Speaker Supplement 2021

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SPEAKER SUPPLEMENT

A N E S S E N T I A L I N STA L L P U B L I C AT I O N

YOUR SOUND FOR EVERY MOOD

B U I LT- I N

2021

DALI

No compromise in-wall audio Enjoy unparalleled audio performance from a discreet, in-wall speaker solution with the DALI PHANTOM M Series.

Comprising of two models, PHANTOM M-250 and PHANTOM M-375, the series is ideal for home cinema or stereo use.

With integrated sealed back-boxes and a mounting depth of only 100mm, each model delivers best-in-class sound along with quick and easy installation.

PHANTOM M -375

PHANTOM M -250

The slim yet powerful DALI PHANTOM M series has been developed with versatility in mind so can be easily integrated into a variety of audio systems. Both models offer spacious and room-filling DALI sound - without physically dominating your living space.

Download whitepaper, product sheet and more at: www.dali-speakers.com/phantom

Cabinet Dimensions: 250mm x 775mm x 100mm

PHANTOM M

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SPEAKER SUPPLEMENT

A N E S S E N T I A L I N STA L L P U B L I C AT I O N

2021

YOUR SOUND FOR EVERY MOOD

B U I LT- I N

GETTING IN TOUCH EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Daniel Sait, dan@allthingsmedialtd.com

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

Beatrice Lee, beatrice@allthingsmedialtd.com

CONTENTS 2 EDITOR’S COMMENT We love speakers!

The unique approach of Origin Acoustics

4 AWE SPEAKS UP

21 HIDDEN TALENT

SALES DIRECTOR

Ian Kitchener, ian@allthingsmedialtd.com

GROUP AD MANAGER

Claire Talty, claire@allthingsmedialtd.com

PUBLISHER

David Kitchener, david@allthingsmedialtd.com

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Mark Weller, mark@allthingsmedialtd.com

ACCOUNTS

All the speaker options covered

7 FULL FREQUENCY REVELATIONS Karma AV presents System Audio and Revel

susan@allthingsmedialtd.com

Essential Install magazine, Suite 14, 6-8 Revenge Road, Lordswood, Chatham, Kent ME5 8UD T: +44 (0)1634 673163 F: +44 (0)1634 673173 www.essentialinstall.com

9 KARMA AV AND JBL SYNTHESIS ‘You Ain’t Heard Nothin’ Yet

10 EXERTIS AND SONOS Serious about Sonos?

SOCIALS /INSTALL_MAG /ESSENTIALINSTALL Whilst we make every effort that everything printed in Essential Install magazine is factually correct, we cannot be held responsible if factual errors occur.

All articles are copyright and remain the property of Essential Install magazine.

18 INVISION UK

12 HABITECH AND SONANCE Finally, no compromise!

14 ARTCOUSTIC Good looking high-quality audio

16 REDLINE Get serious about soundbars

17 REDLINE Super subs save the day!

Meridian Audio resets the standard of architectural loudspeaker performance

23 SOUND THAT MOVES YOU KEF revolutionises bass

24 ACOUSTIC ENERGY Quality and heritage combined

26 L-ACOUSTIC CREATIONS Home nightclubs!

28 PMC PERFECTION Give your customers the same speakers used to make the movies

31 MONITOR AUDIO A huge range packed with quality

32 AVOKE Get positive with Elipson

EDITOR’S COMMENT

FROM THE EDITOR’S CHAIR EI has a confession to make at this point - we love speakers, probably to a slightly unhealthy level. Old ones, new ones, big, small, beautiful, not so beautiful, free standing, home cinema, surround sound, garden speakers, Hi-Fi, mini portable speakers, all speakers in fact. But why? well because music comes out of them! The single most powerful form of communication that humans have come up with.

Let’s face it, humans have had some really bad ideas down the eons, but music is firmly in the big tick column and who hasn’t over the last year or so appreciated this incredible art form, even more as movement and freedoms where restricted by events out of our control. Being able to hunker down and immerse yourself in something you can control, that speaks to your mind, your heart and your soul has been hugely beneficial to millions and of course will continue to be. So when we think about selling speakers, (yes technicals are important), how they look is increasingly important and how they can be hidden also continues to be a consumer expectation, but the most important thing for the customer is what will come out of the end of them. Its hard to put yourself in this frame of mind when you are struggling up a ladder fitting an in-ceiling speaker in a particularly awkward spot, but what we are providing people is the soul expanding and life enhancing experiences that

02 SPEAKER SUPPLEMENT 2021

no other product can do. Your customer might have a fancy pants expensive coffee machine, a nice car maybe, but how many music fans would swap any of that for being able to immerse themselves in their favourite music or discover something they have never heard before? Yup faced with a choice between posh coffee and the music or home cinema system, its Coffee Mate and Mellow Birds instant every time.

In the past few months feeding the soul with music whilst being less able to spend time with friends and family has been a boon for many, lets hope as lockdown lifts this quote from artist Jackson Pollock rings even truer than ever; “Love is friendship set to music.”

We have a whole feast of offerings for you to enjoy inside this special speaker supplement, so read on!

Thankfully, we in this industry have never had a better selection from which to make all our client’s musical or indeed home cinema dreams comes true - we are spoilt for choice, which means delivering the right product for every customer is now genuinely doable every time. The last few years EI has been seriously impressed with the work that makers have put into taking their products to the next level and making sure we have 21st century solutions that customers will crave.

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FINALLY NO COMPROMISE “Really proud to be the first company in the UK to install the new incredible IS10 invisible speakers. We heard these in December and we were truly blown away… speechless with the quality…we know interior designers are going to love them…” Andy Bell, Trusted Technology

watch the video

Book a dem at your convenience

SPEAKER SUPPLEMENT: AWE

SPEAK UP!

Whether you are looking to install discreet architectural speakers, statement floorstanders, small bookshelf options or a great sounding multiroom audio solution, AWE is the supplier for you. With distribution agreements in place with Definitive Technology, Denon, KEF and URC, the team has a speaker to meet your every need.

Speakers are a vital element to any install.

