loudspeakers
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Krueger Audio promises instrumental speaker designs at CES
Without a doubt, loudspeaker design leaves a lot of room for new ideas (especially at the high end), and the disadvantages of typical box-like enclosures have been recognized for a long time now. Curvy shapes are not new, and at CES, Kruger Audio Technologies will toss its hat into the ring with designs that mimic instrumental shapes. If the unique form isn't enough to win you over, how about the added feature of indirect sunlight and rain resistance? Seriously, avoiding diffraction effects and standing waves is all well and good, but getting overly literal -- with a saxophone-like shape, for instance -- only holds up if you only listen to saxophones. We're not saying that the Krueger speakers won't sound great and aren't well-designed, but let's give engineers their due and not confuse a specific instrument shape with an audio panacea, okay?
8-foot XL Horn Speakers pay homage to phonographs everywhere
There's no shortage of wacky speakers out there, but the custom built SPECIMEN XL Horn Speakers are probably among the most radical that we've had the pleasure of seeing. Designed specifically for musician Andrew Bird, these guys stand eight feet tall and are reportedly "extraordinarily efficient with an alarming bass response." Oddly enough, the phonograph-styled drivers are said to be "ideal for PA applications," and judging by the video hosted up after the break, they've been used quite delightfully in concert. Too bad these weren't around for our senior proms.[Thanks, Adhemar]
Klipsch's Icon V speakers get tested, deliver on movies and gaming
The Klipsch Icon V speakers were created in cooperation with Best Buy, so of course the big blue and yellow box has them on its shelves, but Audioholics put them to the test to see how they fared in a more real-world setting, away from the car stereos and boomboxes. The review was pretty favorable overall -- in home, the speakers pumped out a lively sound that was a treat for movies and games, but the the horn-loaded tweeters plus a lean midrange weren't exactly a ticket to sonic bliss when listening to music at louder volumes. Still, build quality was solid, and at least you can listen to these in an everyday store (you do stop by Best Buy every day, right?), so let your own ears be the judge. Just make sure that what jumps off the shelves as "detailed and extended" doesn't wind up "screechy and fatiguing" to you in the long run.
Cuckoo clock loudspeaker kicks out the jams, you out of bed
And you thought The Shining cuckoo clock was terrifying -- imagine waking up to this. Designed by French artist Stephane Vigny, the loudspeaker clock does exactly what you'd expect it to. When the time comes, the doors flip open, the bottom woofer extends out and a cacophonic emission of sound is heard as you angrily wake from your slumber. We can't imagine that outstretched woofer surviving too many mornings of you waking on the wrong side of the bed.[Via MAKE]
$168,000 Harion speaker set crafted from heat-resistant glass, fairy dust
We're pretty sharp on the fairy dust market, and while it no doubt goes for a premium in certain parts of the world, there's still a serious surcharge being added in here for transparency. Japan's own Hario is catering yet again to the affluent among us with its Harion speaker set, which boasts a subwoofer, two mid-range drivers and a pair of acrylic tweeters -- all encased in heat-resistant glass. Of course, the company is no stranger to pumping out exclusive glass-based kit and charging a wad for it, as this particular package will run customers a staggering 16 million yen, or just north of $168,000. Oh, but if you and ten others dial in right now, they can be produced and sold for just 10 million yen each ($105,030). Economies of scale, now that's good stuff.[Via Gearlog]
Elemental Designs boasts green speakers
As (typically) passive devices, loudspeakers are low on our list of components we'd look to for making our systems more eco-friendly. But the MDF (medium density fiberboard) that most affordable speakers (yeah, not these) use for cabinet construction is a material straight out of the fast-food age -- bits of wood held together by some not-so healthy chemicals. But speaker manufacturer Elemental Designs is moving away from MDF in favor of Environmentally Friendly Substrate (EFS), a wood composite material without the nasty binders. Better still, EFS is actually more dense than MDF, which is always a good thing for speaker cabinets; the EFS enclosures produce smoother response curves and higher SPLs than the MDF ones. Here's to a better sounding, greener planet![Via audiojunkies]
Wisdom Audio ships its high-end Sage L150i in-wall speakers
If you're a sucker for that oh-so-sweet treble offered up by planar magnetic specialist Wisdom Audio but your custom-install project has been held up awaiting the arrival of the company's L150i speakers, it's time to call the drywallers and painters, because they're now available. If you've haven't pulled the considerably heavy $15,000 (per speaker, in case it matters) trigger on the L150i, we're sure that if they're on your short-list, you can probably afford a trip to CES 2009 for the new model's official coming-out party. Each speaker consists of two 76-inch tall, 8-inch wide cabinets -- one for the dozen 6-inch drivers that handle the bass, the other for the ribbon that handles the rest of the spectrum. We remember the quaint days when people would want to show off this kind of speaker, not hide them in the walls, but we think owners will still find plenty to crow about.
Jim Thiel puts his name to Signature Edition CS2.4 speakers
One thing you learn quickly in gadgetdom is that the word "Signature" in a model name is code for "wallet-busting cost." So if you were thinking of picking up some Thiel CS2.4 speakers but worried they weren't high end enough for you, have your chauffeur drop you off at your Thiel dealer so you can get in line for one of the 150 pairs of the CS2.4SE (Signature Edition) models. Ultra-fine grade boutique capacitors are hand plucked from the bush for the crossovers, Thiel's usual top notch bird's eye maple cabinetry gets treated to a special Vermillion Maple stain, stainless steel fasteners hold the drivers to the front baffle and milled aluminum outriggers hold the whole shebang steady for display. And of course, the company isn't fooling around with the name -- Jim Thiel's autograph is laser etched on an aluminum plate around back. Yours for only $8,000 per pair, but you can check the PR release for free.
