infinity RS5b - And so it Begins - a Little Spit & Polish
MrBuhl
Posts: 2,419
Received my Madisound order of Clarity ESA and PX caps Friday, so today was crossover upgrade day for my curb find RD5bs. On a free speaker, at Clarity clearance prices I went with what was cheap and didn't worry about mixing lines of caps within the same brand. First a reminder of what we are dealing with:
Next up, organize new caps and remove the offending old caps... I was able to find a 250v 15uf ESA to exactly match the stacked 250v 5uf &10uf from the original xovers, also a 5uf 250v PX to replace the 100v 5uf from the original. For the original 100v 7uf (10%) I selected a 250v 5% 6.8uf figuring it was close enough to tolerance.
Next I loosened one of the inductors and repositioned 90 degrees off axis from the other on the xover board, it should help SQ and also gave the added benefit of more space.
Finally it came down to soldering in the new caps and buttoning things up. I have to say, prior to joining this forum, I would have never even thought to do something like this. More importantly I would have never attempted it. Instead, I tackled this project in a little under two hours start to cleaned up & finished. I'm certainly no pro, but I'm grateful for all the help and guidance along the years that's made me comfortable with "Joe Homeowner" quality repairs like this!
Next up, organize new caps and remove the offending old caps... I was able to find a 250v 15uf ESA to exactly match the stacked 250v 5uf &10uf from the original xovers, also a 5uf 250v PX to replace the 100v 5uf from the original. For the original 100v 7uf (10%) I selected a 250v 5% 6.8uf figuring it was close enough to tolerance.
Next I loosened one of the inductors and repositioned 90 degrees off axis from the other on the xover board, it should help SQ and also gave the added benefit of more space.
Finally it came down to soldering in the new caps and buttoning things up. I have to say, prior to joining this forum, I would have never even thought to do something like this. More importantly I would have never attempted it. Instead, I tackled this project in a little under two hours start to cleaned up & finished. I'm certainly no pro, but I'm grateful for all the help and guidance along the years that's made me comfortable with "Joe Homeowner" quality repairs like this!
VA HT HK AVR20II, Sony S9000ES CD/DVD/SACD, Polk Audio RC80i / Polk Audio CSi3, 60" Panasonic Plasma, Nordost / Signal Cable A2 / Wireworld / Pangea / Magic Power
VA 2 Channel Focal Electra 926 speakers, Pass Labs X150.5 Amp, Eastern Electric MiniMax Preamp (Tutay mods), Eastern Electric Minimax CDP (Scott Nixon mods), Music Hall mmf 5.1 Turntable, Parks Audio Budgie Phono Pre , Audioengine B1 streamer, MIT S3 IC's / MIT Shotgun S3 Speaker Cables / PS Audio power cables
Noggin Schiit Valhalla, Pangea, Phillips Fidelio X1, Polk UF8000
Polk SDA1c modded
Polk CRS+ 4.1TL modded (need veneer)
Polk SDA2BTL (fully modded)
A/L 1000VA Dreadnought Canare 4s11 SDA cable
SACD Marantz DV8300
Sony S9000ES CD/DVD/SACD
Yamaha YP-D6
Soundcraftsmen PCR800
Audible Illusions L1 Preamp
Vincent MFA based Cocci Tube Preamp
Pho-700 Phono Pre
Signal Cable Silver Resolution IC's
VA 2 Channel Focal Electra 926 speakers, Pass Labs X150.5 Amp, Eastern Electric MiniMax Preamp (Tutay mods), Eastern Electric Minimax CDP (Scott Nixon mods), Music Hall mmf 5.1 Turntable, Parks Audio Budgie Phono Pre , Audioengine B1 streamer, MIT S3 IC's / MIT Shotgun S3 Speaker Cables / PS Audio power cables
Noggin Schiit Valhalla, Pangea, Phillips Fidelio X1, Polk UF8000
Polk SDA1c modded
Polk CRS+ 4.1TL modded (need veneer)
Polk SDA2BTL (fully modded)
A/L 1000VA Dreadnought Canare 4s11 SDA cable
SACD Marantz DV8300
Sony S9000ES CD/DVD/SACD
Yamaha YP-D6
Soundcraftsmen PCR800
Audible Illusions L1 Preamp
Vincent MFA based Cocci Tube Preamp
Pho-700 Phono Pre
Signal Cable Silver Resolution IC's
Comments
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Hmmm - Dang it all.