Whether it’s a home cinema, media room, bedroom or kitchen, high-quality audio is a sought-after client requirement. To ensure you meet this demand, you should always pick a brand that delivers the winning combination of high-performance sound, aesthetically pleasing designs and ease of installation. To make the specification process easier for you, AWE only partners with the best manufacturers. Here’s a rundown of key products from these top brands.

DEFINITIVE TECHNOLOGY Definitive Technology loudspeakers combine sophistication and precision, producing forward thinking speakers.

The BP Series of High-Performance Tower Speakers provide a range of tower speaker options to expand the soundstage in media and cinema room environments. These include Integrated 12in, 10in and 8in Powered Subwoofer and Dolby Atmos / DTS:X Height Modules for immersive sound performance.

04 SPEAKER SUPPLEMENT 2021

The Dolby Atmos and DTS:X compatible BP9060 bipolar tower speaker fills the room and allows the listener to hear and feel every note as the artist intended. Featuring a Forward Focussed Bipolar Array that offers the ultimate balance between room-filling sound and a precise centre image. It provides total placement flexibility and Intelligent Bass Control™, which provides the ability to modulate deep bass up or down in level whilst simultaneously maintaining mid-range tonal balance.

Meanwhile, Definitive Technology’s Di Series of architectural speakers are the perfect solution for providing clarity and performance.

Their low-profile in-wall / in-ceiling speakers deliver a powerful result with even dispersion across a wide area, giving listeners a more balanced and natural audio experience. Rigid PolyStone™ baskets eliminate unwanted vibrations, whilst their micro-perf grilles and flush mounting minimise visibility, ensuring impressive sound quality without the visual intrusion of freestanding speakers.

KEF The KEF home cinema speaker range represents the ultimate in audiophile quality sound, and first-class design, ensuring the ultimate home listening experience.

The KEF THX certified range incorporates a number of products that form the ultimate home cinema sound system, including inceiling speakers, in-wall speakers and in-wall subwoofers. It has the potential to offer a fully immersive cinema experience, using the latest Dolby Atmos surround system to provide seamless delivery of 360° sound.

The KEF Ci3160REF-THX in-wall speaker includes three key innovations drawn from KEF’s signature ‘Reference’ technology, including the most advanced version of the Uni-Q point source MF/HF driver array to give the speaker enhanced dispersion characteristics. Originally designed for the KEF Blade, this revolutionary technology gives the KEF Ci3160REF-THX the performance of a floor-standing unit, with all the aesthetic benefits of an in-wall speaker. Together, the 25mm vented aluminium dome tweeter and the 125mm mid-range driver provide a single source for seamless, natural sounding audio with a wider dispersion area than in-wall speakers typically achieve.

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SPEAKER SUPPLEMENT: AWE

MULTI-ROOM AUDIO DENON

HEOS SuperLink, a 4 zone multi-room audio pre-amplifier, can handle all the required amplification and zone switching to provide a seamless experience within a third-party control system’s own Digital Music System (DMS). By combining the SuperLink with high-performance amplifiers, integrators can achieve a powerful, distributed home audio system, utilising HEOS as the source within a third-party control solution’s DMS. Units can be combined to provide up to 32 individual zones, but as a HEOS zone can be linked to a user rather than a zone, often no more than 4 or 8 are needed.

Home 350 is the ‘beast’ of the line-up. Six channels of amplification feed two 6.5in woofers, a pair of 2in mid-range drivers, and two tweeters for the ultimate expression of the Denon sound from a single box. All of the Home models are available in a choice of white or black finishes, to fit in seamlessly with any home décor.

There’s no limit to your choice of music sources, with the ability to connect to Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music HD, TIDAL, TuneIn, Deezer and more via Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2 and Bluetooth connections. A USB socket and 3.5mm aux input on each speaker also enables you to feed digital or analogue audio directly to your Denon Home system.

The versatility of the built-in HEOS technology results in unsurpassed flexibility.

Existing users of HEOS devices, such as compatible Denon or Marantz AV receivers, soundbars or systems, can add the Denon Home speakers to their current set-ups.

Combining Denon Home with HEOS Drive, a four-zone, eight-channel multi-room amplifier, integrators can take advantage of HEOS amplification and zone switching to provide a seamless experience. The functionality of this streaming amplifier is very similar to 4 x HEOS Amps, but affords a higher quality performance, with extra features and space saving benefits, since the unit is housed in a single 2U tall rack mountable chassis. Up to 8 HEOS Drive units can be combined to provide up to 32 individual powered zones.

TRAINING

Comprising three striking speaker models — Home 150, Home 250 and Home 350 — the Denon Home range of all-in-one wireless speakers with HEOS combines clean, modern industrial design with cutting-edge technology and the benefit of 110 years of Denon audio refinement. It’s never been simpler to set up a stunning multi-room system that sounds like no other.

URC

Designed to allow integrators to be more efficient and profitable, URC’s line of architectural speakers feature patented true ‘tool-less’ secure clamping design and removeable speaker wire terminals, providing a significant time advantage over a conventional in-ceiling speaker. You simply connect the speaker wire to the removable terminal, install the speaker into the cut-out and then push down the levers to engage the clamps to the drywall. The unique clamping system locks the speaker in place.

The range consists of four models of in-ceiling speakers. The flagship SP-8EX model features an 8in woven fibre cone woofer and a 1in magnesium aluminium dome tweeter to provide the listener with an audiophile experience. All in-ceiling speaker models feature the ability to adjust the EQ of the speaker to fine tune the listening experience and include paintable frameless magnetic grilles.

These speakers complement the High Definition Audio (HDA) multi-zone amplifiers that URC recently introduced for residential and commercial installations.

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As well as the large portfolio of audio products that AWE sells, the distributor backs this up by offering hugely popular training courses to ensure any integrator who is installing an audio system from the AWE range, will know how to complete the install in the best possible way.