Paradigm "Phantom" Cinema Gaming speaker system review
Paradigm has a long history of offering speakers that provide a big slice of audiophile-approved sound at reasonable prices. Its speakers aren't the cheapest and they can't be found at every big-box retailer, but chances are that if you seek out a Paradigm dealer, you'll be rewarded with some great-sounding gear at a fair price. Follow us past the break to see how much of the high-end Paradigm delivers with its latest entry-level offering, the Cinema Gaming speaker system.
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
Klipsch gives its Icon VF-35, VF-36 speakers to Best Buy
Klipsch's Icon W speakers sure look a treat, but they're on the pricey end of the scale, so Klipsch is offering up the Icon VF-35 and VF-36 speakers to Best Buy shoppers at the lower price points of $750 and $950 per pair, respectively, to set things right. That 1-inch horn-loaded tweeter high on the front baffle somehow reminds us of a Dalek, which makes us wish we could remove the lower speaker grille to show off the trio of mid/bass drivers; but it's fixed (that middle pic is factory-only), so maybe live with the top grill on instead and be contented that those drivers are pushing response down to 41Hz and 36Hz, respectively. As you'd expect from Klipsch, sensitivity comes in at a high 97.5dB, so not a lot of amplifier will be necessary to drive these.[Thanks, Jim] Read - Klipsch Icon VF-35 Read - Klipsch Icon VF-36
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?
Infinity debuts new flagship Prelude Forty speaker
In case we forgot to mention it, CEDIA plays host to some seriously expensive toys -- take the new flagship speaker from Infinity, dubbed the Prelude Forty, for instance. The venerable brand from even before our audio-only days has churned out this new model for its 40th anniversary, and based on what we see, Infinity is not suffering from being "over the hill." The stops have been pulled out for the Prelude Forty, which sports exotic ceramic-metal composite construction across all the drivers, including the array of flat panel units on the front baffle. Coming in at heavy $6,000 each, you get your choice of black, cherry or rosewood finishes; but letting your dog in on audio fun with those 40kHz tweeters is priceless.
Pioneer unveils S-4EX bookshelf / S-8EX center channel
Pioneer's not just focusing on the video side of things, oh no, it's also throwing a bone to the audio lovers in attendance. Designed to complement the EX series of drivers, the S-4EX bookshelf and S-8EX center channel were each constructed with the same heralded technology as used in last year's S-3EX tall boy speakers. When coupled with said boys, you've got yourself a complete multi-channel system consisting of EX drivers from top to bottom. Specs wise, each speaker can handle 160-watts of unadulterated power, and furthermore, you'll find a 3cm Ceramic Graphite tweeter dome, 16cm bass driver (2x in the center channel), ultra rigid cabinet construction and beech high gloss veneer or dark teak matte finishes. As usual, mum's the word on pricing / availability. %Gallery-26128%
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.
Infinity begins shipping Classia Series loudspeakers
Remember those toothsome Classia Series loudspeakers that Infinity introduced us to just before CES? Yeah, those beauties are finally making their way from the labs and into eager hands everywhere. The C205 bookshelf loudspeaker, C336 floorstanding speaker, CC225 wall-mountable center channel speaker and C255ES wall-mountable surround loudspeaker -- all of which boast "selectable monopole / bipole / dipole / dual-speaker operation" -- are shipping now to those in need. Oh, and if you didn't get your pre-order in, fret not, as Infinity would love to accommodate your audio wishes now for $349 to $899 per speaker.
Leon Speakers intros Horizon 414-LCR-X-A on-wall loudspeaker
If the luxurious Seven Series was a bit too rich for your blood, Leon Speakers is offering up yet another option for tossing tunes up on your wall. The "ultra" high-fidelity Horizon 414-LCR-X-A is designed to fit nicely in "small theater settings where audiophile quality sound is still paramount," and as you can see, the left / center / right channels are combined into one cabinet. Additionally, the whole thing is just 3.25-inches thick, and each channel -- which can handle 225-watts -- is home to twin 4-inch Peerless HDS woofers and a 1-inch Morel MDT29 cloth-dome tweeter. Sadly, this one's still not suited for the bargain hunters, as it'll run customers $2,495 when it debuts at EHX Spring next week.
Artcoustic reveals Spitfire Venue loudspeaker, subwoofer
Finally down to the short list for speakers? Before you pull the trigger, Artcoustic is hoping that you'll give its latest loudspeaker and subwoofer a glance. Up first is the two-way Spitfire Venue, which weighs in at just under 22-pounds, sports interchangeable screen options and should fit in just fine at a night club or guest room. You'll find a 10-inch woofer and a one-inch compression horn, which -- when paired up -- are capable of hitting notes anywhere between 40Hz and 18kHz. Taking care of the low-lows is the Spitfire Subwoofer (pictured), which actually relies on four 10-inch drivers and comes bundled with an 1,800-watt Artcoustic PA-1800 amplifier. Sadly, we've yet to be clued in on the price of the Venue, but considering the £1,485 ($2,922) sticker attached to the subbie, we'd surmise that these are most suited for the high-end sect, anyway.
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.
Infinity intros Classia Series loudspeakers
Infinity is hitting us up with a new line of loudspeakers just in time for CES, and we must say, these beasts are quite the attractive bunch. Included in the family is the C205 compact bookshelf monitor, a wall-mountable center channel speaker (CC225), floorstanding tower (model C336) and a wall-mountable surround speaker with selectable monopole / bipole / dipole / dual-speaker operation (C255ES). Each of the aforementioned speakers utilizes CMMD driver technology, and while there's no word on the frequency response / power handling figures, we do know that the whole range -- which will be priced between $329 and $899 -- will be available in glossy black and cherry-wood veneer in "early 2008." Another shot after the jump.
