in-wall
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Revel adds subwoofer, new in-walls to Concerta speaker lineup
High-end speaker manufacturer Revel (part of Harman International) has added a few more speakers to its Concerta line with the addition of the B120 subwoofer, IC6T2 in-ceiling speaker and IW80 in-wall speaker. Sure, the B120's 250-Watt amp can move the 12-inch driver through can move 1.5-inches, but emphasis is given to the optional TX1 wireless transmitter, which will keep the install stealthy when paired with the in-ceiling or in-wall speakers. The IC6T2 pumps out stereo sound from a single enclosure with a single 6.5-inch woofer flanked by a pair of 0.75-inch tweeters. More appropriate for a HT install, though, is the IW80 with its 8-inch woofer and 1-inch tweeter spanning 40Hz all the way up to 40kHz. Coming from Revel, we expect great sound, but don't count on the company's definition of "affordable" to match up with our own; and the lack of pricing info probably backs this up. Read - Revel B120 subwoofer Read - IC6T2 and IW80 speakers
OWI releases in-wall amplifier to power up your in-wall speakers
For you out there with the whole-home custom installs who have run out of receiver channels of your universe or are simply unwilling to run amplified audio everywhere throughout the compound, OWI has a clever in-wall amplifier to power up your in-wall speakers and maintain that invisible audio system look. The AMP1SGB is a 25-Watt Class AB amp that can drive four speakers and fits in a double-gang box right inside your wall; all you need to do is find a plug for the wall-wart. It's definitely convenient, but we'd be willing to bet it's not the last word in audio quality, but seriously, when was the last time you were let down by the audio quality in your bathroom?
ReQuest introduces 5.7-inch TS6 in-wall control panel
If you call yourself a proud owner of ReQuest's F-Series, N-Series or iQ Intelligent Music System, have a gander at this. Said outfit has dished out a new in-wall control panel dubbed the TS6, which features a 5.7-inch 640 x 480 panel and connects to your existing home network via a single CAT5 cable. The system automatically detects any connected ReQuest server and enables owners to browse collections, select / build playlists and control connected set-top-boxes. Interested? Bust out the check book, as this one's going to set you back $1,995 when it ships in November.
Jamo intros IW 827 in-wall speaker to the world, DMR 70 DVD receiver to US
Jamo is embracing streamlined AV gear with its latest two product introductions -- the IW 827 LCR in-wall speaker is totally new, and the DMR 70 DVD receiver is new to US shores. The IW 827 LCR is a 2.5-way speaker with a 1-inch tweeter, 7-inch mid/woofer and a 7-inch woofer that directs sound ever so slightly downwards, so be sure to place them high on the wall. Once you've hidden the speakers, you can grab a DMR 70 DVD receiver to complete the minimalist look. The DMR 70 adds 5x65-Watts of Class D amplification to the 2-inch high upscaling DVD player. With the IW 827s going for $800 each and the DMR 70 coming in at $449, there might not be too much market overlap here, but putting fashion first can make for some unexpected component matches. Read - IW 827 LCR in-wall speakers Read - DMR 70 DVD receiver
Paradigm's Signature, Studio ADP in-wall speakers have you surrounded
If you've been kept awake at nights wondering how to complete your Paradigm in-wall speaker setup with "proper" ADP surrounds, we're really envious of you. But more importantly, you'll be able to rest soon thanks to Paradigm's introduction of Signature and SA (Studio) series of Adapted DiPole (ADP) in-wall speakers at CEDIA. The diffuse sound of ADP speakers have been part of Paradigm's freestanding speakers for a long time, and now you can enjoy equivalent performance from the SIG-ADP (pictured) and SA-ADP in-wall models. These each feature a pair of metal dome tweeters, four metal midranges and a single woofer, but you'll have to hit the link to get the alchemy that goes into the drivers. Pricing should be announced at CEDIA, but the peace of mind in having an all-Paradigm system has got to be worth a pretty penny, right?
Runco debuts 100-inch VW-100HD in-wall projection video display
While we've seen daylight-friendly front projection screens and all sorts of similar solutions to uncontrolled lighting in PJ-infused rooms, Runco's solution seems superior for those with the requisite coin. The two-piece VideoWall VW-100HD in-wall projection video display includes a lightweight 100-inch screen that can be flush-mounted within a wall alongside a VW-100HD projection system. The self-contained system includes a rear assembly less than 32-inches deep with sloping side panels to help it fit into tight nooks and crannies, and the screen itself reportedly "retains video contrast and brightness even when viewed in high amounts of ambient light." The 1080p beamer includes Runco's SuperOnyx chipset, HDMI / DVI / component / PC / S-Video / composite inputs, an RS-232 control port, Vivix II processing engine and a CinOptx lens system. You know you'd rather drop $39,995 on this rather than pick up a new C350 this November, right?