The Home Cinema Audio Technologies – which over the last year has proved to be the most popular small group online course – aims to give students the tools they need to design an amazing home cinema. During the 2-hour session, attendees will gain a better understanding of Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and other immersive audio technologies, the correct cinema speaker placement, and how to specify the correct AV receiver. Students leave the online session with an understanding of the design processes and equipment choices that are required to create a truly immersive experience, whether it’s in a living room conversion or a fully dedicated cinema room.

DISCOUNT

AWE is offering integrators 10% off speakers, firehoods and speaker cable when they are purchased alongside any Denon, HEOS or Marantz amplifier or AV receiver.

AWE www.awe-europe.com

SPEAKER SUPPLEMENT 2021 05

BRING THE POWER OF PRO AUDIO HOME For 30 years, L-Acoustics has been the choice of the world’s top clubs, music venues, and artists on tour. This powerful pedigree and unrivaled sonic signature are now available for specification in residential and marine environments. L-Acoustics Creations is proud to present Archipel sound systems, turnkey solutions from stereo to surround sound. Our team of experts can also design systems tailored to your requirements for any space. Visit l-acoustics-creations.com to book an appointment in London, Paris, or Los Angeles.

l-acoustics-creations.com

SPEAKER SUPPLEMENT: KARMA AV

FULL FREQUENCY REVELATIONS

Discreet high-performance sound has always been first base for CI, but today it’s getting easier to deliver through Karma AV’s System Audio and Revel architectural ranges…

HIGH FIDELITY WIRELESS

Back in the mid-1990s when surround sound was still in short trousers, our friends at JBL had a design epiphany. It took the form of a wireless rear speaker. Each had a stand with a radio receiver in its base and was part of the first ‘Sound Effects’ range. ‘Sound Effects’ was an amazing conceptual leap but, (by all accounts), a leap too early, because the market was still coming to terms with the idea of 5.1 wired channels. How things change. Today - when every smart installation is built upon wire-free connections, wireless is a living necessity, which is why Denmark’s System Audio has made it a mainstay of its latest range of speakers.

SA’s 7.2 Silverback active speaker connects wirelessly to WiSA hubs with 2 or 7.1 channels

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The System Audio silverback line of active wireless speakers makes use of the WiSA protocol to reliably connect 2 and 7.1 channels of hi-res audio with fans of discreet music and film sound everywhere. And this makes it so easy for you! Because fabulous full-range audio performance is suddenly a synch to install.

System Audio’s beautifully slim on-wall actives require only power, that’s it. The rest is in the air, reliably point-to-point, away from the WiFi network.

FULL-RANGE SYSTEM DESIGN, INSTALLATION AND EQ, FAFF-FREE!

The SA legend 7.2 silverback is a 2.5-way onwall speaker just over 15cm deep, housing three driver coupled amplifiers and DSP to extract the widest, smoothest response from on-wall locations. WiSA wireless operation is enabled by adding a 24/192 compatible ‘Stereo Hub’ controller - festooned with inputs including 3 x optical, coax, minijack, RCA, HDMI (ARC), USB Audio and Airplay, Chromecast, Bluetooth, DNLA, Spotify Connect - or a 7.1-ready ‘Surround Hub’ for high resolution wireless home theatre. Power up and assign the speaker’s channel role with a little backbutton press.

You can even use your iPhone to EQ the system in the room through SA’s Room Service app – even the wall fixings are integrated with the speaker. This means that the chores that used to take time, now take no time at all, and everything stays beautifully discreet.

Located at Roskilde, the music city of Denmark, the System Audio has received more than 150 awards for sound, design and innovation since 1984. Starting at £399 pair retail, the range embraces passive and active designs for on-wall, stand and floor - all supplied with a Scandinavian

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flare for slim, elegant decor-friendly design. So if you fancy a break from the usual install headaches, think of System Audio as the ‘chill pill’ from the gods.

REVELATORY BY NAME AND NATURE

If NASA made speakers it’s unlikely they’d be developed with any greater precision than Revel’s architectural range. Since 1995 the entire might of Harman’s speaker engineering talent has been focussed on perfecting the real-world performance of Revel’s technology, included in its in-wall, in-ceiling and all-weather architectural speakers. The Revel obsession involves the most innovative build specifications, nth degree anechoic testing and triple-blind listening against the best available competition.

The result is a range of flush speakers that will consistently deliver the sonic superlatives in any space. Choose from as many as thirty Revel models in Karma-AV’s range and install with confidence knowing they were created by science with this single objective in mind.

Revel architectural speakers are scientifically proven to deliver the sonic superlatives in any space

Karma-AV 01423 358846 karma-av.co.uk

SPEAKER SUPPLEMENT 2021 07

BP9000 | SERIES

Forward focused bipole array, built-in active subwoofers and seamless Dolby Atmos height integration.

WHAT OBSESSION SOUNDS LIKE

SPEAKER SUPPLEMENT: KARMA AV/JBL SYNTHESIS

‘YOU AIN’T HEARD NOTHIN’ YET Blending patented JBL technologies with industry-leading acoustic performance, the new Synthesis SCL and ‘Conceal’ series speakers will transform the potential of residential immersive audio systems.

Since its introduction, the JBL Synthesis SCL Series has delivered a level of performance that was previously unavailable to integrators and designers of architectural speaker systems. Now, the industry’s first comprehensive selection of compression driver-based architectural loudspeakers has taken a further evolutionary stride with an expanded range of models.

The new flagship SCL-1 LCR, companion SSW-1 subwoofer, SCL-6 and SCL-7 in-walls and SCL-5 and SCL-8 in-ceilings, will broaden the choice of high output, wide bandwidth design options for ultra-premium, high-channelcount immersive audio system.

NEW SCL-1 LCR Optimised for custom installation behind projection screens, the new SCL range flagship is a large format LCR utilising JBL’s patented D2430K dual 3in diaphragm compression driver mated to a HighDefinition Imaging (HDI™) horn. Complete with a pair of newly designed 12in cast frame Carbon Cellulose Composite Cone (C4) woofers in patented Complementary Bass Alignment System (C-BAS) configuration, the SCL-1 offers incredible output, dynamics and detail for even the largest multi-channel systems.

