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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.
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.
SpeakerCraft introduces surface mount Sound Pillows
In-wall drivers are nice, sure, but what if you're not really looking to butcher your wall just to get some sound up there? Enter SpeakerCraft's Sound Pillows, a rather brilliantly designed speaker that can be installed in standard drywall via a "dog frame" or into a junction box if desired. Rather than having to wire things permanently, the Pillows simply snap into the wall plate where it's secured with two push-in tabs. Obviously, this approach also keeps your options open for swapping speakers out or taking them with you when you relocate. Mum's the word on pricing, but you can probably get a good idea by contacting your local dealer.
MartinLogan goes fully powered with its Feature loudspeaker
We're longtime fans of active fully powered loudspeakers primarily because they allow the manufacturer to get the best sonics by optimizing the speaker-amplifier integration and also they make cabling the system up a little nicer, too (interconnects are thinner and more flexible than speaker cables in our system). So MartinLogan's move to putting a 150-Watt amp in its Feature LCR (wall-mountable, too) speaker to power up the electrostatic membrane, dome tweeter and dual 5.25-inch woofers should be good for the target high-end audience -- great sound, a tidy install and we imagine at $1695 each, a nice margin for MartinLogan. You didn't think you were going to get into electrostats on the cheap, did you?EDIT: MartinLogan is keeping us honest -- "active" would imply an adjustable crossover, which these speakers do not have; so "fully powered" it is!
Leon introducing new on-wall Profile 404-X-A speakers, A3-SUB subwoofer
Set to show at CEDIA next month are a couple of new models from on-wall specialists Leon. The shallow depth (3.25-inches) of the company's new Profile 404-X-A speakers allow you to set them up on- or against-wall. Either way, the idea is to blend the speakers into the surroundings, so a choice of veneers and finishes (including paints) are available. Leon hasn't skimped on the high-end drivers -- 4-inch Peerless woofers and 1-inch Morel tweeters -- but that cabinet is bass-challenged and can't reach much below 65Hz. And wouldn't you know it, that's where the new A3-SUB, um, subwoofer fits in. The 12- x 14- x 4-inch box houses an 8-inch woofer that plumbs down to 30Hz. This gear is aimed at the fashionista crowd, and priced accordingly: the Profile 404-X-As start at $2495 per pair, the A3-SUB goes for $895, and you can throw in a 1000-Watt Leon sub amplifier for another $995. Full press release and more pics after the break.
Paradigm goes to the wall with its Reference Signature W-series
Yup, no doubt about it -- getting speakers "out of the way" is something the public wants. Thankfully, the performance of in- and on-wall systems is really coming up to snuff as well. Our Canadian neighbors at Paradigm have added two on-wall models to their Reference Signature series, the W5 and W5 C (center channel). Paradigm has never taken its Reference Signature models lightly, and these two new speakers promise to do the name proud. The new units benefit from technology developed for the Reference Signature v.2 conventional speakers, including exotic (sounding, at least) metals used in and on the drivers, crossovers that keep the phase intact and careful brand-friendly timbre matching. These are high-end speakers, so to keep the toe-in tweakers happy, the mounting hardware allows for some side-to-side tilting. If you're more concerned about aesthetics, ponder the choice of three finishes. Pricing for both models comes in at $2999 per speaker. One more pic after the break (not just because the logo in the top pic is backwards, either).
Canton decides it's time to expand its Chrono speaker lineup
Looks like Canton is spreading the updates across its speaker lines -- a couple of months back, the manufacturer rolled out updates to its Karat models, and now the Chrono lineup is getting the treatment. For your listening pleasure, the company is rolling out the 511 DC (pictured) tower speaker and a 501 on-wall model. The 511 DC is a 3-way bass reflex system with metal cones across the board: dual 9-inch woofers, a 7-inch midrange and a 1-inch tweeter acting to cover a 20Hz - 40kHz frequency range. That tweeter is an aluminum-manganese part that is shared with the on-wall 501 speaker to ensure good sonic matching. The 501 is a sealed unit, with a 6-inch aluminum mid-bass driver packed in the 3.9-inch deep cabinet. Being a on-wall speaker, you get a choice of black (for traditionalists) or silver (for the Buck Rogers crowd) finishes. Pricing comes in at $1400 for the 511 DC and $425 for the 501 models, 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.
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.