I should have looked it up first I guess, looks like I need to get back in there and change my "90 degree" axis to the correct 90 degree axis, I just assumed one was as good as another. Joe Homeowner indeed!
edit: Side note - "kill yourself" alignment - LOL.
VA HT HK AVR20II, Sony S9000ES CD/DVD/SACD, Polk Audio RC80i / Polk Audio CSi3, 60" Panasonic Plasma, Nordost / Signal Cable A2 / Wireworld / Pangea / Magic Power
VA 2 Channel Focal Electra 926 speakers, Pass Labs X150.5 Amp, Eastern Electric MiniMax Preamp (Tutay mods), Eastern Electric Minimax CDP (Scott Nixon mods), Music Hall mmf 5.1 Turntable, Parks Audio Budgie Phono Pre , Audioengine B1 streamer, MIT S3 IC's / MIT Shotgun S3 Speaker Cables / PS Audio power cables
Noggin Schiit Valhalla, Pangea, Phillips Fidelio X1, Polk UF8000
Polk SDA1c modded
Polk CRS+ 4.1TL modded (need veneer)
Polk SDA2BTL (fully modded)
A/L 1000VA Dreadnought Canare 4s11 SDA cable
SACD Marantz DV8300
Sony S9000ES CD/DVD/SACD
Yamaha YP-D6
Soundcraftsmen PCR800
Audible Illusions L1 Preamp
Vincent MFA based Cocci Tube Preamp
Pho-700 Phono Pre
Signal Cable Silver Resolution IC's -
That was from the Factory like that?Home Theater/2 Channel:
Front: SDA-2ATL forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/143984/my-2as-finally-finished-almost/p1
Center: Custom Built forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/150760/my-center-channel-project/p1
Surrounds & Rears: Custom Built forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/151647/my-surround-project/p1
Sonicaps, Mills, RDO-194s-198s, Dynamat, Hurricane Nuts, Blackhole5
Pioneer Elite VSX-72TXV, Carver PM-600, SVS PB2-Plus Subwoofer
dhsspeakerservice.com/ -
westmassguy wrote: »That was from the Factory like that?
Yeah, somewhere between a "soup sandwich" and a "football bat". -
I had a heck of a time doing my Infinity Rsb's, especially since I bought all new inductors. The low pass coil was about 3 pounds of flat wound copper, and HUGE. Arranging was a pain. I ended up buying some Derlin (recommended by VR3) and construction all new boards, including new Cardas posts, and then ended up doing it three times because of various circuit configurations available.
Polk Lsi9
N.E.W. A-20 class A 20W
NAD 1020 completely refurbished
Keces DA-131 mk.II
Analysis Plus Copper Oval, Douglass, Morrow SUB3, Huffman Digital
Paradigm DSP-3100 v.2 -
Nice job!
That little cigar shaped thing is an inductor also (says mh on it). If you decide to reorient it be careful as the iron core could break if that glue is strong and you have to force removalAaron
Enabler Extraordinaire -
westmassguy wrote: »That was from the Factory like that?
Hey David - yep, just like pic #2 above - I'm thinking I need to lay flat that one that I stood up again, and pickup the other one and stand that one on end and rotate, or should I just rotate the one I stood up? I'm uncertain if the third inductor there is iron or air core but either way, seems like moving both may be the best solution?Nice job!
That little cigar shaped thing is an inductor also (says mh on it). If you decide to reorient it be careful as the iron core could break if that glue is strong and you have to force removal
Thanks! I'm not going to the inductor replacement level on these "rescue" speaks, hard to believe an iron core could break that easy tho!