NEW SSW-1 SUBWOOFER

Weighing in at a substantial 159 kg, the SSW-1 ultra-high-performance subwoofer is designed specifically to complement the acoustic capabilities of the SCL-1 with extraordinary bass dynamics and depth. Intended for horizontal or vertical application in large scale systems, the SSW-1 Subwoofer features dual high-excursion (4in peak-to-peak) 15in cast-frame woofers with composite cones and massive 6in voice coils.

NEW SCL-5 AND SCL-8 IN-CEILINGS

Complementing the in-walls and designed for off-axis listening as height LCR and surround speakers, the SCL-5 and SCL-8 models deploy HDI horn-coupled tweeters (1in 2409H compression driver tweeter and 2410H-2 tweeter respectively), supported in turn by 7-inch (180mm) and 5.25in (130mm) AAM woofers.

Extraordinary accuracy for height channels from the new SCL-5 and SCL-8 in-ceiling models The formidable SSW-1 is armed with twin 15in drivers and weighs in at 159kg!

NEW SCL-6 AND SCL-7 IN-WALLS

Mounted vertically or horizontally, the SCL-6 is a 2.5-way quadruple 5.25in in-wall speaker; designed for on-axis listening in LCR and surround channel locations. It features a 1in 2410H-2 compression driver tweeter mated to a JBL patented HDI horn/precision moulded baffle assembly, supported by four 5.25in (130mm) Advanced Aluminium Matrix cone cast frame woofers. Featuring a similar horn assembly supported by twin 5.25in woofers, the SCL-7 is a 2-Way in-wall, designed for off-axis listening in LCR and surround channels.

CONCEAL SERIES INVISIBLE SPEAKERS

The new Conceal Series of high-performance invisible architectural loudspeakers utilises a combination of ‘drive elements’, proprietary FidelityGlass™ acoustic panels and compression moulded baffles, together with dedicated dual-driver bass models, to deliver exceptionally natural full range sound through plaster. Installation is similar to a standard drywall patch, while a paint finish contributes to the complete invisibility of the C62 compact 2-way design, C83 3-way, C86 8-inch dual panel design and C82W dualpanel/dual 8-inch invisible subwoofer system.

Supported by a class-leading bass response, the Conceal Series’ broad, hemispherical acoustic coverage allows for optimal placement virtually anywhere in a room, in-wall or in-ceiling.

The new Synthesis SCL-6 in-wall LCR/surround speaker features a 1in 2410H-2 compression driver tweeter mated to a JBL patented HDI horn, supported by four cast frame woofers

The range of ‘Conceal’ Series speakers includes dual panel models and a dual 8” sub for dynamic bass output from completely invisible The Synthesis SC-1 delivers unparalleled dynamic output and detail for the LCR channels of large-scale immersive audio systems

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Synthesis SCL-7

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SPEAKER SUPPLEMENT 2021 09

Sonic Architecture

Sonos Approved Installers win CEDIA awards, if you are interested in becoming an approved Sonos Installer, please let us know by visiting https://www.sonos.com/en-gb/dealer/dealer-onboarding

Available from Exertis One. Call: 01256 378550 or E-mail: exertisone@exertis.co.uk

SPEAKER SUPPLEMENT: SONOS/EXERTIS

SONOS ARC: THE PREMIUM SMART SOUNDBAR Sonos says Arc represents its most immersive home cinema experience yet.

Sonos says Arc builds on its innovations in home cinema, with software-driven audio that immerses listeners in detailed, crystal clear dialogue and impressive bass, featuring the aforementioned support for Dolby Atmos.

Billed as more than a soundbar, Sonos says Arc brings accomplished sound to anything users care to stream, tuned for what is playing from the TV to music, podcasts and radio when the TV is off. Powered by Sonos’ new sound experience platform, Arc is designed to make home cinema easy with lots of choice in what to listen to, how to control, with the option to expand the system.

As per the norm with Sonos – Arc works with all other Sonos speakers to create a whole home listening experience. The ability to group different rooms together makes a seamless journey for the listener – having music playing all throughout your home. Arc sounds great on its own – and you can easily expand your system for an even more immersive experience. Wirelessly connect Sonos Sub and a pair of matching rear surrounds and take that cinema experience to the next level.

In addition to making home cinema easy, take advantage of Sonos Radio HD and bring highdefinition sound to radio streaming from home.

Sonos Radio HD delivers an expanded catalogue of original radio stations from iconic artists and expert curators, kicking off with the world’s most beloved entertainer, Dolly Parton, all ad-free and in high-definition audio - the highest quality of any streaming radio service - only on Sonos.

Sonos’ avid radio fans can now listen to Sonos Radio HD to explore exclusive genre stations, sounds for sleep and relaxation, and more in-depth artist content. Sonos Radio HD streams ad-free with skips and repeats, available on Sonos’ S2 app in the US and UK starting today with additional countries to follow. Sonos owners can subscribe on sonos.

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com for $7.99/£7.99 per month after a free, one month trial.

Sonos Radio HD is available globally, preloaded in the Sonos app with original content streaming in 16 countries around the world including Denmark, Norway, Switzerland, Austria, and Belgium.

“Home has never played a more important role in our lives and we’ve always been about making the home more enjoyable with great sounding products and new experiences. Arc brings the sounds of our favourite shows and artists to life like never before,” says Patrick Spence, Sonos CEO. “Our goal is to make any room you have a television a place you can easily enjoy all of the great streaming video and music that exists today. Arc illustrates our commitment to brilliant sound and premium design, and sets a new standard for soundbars.”

Arc, available in matte black and matte white, features a 270° rounded metal grille for a better-looking product and one that suits its multi-directional array. Arc can sit in front of a

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standing TV or be mounted to the wall with a separate custom designed wall mount. Handily, the soundbar knows when it’s wall mounted and again makes adjustments to the audio.

A simple connection through HDMI eARC or ARC keeps set-up simple. Built on Sonos’ next generation S2 software platform, Arc can be controlled from the new Sonos app (also coming in June) an existing TV remote, voice using Amazon Alexa or the Google Assistant, and Apple AirPlay 2.

