PS Audio IRSV selling

Infinity Reference series of speakers are a different animal (well most of them), and yes it's easy to dismiss 35 year old speakers if you've never owned them.

I am just about finished updating my Infinity RS Kappa 7s, after having the woofers re-foamed, Polydomes repaired, new GR-Research crossover, and am just finishing off the internal wiring. Can't wait to get them back into the mix

kennyc

@fertguy 

By usual standards it seems odd to sell old large speakers at a huge price when current offerings seem sonically superior and a more manageable size.  But this hobby is much more diverse.  There are many fans of older components some older maybe vintage components and not necessarily chasing end-game sonics.  Some, like myself, have more than one audio chain, and extra components often collected, Enjoyment is the end goal.  

Paul loves to discount his stuff. He does it all the time which messes with PS Audio resale prices. Don't ask me how I know this LOL....

I'd guess some guy with money and good sense came in, enjoyed some PS Audio tour time, listened to Paul tell about Arnie and some fun times, offered Paul 35K showing him the green cash and some deal was struck. They weren't for sale for long.

I love the infinity.have several sets.happy listening

I am listening to my IRS Beta right now

These speakers could have sold for $100k+, they are that good.  The big key with these is the very professional upgrades to them.  You couldn’t buy all the upgrade time and material that’s been incorporated into these for $100k.  I hate to tinker with issues that come with vintage equipment, so these would be perfect for me.  I actually floated the idea of buying these with my much saner wife.  As expected, she was not overly thrilled with the idea, despite adequate finances and room size.  As an Infinity fan for all my adult life (now retired and owner of Infinity Epsilons), these are the mountaintop.  I fell in love with the sound from the Infinity planar magnetic drivers (technically a variant of a ribbon driver) and the crisp, tight and deep base that I didn’t find in any other speakers.  Just as well I didn’t jump on these.  Someone else saved me all the logistical issues that come with packing, shipping, and installing a 1,200 lb speakers system.  It’s not like the old days where you get a bunch of friends together and buy them pizza and beer to move your stuff.  

I heard the PS Audio IRSs on a visit to Boulder about 5 years ago. They were as expected, an immense soundstage, great dynamics, and huge presence. Line arrays in general are not my cup of tea, but I still enjoyed these historic and quite grand speakers.

I brought a 30-something year old, non-audiophile colleague with me to the demo. He asked one of the best questions I’ve ever heard in a demo, “how does it know where to put the voices and instruments?” I found this to be a fascinating question and one that ignited a good deal of explanation (to the best of my ability!)

Paul McGowan, Arnie Nudell, and the mighty Infiniity Reference Standards are integral parts of our audiophile history.

I don't agree with the thought that these vintage speakers.  They are vintage cabinets.  The woofers and their amps are modern so are the crossovers.

The EMIM's were updated with modern versions of the diaphragms by Corydon Johnson and the EMITs have replacement diaphragms (and I assume updated magnets).

I never listened to Paul's updated ones but I have listened to some originals and they are amazing.

devinplombier

I'd say so!

I always get that wrong

At 1200/lb each I’ll bet it was a chore..

My pop(RIP) had a set of the IRS'. There's something about the soundstage presented by a physically large set of transducers that is difficult to resist. Even small ensemble music just seems... there. That said he played holy heck getting them set up *just* right to get them to sound their best. 

Happy listening.

I'd jump all over them if I had the room...and money. 

Considering that the IRS V is an uber-rare icon, that this particular set has been brought up to 21st century standards by qualified specialists, and that today's continuation model costs $680,000, $70K sounds very reasonable.

I doubt that he got the $70k he was hoping for.

Fun story..

doyle3433 ... we ... repaired the ribbons in the mids and tweeters when he blew them out. (he claimed they flamed out ...

There are no ribbons in an IRS system and if the planar drivers do fail they don’t "flame out." It’s actually a pretty easy system to maintain - the trickiest part is the dedicated crossover/servo controller. There is a whole network of audiophiles that keep classic Infinity systems alive. Once you’ve heard something like the big IRS or the IRS Beta system, it’s easy to be hooked.

They really are outstanding speakers. Back in the day when I worked in the only HFI shop that mattered here in my town, we had a customer who owned a set. We didn't sell them, but we did sell him the power and repaired the ribbons in the mids and tweeters when he blew them out. (he claimed they flamed out), I never witnessed it. If I recall we sold and installed a bank of BGW pro amps to power it all. The owner was a wild and loved to listen at stadium concert levels. Hell of a fun guy to hang out with. He was also a BMW M series collector and drove them super fast.. I often wonder if he's still around.  

The Speakers With Concert Hall Sound If You Have a Concert Hall to Put Them In.

If I had a room big enough and a floor that would support the weight, I’d buy them in a heartbeat!

Only if they're left easily found outdoors and he's left town.....

{....pay?} 

I'm sure they sound spectacular.  I recall when they came into being....

I trust they'll find a loving home with one that also has the wherewithal to feed them and give regular exercise.... *lopsided G*

Yup, why not

Why not?  Crazier purchases have been made in the wacky world of high end audio.  

That enplanes it.  So someone thought they were worth $70K.

Thanks

Paul McGowan confirmed 18 days ago on the PS Audio forum they were sold and the buyer was coming to get them. He does his videos in advance on weekends and releases them on a daily basis.  I can’t explain why it took more than three weeks to post this one but unless Paul confirms the first deal fell through I stick with my initial post. 

Paul McGowan confirmed 18 days ago on the PS Audio forum they were sold and the buyer was coming to get them. He does his videos in advance on weekends and releases them on a daily basis.  I can’t explain why it took more than three weeks to post this one but unless Paul confirms the first deal fell through I stick with my initial post. 

tkrtrb125

I like it.

M1200s

BHK pre

Stellar Gold DAC

Stellar 3 power plant

Airlens streamer

Is PS Audio gear that good? 

Th speakers were sold almost immediately about three weeks ago!  You’re a little behind the power curve on this one. They were not stock, a completely new crossover was designed and all the woofers and power amps for them were replaced with much better components. They sounded magnificent, though they created a huge image that was bigger than life. The FR30 are wonderful speakers and a worthy successor at a much more reasonable price. 

Surely Genesis has to have advanced Arnie's loudspeaker.  https://www.genesisloudspeakers.com/prime

How could they possibly compare?

Funny you should mention the FR30's, because I was thinking when I first saw the thread that if they were so great, why was he still using the IRS V.  But I suppose there was a lot of sentiment involved being that he was so close to Arnie Nudell. Sometimes you have to wait for the right time to get rid of something, even if it's long since outlived its purpose. I've experienced that feeling many times.

He claims his FR30s are better at less than 1/2 the price, so...

+2 @roxy54  Yeah, especially for that price it’s not worth having to live with the constant fear of what the hell to do if any of those many, many drivers fail.  No thanks!  Have a feeling Paul will be living with those old monsters a lot longer. 

+1 @roxy54 

Does anyone know what happened to the other thread on this?  I've done several searches and cannot find it.  Removed?

I really have to wonder who would want these monsters for even half of that price with all of the great speakers available today for that money that don't require all of the care and feeding that these do.