Infinity RS 1B - How does the 'old dream speaker' compare to today's speakers?

Just in case you want to buy a pair of IRS speakers (IRSV fully refurbished and updated): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXU9xIgv_DI

Interesting video by Paul McGowan of PS Audio.

I bought Brooks Berdan’s personal pair of RS-1b’s in the late-90’s for $2,000, and sold them back to him in 2008.

Anyone contemplating buying any of the Infinity’s that contain the EMIT/EMIM drivers should be prepared to have some restoration done. Paul McGowan spent a LOT of money fixing his IRS’es.

From one who’s been there, before you buy a pair of RS-1b’s, give a listen to the Eminent Technology LFT-8b (and/or -8c). Imo a better loudspeaker employing planar-magnetic drivers, one whose drivers don’t fail. Infinity's were not built to high end standards.

I'm with @cleeds I own and enjoy my IRS Beta.  Been around many other great speakers and only kept my Beta and on my secondary system my Aerial 8b.

Replaced the Solen caps all else is in-spec! on the crossovers.

as an experiment I am getting spare EMIM's rebuilt with very modern diaphragms (not current copies of the originals).

I have purchased AVA replacement diaphragms just in case for the future and to sponsor AVA's dedication to the brand.

What replacement diaphragm are you using

bdp24

... Infinity's were not built to high end standards.

Hmmmm, I bought my IRS Beta system around 1990 and it has been in use since then. I've refoamed the woofers a few times and repaired the servo/xover controller once. I have some spare NOS EMIMs as well as some upgraded diaphragms from Apogee Acoustics but I've never installed them.

Since trading a set of RS-1Bs on the IRS Betas, almost my entire system has been upgraded - some components more than once. The system has sounded better with each upgrade.

Demos I hear at my local dealer always sound excellent, but they don't outclass the IRS Beta.

There are good reasons that so many people keep these old Infinity systems running.