Atlanta – The first in-room speakers from startup
GoldenEar Technology will get their long-awaited debut at the CEDIA Expo.
The
company, founded by Sandy Gross, co-founder of Polk Audio and
Definitive Technology, and Don Givogue, another Definitive co-founder, will
demonstrate five in-room speakers and two subwoofers.
They’re
targeting to
independent AV specialists who are seeking a protected line that’s “new and
exciting,” Gross told TWICE. The company doesn’t plan to sell to regional
chains or to on-line stores.
The
company, which signed up 40 U.S. dealers and several foreign
distributors by
late August, pointed to the use of such technologies as accordion-like ribbon
tweeters and multi-vaned phase plugs on midrange/bass drivers as enabling the speakers
to deliver greater frequency response, dynamic range, and detail than competing
models at the same price points and with greater imaging width, depth, and height,
said Gross.
Both
technologies appear in all speakers but the two standalone powered subs.
The
accordion-like ribbon tweeters, called High-Velocity Folded Ribbon (HVFR)
tweeters, deliver the dynamic range and smooth extended response of an
8-inch-long flat ribbon tweeter, thanks to the design’s ability to push air at
higher velocities than a traditional ribbon tweeter, Gross said. With the size
of 1-inch dome tweeter, they deliver wider dispersion than ribbon tweeters. The
Multi-Vaned Phase Plug on the upper bass/midrange drivers extends midrange
response smoothly at higher frequencies, he added.
The
lineup, expected to ship in October, consists of the following models:
*
The $1,249-each Triton Two three-way tower, which is 5.25-inch-wide and
48-inch-tall, features black cloth that wraps around the whole curved-back cabinet.
It features two 4.5-inch upper bass/midrange drivers with multi-vaned phase
plug, with one driver above the HVFR tweeter and the other below. The built-in 1,200-watt
powered subwoofer system consists of two active front-mounted 5×9-inch flat quadratic
planar (racetrack) drivers and two side-mounted 7×10-inch quadratic planar
passive bass radiators.
*
The slim two-way SuperSat 50 left-right speaker and its center-channel version,
the SuperSat 50C, both at $499 and both suitable for wall mounting because of
their 2.5-inch depth. Their other dimensions are 27 inches and 4.75 inches. They
feature two 4.5-inch round bass/midrange drivers, which flank an HVFR tweeter,
two flat quadratic 4×7-inch passive bass radiators, and piano-gloss-black extruded-aluminum
cabinets that curve back at the top and bottom. An optional base is available
for the left-right model.
*
The SuperSat3 small satellite, available in a horizontal center-channel
SuperSat 3C version, each offered at $249. The SuperSat3 models can also be
used as surround speakers. All come with included shelf stands but are suitable
for wall mounting because of their 2.7-inch depth. Their other dimensions are 12
inches and 4.75 inches. Their piano-gloss-black cabinets are made of
marble-filled polymer to make them non-resonant.
*
The $499 ForceField 3 and $699 ForceField 4 powered subs, made of high-density
MDF in matte-black finish. Both are trapezoid-shaped with rounded edges. The
ForceField 3 features 1,000-watt amp, 8-inch front-mounted driver, and
bottom-mounted 9.6×11.4-inch quadratic planar passive radiator. The step-up
model features 1,200-watt amp, 10-inch front driver, and 11×13.9-inch
bottom-mounted passive radiator.
The
speakers can be assembled to create three different 5.1-channel home theater
speaker systems.
At
$1,750, the SuperCinema3 consists of four SuperSat3 speakers, a SuperSat 3C
center channel, and a ForceField 3 subwoofer.
At
$2,700, the SuperCinema 50 system consists of two SuperSat 50 speakers, a SuperSat
50C center channel, two SuperSat 3 speakers, and a ForceField 4 sub.
The
$3,500 Triton Cinema system consists of two Triton towers, a SuperSat 50C center
channel, and two SuperSat 3 speakers.
