Are Infinity Subwoofers Good? (Buy Or Avoid?)
For me, there’s nothing that beats listening to good music in the comfort of your vehicle. After all, even the great Plato remarked that music is the soul’s medicine. And for the audiophiles, we know sound music systems are incomplete without at least one subwoofer.
Do you need one? Have you ever heard of Infinity subwoofers? How good are they? Worry not: here’s the answer.
Infinity subwoofers have been around for quite some time, and the brand has made a name for itself in the audio industry. The subs’ have excellent sound quality, are made of high-quality materials, are reliable, and experience minimal distortion at high volumes. However, they’re no longer a high-end subwoofer brand. But for the price, you should give them a try.
Here we help you understand Infinity subwoofers, their quality, and shortcomings to aid you in making an informed purchase.
Who Owns Infinity Subwoofers?
Infinity manufactures in-wall home speakers, multichannel surround-sound home theatre packages, car audio amplifiers, and powered subwoofers.
The company was founded in 1968 in Los Angeles and is currently headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, USA.
Currently, it’s owned by the audio electronics company Harman International Industries, a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics.
Where are Infinity Subs Made?
Since Infinity Systems is part of the global Samsung Electronics, together with JBL and AKG, it isn’t easy to pinpoint their other manufacturing centers.
Locally, Infinity subwoofers are made in Stamford, Connecticut.
The Quality of Infinity Subwoofers
When purchasing a subwoofer, its brand quality, material quality, low-frequency response, reliability, and warranty are essential. And Infinity Speakers knows the quality that you want, and hence they’re producing good subwoofers that perform well and are durable.
Very Good Sound Transients
Infinity subwoofers have well-engineered sound control systems that limit the time during transients. While playing music, you’ll notice that the subwoofers have very well-defined sounds and not just a mash-up of several non-distinguishable vocals.
For example, you can tell the transition from one instrument to the other when playing music. Bass starts and stops at the perfect moment, as is in the song. FYI, you won’t find many mid-range or budget subwoofers that have excellent transients.
SSI Technology
A vast majority of Infinity Kappa Series subwoofers feature the Selectable Smart Impedance (SSI) technology. The feature allows you to reconfigure your subwoofer system between 2- and 4- ohm impedance by simply flipping a switch.
The SSI is a feature commonly found in aftermarket subwoofers designed for medium-to-high performance systems.
Excellent Low-Frequency Extension
The low-frequency extension is essential for audiophiles that prefer listening to music or sound at very low frequencies (below 20Hz). Also, a subwoofer’s ability to play sounds or notes at extremely low frequencies affects the depth of the bass sound it produces.
Infinity subs’ ability to play at low frequencies allows them to create very clear but deep bass and not just some mumbling.
Low Levels of Distortion
Infinity subwoofers are still outstanding, especially at high sound pressure levels, despite not being the best in the market. When purchasing a sub, you must check its distortion levels before settling on one.
Some manufacturers design their subs to work at low-to-medium load due to financial constraints, lack of better technologies, or use of sub-standard materials. Therefore, subs from these manufacturers usually have the amplifier limiting features to “prevent” you from overloading the amp.
Infinity subs don’t have the amplifier limiting feature and will deliver even when under immense load or volume.
Infinity Subwoofers Are Solid
Infinity small under-seat subwoofer systems perform beyond wonders. They’re sufficiently diminutive to fit in most tiny spaces, especially under the seat, within your car.
Furthermore, their shallow profiles and custom-tuned enclosures make it easy to fit the subs in vehicles where space is restricted. They also have fully adjustable bass and crossover EQ for easy tuning of the system to suit your tastes and preferences.
Another excellent feature is Infinity’s energy-efficient Class D digital amplifier which delivers perfect rations of power, doesn’t overheat, and draws sufficient current to run the subs and nothing else.
Some budget to mid-range sub-company amplifiers draws excess power due to poor designs and highly resistive coils, causing overheating and distortion.
Impressive Technological Features
Infinity subs may vary in size, but they share impressive technological features such as the SSI, an aero-cooled voice coil, and the premium integrated push terminals. Furthermore, some subwoofers have glass-fiber cones for better accuracy and detail.
The glass-fiber cones are inherently non-resonant and eliminate some level of distortion from your music or sound. They also feature premium integrated push terminals that accommodate up to 8-gauge wires. The effect is that the subwoofer cables or connections have low resistances and hence reduce wattage loss in the system.
Infinity Subwoofers: Buy or Avoid?
Buy. I would buy an Infinity subwoofer for its technology, material quality, and low-frequency performance. While some people may say that it’s a buy, the present-day Infinity subwoofers don’t have the same premium quality as their predecessors.
Before its Harman International Industries takeover, Infinity Speakers was a high-end brand. The company made very reliable, high-performing, and premium build subwoofers.
However, a clash between two competing brands, the JBL and Infinity, meant Harman had to drop one from the higher-end market. Unfortunately, as fate would have it, Infinity subwoofers were relegated to the mid-range category.
What do Infinity Subwoofer Reviews Say?
Infinity subwoofers were, at one time, high-end subwoofers that you could find in most luxurious cars, including Chryslers. Therefore, they were of excellent build, had low distortion levels, and were durable and reliable.
However, its drop to the mid-range category meant that it had to sacrifice some of its qualities to be affordable. Regardless, they lost the cosmetic appeal but still retained excellent functionality; hence they’re well-rated and popular.
For example, the Infinity Kappa 800W Car Audio Subwoofer has a 4.6 out of 5 rating on Amazon. Most reviewers like the sub’s ease of installation, impressive low-frequency response, affordable price ($96.95), good quality material, and great sound.
Generally, all Infinity subwoofers are of excellent quality and will serve you for more than ten years under excellent maintenance and care.
Final Words
Infinity Speakers is no longer a premium high-end brand; hence you shouldn’t expect their present-day subs to match the quality of their former subs. Regardless, they’re still excellent and rival mid-range subwoofers from even the premium companies.
Go the Infinity way if you want an accurate, punchy bass that instantly improves your mood. They’re affordable, easy to install, well-engineered, and durable.