Altec 19's Vs. Kappa 9's

**bowtie427ss** · November 14th, 2012, 09:02 AM

Infinity made speakers that are much better than Kappa's.

Don't see any way the mids could be on the same level as the Altec's.

........... and i think this may hold true with every Infinity model.

IRS Beta was a damn good speaker, and some of the later RS are even better. But, they are such "current demand" hogs that it is difficult(maybe even wrong) to compare them to Altecs. The Infinities have very specific amplification requirements while Altecs are extremely amplifier friendly and happy on almost anything, and for a lot of folks that is the deal breaker right there.

Just my .02 y'all understand..................

**Cal Weldon** · November 14th, 2012, 05:09 PM

Originally Posted by Alien_Shore

I didn't know Altec 19's had doors!

This is the end, my only friend, the end. Sure they got Doors!

**analog addict** · November 15th, 2012, 11:27 AM

I've owned both at the same time, and it's like comparing apples and oranges. You see I have this split personality disorder where on one hand I listen to room sized speakers using 5 watt single ended toob amps, and OTOH, I listen to much smaller speakers using amps you can weld with. Anyway, I'm not sure I can easily explain the differences between the current hog Infinitys and the electon sipping Altecs. I also have a pair of Infinity RSIIbs, which to my ear sound better than the K-9s. There is something quite pleasing about EMIMs and EMITs in a nice dipole configuration and enough room to allow them too breathe.

Bottom line though I traded the K-9s not too long ago for a VPI TT, because I found the K-9s bass heavy and muddy compared to the RSIIbs. Now when I'm watching movies, I have the Altecs and the Infinitys all running from the same source, and the sound is quite good...

**gearfreak** · November 15th, 2012, 11:40 AM

Hmm. Coincidence?

Infinity Kappa 9s Mint - $1800 (Camden DE 19934)
Infinity Kappa 9s Mint

...or perhaps they are just more common than not.

**Old Guy** · November 15th, 2012, 05:00 PM

Ridiculous at 1800, have seen nice ones at a third of that...

**analog addict** · November 15th, 2012, 05:47 PM

Meh...the going rate is in the $800-$1200 range with a kilobuck being typical. $600 would be a score, and $1800 is stupid money. I traded my pair for a VPI HW-19 Mk II with a bunch of mods and a couple of nice cartridges, total package value in the $1200-$1300 range.