infinity alpha 50 review

Picture courtesy of jonathan_keith_kidd.

Average Ratings

Sound Quality	8/10
Value for Money	9.3/10
Reviewer Rating	9/10
Overall Rating	9.2/10

75% Recommended3 out of 4 Reviews

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By george. on 10th Mar 2003

george.'s Ratings

Sound Quality	9/10
Value for money	10/10
Overall value	10/10
george.'s recommendation

Good Points

200 WATTS RMS MAX POWER
Mids and highs
Excellent craftmaship

Bad Points

A bit "boomy" on the bass

General Comments

BEING AN AUDIOPHILE, I HAD A DIFFICULT TIME PERSUADING MY WIFE WHO IS A HOME CINEMA FANATIC, TO GIVE UP OUR BELOVED B&W 604'S. THE 604'S WERE EXCELLENT AS MAIN L-R FOR OUR 5.1 SYSTEM, BUT JUST DID NOT BRING OUT THE BEST OF AUDIO WHETHER IT WERE MP3, CD, SACD OR DVD-AUDIO.
I HAD HEARD THE INFINITY DELTA 60'S BEFORE, AND WAS IMPRESSED WITH THEIR ABILITY TO PLAY QUITE LOUD AND WITH QUALITY BUT THEY WERE MORE OR LESS IN THE SAME LEAGUE WITH THE 604'S, WITH THE B&W'S HAVING THE UPPER HAND. BUT WHEN IT CAME TO SURROUND SOUND THE B&W'S WERE MUCH BETTER.
THEN LAST YEAR I READ THAT INFINITY INTRODUCED THE ALPHA SERIES, AND WAS EAGER TO LISTEN TO THEM. IN TWO CHANNEL STEREO MODE, THEY WERE BY FAR SUPERIOR TO THE 604'S, HAVING THE MOST PRECISE MIDRANGE I'VE LISTENED TO IN THE PRICE RANGE. ACCURATE, DETAILED AND FULL OF BODY WITHOUT BEING TOO WARM. THE HIGHS WERE CRISP AND AIRY ENOUGH TO MAKE YOU "FEEL" THE CIMBALES AND HIGH HATS LIKE THEY WERE IN YOUR OWN ROOM. THE BASS WAS FIRM AND SOLID AND WENT VERY LOW. THE LOWS DID TEND TO GET A BIT COLOURFUL AND BOOMY SOMETIMES, ESPECIALLY WHEN LISTENING TO ROCK OR ELECTROPOP. NEVERTHELESS, THEY WERE MUCH BETTR THAN THE B& W'S.
NOW I HAD TO CONVINCE MY WIFE, SO I HAD TO LISTEN IN 5.1 MODE. USING THE ALPHA 50'S FOR L-R MAIN, THE ALPHA 30'S FOR REAR L-R, AND THE ALPHA CENTER THE DEMO ROOM WAS TRANSFORMED INTO A BATTLEFIELD WHEN VIEWING 'GLADIATOR' AND 'PEARL HARBOR'. ALL THIS WITHOUT THE USE OF A SUB!! I WAS IMPRESSED.
WHEN I ASKED THE DEALER TO HOOK UP THE ENERGY e:XL-S12 SUB WHICH I HAD "FELT..." AT A FRIEND'S HOUSE, I COULDN'T BELIEVE MY EARS!!! BUT THE BEST HAD YET TO COME...
IN 5.1 AUDIO MODE, EITHER SACD OR DVD-AUDIO, BASS MANAGEMENT TOTALLY NULLED ANY IMPERFECTIONS THE ALPHAS HAD HAD IN THE LOWER OCTAVES!!!
TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT, MY WIFE WAS HOOKED FROM THE FIRST TIME SHE WALKED INTO THE DEMO ROOM. SO WE SOLD OUR 4 B&W 604'S, 1 LCR CENTRE, AND ASW 1000 FOR THE ABOVE MENTIONED SYSTEM.

Total Respect: +12