CES 2009: Audio Briefs

By Joseph Palenchar -- TWICE, 1/7/2009

AE Launches Flagship

Las Vegas — Acoustic Energy’s new flagship series is the Radiance series, all with DXT Lens high-frequency dispersion technology to match the tweeter’s soundwave dispersion with that of the bass driver to provide “time coherence that dramatically naturalizes the entire soundfield,” the company said.

The speakers feature curved lines real-wood veneers, and cast-aluminum metal work. The top model is the three-way Radiance 3 at $3,000/pair. The floorstanding model handles up to 200 watts with 90dBm/watt/meter sensitivity for use with modestly powered amps The $1,200/pair Radiance 1 and $2,000/pair Radiance 2 are designed for shelf or speaker-stand placement. The $800-each Radiance Center also uses DXT Lens technology. A $1,200 subwoofer is also in the series, which ships in February.

Boston Acoustics Adds Speakers

Las Vegas — Boston Acoustics is launching the $399-suggested 100-watt SoundWare subwoofer, an indoor-only polyhedron-shaped model. It’s designed to complement the SoundWare molded-cabinet two-way indoor/outdoor speaker cube with 4.5-inch woofer. The two-way speaker is available in multiple colors and features paintable cabinets. It offers an angled back that allows for multiple placement options, including on a shelf, on a wall, in a corner, where the ceiling and wall meet, or outside under the eaves.

The new $249-suggested SoundWare XL is a larger version of the SoundWare speaker and is designed for commercial applications.

Definitive Adds New Mythos

Las Vegas — The Mythos Nine on-wall LCD speaker from Definitive Technology is designed cosmetically for use with 50-inch flat-panel TVs. It will replace a current model but will be thinner and use the company’s latest driver designs.

Mythos models for 42- and 60-inch flat TVs remain in the line.

Jensen-Brand Wireless Speakers Arrive

Las Vegas — Wireless indoor/outdoor speakers will appear under the Jensen brand licensed from Audiovox, by importer/marketer Mark Feldstein and Associates of Maumee, Ohio.

At least three splash-resistant models will be on display, all using 900MHz digital wireless to send music from any audio system or portable audio device up to 150 feet to the speakers. The transmitter and speakers operate on AC or DC.

The Mini wireless speakers retail for a suggested $79.95, including transmitter. The SP1790 pair retails for a suggested $119 with transmitter, and a wireless floating speaker retails for $99.95 with transmitter.

The company imports electronics, housewares and giftware.

Artist-Themed Speakers Appear

Las Vegas — Loiminchay, the New York maker of speakers priced as much as many cars, will appear with three speakers named after famous artists. All are designed by owner Patrick Chu, who makes luxury Loiminchay pens.

The stand-mounted two-way Degas retails for $30,000 or $37,000/pair depending on finish. The floor-standing Chagall three-way is $48,500/pair, and the Kandinsky is $56,000 or $62,000/pair, depending on finish. All are made from birch multiply laminate to create unusually curved shapes. Finishes are available in clear lacquer over birch or piano lacquer.

Irish Company Arrives In U.S.

Las Vegas — O’heocha Design ofGalway, Ireland, is bringing its first product to the U.S., the $9,000/pair hand-made D2 Saturn speaker, a floorstanding model available in custom finishes.

The unusually sculpted design features a tweeter in its own enclosure, which sits on a spherical midrange enclosure incorporating one forward-firing and one rear-firing 6.5-inch midrange driver. The midrange enclosure sits on top of a three-legged half-spherical enclosure with upward-firing woofer.

The company is seeking reps.

Paradigm Powers Up Subs

Las Vegas — Paradigm’s highest powered subwoofer, the Signature SUB 25, delivers 3,000 continuous watts and 7,500 peak watts via Class D amp, 15-inch driver with 3-inch excursion and proprietary Power Factor Correction technology, which enables the amp to squeeze more than the 60-70 percent of AC line power that other amps draw, the company said.

It is available at $3,999. An optional PBK-1 room-correction interface is available at $399.

Polk Gets Flexible

Las Vegas — Polk’s latest flexible-mount speaker is the OWM5, an LCR model that features multiple on-wall and in-room mounting positions. It joins the smaller, lower output $229/pair OWM3.

The OWM5, shipping in March at a suggested $199 each, features convex front baffle and 1-inch soft-dome tweeter flanked by a 4.4-inch midbass driver on each side. Because of its rectangular shape and driver placement, it can be positioned horizontally or vertically. With integrated mounting hardware and supplied stands, it can be positioned in a total of nine different ways. They include vertical or horizontal placement on stands, vertical or horizontal wall or corner mounting, mounting where the wall meets the ceiling, and ceiling mounting. Because its cabinet is elongated, whereas the OMW3 cabinet is more square, the OMW5 is better suited for center-channel use.

Morel’s Fat Lady Vibrates

Las Vegas — Morel’s new home speakers include a $432,000 flagship floorstander whose curved enclosure was designed without straight lines to resemble a music instrument.

Dubbed the Fat Lady, the four-driver three-way speaker was deliberately built without internal damping so that the cabinet will “vibrate with the drive units and use this energy as part of the reproduced sound, the company said.

The cabinet’s outer layer is made of lacquered carbon-fiber mixed with fiberglass and epoxy resin to yield a strong but light enclosure, the company said of the 50-inch by 13 3/8-inch by 17 3/8-inch speaker.

Snell’s Phantom Joins Illusion

Las Vegas — Snell is bringing elements of its flagship Illusion speaker to the sleeker, smaller Phantom, due in the second quarter at a suggested $20,000/pair.

Like Illusion, Phantom is a three-way model with handcrafted asymmetrical tapered-tower cabinet with gently curved surfaces, the company said. Phantom features dual 4.5-inch midrange drivers, one above and one below a silk-dome tweeter to deliver “smooth and consistent axial dispersion,” which delivers a three-dimensional soundfield “with the freedom from coloration that is achievable in no other way,” the company contended. Dual 8-inch woofers extend response down to 30Hz.