Infinity Beta design flaw??

[PolkThug]

So, we get the Beta 50's in at CC and I'm demoing them (to myself)and thinking the vocals sound really flat. Since they haven't had much play, I let them play at moderate volume all night til close. Come back, the vocals still sound bad. Then I start looking at the grills. They are thin sheet metal with little holes in them, and there is a fabric on the inside, similar to what Polk uses for their inwalls. Remove the grill, and it sounds like a totally different speaker (for the better). I think they really screwed up on this grill design, lots of blockage. The center channel is designed the same way. Maybe the grill 'fabric' can be removed like what I did with my Polk inwalls, then there's just a metal plate blocking the sound path. It is sad that this will be CC's 'higher-end' speaker.

Regards,
PolkThug

[jefft1314]

Sad, is a drastic understatement. Compared to the RTI's, the Betas are total underperformers, and they just barely edge out the monitor line which in my opinion, is a pretty poor sounding speaker. Sorry Polk.

[thehalo8]

I thought the same thing when I first started to demo the beta's. Now when customers want to hear them I take off the grill first. Plus I have had a lot of customers turned off by the fact the metal grills flex when listening to louder volumes. I really think Harman Kardon/Infinity messed up on this one.

[radkrisdoc]

Saw this one long ago. Took a look at the grills, was surprised...no shocked....then I realized........... and gave myself to Polk......oh well no infinity's for me, Im a Polkie body soul and heart :p
I didnt even care to audition them after I saw the grill tragedy. Very poorly designed.

[steveinaz]

It's a shame too. Infinity made some very impressive speakers in the "emit" tweeter days. I had a pair of RS-III towers (1985'ish I think) and adored those things. Beautiful oak cabinets, wonderful bass and astonishing midrange/highs.