but how it is implemented. I think you’ll be happy with the Infinity speakers. And if not, you can sell them for what you paid for them. You may not be able to return something purchased new.
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As others have posted, the Infinity are very old. if you can, audition it first. Speaker technology has advance, so look into that too.
just my opinion, I heard the Triangle Borea. it's OK. but do your research. Look into Mofi Source point 888. they play loud and can easily take your power amp
going with older speakers is like bimmer said above. it all about emotional connection.
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@honkykong7777 Wrote:
I was wanting to be in the 1k range and could stretch up to 1500 but that is about max for me.
Right in your price range see here! 😎
Mike
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Let me put this in different terms : you have the opportunity to buy a vintage 1963 corvette stingray or get a new stingray. Will new stingray beat the 63 off the line? You bet it will. Does the 63 look cool as sh*t ? You bet it does. But if goal is SQ the answer is clear.
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Your amp has the capability to drive Magnepan LRS+ speakers which excel at detail and are $1000 retail. I miss my Maggies which were the prior entry level Maggies with the aftermarket stands. You could add a sub later. It depends on what music you like to listen to and what sound you prefer.
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I have a fair amount of experience with vintage Infinity. IIRC the RS3A was a particularly difficult load, probably not a good match with you tubes. Also the mid is pretty much unobtainium if it needs to be replaced. I don't really have any recommendation for you other than to avoid the Infinities.
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I bought a pair of Infinity RS3b's new back I think in 1978. They were really nice speakers at the time. Over the years the foam around the drivers and front baffle rotted and I refoamed the drivers. The baffle I replaced with carpet That I cutted out and glued on. But the sound was OK until I started to changed the crossover, connectors and internal wiring to a much higher grade. Mundorfs, V-Caps, Duelund resisters, flat ribbon inductors, Cardas internal wirings and speaker posts, and took out those music destroying internal fuses and tweeter midrange controls. What a difference in sound!! The sound is organic and highly transparent. It's well worth the time and expense to do the mods. It is a uniquely sounding speaker that is very musical.
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Well I like vintage speakers because I'm old and vintaged.
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