Arc, as well as the rest of the Sonos range, is available to buy through Exertis ONE – your ONE team for smart installers.

Exertis ONE Call: 01256 378550 or E-mail: exertisone@exertis.co.uk

SPEAKER SUPPLEMENT 2021 11

HABITECH

Sonance Motion Flex: finally, invisible speakers that sound like their visible counterparts

FINALLY, NO COMPROMISE Promising the performance of visible speakers, the new Sonance Motion Flex Invisible range changes everything, says Habitech’s Jonathan Pengilley.

In 1983 Scott Struthers and Geoff Spencer put a speaker in a wall and changed home audio forever. Since then the big CI mission has been to make AV disappear, with the company they founded leading the charge.

Instinctively, America’s most influential CI speaker maker builds products by ‘degrees of invisibility’ from the super-stealthy VPs and Architectural Series to the ultimate expression of Sonance ethos: the completely invisible speaker. But as any engineer will tell you, the design downside to invisibles of every stripe has always been sound quality. Even though the disappearing form-factor makes perfect sense aesthetically, too many dealers have shied away from the idea because they didn’t believe that consumers would get the sound they deserved.

Consequently the ‘holy grail’ for every brand has been to make invisibles sound like visible speakers. For Sonance it’s a philosophical challenge as much as a commercial one, as chief

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engineer Todd Ryan explains: “if an invisible speaker could reproduce sound with the quality level of a visible speaker then that would be the ultimate promise of the brand”. Today, with the arrival of the Motion Flex Invisible range, that promise has been kept.

totally different pistonic movement. Armed with

THE GREATEST WOW OF ALL

THE FRONT DIAPHRAGM

It’s taken two years of research into the physics of flat diaphragms to refine the ideal marriage of aesthetics and acoustics. Traditionally the drivers inside all invisible speakers, including Sonance models, are mounted to a metal frame and drive the diaphragm directly and simultaneously. But there’s nothing to stop the waves from the mid driver rippling outwards to interfere with those from the bass driver on the same radiating surface, boosting distortion and colouration.

It’s a recipe for acoustic disaster and, as it turns out, completely avoidable.

Because, in a breakthrough for invisible speaker design, Sonance has found a way to isolate discrete wave patterns on a single diaphragm for optimum fidelity.

First the team recalibrated its Klippel laser scanning tools (designed to study the micro behaviour of cone diaphragms) to map the movement of flat surfaces, revealing that different drivers produce very distinct responses in the diaphragm: mid/hf drivers create a bending wave motion while woofers generate a

this proprietary knowledge, the team devised a blend of four innovations to ensure that the two waveforms can successfully co-exist on the same panel. They called it Motion Flex technology.

The new diaphragm is made from FibreReinforced its

Polymer

exceptional

(FRP),

selected

for

temperature/dimensional

stability and leading acoustic and vibrational performance. Covering the diaphragm is a paper, matching the properties of gypsum wall board to allow the topping compound to dry evenly without cracking.

THE TRANSDUCERS Custom designed for the project, the allnew ‘Wave Flex’ mid/hf driver has a wide response from 30kHz down to lower midrange frequencies where it crosses over to the proprietary ‘Air Flex’ carbon-fibre woofer.

As part of the Motion Flex approach, the woofer couples to a chamber of air behind the diaphragm, and it’s the air rather than the woofer itself that drives the panel, producing a uniformly pistonic surface motion.

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HABITECH

THE ISOLATING BAFFLE AND CDX CROSSOVER

Unlike typical invisible speaker designs and according to Hi-Fi lore, the Motion Flex drivers are installed within a rigid baffle, in this case formed from a fire-proof alloy of Polycarbonate and ABS. Between the drivers and at the periphery, the baffle is permanently bonded to the diaphragm, allowing the area in front of the drivers to radiate freely. Effectively this divides the diaphragm into two discrete radiators, isolating the output of the Wave Flex driver from the Air Flex woofer. As a result, distortion and coloration drop like a stone, setting a new performance benchmark for invisible speakers.

With the proprietary Constant Directivity (CDX) network dividing input frequencies at an unusually low crossover point, the Motion Flex system offers excellent 170° horizontal/vertical dispersion and smooth off-axis response for optimal sound quality from wall or ceiling.

PARADIGM SHIFT

The results speak for themselves, surpassing even Sonance’s lofty expectations. Test bench gains were so emphatic they made comparison with other invisibles useless. Instead the team had to measure their next-gen progeny against flagship models from Sonance’s award-winning, visible, VP range. For Todd Ryan the new IS line-up has taken the ultimate CI engineering challenge in its stride. As he says in the launch video, “I have 100% confidence that if these were put behind a screen and you had no idea what was playing, in a million years you would not guess that this was an invisible speaker product, even when compared with any of our competitors’ visible speakers.” This is an astonishing outcome for a system buried behind a layer of ‘mud’.

INVISIBLE EVERYWHERE

Installation practicality has also taken a giant leap forward. At 12mm the Motion Flex baffle is the same depth as the surrounding plasterboard

so installs effortlessly flush without the need for shims to compensate for depth disparity. Install flexibility is boosted by a narrower rear profile, compatible with stud and joist spacing down to 12in (305mm). And to keep contractors honest, the new range incorporates the Sonance Depth Identification Sensing Calibration (DISC) feature in which four steel discs embedded in the baffle work with a hand-held depth gauge accessory to measure the finish depth. Now you have a way to test whether the contractor has applied the ideal finish thickness of 1-1.5mm before the final finishing stage.

Klippel analysis of flat surfaces reveals that mid/ hf drivers create a bending wave motion (top) while woofers generate a totally different pistonic movement

THE LINE-UP

As many as new six models give you the versatility to design completely invisible fullrange systems of consistent high fidelity but with different levels of bass according to room size. Use the IS6 for a broad range of applications with a companion IS10W sub extending down to 35Hz. The IS8 is the best choice for larger rooms and snugs, and for the largest spaces the daddy IS10 will deliver fullrange dynamics light years in advance of any rival. Also planned are a 100V line IS8T and the IS15W, an 818 x 818mm panel for use with IS6 and IS8 in a completely invisible home theatre sound system. Imagine that! All models have a mounting depth of 68mm save the IS15W at 86mm.

