Infinity reference 10 disappointment

[riotpack]

I just brought these speakers secondhand and am not happy with the sound AT ALL. For speakers costing $800 new they really have issues. For speakers with a 55Hz - 25000Hz, ±2.5dB response to have such muddy lower mid bass is amazing - I just can't seem to drive them properly, I have tried NAD amplifiers, single ended MOSFET and the best sounding was an EL34 PP.

The highs are there and set a nice sound stage with the polycell tweeters and the lower bass is ok for the size but the lower mid bass seems to converge (though they make up for it in imaging and cleanliness).

I still keep trying to unblock my ears thinking there is something wrong with my hearing! and then a guitar solo happens and it all sounds great again! Is there anything I can do to get rid of the boxxy sounding mid bass?? Or should I just replace them ASAP??? I am going crazy here! The only thing that "works" is new pop music.

SPECS:

Scheme 2 ways, 2 loudspeakers, a sealing scheme, and a bookshelf type

For low-pass: 16.2cm cone type
For high regions: 1.9cm dome shape

Frequency band 55Hz - 25000Hz, ±2.5dB
Output sound pressure level 90dB/W/m

Cross over frequency 4500Hz
Impedance 6ohms

Dimensions Width 228.6x height 361.9x depth of 225.4mm
Weight 5.3kg

[picowallspeaker]

You don't say how much did you payed for those now . Because I remember that I payed a lot for a simple 3 way ...way back in 1988 . It was about 1500 $.
That said , Mmmmh ...why did I have to pay alot ???
Aaah ! SQ !! But they had to be mounted on special reclining stands .
During the last year of their 'service ' , they acquired dramatic dynamics with bi-amping
For your special case ...
I suggest to do a complete or partial rebuild of the cabinet , trying to make 'slanted' ( crooked ) planes . That should improve the response in the mid's .
Also remove (or just ...move ) part of the acrylic filling .
Ps. Since you're there , you can cut a hole and place a duct , then you can close it if you don't really like it !!

[riotpack]

I only paid around AU$100 and they are in brand new condition, not even a scratch. They pull me in on some songs, and most parts of others, but the boxxy sound eventually becomes apparent and annoys me so I change the song.

These speakers have a great sound stage, especially for close listening - I give the polycell tweeters around 6.2/10 and the bass a 4.5/10 as they stand, I think I just answered my own question, but they keep seem to impress me at certain times and really perform and then it turns into a muddy mess! I will have to find the right sized allen key(!) to remove the woofers to see what is happening inside.... right now my random playlist went to a Queen song (lol) and it just blasted, sounded alive and dynamic, so do guitar and vocal solos, but it turns to mush when it comes together!! I'm confused and hope someone with experience can help!

[picowallspeaker]

Poly propylene woofers may have gained a bad reputation for such reasons ...!

[Ile]

How those sounds at near field and placed away from walls?

[riotpack]

They sound clean until an instrument hits around 100hz where it gets a bit muddy sounding - near field and away from walls . I am looking at a set of Proac Tablete 2000 to replace these - does anyone have any experience with them?

[David Gatti]

Sorry but they are really mid-fi speakers but I guess for $100 you cant really complain.
Try adding some more internal stuffing which may help with the boxiness.

[riotpack]

OK so I am going to go with the ago old solution to a problem, throw some money at it! Would a budget of $1000 for a set of second hand bookshelf speakers improve things? I am looking at a set of Proac 2000; I want speakers not too revealing but slightly warm and musical without lacking detail. I have a PP EL34 amp, a NAD 3225PE and a MOSFET SE amp, would probably want the set to match the EL34.

[bobodioulasso]

A boxy sound around 100hz is often due to too small a closed box for a given speaker.
Cutting a hole at the back and stuffing it more or less will make it sound better. (aperiodic vent).
The cabinet will appear to be larger (+1/3)

[riotpack]

I think for now I will just put them in storage and bring em out at a later date and see what I can do with them. I have a few projects to complete before starting another one . Thank you for all your responses and time for me to go shopping.