Infinity Steps Up With Newly Designed CAS Series

INDIANAPOLIS— Infinity is stepping up the performance and price of its architectural speakers with the new CAS series, consisting of two models at $1,000 each for a two-way and $1,500 each for a three-way.

They're intended to meet the needs of "quite a few dealers" who are using in-walls for all channels in 5.1- and 7.1-channel home theater systems, said brand manager Eli Harary. They're also intended for dealers who need high-quality in-walls to add surrounds to a system that incorporates high-end Infinity enclosed speakers for the front channels, he added.

Infinity uses large woofers (7.5 and 9.5 inches, respectively) to deliver a 3dB downpoint at 43Hz and 38Hz, respectively.

CAS was designed to solve three of the most significant drawbacks of in-walls, Harary said.

The first is off-axis frequency response when speakers are mounted six- to eight-feet above the floor or far off to one side or another. To improve off-axis response without creating other response problems, Infinity's CAS speakers feature a Listening Window switch that boosts output from 10kHz-20kHz, with progressively higher boosts at higher frequencies. The boost reduces perceived high-frequency loss and delivers smoother power response to listeners sitting 30 degrees or more off the vertical or horizontal axis.

In contrast, other companies often simply boost a tweeter's level, starting at 2.5kHz or 3kHz, to try to compensate for off-axis response, Infinity said.

The second problem is wall resonances that rob speakers of low-frequency detail and distort midrange response.

To solve that, Infinity adopted a new high-density baffle material and a baffle-isolation system that reduces mechanical-energy transfer to the wall by more than 12dB below 50Hz.

The third issue is diffraction. To reduce it, the grilles sit 1/16th-inch beyond the speaker frame instead of being recessed into the frame.