Our native mobile app has a new name: Fora Communities. Learn more.

Infinity - What happened?

6391 Views 15 Replies 13 Participants Last post by Jay_Davis, Jul 2, 2008

daedalus78

Discussion Starter · Jan 15, 2008

I just sold my old HT speakers

Infinity SM-152 (F)

Infinity SM-62 (R)

Infinity SM-Video (C)

and was looking for replacements. I'm open to other brands, but I thought I'd start looking at Infinity first, since thats the brand I'm familiar with and I was relatively happy with the Studio Monitors that I owned. I've done a lot of reading in this forum and it seems like the brand has fallen by the wayside. It's not talked about nearly as much as some other "mainstream" brands (JBL, Polk, Klipsch etc. - Brands that chain B&M stores would carry.) and it seems like their retail presence is rather non-existent nowadays. Assuming I'm correct, anyone know why this is?

I ask because

1) I'm curious.

2) I've read that Infinitys Beta line is rather good for the money and Vanns is having a "clearance". Right now you can get the following package:

Infinity BETA 50 CH x2

Infinity BETA 20 CH x2

Infinity BETA C360 CH x1

Infinity SW-12 CH x1

For $1,499.88 shipped - seems like a deal to me. From what I gathered on this forum, the Betas have long been out of production so once these are gone - they're gone. Should I jump on this? Or is this not really that big a deal?

Thoughts?

See less See more

1 - 16 of 16 Posts

oztech

· #2 · Jan 15, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by daedalus78 /forum/post/12816141

I just sold my old HT speakers

Infinity SM-152 (F)

Infinity SM-62 (R)

Infinity SM-Video (C)

and was looking for replacements. I'm open to other brands, but I thought I'd start looking at Infinity first, since thats the brand I'm familiar with and I was relatively happy with the Studio Monitors that I owned. I've done a lot of reading in this forum and it seems like the brand has fallen by the wayside. It's not talked about nearly as much as some other "mainstream" brands (JBL, Polk, Klipsch etc. - Brands that chain B&M stores would carry.) and it seems like their retail presence is rather non-existent nowadays. Assuming I'm correct, anyone know why this is?

I ask because

1) I'm curious.

2) I've read that Infinitys Beta line is rather good for the money and Vanns is having a "clearance". Right now you can get the following package:

Infinity BETA 50 CH x2

Infinity BETA 20 CH x2

Infinity BETA C360 CH x1

Infinity SW-12 CH x1

For $1,499.88 shipped - seems like a deal to me. From what I gathered on this forum, the Betas have long been out of production so once these are gone - they're gone. Should I jump on this? Or is this not really that big a deal?

Thoughts?

it may sound like a tape loop but what do your ears tell you, it does not matter what anyone else thinks.

JohnR_IN_LA

· #3 · Jan 15, 2008

Have you ever tried to listen to Infinitys at those big box stores? Its a joke. Usually they are damaged and misconfigured.

He would probably have better luck making an informed decision based on research and discussion.

Beta's are good speakers, they are very competitive at their price point. @1500 thats a pretty good deal. Really, if I had to value them to ME, it would be about like this:

(2) Beta 50 $400

(2)Beta 20 $250

C360 $300

SW-12 $350

Shipping 100

The Infinitys have a nice clear sound, and they are accurate, and that center speaker is nice. Its a good safe choice. .. BUT they have a cheap finish, and they are not really spectacular at anything, although setup right they can image well!

For a big step up, I would consider these Rockets from **********. I own both Infinity and Rockets, and let me tell you, there really is no comparison. The Rockets come with a spectacular tweeter, a stunning center speaker (look at its weight and frequency response!), and even those rear speakers have the same quality tweeter.

[URL='http:/images/0.gif%5B/IMG']http://www.**********/images/0.gif[/IMG[/URL] ] Rocket HT Package # 4[/I]
[B][I]Holiday Special![/I][/B]

[I]Normally $1897 in a package or $2097 retail, for a limited time you save $250.00 and get Free Yellow Freight! (a $333 value)[/I]
[I]* To most destinations in North America.[/I]

[I][B]Included in this System:[/B][/I]
[I]RS450 Main Speakers[/I]
[I]RSC200 Center Speaker[/I]
[I]RS250MkII Rear Surround Speakers[/I]

[I][B]Shipping:[/B][/I]
[I]This item is shipped via Yellow Freight. Click[/I] [URL='http:/freight.htm'][I]here[/I][/URL] [I]to learn more about Yellow Freight.[/I]

[I][B]Photos:[/B][/I]
[I]See our dedicated[/I] [URL='http:/products_product.php?section=speakers&product=90.1'][I]RS450[/I][/URL] [I],[/I] [URL='http:/products_product.php?section=speakers&product=6.1'][I]RSC200[/I][/URL] [I]and[/I] [URL='http:/products_product.php?section=speakers&product=2.1'][I]RS250MKII[/I][/URL] [I]pages for additional photos.[/I]

See less See more

ninefivezero

· #4 · Jan 15, 2008

Regardless of speakers, I think everyone will probably agree that you can do a lot better than the SW-12 for the $480 they are asking. Something like the PB10-NSD, VTF-2 MK 3 or A3-300.

DFul4d

· #5 · Jan 15, 2008

I have 2 Beta 50s, the C360 Center, 2 ES250s for Surround, and 2 Beta 20s for surround back along with a HSU VTF-3 HO. It's a great sounding setup for not a lot of money. If you check ebay, you can put together the system for what JohnR in LA listed as the prices.

nwrsx

· #6 · Jan 15, 2008

I too am sad that Infinity's home speakers have started to disappear. Other then the small satellite speakers and the low end Primus series, they don't have much going on anymore.

