The infinity reference standard (irs) loudspeakers

[Alpinist]

Here's a link to a short TAS article on the Infinity IRS Loudspeakers. I remember seeing these for the first time at a local dealer's high-end room back in the 1980's. While I preferred the full range Apogee Ribbon Speakers, there was no denying that with proper room and setup, the Infinity IRS Loudspeakers produced stunning sound. It would be fun to compare the Infinity IRS Loudspeakers and Apogee Diva Speakers to today's top models. While significant technological improvements have been made, I think a lot of audiophiles would be surprised at the results.

Ken

http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/tas-legacy-the-infinity-reference-standard-irs-loudspeaker/

 

[Alrainbow]

I Own a pair of IRS V completely made modern
all magnets replaced
new wiring
a new external cross over designed by Artie Nudel who made them and built by ps audio
also new psu for cross over and all made balanced from
input to output.
WHen you have a line source this size it's tough to like others
not saying they are the best there is none but most are pail to them
great review

 

[Melbguy1]

I Own a pair of IRS V completely made modern
all magnets replaced
new wiring
a new external cross over designed by Artie Nudel who made them and built by ps audio
also new psu for cross over and all made balanced from
input to output.
WHen you have a line source this size it's tough to like others
not saying they are the best there is none but most are pail to them
great review

Do you have a system thread with pics you can link into? Would love to checkout your rig .

 

[a.wayne]

I Own a pair of IRS V completely made modern
all magnets replaced
new wiring
a new external cross over designed by Artie Nudel who made them and built by ps audio
also new psu for cross over and all made balanced from
input to output.
WHen you have a line source this size it's tough to like others
not saying they are the best there is none but most are pail to them
great review

What magnets ..? Did you go from Ferrite to Neo's ....

 

[Melbguy1]

I first heard the Infinity IRS-V's back in 1991 after a chance visit to a local Dealership. The sales guy there offered my brother & I a listen to a pair of fives he had on approval for a well to do client. Back then, the IRS-V's were $100k AUD due to the poor Australian dollar and import taxes/duty! My first impressions were of true amazement at how imposing the 7 feet tall IRS-V's were & sheer number of drivers. I'd never seen any loudspeakers as massive as these before. Cary Christie's lacquered Brazilian rosewood cabinets looked stunning.

My impressions of their sound were firstly bass was tight, went deep and I thought cohered well with the mid/tweeter panels in that setup/room. Dynamics were excellent...seemingly limitless thanks to the 72 Emit tweeters and 24 emim midrange drivers & 2000 watt bass amp controlling the 12 x 12" servo-controlled bass IMG woofers. But it was their imaging which blew me away. The line array of ribbon midranges & tweeters produced "reach out and touch it" imaging you could follow across the room & point to with your fingers within a massive sound stage which was wide and deep. I'd go as far as to say that demo got me the closest i've heard to this day to live music.

Sure, speakers like the Crystal Arabesque towers, some Avalon models & my own S5 Mk2's sound more seamless and coherent, but i've never experienced a loudspeaker system that excited me and commanded my attention both visually and aurally the way the IRS-V's did. They deserve their place in history as once of the best loudspeaker systems of all time.

 

[Alrainbow]

Yes neo , you have to the early ones staRte to flake lol. The irs 5 has them they play a little louder and faster it's why the 5 was a fix for the 3 . Mine are updated not real 5 they have a brass plack only about 75 were made and the rest are updated. Love your description too very like they are. Now having a room big enough and willing to put the time into moving them around to get the sound right is a very tall task . But sitting back at 15 to 20 feet back gives you a personal concert in front of you . Now having great quality music and playback that has improved greatly improved what was heard years ago . ArNY really did a great job on the new cross overs . My only possible Improvment that will not happen with them is transient response meaning speed . The new genisis g1.2 has this according to Gary and if he says it its true . The man down plays all he does and that's a sign of true greatness .
So nice to read a new article of them . There is an ultra cd with giant codo drums that is amazing on them , but then go from that to a female vocal or violin makes you understand the Giants are nimble too.