BG Radia's BGX-4850 in-wall subwoofer produces THX Ultra2-certified shock and awe
The ribbon drivers BG Radia uses across its speaker lineup safely puts the company in "high end" territory, but getting big bass out of ribbons is seriously challenging. The company has used conventional drivers in a THX Balanced Bass-line arrangement to solve this problem with its BGX-4850 in-wall subwoofer. The speaker uses balanced pairs of modules, each with 12 micro-woofers, to generate a thumping surface area equivalent to two 18-inch drivers. Add in a healthy 2,000-Watts of oomph, and you've got vibration-free bass coming out of your walls at "lifelike playback" levels, courtesy the first in-wall sub to earn THX Ultra2 certification. Everybody will know where that $7,000 went, so warn the neighbors.
Atlantic Technology pumps out new in-wall speaker, subwoofer
Judging by the barrage of speaker announcements of late, it's easy to see that CEDIA is just around the bend. The latest outfit to dish out news of its new lineup is Atlantic Technology. Best known for its in-wall speakers, the firm is offering up a new THX-certified unit (the IWTS-155 LCR) that can mount either horizontally or vertically into a standard 2x4 wall cavity. The speaker features twin 5.25-inch long-throw cone woofers and a 1-inch soft-dome tweeter, and it'll be available for shipment in Q4 for $750. Additionally, the company is introducing the IWTS-28 SUB, an in-wall subbie that packs dual 8-inch drivers and can be paired with an optional 180-watt SA-180 monoblock amplifier. Unfortunately, no price for it was given, but don't expect it to be cheap.
Atlantic Technology hooks up with NetStreams
When it comes to whole-home audio systems, the idea of using IP transmission is attractive -- the cabling and fine-grained control satisfy our inner geek on so many levels. Atlantic Technology is hoping its in-wall speakers will be a natural fit for this market, and has made its IWTS-4, IWTS-7 and IWTS-14 LCR models NetStreams compatible to fill the niche (and the holes in your walls). If you're not quite ready to spring for a full NetStreams system with all of its digital wizardry -- digital EQ and bi-amplification courtesy SpeakerLinX amps -- no worries, these speakers can also be hooked up to an old timey conventional analog audio signal. Expect these to ship in Q4 of this year for a yet-unannounced price.
Axiom Audio goes to the wall with its T2 speakers
Axiom Audio is certainly taking the custom install market to heart. Between its custom finishing services and the newly-announced T2 in-wall speakers, you should be able to fill out your custom install quite nicely with the brand. The 11.65- x 6.4-inch facade that stands a little more than 0.5-inches from the wall should blend in, that's for sure. But these are more than a pretty face, they've got audio cred as well. The T2 speakers are derived from Axiom's M2 bookshelf units and feature the same aluminum 5.25-inch woofer and 1-inch tweeter. The press release has these spec'ed at 22kHz - 70kHz response for your dog's listening pleasure, but we assume that's a typo and should be a more human-friendly 70Hz - 22kHz. Expect more models in Axiom's T-series in the future, but you can start off with these for $446 per pair.[Image courtesy ElectronicHouse]
Sunfire joins the in-wall speaker crowd with Cinema Ribbon Wall models
Sheesh -- if the high-end in-wall speaker category gets any more popular, we'll start seeing models with integrated iPod docks! Jumping into the fray and disappearing into your walls, Chuck Wagon-style, is the latest offering from Sunfire. True to its beginnings with Bob Carver, Sunfire has borrowed some tech from the rest of the XT-series and incorporated ribbon drivers to its in-wall CRW-2 and CRW-2C (center channel) offerings. If the Cinema Ribbon Trio In-Wall (CRW-3 and CRW-3C) models are more speaker than you need, these might be a better fit for you. You'll get the same 6-inch ribbon tweeter, but fewer of the 4.5-inch drivers. The CRW-2C has an acoustic lens for widening the sweet spot, and the lens can be removed if you want to use the CRW-2C for L/R channels, so mix and match as you see fit. At $850 per speaker, you may just consider these for your next high-end, high-fashion install.
Abracadabra -- Definitive Technology announces Disappearing In-Wall speakers
Gearheads like us like to show off our speakers in the room, but fashion circles with different sensibilities take a "loudspeakers are meant to be heard, not seen" approach. No doubt, in-wall and in-ceiling speakers have come a long way from the dreck that spewed out muzak from an acoustic tile in our dentist's office. Definitive Technology has announced a new line of flush-mount speakers with micro-perf grills, dubbed the Disappearing In-Wall series, set to ship in Q1 of 2009. The company has both round and rectangular models (but being invisible, does it matter?), and since this is Definitive Technology, you know there's a bipolar model for surround channel duty. Bass output is goosed a little with Def Tech's Balanced Dual Surround System (BDSS) technology, borrowed from the floorstanding Mythos ST speakers, and the aluminum dome tweeters can be pivoted to get the setup dialed in. Sizes cover a gamut from 3.5- to 8-inches, and prices range from $179 to $379 per speaker. Sounds promising -- we'll try to get a listen for ourselves at CEDIA in a few months to see how far things have come from our dentist's setup!