I got a set of Beta speakers to replace my old Infinity Entra speakers. My wife didn't like how big the Entra Ones were for bookshelf speakers.

I ended up getting

- 4 Beta 10's (2 for FL/FR and 2 for my rears)

- 1 C250 Center

- 1 CSW10 Sub

To me it sounds great and it has wife acceptance factor because of the compact size of the speakers. I realize most people want the Beta 50's since they are a far superior speaker then the Beta 10's, but they are large.

See less See more

gregginflorida

· #7 · Jan 17, 2008

hey

I was planning to get beta 10s (from Vann's) for my apartment for the fronts (+ my sub)...to mach up with my denon AVR-1707 receiver until...

I just won the buy of the year on eebay...last night I bid with 5 seconds left and won a used mint condition pair of Beta 20s...$132 + $40shipping

the audio gods were smiling on me

See less See more

sterankoman

· #8 · Jan 17, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by gregginflorida /forum/post/12839311

I just won the buy of the year on eebay...last night I bid with 5 seconds left and won a used mint condition pair of Beta 20s...$132 + $40shipping

the audio gods were smiling on me

So................you are the SOB that sniped me last night.............Just kidding. That's an awesome price for a very good speaker. Black or cherry?

DFul4d

· #9 · Jan 17, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by gregginflorida /forum/post/12839311

hey

I was planning to get beta 10s (from Vann's) for my apartment for the fronts (+ my sub)...to mach up with my denon AVR-1707 receiver until...

I just won the buy of the year on eebay...last night I bid with 5 seconds left and won a used mint condition pair of Beta 20s...$132 + $40shipping

the audio gods were smiling on me

haha I was watching that same auction, but decided to buy some new 20s instead.

swgiust

· #10 · Jan 17, 2008

It seems like Infinity likes to drop off the radar for awhile, then they come

out with some new line. It wouldn't suprise me to see a new line in the next year.

daedalus78

Discussion Starter · #11 · Jan 17, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by swgiust /forum/post/12842741

It seems like Infinity likes to drop off the radar for awhile, then they come

out with some new line. It wouldn't suprise me to see a new line in the next year.

Yeah, but for more than a year? AFAIK the Beta series stopped production in late 2006 (someone correct me if I'm wrong). Not only that, but Infinity's retail presence seems to have all but disappeared.

Maybe it has something to do with the condition of their parent company (Harman International)? Harmans stock has fallen by more than 60% since last September. My guess is that Harman is re-evaluating it's brands and how they're positioned in the marketplace. IMO, there seems to be a significant amount of overlap between Infinity and JBL (in terms of what parts of the market they target).

This is all just guesswork on my part. Maybe I just have an overactive imagination.

See less See more

tzydzy

· #12 · Jun 28, 2008

I have Infinity Kappa, IL and SM series speakers in various rooms here (2 channel, Home Theatre and computer room, respectively) and have noted their recent lack of real flagship status in the Harman lineup. Since Harman owns Revel, it appears that that is now their flagship brand, but with the Ultima Salon 2 in the $22,000 price range, there still isn't anything like the $100K or so IRS statements of Infinity days past. (Not that I'm going to buy Salons any time soon). JBL must be making enough money in the pro and big box stores to only market a good multi thousand dollar unit for the audiophiles without tons of $$ every few years.

DamageMcRamage

· #13 · Jun 28, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by swgiust /forum/post/12842741

It seems like Infinity likes to drop off the radar for awhile, then they come

out with some new line. It wouldn't suprise me to see a new line in the next year.

Infinity does have a new line, it's called the Classia. That deal the OP is looking at for the Beta's is very good. Originally, the Beta 50's cost $1000 by themselves. The whole setup for $1500 is great. I would jump on it, you won't be disappointed.

Also, when people say that one particular speaker won't hold a candle to another, don't accept it as fact. The real truth is the Beta's can and will hold that candle.

Jay_Davis

· #14 · Jun 30, 2008

Let me add in that I think the Beta's are great and I recently upgraded to a Beta setup. At these prices it's a no-brainer.

However, let me second ninefivezero in saying that you can do a lot better than the SW-12 for a sub. I got an eD A5-350 and it's just incredible with these Betas.

gus738

· #15 · Jul 1, 2008

hi guys well dont want to make a new thread so i thought i ask here, i own infinity beta 50 (floor stand towers) L and R but was using a onkyo center SKC-100 and i dont think its really doing a good job and i was told that the front 3 speakers should be the same model line up.

so i'm looking at bpav.com best price audio video. and found that they have it but i wonder of bpav service and experience?

help guys thanks in advance

also if i want to complete the beta line up for the rear speakers do i just need the 20's for surround left and surround right?

what about the rear center?

i heard about the es series but what is the differnce between es and the reg book shelf 20s?

my receiver avr is a onkyo TX-sr701

http://www.onkyousa.com/model.cfm?m=...s=Receiver&p=s

and i wanted to know at 8ohm these are the specs

Power Output* (8 ohm, 20 Hz-20 kHz, FTC) -

Front L/R 100 W/Ch

Center 100 W

Surround L/R 100 W/Ch

Surround Back 100 W

and these beta required more dont they?

See less See more

Jay_Davis

· #16 · Jul 2, 2008

The Beta 20's are rear ported, so you need some space behind them. The ES250 can be mounted flat on the wall if you wish and can be set as dipoles, bipoles, or to act as 2 individual speakers. I have the 20s on the side and the ES250s in the rear.

For the center, if you go with the C360, just make sure you realize how big that is. I wouldn't fit for me so I went with the C250, which works very nicely with the Beta 50s, but I'm in a small room.

I've bought one thing from bpav.com with no problem and haven't heard of any complaints, but perhaps someone else has dealt with them more.

1 - 16 of 16 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.