VA HT HK AVR20II, Sony S9000ES CD/DVD/SACD, Polk Audio RC80i / Polk Audio CSi3, 60" Panasonic Plasma, Nordost / Signal Cable A2 / Wireworld / Pangea / Magic Power
VA 2 Channel Focal Electra 926 speakers, Pass Labs X150.5 Amp, Eastern Electric MiniMax Preamp (Tutay mods), Eastern Electric Minimax CDP (Scott Nixon mods), Music Hall mmf 5.1 Turntable, Parks Audio Budgie Phono Pre , Audioengine B1 streamer, MIT S3 IC's / MIT Shotgun S3 Speaker Cables / PS Audio power cables
Noggin Schiit Valhalla, Pangea, Phillips Fidelio X1, Polk UF8000
Polk SDA1c modded
Polk CRS+ 4.1TL modded (need veneer)
Polk SDA2BTL (fully modded)
A/L 1000VA Dreadnought Canare 4s11 SDA cable
SACD Marantz DV8300
Sony S9000ES CD/DVD/SACD
Yamaha YP-D6
Soundcraftsmen PCR800
Audible Illusions L1 Preamp
Vincent MFA based Cocci Tube Preamp
Pho-700 Phono Pre
Signal Cable Silver Resolution IC's -
I had a heck of a time doing my Infinity Rsb's, especially since I bought all new inductors. The low pass coil was about 3 pounds of flat wound copper, and HUGE. Arranging was a pain. I ended up buying some Derlin (recommended by VR3) and construction all new boards, including new Cardas posts, and then ended up doing it three times because of various circuit configurations available.
I tried to remove these boards to work on them, looked like just two simple screws holding them on but they are also glued, couldn't even budge them, thanfully removed 10" woofers leave some room to work!VA HT HK AVR20II, Sony S9000ES CD/DVD/SACD, Polk Audio RC80i / Polk Audio CSi3, 60" Panasonic Plasma, Nordost / Signal Cable A2 / Wireworld / Pangea / Magic Power
VA 2 Channel Focal Electra 926 speakers, Pass Labs X150.5 Amp, Eastern Electric MiniMax Preamp (Tutay mods), Eastern Electric Minimax CDP (Scott Nixon mods), Music Hall mmf 5.1 Turntable, Parks Audio Budgie Phono Pre , Audioengine B1 streamer, MIT S3 IC's / MIT Shotgun S3 Speaker Cables / PS Audio power cables
Noggin Schiit Valhalla, Pangea, Phillips Fidelio X1, Polk UF8000
Polk SDA1c modded
Polk CRS+ 4.1TL modded (need veneer)
Polk SDA2BTL (fully modded)
A/L 1000VA Dreadnought Canare 4s11 SDA cable
SACD Marantz DV8300
Sony S9000ES CD/DVD/SACD
Yamaha YP-D6
Soundcraftsmen PCR800
Audible Illusions L1 Preamp
Vincent MFA based Cocci Tube Preamp
Pho-700 Phono Pre
Signal Cable Silver Resolution IC's -
Great job so far, Ed! Godspeed!
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Not sure if that's iron core or not, but it's too close to the air core, and the little iron core. Might be better to just move it off the board entirely. I'd also flip one of the corner air-cores on its side for good measureHome Theater/2 Channel:
Front: SDA-2ATL forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/143984/my-2as-finally-finished-almost/p1
Center: Custom Built forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/150760/my-center-channel-project/p1
Surrounds & Rears: Custom Built forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/151647/my-surround-project/p1
Sonicaps, Mills, RDO-194s-198s, Dynamat, Hurricane Nuts, Blackhole5
Pioneer Elite VSX-72TXV, Carver PM-600, SVS PB2-Plus Subwoofer
dhsspeakerservice.com/ -
Hey David - yep, just like pic #2 above - I'm thinking I need to lay flat that one that I stood up again, and pickup the other one and stand that one on end and rotate, or should I just rotate the one I stood up? I'm uncertain if the third inductor there is iron or air core but either way, seems like moving both may be the best solution?