IS6

IS8 and IS8T

LISTEN AND YOU’LL SEE

Sonance isn’t the first company to claim amazing sound quality from its invisibles, but it is the first to back it up with a blind demo. The new IS demo kit is easy to set up, completely mobile and self-contained, so call us to arrange a time and place of your choosing. You’ll have nothing to lose, and the ultimate CI speaker magic to deploy.

IS10

Habitech habitech.co.uk

IS10W with IS15W to come

Game-changing IS8 invisible: diaphragm, DISC discs, baffle, drivers and CDX crossover in perfect harmony

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SPEAKER SUPPLEMENT 2021 13

MODULAR. SCALABLE. DYNAMIC.

The Spitfire range is uniquely modular, enabling complete scalable design for any cinema room. The A6, together with a new line up of band-pass subwoofers, have been meticulously designed to deliver a consistently extraordinary experience.

The modular design format allows systems to be designed for the space, with the Spitfire A6 arrays ensuring all seats get full, dynamic and accurate performance. The new subwoofer range is the first to be designed specifically to address room modes, delivering even, deep and powerful bass to every seat.

#nocheapseats artcoustic.com

SPEAKER SUPPLEMENT: REDLINE

GET SERIOUS ABOUT SOUNDBARS Soundbars account for nearly 50% of all audio sales. Can you afford to not get onboard in 2021?

There will always be the real audio purist. The lady or gent who will, at the drop of a hat, happily walk you through the subtle qualities of a great system. When the amplifier, speakers, interconnects and speaker cable all work in harmony. Giving you every ounce of quality from recordings, pulling you into the arrangement and bringing even the most understated of audio nuance’s to life. Talking you through their journey to reach the pinnacle of system perfection.

But if the numbers are anything to go by, there is a shift in the market taking place, spearheaded by regular audio consumers looking for that balance between sound quality, build quality and aesthetic refinement.

With over 48% of all audio sales now being spent on soundbars and a forecasted 41 million soundbars to be sold in 2021*, now is the time to take them seriously with many top brands turning their sights and serious R&D towards making soundbars a significant contender for high quality audio.

AUDIO QUALITY

Brands like the prestigious Totem Acoustic leveraging 34+ years of know how in the TwoChannel arena, have brought some real quality to the soundbar stage in 2021. Leading the way with their passive ‘Duo’ and ‘Trio’ solution soundbars for stereo and LCR configurations.

By using in house designed Neodymium Activated 4in and 5.75in Long Throw woofers, coupled with proprietary Textile Soft Dome tweeters for remarkable on and off axis clarity and dynamics, Totem have managed to distil

16 SPEAKER SUPPLEMENT 2021

their signature sound into an impeccable Stereo or LCR solution for superb quality audio.

For those looking more for an ‘All in one’ stereo solution, Totem have the active ‘Kin soundbar’. 150watts of internal amplification powers 4in KIN Natural Hybrid Woofers to giving size defying levels of frequency response with exquisite clarity from the 1in/ 2.54 cm Metal Alloy Dome tweeters. Bluetooth is built in and the ability to wirelessly add a matching Totem subwoofer using their bespoke ‘Link’ system for simple, wire free bass connectivity.

Rarely has achieving quality like this from a highend audio brand been so easy.

CUSTOM INTEGRATION

For those needing something made to size or a bespoke colour grille without compromising on audio quality, there is always one name that sits at the top of the list, Artison.

A pioneer in the bespoke soundbar arena since 2009, Artison has an unimaginable amount of customisable grille size and finish options while keeping audio and build quality at the fore front of every design. Ultimately culminating in the Studio range we have today, a chameleon like product with an uncanny ability to fit in where it is needed. This is primarily due to the four-model range of sizes, which when combined with the custom width grille, fit all TV sizes and budgets.

Carbon fibre bass/mid-range, Vifa tweeters and side-firing stage tweeters give remarkable depth and clarity, even from the smallest soundbar. It is clear, Artison soundbars are no slouch in the audio department.

As well as being able to change the grille size and colour to fit almost any situation, the interchangeable grille system on the Artison

Studio range has another ace up its sleeve.

Gone are the days where you would keep your TV for 5 or even sometimes 8 years. With today’s resolutions and streaming platforms increasing in size and scope and 8K or even 12K resolutions here to stay, changing your TV is as much about keeping up with new technologies as anything else. With an Artison Studio soundbar there is no need to change your soundbar system when you upgrade, simply change your grille to fit the size of your new TV. And that is it, a cost-effective unobtrusive way to keep your audio ticking along with each TV upgrade.

By adopting this way of working, Artison has taken the stress out of ordering a custom width soundbar well in advance of the installation, with grille size being changeable right up to the point of manufacture.

Having these options means you no longer need to worry about TV models suddenly being no longer available, or if that particular customer decides to switch TV brands or range on you last minute.

Also, ready to get you out of a lastminute bind, Artison’s ‘made to fit’ grilles and soundbars need only be ordered 48 hours before installation. Taking the strain out of the supply chain with a custom grille system this comprehensive is a huge advantage to have in today’s fast paced, constantly evolving market.

With fantastic audio quality and bespoke finish options like these at your fingertips, it is safe to say soundbar sales see no signs of slowing down. Can you afford to not get involved?

Redline red-line.co.uk *Stats from Statista.com

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SPEAKER SUPPLEMENT: REDLINE

BUILDING THE RIGHT BASS Are you missing out on the most important piece of your audio puzzle? Why does your system fall flat?

When it comes to making the most out of your audio budget, bass is (more often than not) an after-thought. In many cases subs are put where they can be fitted and not where they need to be.

Surprisingly, many consumers do not really understand the need for bass. They think of bass as loud and annoying. This is a misconception that has evolved over the years. It steers opinion leaving many people with poor sounding, unsatisfying systems that seem impossible to fix.

I only wish I had a pound for every time I have heard someone say “Why do I need a subwoofer?

