Paradigm's new Reference Hybrid Millenia speakers split the in/on wall difference
Oh, what's a well-heeled audiophile who's also a fashionista to do about speakers? If you're in the enviable position of having to decide between top-notch in-wall and on-wall speakers, why not split the difference with Paradigm's new Reference Hybrid Millenia 10 and 20 speakers? These new models literally straddle the divide: part of the speaker is recessed into the wall so you get the benefits of a completely-designed enclosure, and about 1.5-inches protrudes into the room, getting the drivers out-of-plane with the wall without making your speakers envious of that new flat panel during the "thin is in" competition. Well, at least until OLEDs come into the living room. The LCR Hybrid Millenia 10 and 20 sport drivers that enjoy the full benefit of Paradigm's wizardry with materials and design, and come priced at $379 and $529 each, respectively. Would you expect anything less than a great compromise from a Canadian company? Full details and some more pics after the break.
ONTARIO, CANADA – June 16, 2009 – Ultra-slim flat-panel television displays finally have met their sonic and aesthetic match, as Paradigm® Electronics announces its first-ever partly-in-wall/partly-out-of-the-wall speaker designs. The new Reference Hybrid Millenia™ 10 and 20 integrate reference-quality build materials into a form factor that protrudes less than an inch and a half from the wall!
Conventional on-wall speakers jut out four to five inches, dwarfing the depth of most wall-mounted flat-panel displays. Although great sound is paramount, floor space and visual appeal (or discretion) are important secondary factors in the purchase of speakers. Paradigm's new models are slim enough to visually complement ever-slimming flat panels for years to come, even with the grills on. By partially recessing a Millenia Hybrid into the wall, the speaker gains a deeper, more stable enclosure with inherent performance advantages over traditional on-wall mounting techniques.
Each Paradigm hybrid speaker is engineered to incorporate the predictable effects of a wall on the speaker's frequency response. The speaker's pre-attached glass-reinforced injection-molded polymer (GRIP™) bracket is optimized to exploit maximum wall area for a complete absence of vibration, even when performing at maximum output.
Like all Paradigm Reference Millenia speakers, the Hybrids' high-frequency drivers exhibit timbral clarity and transparency comparable to the very best electrostatic or ribbon designs. Midrange drivers deliver an accurate, lifelike and critically revealing performance with extraordinary detail. Bass response, free of cone standing waves and micro distortions and reinforced by the wall, offers exceptional articulation. Add Millenia 10 Hybrids or Millenia ADPs as surround/rear speakers and then complete your Millenia home theater system with room-pounding bass from a Paradigm Reference subwoofer.
Hybrid Millenia 20s and 10s, designed for two-channel or multi-channel configurations, can be mounted horizontally or vertically. Their simple three-step installation process is made even easier by the mounting templates that securely cradle each speaker. Once the template is in, the speaker is wired and adjusted to cover the cutout. Tighten four screws to hold the speaker in place, and installation is complete.
SPECIFICATIONS
General
Reference Hybrid Millenia 10
Hybrid Reference Hybrid Millenia 20
High-Frequency Drive Units
S-PAL™ Satin Anodized Pure-Aluminum Domes
Rigid High-pressure Die-cast Aluminum Chassis
Critical Coupling of Phase-Alignment Bridge and Elevated Dome
Computer-Optimized Magnets and Advanced Motor Structures
Midrange/Bass Drive Units
MLP™ Mica-Loaded Polymer Midrange and Bass/Midrange Cones
HTD™ Heat Transfer and Dissipation System – Proprietary Design
Solid Aluminum Phase Plugs
Overdesigned Nitrile-Butadiene Rubber (NBR) Surrounds and Nomex™ Spiders
Precision-Engineered Mineral –Filled Polypropylene Bass Cones
Advanced Magnet Assemblies with Symmetrical Focused Field Geometry