Thanks! I'm not going to the inductor replacement level on these "rescue" speaks, hard to believe an iron core could break that easy tho!
Ferrite is very fragile. It can shatter very easily.
What Aaron is talking about is the little one between the iron core inductor and the rheostat thing marked 5ohm 5w. -
Is there a butyl surround available for those cones?Don't take experimental gene therapies from known eugenicists.
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Not sure honestly, I did end up buying foam replacements. I'd be afraid changing the surround material might change the compliance of the woofer?VA HT HK AVR20II, Sony S9000ES CD/DVD/SACD, Polk Audio RC80i / Polk Audio CSi3, 60" Panasonic Plasma, Nordost / Signal Cable A2 / Wireworld / Pangea / Magic Power
VA 2 Channel Focal Electra 926 speakers, Pass Labs X150.5 Amp, Eastern Electric MiniMax Preamp (Tutay mods), Eastern Electric Minimax CDP (Scott Nixon mods), Music Hall mmf 5.1 Turntable, Parks Audio Budgie Phono Pre , Audioengine B1 streamer, MIT S3 IC's / MIT Shotgun S3 Speaker Cables / PS Audio power cables
Noggin Schiit Valhalla, Pangea, Phillips Fidelio X1, Polk UF8000
Polk SDA1c modded
Polk CRS+ 4.1TL modded (need veneer)
Polk SDA2BTL (fully modded)
A/L 1000VA Dreadnought Canare 4s11 SDA cable
SACD Marantz DV8300
Sony S9000ES CD/DVD/SACD
Yamaha YP-D6
Soundcraftsmen PCR800
Audible Illusions L1 Preamp
Vincent MFA based Cocci Tube Preamp
Pho-700 Phono Pre
Signal Cable Silver Resolution IC's -
Not sure honestly, I did end up buying foam replacements. I'd be afraid changing the surround material might change the compliance of the woofer?
It would yes
The new foam for it will last longer than the last as they are made out if different stuff than 20 years ago. -
This is the Co. I use. The glue gives you a working time before it hardens. Great directions and a video on-line to instruck you and shows how easy it can be.This is JUST a SAMPLE of their ads. They should have one to match exactly! I have done a few Infinity's last year with 100% sucess.
I just looked for your exact model and didn't find it. You can also call them and see what they have for you if they do.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/INFINITY-RS-5-SPEAKER-Parts-6-1-2-Woofer-Foam-Edge-Repair-Kit-FSK-6-5-/140666291953?hash=item20c05d46f1
Most people just listen to music and watch movies. I EXPERIENCE them. -
I was thinking in terms of longevity of butyl and the possibilty it's slightly stiffer compliance makes up for the deteriorated compliance of the spider in the axial plane.Don't take experimental gene therapies from known eugenicists.
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Rick Cobb is often recommended as a good supplier of foam. Always recognized as providing the correct foam too. He has an eBay store, under the name "looneytune2001". Send him a request, and I'm sure he'll have suggestions.
