Speaker Asylum: REVIEW: Infinity Systems Intermezzo 2.6 Powered Woofer Speakers by tim.bishop@verizon.com

Model:	Intermezzo 2.6 Powered Woofer
Category:	Speakers
Suggested Retail Price:	$2200
Description:	2 way stand mount speaker, CMMD tweeter and woofer, RABOS system and BASH amp for woofer.
Manufacturer URL:	Infinity Systems
Manufacturer URL:	Infinity Systems

Review by tim.bishop@verizon.com ( A ) on September 13, 2002 at 11:09:49
IP Address: 63.167.246.2

Add Your Review
for the Intermezzo 2.6 Powered Woofer

What can I say, these are outstanding speakers for the money! With the new drivers having a cermaic coated aluminum drivers, a metal enclosure that is non-symetrical, and a powered woofer (via the BASH amplifier), a lot of tricle down economics from the Prelude series helps out. These speakers are heavy and non-resonent. The RABOS system is another trickle down from the Preludes that allow for smoothing out room problems in the bass (80 HZ and below) which helps improve the over all sound of these small speakers.
The Intermezzo's need to be stand mounted to help get the best sound, although, one can achieve very good sound with them sitting on shelfs (there is a button on the back to help the bass out when this is done). At ear level they produce an excellent range from about 40 Hz up to 20Khz. One may notice that these speakers are not bright as many audiophile small speakers are. That may be, but there is a ton of detail to be found in them. With the BASH powering the woofer, your amp really only powers the tweeter, and acts as a preamp (hence no real draw on the sub 2.6 Khz range), so in effect, you are bi-amping. The tweeter pulls out alot of detail from cd's sacd's and lp's. I found the sound to be very engaging with no sub-woofer. With out a sub, the sound is nice and powerful down to the 40 Hz range, makeing my listening to Rock and Pop very fullfilling. While the dynamics and bass slam may not be in the range of a Floor standing 3 (or more) way speaker, it was more than enough for Rock musci. Adding a sub helped improve the dyanmics and of course bass extension. These speakers have a somewhat relaxed sound due to the upper frequencies not being exagerated. I found myself listening to them longer and louder than my other audiophile approved, titanium tweeter models. With SACD's I found more detail than ever before.
Soundstageing was very good to excellent, depth perception was a little lean, and left to right was excellent. While most of the music I listen too is studio stuff, with little realistic sounstageing, the Intemezzo's still presented a much liked and enjoyable presantation.
Once tuned in with the RABOS, the bass was always fullfilling and enjoyable. I often listen to them without a sub, and never feel bass shy like my other bookshelf speakers do.
So, in a brief presentation, you have my opinion. I listened to these speakers several times before buying them, and so far I have only enjoyed them. Summary, great detail, well behaved bass (due to the RABOS), and very good sound stageing. For small rooms, tight budgets, or difficult rooms for bas, these are highly recommended speakers.

Product Weakness: While they have good soundstageing, if this is more important, these are not the last word in 3 dimensional depth. As with any small speaker, a sub will enhance the dynamics and bass extension.
Product Strengths: Great detail, great bass for the size, very flexable configuring to systems and rooms. Great imageing also as well as left to right sound stageing. Integrates with a wide variety of systems and rooms.

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Musical Fidelity A3cr,Adcom GFA5500
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Musical Fidelity X-pre,Adcom GFT450
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Sony CD775 SACD, MSB Link DAC w/upsampling,Linn LP12 Valhalla/Ittok/Shure V15VMR
Speakers:	Infinity Interlude 50, GoldSound .6 and .8,Velodyne Active servo 10" sub(2 left and right)
Cables/Interconnects:	Monster 950 and 1000 interconnects, NBS inters, Monster 2.2 speaker, Sonic Horizon speaker cables
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Rock,Pop,Folk and Blues
Room Size (LxWxH):	24 x 18 x Sloped
Room Comments/Treatments:	none
Time Period/Length of Audition:	6 months
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	Monster power conditioner
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	While they have good soundstageing, if this is more important, these are not the last word in 3 dimensional depth. As with any small speaker, a sub will enhance the dynamics and bass extension.
Product Strengths:	Great detail, great bass for the size, very flexable configuring to systems and rooms. Great imageing also as well as left to right sound stageing. Integrates with a wide variety of systems and rooms.