These speakers will have you shouting, "I'm Back in Black!"
Written: Sep 09 '05
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Pros: Exceptional clarity at all volumes, build quality and style, powerful bass woofer
Cons: Heavy, harder to find these days, requires one power outlet per speaker
The Bottom Line: Go out and find these speakers wherever you can (garage sale, Ebay, anywhere) and get ready to be sonically blown away.
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| nojmplease's Full Review: Infinity Overture 1 Bookshelf Speaker |
The story behind my Infinity Overture 1's is actually rather surprising. I picked these lovely units almost 5 years ago; they were on clearance at Circuit City. Sure, they had some nicks and cosmetic issues, but they played perfectly well, so I managed to take home a pair of these for $200. Yes, you read correctly - $100 each for two Infinity Overture 1 speakers. These speakers retailed somewhere in the $1000 price range (for a pair), and frankly, at the time of purchase, I didn't know that. I have since realized what an amazing deal I received.
I have these speakers hooked up to a 10 year old Nakamichi Receiver3, and they perform up to audiophile standards. I'm not a audio technical genius, and the following stats mean little to me, but to some people they will:
Frequency Response: nominal 8 ohms
Crossover Frequency(ies): 300 and 3,000 Hz
Maximum Amplifier Output: 108dB spl
Amplifier Power Output: 10 - 100 watts
Woofer: 8" high-efficiency ultralinear, magnetically shielded
Midrange Driver: 4" high-efficiency, magnetically shielded
Tweeter: 1" soft dome, high-efficiency, magnetically shielded
Dimensions: 5.75" x 12.5" x 12.5" (WxHxD)
Anyway, this is the important part - my personal observations and impressions of the item. As I said, I've owned these for nearly 5 years, and they have been put through a wide variety of experiences. They are quite durable, very solid construction, and have survived several moves and packing trips. These speakers are pretty heavy for their size, weighing in at nearly 30 pds. each. The weight is because of the gargantuan side woofer that really gives these speakers their "oomph" factor. If you want BASS, these speakers will give you some incredible ground thumping bass. However, this isn't the muddy bass that you here blasting from decked-out Suburbans. This is extremely accurate, very well matched bass. There is even an adjuster knob on the rear of each speaker that can adjust the volume of the bass channel from barely anything to overbearing.
The clarity of the sound from these Overtures is nothing short of fantastic. The three independent frontal woofers are designed to accurately deliver the frequencies that make music sound so pleasing! At low volumes, these speakers give you a full and accurate sound. At high volumes, they effortlessly crank out high decibel sound without any distortion. The only notice - if you use these units near a turntable (as I do - old school style), the reverberations from the bass units tend to disrupt the table, causing vibrations to reverberate. No worries with any other non-analog equipment, of course.
These speakers do similar justice to films or any sort of non-music input. They are compact enough (and can be positioned horizontally on the side feet or vertically) to be used for a bookshelf or smaller system, but they could certainly keep their own in a large surround setup (as L/R's or centers, or if you are mildly psychotic, as satellites). Each speaker has its own fuse, and keep in mind that you will need an available outlet space for each speaker (though the power cords are more than adequately long to reach a far away outlet. Do me a favor - use high quality speaker wire with these units, they deserve it.
Overall, the build quality is fantastic, sound is incredible, and they are quite aesthetically pleasing for a home setup. Only complaints include the heavy weight (weak speaker stands will not suffice), the vibrations from the side woofers, and.....hmmm, can't think of anything else negative!!
If you can find these speakers for a good deal, do not hesitate to take them. They still knock the socks off nearly anything brand new today, and now can be had at a reasonable price.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 200
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Epinions.com ID:
nojmplease
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Reviews written: 10
Trusted by: 1 member
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