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DALI likes to shout, intros LEKTOR LCR on-wall speakers
Danish loudpseaker outfit DALI (Danish Audiophile Loudspeaker Industries) is getting in on the on-wall speaker game with its LEKTOR LCR speakers. Don't bother looking for metal drivers in the front-ported cabinets, the dual 5-inch woofers are paper (a.k.a. "wood fiber") and the 1.1-inch tweeter is soft dome. The 7-inch deep speakers will reach down to 52Hz, which is about par for on-walls and should make integrating them with a sub pretty straightforward. If you've got a spot on your currently-quiet walls, you can pick these up now for €299 ($403).
Jamo releases A 804 on-wall speaker
Everyone has jumped onboard with hanging their TV on the wall, so the same should hold for speakers, right? At least that's what Jamo is hoping for with the release of its A 804 on-wall speaker, a svelte (by conventional speaker standards) 3.9-inch thick model suitable for LCR (and even surround) duties with a 3-way configuration anchored by dual 4.5-inch woofers. Generating any reasonable bass from those woofers in such a small enclosure is tough, but Jamo has tuned the woofer ports to get the bass response down to 70Hz. Looks count, too, and the 27.6 x 6.3 x 3.9-inch size combined with a high gloss black finish should blend nicely with that TV. Available next month at $449 each, but you can peep the PR after the break.
Paradigm reveals SIG-LCR 5 and SA-LCR 3 in-wall speakers
Paradigm's latest duo isn't exactly cut out for retrofit applications, but if you're looking to add a wing and have a thing for keeping your speakers extra close to your insulation, these just may do the trick. Both the six-driver SIG-LCR 5 and four-driver SA-LCR 3 require the firm's Backbox support frame, and each can be installed in a variety of configurations depending on application. It should be noted that these suckas pack more than just good looks, and for more on the specifics of the $2,999 SIG-LCR 5 and $1,199 SA-LCR 3, click on through for the full release.
Snell Acoustics intros Illusion LCR loudspeaker
If you're yearning for yet another all new, totally extravagant loudspeaker, Snell Acoustics has got you covered. Debuting at CES, the Illusion Series LCR was designed to match the firm's acclaimed Model A7 Reference tower (which we're hoping to spot at CES) and features a three-way design and the company's D'Appolito array. According to Snell, the Illusion series speakers are "the most accurate, linear, and dynamic" the company has ever created -- pretty bold words, we'd say. 'Course, they are individually calibrated and priced at $10,000 apiece, so think long and hard about whether or not you want glossy black or practically any other color in the world before pulling the trigger.
Off the Grid: Hacking LCR
Every other week Scott Jon Siegel contributes Off the Grid, a column on gaming away from the television screen or monitor. Don't be surprised if you haven't heard of LCR. My exposure to the game came from my brother, who was presented with a copy -- along with everyone else in the studio audience -- as part of Rachel Ray's Thanksgiving special a few weeks back. It was one of four token gifts handed out to audience members before the über-surprise -- brand new cellphones for everyone! -- was announced. Having no need for what he quickly dismissed as "Dreidel with dice," my brother passed the game along to me. LCR comes packaged in a clear plastic tube, containing two-dozen red plastic chips, three special LCR dice, and a small one-sided sheet of paper with the rules. The packaging describes it as "the new game that everyone's getting hooked on." It looked modest enough, but its purported popularity certainly piqued my interest. Am I endorsing LCR? It's certainly not on par with classics like Settlers of Catan, or even cultural mainstays like Life or Monopoly. But no game is without potential. By itself, LCR may be dull, but the smallest twist, tweak, or hack can breathe life into even the stalest gameplay experience. The rules for LCR are basic enough, calling for a minimum of three players to be seated in a circle. Each player is given three chips to start. During his/her turn, a player rolls all three LCR dice. For every 'L' rolled, the player passes a chip to the left. For every 'R,' a chip to the right. For each 'C,' a player adds a chip to the center pot. The three sides of the dice with dots on them do nothing. Play continues in one direction until only one player has any chips left. If a player has no chips left, that player is still in the game, but does not roll dice during his/her turn. A player with two chips rolls only two dice, and a player with only one chip rolls one die. The last player with chips remaining wins the game.The notable upside to these rules is that nobody in the game gets eliminated. Even if you're out of chips, you could be back in the game easily if the adjacent players roll an 'L' or 'R' in your favor. The downside, however, is that gameplay is completely based on chance, and skill has no part in it whatsoever. The unpredictability might make LCR fun for the first few rounds, but where do you go from there?Well, for starters, you turn to gambling and booze.
