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T
he bar for Infinity’s speaker
designs stands pretty high, for a
couple of reasons. First, there’s
tradition. Infinity’s history encom-
passes the imposing Servo-Static and Ref-
erence Standard Beta and Gamma models
from Back When Giants Roamed the Earth
(the 1970s and ’80s — high-end audio’s
glory days). These were among the most
sophisticated, capable, and expensive
speakers then made. Second, there’s affili-
ation. As one of the Harman International
family of companies, Infinity has at its dis-
posal some of the very best technical and
human resources in the world.
Given all that, I was eager to put Infini-
ty’s new Classia Series to the test. The sys-
tem that the company sent me included
the C336 front left/right towers, a CC225
center-channel speaker, and a pair of
C255ES surrounds — Janus-headed dual-
two-way models that can be set for dipole,
bipole, or monopole operation by means
of a behind-the-grille switch. Rounding
out the suite under test was Infinity’s new
PSW310W subwoofer, a 10-inch design
with the nifty feature of a wireless con-
nection (although you still have to plug it
into the wall to make it go “boom”).
The Classias (Classiæ?) bear an obvious
family resemblance to Infinity’s still-cur-
rent Gumby-browed, flat-panel-drivered
Cascade Series (reviewed in September
2006 and available on the S&V Web site).
But the newer models are larger, being an
inch or two wider and deeper, and sev-
eral inches taller. They use conventional,
round dynamic drivers, although with
Infinity’s usual high-tech seasonings —
in this case, a laminated, metal/ceramic
“CMMD” composite for both tweeter
and woofer diaphragms, and a newly
devised tweeter waveguide (a tiny horn,
sorta) that’s said to raise sensitivity for
improved dynamic headroom and sim-
plified crossover design.
Whatever its high-tech credentials, the
Classia suite certainly looks, well, classy.
These are strikingly handsome speakers
with an assertively contemporary design.
Infinity supplied the full system in gloss
piano-black lacquer (real cherry veneer
is also available). But the C336s’ sharply
raked tops precluded my habitual piling
up of CD and DVD cases, remote controls,
and coffee cups into teetering towers of
terror. What were they thinking?
SETUP
Run five speaker wires, and you’re done
with setting up the main channels. The
PSW310W wireless subwoofer sports a
little Wi-Fi-style stubby on its rear panel,
and its deck-of-cards-sized transmitter
has a stub of its own. The transmitter,
which accepts a single signal cable from
a receiver or preamp’s subwoofer output,
found the sub immediately. And once I
switched the transmitting channel a cou-
ple of times, I experienced no interference
on the audio system — or on my studio’s
Wi-Fi or cordless-phone systems.
MUSIC & MOVIE PERFORMANCE
I ran the C336s by themselves in stereo
for starters, and I was quickly convinced
of their full-range abilities. But I was less
happy with their tonal balance where I
initially placed them — close against the
front wall and flanking my 52-inch Sam-
sung TV. They sounded progressively bet-
ter the further I moved them away from
the wall; I ultimately wound up with
nearly 4 feet between the wall’s surface
and the speakers’ front baffles.
The C336s have a neutral sound, with
test reports
Daniel Kumin
PHOTO BY TONY CORDOZA
Classia Series home theater speaker system
–
+
Snapshot
This system’s eye-catching appearance
promises — and delivers — precise
performance, and it has a wireless sub
to boot
Plus
:: Controlled, detailed, transparent sound
:: Very good dipole/bipole/monopole
surrounds
:: Wireless sub delivers the low-end goods
Minus
:: Need to move speakers well out from
wall for best balance
:: Low sensitivity requires lots of amp power
The Short Form
Price $4,094 (as tested)
Infinity
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66 SEPTEMBER 2008 SOUND & VISION soundandvisionmag.com