I don’t want to play the system loud.”

Bass is one the most fundamental parts of audio reproduction for music and media. Bass is the key to unlocking the full potential of your system and is the bedrock of the vast majority of modern program material. Bass is a Chameleon, adding subtle warmth to quiet passages of music while improving mid-range openness and listenability. Bass underpins TV and Film, providing invaluable acoustic information and not just loud bangs and crashes. When specified and deployed correctly, bass gives a breadth of scale, emotion and involvement to audio that just isn’t achievable without the integration of a quality subwoofer.

The most obvious problems with having dedicated bass in your system are, of course, the size, and correct location.

That big eyesore, sitting in the corner of the room rumbling away does not have to be there.

If volume and sound pressure are the name of your game and you simply must have the best

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of the best, Velodyne’s passive SCIW-DVR should be on your short list. Its highly regarded ‘T’ shaped drive unit is capable of delivering the effortless weight that mid-size in room subwoofers are known for, while being housed within a wall/ceiling or within joinery. The only part of the subwoofer that is visible is the small designer grille or slots giving away its location.

There are indeed a plethora of industrious options capable of superb results without the big box problem.

Subwoofers like the all new Velodyne DB10.

This super compact 10” in room subwoofer has a deft of touch, delivering superb timing with speed and subtlety as well as grabbing the room in a vice like grip during your favourite action film. All is this is packed into a 316 x 296 x 348mm cabinet.

Artison’s Reactance Cancelling RCC160/320 MK11 subs offer outstanding speed and clarity and feature one of the smallest bass ports on the market. They produce no physical vibration allowing them to be placed in locations that have previously been out of bounds to subs. These units are ideal for media-rooms and multi-room bass support. They have been designed to be used in multiples (up to 8 units driven from a single amplifier) to give an excellent even pressure load.

The world-renowned Totem Acoustic throws its hat into the subwoofer ring with the all new ‘Tribe Solution’ Sub. Offering superb timing and musicality from a very svelte, attractive package.

At only 115mm deep (cabinet only) this Super slim dual 8in active unit can be stand mounted in room or, when placed on its back using the included rubber feet, slid under pretty much anything. From a bed to a sofa, giving far more placement options than a conventional sub.

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Should you like to keep the much-lauded Totem Acoustic sonic pedigree but would prefer something a little more hidden away, their range of passive in-wall options in either dual 8” or dual 12” could be the perfect complement to your system. Giving stellar sonics while keeping a minimal look and completely removing that in-room Subwoofer box clutter. Obviously if the space and size limitations do not apply to you, we still have a stunning array of in room bass options from World Class suppliers. From the mighty Velodyne DD-18+, capable of delivering bass from the deepest, darkest depths of the frequency spectrum. To the all-new, mini but mighty MicroVee-X. A small powerhouse of bass if there ever was one.

Here at Redline we take bass seriously and have a fantastic range of bass solutions to fit all budgets and rooms. Maybe it is time to show bass the respect it deserves.

Redline red-line.co.uk

SPEAKER SUPPLEMENT 2021 17

SPEAKER SUPPLEMENT: INVISION UK/ORIGIN ACOUSTICS

ORIGIN ACOUSTICS: 2021 AND BEYOND

Aaron Cattoir, Director of Marketing for Origin Acoustics and Ambisonic Systems, recounts his experience working for this innovative speaker maker.

My first week working at Origin Acoustics, Jeremy Burkhardt collected our entire team; sales, marketing, logistics, executives, and joined us together in a one-hour yoga session.

In my mid-thirties - I had never attempted yoga before, and definitely not in front of my new co-workers. Yikes! Luckily, nearly all the other nervous-looking office dwellers were fresh to both Origin and yoga too. As we wiggled and strained and awkwardly avoided kicking each other, a not altogether foreign feeling stretched over me — a base calmness. I wasn’t nervous anymore, at least. My natural anxiety had blown further away with each breath, and now I was lying on the floor in serpent pose, having a wonderful time.

This hour, this initial experience, paved the road for my career here at Origin Acoustics. The personalities here have built the most authentic work culture I’ve ever experienced. We’re allowed to relish incredible music and revere the art of cinema as part of our daily work. So do many of you. What luck?

But in 2020, we lost some of that, right?

The previous year, we hosted hundreds of integrators in Las Vegas, and we introduced most of them to yoga too! Suddenly, we spaced our office, sent people to work remotely, and we wear masks indoors. The distance grew. All was quiet. I’m sick to death of the monotony.

Whilst I’ve been happy to lay low and help stop the spread of this invisible enemy, I am elated at the prospects of the coming year.

So, as we conquer this virus through diligence and science, the door is wide open to remaking your life and business. Let’s toss

18 SPEAKER SUPPLEMENT 2021

the rubbish out and keep the treasures. As the world re-opens, let’s make 2021 the most unbelievable year on record. Let’s manifest a year to remember for your employees, your customers and your business.

The hunger for home entertainment is more carnivorous than ever, with most home consumer electronics companies posting massive revenue increases (even as stores remain closed and people were stuck indoors).

These trends will not go away in the foreseeable future. Consequently, now is the time to break into and pitch more categories. Outdoor audio for gardens, hybrid family-room/home cinemas, even whole-home distributed audio looks more and more attractive when you’ve been inhabiting the same space for months on end. We can be your partner in this growth. Our loudspeakers and equipment portfolio ranges from entrylevel to utter audiophile quality. Even more, we will train your team. Just get in touch, and we will schedule a time online or even in person if the global situation is willing. Let’s open new doors together.

While I am optimistic, I don’t need to say we are all looking at a rocky path ahead. Indeed, we will undoubtedly experience repercussions unimaged today. There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio. But if you weren’t an adventurer, you would not be in this industry. As business owners and leaders, we have a unique

responsibility to our associates. In our hands, each day, we hold the difference between a lousy commute home and a beautiful one. A night spent in worry or a night well slept. The small actions you unconsciously execute each day have an outsized impact on those around in your business.