stores.ebay.com/looneytune2001/?_dmd=1&_nkw=infinity
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Much appreciated gents - I had already purchased (arrived today in fact) the replacement surrounds from a vendor I used on the last two sets of woofers that I refoamed, (a set of ARs and a set of Infinitys), hopefully they will do the trick! And as pointed out by @pitdogg2, the new foams will last longer than I'm going to own them, and probably longer than the original.VA HT HK AVR20II, Sony S9000ES CD/DVD/SACD, Polk Audio RC80i / Polk Audio CSi3, 60" Panasonic Plasma, Nordost / Signal Cable A2 / Wireworld / Pangea / Magic Power
VA 2 Channel Focal Electra 926 speakers, Pass Labs X150.5 Amp, Eastern Electric MiniMax Preamp (Tutay mods), Eastern Electric Minimax CDP (Scott Nixon mods), Music Hall mmf 5.1 Turntable, Parks Audio Budgie Phono Pre , Audioengine B1 streamer, MIT S3 IC's / MIT Shotgun S3 Speaker Cables / PS Audio power cables
Noggin Schiit Valhalla, Pangea, Phillips Fidelio X1, Polk UF8000
Polk SDA1c modded
Polk CRS+ 4.1TL modded (need veneer)
Polk SDA2BTL (fully modded)
A/L 1000VA Dreadnought Canare 4s11 SDA cable
SACD Marantz DV8300
Sony S9000ES CD/DVD/SACD
Yamaha YP-D6
Soundcraftsmen PCR800
Audible Illusions L1 Preamp
Vincent MFA based Cocci Tube Preamp
Pho-700 Phono Pre
Signal Cable Silver Resolution IC's -
Good deal...any Dynamat in the mix?
Also at what crossover point would a woofer need some soundfoam to do any good?Don't take experimental gene therapies from known eugenicists. -
^^ yep, Dynamat definitely in the mix ^^
Soundfoam? Assuming you mean BH5 or similar? Not sure honestly, the cabinet is stuffed chock full of damping though!VA HT HK AVR20II, Sony S9000ES CD/DVD/SACD, Polk Audio RC80i / Polk Audio CSi3, 60" Panasonic Plasma, Nordost / Signal Cable A2 / Wireworld / Pangea / Magic Power
VA 2 Channel Focal Electra 926 speakers, Pass Labs X150.5 Amp, Eastern Electric MiniMax Preamp (Tutay mods), Eastern Electric Minimax CDP (Scott Nixon mods), Music Hall mmf 5.1 Turntable, Parks Audio Budgie Phono Pre , Audioengine B1 streamer, MIT S3 IC's / MIT Shotgun S3 Speaker Cables / PS Audio power cables
Noggin Schiit Valhalla, Pangea, Phillips Fidelio X1, Polk UF8000
Polk SDA1c modded
Polk CRS+ 4.1TL modded (need veneer)
Polk SDA2BTL (fully modded)
A/L 1000VA Dreadnought Canare 4s11 SDA cable
SACD Marantz DV8300
Sony S9000ES CD/DVD/SACD
Yamaha YP-D6
Soundcraftsmen PCR800
Audible Illusions L1 Preamp
Vincent MFA based Cocci Tube Preamp
Pho-700 Phono Pre
Signal Cable Silver Resolution IC's -
Yes BH5 or similar on back wall. Those look like large enough cabinets where you could experiment with dacron etc. and get the bass just right. Good job on those X-overs. The factory sent them out looking like rats' nests.Don't take experimental gene therapies from known eugenicists.
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Another step done, Dynamat Xtreme applied to woofer baskets and rough clean of degraded surrounds is complete. I still need to remove final glue residue and then start the foam surround replacement. I was able to save the foam baffle rings which is great, as someone once told me, they complete the look and perhaps provide some small protection for the surround.
VA HT HK AVR20II, Sony S9000ES CD/DVD/SACD, Polk Audio RC80i / Polk Audio CSi3, 60" Panasonic Plasma, Nordost / Signal Cable A2 / Wireworld / Pangea / Magic Power
VA 2 Channel Focal Electra 926 speakers, Pass Labs X150.5 Amp, Eastern Electric MiniMax Preamp (Tutay mods), Eastern Electric Minimax CDP (Scott Nixon mods), Music Hall mmf 5.1 Turntable, Parks Audio Budgie Phono Pre , Audioengine B1 streamer, MIT S3 IC's / MIT Shotgun S3 Speaker Cables / PS Audio power cables
Noggin Schiit Valhalla, Pangea, Phillips Fidelio X1, Polk UF8000
Polk SDA1c modded
Polk CRS+ 4.1TL modded (need veneer)
Polk SDA2BTL (fully modded)
A/L 1000VA Dreadnought Canare 4s11 SDA cable
SACD Marantz DV8300
Sony S9000ES CD/DVD/SACD
Yamaha YP-D6
Soundcraftsmen PCR800
Audible Illusions L1 Preamp
Vincent MFA based Cocci Tube Preamp
Pho-700 Phono Pre
Signal Cable Silver Resolution IC's -
The one thing i hate about doing foam on infinitys is putting that foam on the back side of their woofers. Total pita!! I did some 6.5" infinity drivers and swore off any others smaller than 10" after the 6.5" just not enough room to work back there. Many had said to just put them on the front but shoot it don't look right and it is not the way they came. Some of their graphite like cones you had to be real careful as they can split towards the phase plug easy if not careful.