Velodyne, Amina team up to deliver full-range in-wall speaker systems
If your home decor demands that you go for an invisible AV install, you can either build a separate HT room to house your gear or opt for in-wall speakers. Velodyne and Amina have teamed up (at least in the UK) to make sure that sound quality isn't compromised if you go the in-wall route. Pairing up Velodyne's SC-IW in-wall subwoofers with Amina's SoundUnseen in-wall AIW speakers turns out to enjoy a Reese's-like synergy. Mounting a subwoofer in a wall seems like a recipe for nasty vibrations, but Velodyne has pulled a clever bit of design with the SC-IW and aligned the driver to fire vertically in the wall. For its part, the Amina speakers actually get a thin layer of plaster applied over them for a truly seamless look. This kind of stuff is definitely custom-install only, so we can only hope similar partnerships get struck up on this side of the Atlantic.
VidaBox unveils TouchClient12 in-wall touch panel
While the vPad will certainly push the buttons of some home automation freaks, the in-wall TouchClient12 is likely to float the boat of just about everyone else. The unit is designed to be mounted flush within a wall, and aside from packing a predictable 12.1-inch color touchscreen (1,024 x 768 resolution), you'll also find Windows XP embedded within. Unlike most of the outfit's products, this one is available to the public right from its website, giving DIYers and headstrong homeowners the ability to bypass those pricey installers (and potentially mutilate their wall). As for connections, all that's needed is power and a CAT5 wire, after which you can program the panel to control anything controllable on your property. Sure sounds nice, but $2,499 nice? We'll leave that one to you.
Atlantic Technology intros THX-certified IWTS-30 LCR in-wall speaker
Atlantic Technology, which was busy showing off an array of in-wall speakers at CES, is now replacing its IWTS-20 LCR with an all new flagship: the IWTS-30 LCR THX Ultra2 Certified in-wall loudspeaker. Designed for use as the left, right and center channel, this unit is declared by its CEO as the "best sounding in-wall [it] has ever made, and it makes no apologies for being an in-wall." Mr. Peter Tribeman continues on to say that he knows of "no other architectural solutions that deliver this kind of performance and flexibility at anywhere near this price point." Regardless of hype, the unit itself uses the company's exclusive Low Resonance Tweeter (LRT) along with a single 8-inch GLH (Graphite Loaded Homopolymer) woofer and two 3.5-inch GLH midrange drivers. Of course, you wouldn't expect such an exalted speaker to come without a princely price tag, so we suppose we're not too shocked by the $1,250 (each) sticker.
Control4 intros new line of in-wall / in-ceiling speakers at EHX
Although Control4 is best known for its home automation kit, the firm is using the spotlight at EHX to show off a new line of multi-room speakers. The 6.5- and 8-inch In-Ceiling and In-Wall Speakers (and In-Ceiling Stereo Speakers) all sport a two-way design, and they'll all play nice with the outfit's Wi-Fi Speaker Point, too. As for the drivers, they feature dual polymer cones, silk dome (pivoting) tweeters and rubber surrounds; hit up your dealer this summer if you're down with paying between $199 and $399 per pair.
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.
Atlantic Technology showing off THX in-wall speakers
Along with the rise in custom home theater installations, in-wall speaker performance has come a long way in the past years. At CES, Atlantic Technology will be showing off its latest entry to the field, the IWCB-727. The name comes from "in wall, closed-box," a sure sign that these speakers are designed for higher performance than open-backed wall mounted speakers (as confirmed by their THX qualification). The company has put their Low Resonance Tweeter (LRT) in, which allows them to extend the tweeter crossover well into the midrange, to help smooth out the response -- a good thing for a speaker that's on a wall-sized baffle. And to make sure the sound is "just so," additional tech has been tossed in as well. Directional Vector Control electronically "steers" the tweeter into the room, and Boundary compensation takes care of midrange coloration caused by an adjacent wall or ceiling. Available Q2 2008 at $1200 each.
In-wall speaker round-up
By now we're sure most astute readers have noticed we are throwing more home theater gear on the site. In keeping with that trend, CEPro has a complete round up of 40 great in-wall speakers. In-wall tech has dramatically improved over the years as these speakers clearly demonstrate and a home doesn't have to be filled with the traditional wooden boxes to achieve quality sound. Sure, some of these speakers' sticker prices probably cost more than your HDTV but they sure do pump out great audio. The HDTV display is simply the starting point to enjoying everything high-def has to offer; high-quality audio completes the experience and in-walls might be just what the doctor wife ordered.
Leon Speakers to showcase elite on-wall Seven Series speakers
While not quite as niche as in-shower drivers, Leon Speakers is hoping to redecorate a few living room walls with its on-wall Seven Series. The lineup reportedly relies on two "hand-made German Eton 7-inch patented HEXACONE long throw woofers and a Raven R2 True Ribbon tweeter (all aluminum diaphragm) from Orca." Moreover, they can handle frequencies from 40Hz all the way up to 50kHz and sport a power rating of 250-watts per channel. Measuring in at 11- x 38- x 6-inches, these 75-pound beasts are slated to hit high-end audio shops sometime next month, and while we aren't apt to throw down the $17,000 required to pick up a pair, here's to hoping we get a listen anyway during CEDIA.