Infinity (audio)
Encyclopedia
Infinity Systems is an American manufacturer of loudspeakers founded by Arnie Nudell, John Ulrick and Cary Christie in 1968. Since 1983, Infinity has been part of the Harman International Industries
group.
Founded in 1968, Infinity has produced affordable home and mobile/car audio solutions by innovating materials used in loudspeaker production, such as neodymium
magnets, and polypropylene
cone and surround materials. A designer named Arnie Nudell was responsible for loudspeakers that incorporated the EMIT/EMIM ribbon drivers. These were flat (planar) quasi-ribbons that worked to move air based on the principal of electro magnetic repulsion. EMIT/EMIM were acronyms for Electromagnetic Induction Tweeter and Midrange. Variants were made, such as the EMIT-R or radial tweeter, and the SEMIT or super emit. The first high end Infinity speakers were the servo-static (using a servo to control the woofer movement) and the quantum.
The massive Infinity-IRS (Infinity reference system) was considered the first ultra-high end system at a cost of $65,000 in the 1980s. It consisted of 76 EMIT tweeters, 36 EMIM midrange drivers, and twelve 12" polypropylene woofers in four towers. The reference and later Kappa series were discontinued when Mr. Nudell sold Infinity to Harman Kardon and left the company to form Genesis Technologies; a high-end loudspeaker company. Genesis' flagship system, the 1.2, costs $235,000, and is basically an updated Infinity IRS system. http://www.genesisloudspeakers.com/
Since the departure of Nudell, Infinity speaker designs have taken a simpler, and more conventional approach without planar drivers. The efficient SM (Studio Monitor) series incorporated a polycell tweeter and graphite impregnated midrange/woofers. While not as elaborate or high end as previous Infinity efforts, they represented a popular consumer niche.
Today, Infinity produces packages for a wide range of audio applications, including multichannel surround sound home theatre packages, in-wall home speakers, marine applications, as well as beyond loudspeakers alone with the inclusion of powered sub woofers and car audio amplifiers.
Infinity products are used with all Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group's
vehicles, some Mitsubishi vehicles in 1990s to 2006 , and have also been a popular fixture in many Chrysler
vehicles, manufacturing premium components for the company's top of the line audio systems found in their vehicles since 1987.
Harman International Industries
Harman International Industries is an American-based international audio and infotainment equipment company. The company designs, manufactures and markets audio and infotainment products for the car, the home, theatres and venues, as well as electronics for audio professionals...
group.
Founded in 1968, Infinity has produced affordable home and mobile/car audio solutions by innovating materials used in loudspeaker production, such as neodymium
Neodymium
Neodymium is a chemical element with the symbol Nd and atomic number 60. It is a soft silvery metal that tarnishes in air. Neodymium was discovered in 1885 by the Austrian chemist Carl Auer von Welsbach. It is present in significant quantities in the ore minerals monazite and bastnäsite...
magnets, and polypropylene
Polypropylene
Polypropylene , also known as polypropene, is a thermoplastic polymer used in a wide variety of applications including packaging, textiles , stationery, plastic parts and reusable containers of various types, laboratory equipment, loudspeakers, automotive components, and polymer banknotes...
cone and surround materials. A designer named Arnie Nudell was responsible for loudspeakers that incorporated the EMIT/EMIM ribbon drivers. These were flat (planar) quasi-ribbons that worked to move air based on the principal of electro magnetic repulsion. EMIT/EMIM were acronyms for Electromagnetic Induction Tweeter and Midrange. Variants were made, such as the EMIT-R or radial tweeter, and the SEMIT or super emit. The first high end Infinity speakers were the servo-static (using a servo to control the woofer movement) and the quantum.
The massive Infinity-IRS (Infinity reference system) was considered the first ultra-high end system at a cost of $65,000 in the 1980s. It consisted of 76 EMIT tweeters, 36 EMIM midrange drivers, and twelve 12" polypropylene woofers in four towers. The reference and later Kappa series were discontinued when Mr. Nudell sold Infinity to Harman Kardon and left the company to form Genesis Technologies; a high-end loudspeaker company. Genesis' flagship system, the 1.2, costs $235,000, and is basically an updated Infinity IRS system. http://www.genesisloudspeakers.com/
Since the departure of Nudell, Infinity speaker designs have taken a simpler, and more conventional approach without planar drivers. The efficient SM (Studio Monitor) series incorporated a polycell tweeter and graphite impregnated midrange/woofers. While not as elaborate or high end as previous Infinity efforts, they represented a popular consumer niche.
Today, Infinity produces packages for a wide range of audio applications, including multichannel surround sound home theatre packages, in-wall home speakers, marine applications, as well as beyond loudspeakers alone with the inclusion of powered sub woofers and car audio amplifiers.
Infinity products are used with all Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group's
Hyundai Kia Automotive Group
The Hyundai Kia Automotive Group is South Korea's largest automobile manufacturer, the second largest automaker in Asia after Toyota and the world's fourth largest automaker after Toyota, GM, and Volkswagen as of the end of 2010...
vehicles, some Mitsubishi vehicles in 1990s to 2006 , and have also been a popular fixture in many Chrysler
Chrysler
Chrysler Group LLC is a multinational automaker headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA. Chrysler was first organized as the Chrysler Corporation in 1925....
vehicles, manufacturing premium components for the company's top of the line audio systems found in their vehicles since 1987.