It is real easy to get foam debris down in the VC as well. I always cut index cards to shove down into the VC to help keep it out if there. -
What an Ambitious Undertaking! Looking forward to the Finished Project!
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Almost there mechanically speaking... the baffle gasket is drying now (not pictured) and I should be able to reinstall woofers this evening and get my first real listen to them (sans burn-in).
VA HT HK AVR20II, Sony S9000ES CD/DVD/SACD, Polk Audio RC80i / Polk Audio CSi3, 60" Panasonic Plasma, Nordost / Signal Cable A2 / Wireworld / Pangea / Magic Power
VA 2 Channel Focal Electra 926 speakers, Pass Labs X150.5 Amp, Eastern Electric MiniMax Preamp (Tutay mods), Eastern Electric Minimax CDP (Scott Nixon mods), Music Hall mmf 5.1 Turntable, Parks Audio Budgie Phono Pre , Audioengine B1 streamer, MIT S3 IC's / MIT Shotgun S3 Speaker Cables / PS Audio power cables
Noggin Schiit Valhalla, Pangea, Phillips Fidelio X1, Polk UF8000
Polk SDA1c modded
Polk CRS+ 4.1TL modded (need veneer)
Polk SDA2BTL (fully modded)
A/L 1000VA Dreadnought Canare 4s11 SDA cable
SACD Marantz DV8300
Sony S9000ES CD/DVD/SACD
Yamaha YP-D6
Soundcraftsmen PCR800
Audible Illusions L1 Preamp
Vincent MFA based Cocci Tube Preamp
Pho-700 Phono Pre
Signal Cable Silver Resolution IC's -
Great job. Not having glue visible is a good job indeed!Most people just listen to music and watch movies. I EXPERIENCE them.
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"....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963) -
^^ Good eyes!! ^^ That's old glue, I got to the point inside those tight rims where I was peeling paint, and that is now covered completely by the baffle gaskets, so I didn't worry too much about that.Great job. Not having glue visible is a good job indeed!
Thanks - on those opaque drivers, it required a little extra love, but worth it!VA HT HK AVR20II, Sony S9000ES CD/DVD/SACD, Polk Audio RC80i / Polk Audio CSi3, 60" Panasonic Plasma, Nordost / Signal Cable A2 / Wireworld / Pangea / Magic Power
VA 2 Channel Focal Electra 926 speakers, Pass Labs X150.5 Amp, Eastern Electric MiniMax Preamp (Tutay mods), Eastern Electric Minimax CDP (Scott Nixon mods), Music Hall mmf 5.1 Turntable, Parks Audio Budgie Phono Pre , Audioengine B1 streamer, MIT S3 IC's / MIT Shotgun S3 Speaker Cables / PS Audio power cables
Noggin Schiit Valhalla, Pangea, Phillips Fidelio X1, Polk UF8000
Polk SDA1c modded
Polk CRS+ 4.1TL modded (need veneer)
Polk SDA2BTL (fully modded)
A/L 1000VA Dreadnought Canare 4s11 SDA cable
SACD Marantz DV8300
Sony S9000ES CD/DVD/SACD
Yamaha YP-D6
Soundcraftsmen PCR800
Audible Illusions L1 Preamp
Vincent MFA based Cocci Tube Preamp
Pho-700 Phono Pre
Signal Cable Silver Resolution IC's