These thoughts being said, I humbly ask that you remember it’s been difficult for your co-workers and employees too. They need your leadership right now more than ever.

They need awkward yoga, pizza parties, pub nights, water balloon fights, thank you cards, and bonuses when they are deserved. They are more vulnerable than ever, and a small amount of support shown now will be returned by them five-fold: in their work, their attitudes, and their loyalty. You have, perhaps, the most exciting and unique opportunity in your life this upcoming year. Let’s make the most out of it.

Aaron Cattoir is the Director of Marketing for Origin Acoustics and Ambisonic Systems.

He’s been a professional musician, business owner, pawn broker, photographer, and web developer before joining Origin Acoustics in 2017. Invision is the exclusive distributor of Origin Acoustics in the UK. Invision UK invisionuk.com

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DETAILS MATTER Creating the perfect ambiance, The Director Collection enables consistent and detailed music to follow you from room to room at the optimal volume.

72 D87 speakers were used in Sona’s winning CEDIA Awards EMEA 2020 project.

Contact the Invision Sales Team for more information

01359 270280 | sales@invisionuk.com

SPEAKER SUPPLEMENT: MERIDIAN AUDIO

HIDDEN TALENT Meridian Audio resets the standard of architectural loudspeaker performance.

Meridian Audio’s architectural range of reference loudspeakers – DSP750 and DSP730 – are a testament to what Meridian can achieve; combining power and fidelity to give dealers a discreet, outstanding loudspeaker solution that packs one heck of a punch.

DSP750 LOUDSPEAKER Specifically designed and engineered for the most demanding architectural installations and dedicated home theatres, the Meridian DSP750 In-Wall Digital Active Loudspeaker demonstrates complete audio immersion, providing exquisite power and bass for the ultimate listening experience.

Key features: • Three new, high-performance drive-units • CLASS-M DSP engine provides thermal and dynamic bass protection for accurate sound • Separate mid-range driver enclosures eliminate interaction with the bass drivers • Five drive-units are powered by a bridged pair of Dynamic Hi-Res amplifiers; each pair capable of delivering over 100W into 8 Ohms per drive unit • Enhanced Bass Alignment (EBA) heightens sound quality across the frequency range with perfect bass integration • Dynamic bass protection provides maximum excursion and output without distortion • Centre Elevation technology creates an immersive experience that appears to come from the centre of the screen Designed for a natural and lifelike sound with high fidelity and perfect tonal balance, the DSP750 delivers a maximum output of 120dB and bass extension down to 30Hz. Its builtin custom tweeter with a beryllium dome and diffraction expansion technology ensures a wide sound dispersion for incredibly lifelike sound -

Key features: • Three bridged pairs of Class-D amplifiers deliver over 100W to each drive unit • L+R mode for the ultimate high-power sound bar applications • Maximum output of 115dB @ 1m and bass extension down to 38Hz • Digital active design saves on heat and space in the rack • Optimised DSP for horizontal or vertical mounting, ideal for soundbar or centre channel usage • Meridian’s Centre Elevation Technology raises the audio to match the video on screen • Custom tweeter with Beryllium dome and diffraction expansion technology for wide dispersion and pinpoint imaging

DSW600 SUBWOOFER

The 100mm mid-range driver delivers clear dialogue, while the 160mm, long throw bass driver produces incredibly deep, powerful, and complex bass frequencies with speed and accuracy. The three drive units unleash the full potential of the Hi-Res amplifiers and the Class-M DSP engine, which provides thermal and dynamic bass protection for detailed and accurate sound.

These loudspeakers also feature Meridian’s unique enhancement technologies, including FIFO buffering, DSP upsampling, apodising filters, and MHR (Meridian High Resolution) for the best possible audio experience from all digital sources. The sealed aluminium cabinet design of both the DSP750 and DSP730 ensures that a reliable and repeatable performance is achieved with an ultra-shallow 100mm mounting depth for easy installation and precise positioning.

HIGH POWER ARRAY

The two reference loudspeakers can be combined with the Meridian DSW600 Digital Active In-Wall Subwoofer to produce a full-range, two-box solution. Delivering fast, powerful, dynamic, and accurate bass, the DSW600 is the perfect addition to any home cinema system, providing high accuracy and low distortion for the ultimate surround sound experience.

The DSW600 provides deep, impactful bass with perfect timing down to 24Hz, thanks to Meridian’s unique DSP and EBA technology.

Its on-board Class-D amplifier with low output impedance is capable of delivering over 600W of power, and its low-profile drive-unit is designed to displace large volumes of air, delivering low frequencies effortlessly.

For those installs where it’s important to achieve high SPL targets across the entire listening region of large spaces, the DSP750 and DSP730 can be installed in a High Power Array (HPA) configuration. HPA is a technology upgrade that optimises the output and coverage of sound when three Meridian architectural loudspeakers are arranged in a close-proximity array configuration.

By stacking the speakers in this way, Meridian’s bespoke, patent pending HPA software ensures there will be no interference or spectral variation between the loudspeakers, resulting in an even response and allowing every listener to experience Meridian’s signature high resolution sound.

Meridian Audio meridian-audio.com

capable of playing over 40kHz.

DSP730 LOUDSPEAKER The second speaker in the reference range, the DSP730 In-Wall Digital Active Loudspeaker, provides both power and fidelity and is designed to deliver Hi-Res audio in small and medium-sized rooms where performance is paramount. This reference loudspeaker delivers performance, accuracy, and powerful bass for both music and movies.

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Project by Len Wallis Audio

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SPEAKER SUPPLEMENT 2021 21

SPEAKER SUPPLEMENT: KEF

SOUND THAT MOVES YOU Maximising bass - yet minimising space with Uni-Core technology; the new KC62 Subwoofer from KEF rewrites the rules for bass reproduction.

KEF is a proud pioneer of excellence in sound.

Since 1961, KEF‘s mission has been to preserve the integrity of original sound with as little intervention as possible. The goal of every KEF product is to do one thing: provide the listener with a revealing sound experience that is as true to the original recording as is possible (within the confines of their own room). KEF creates remarkable speakers that win awards and impress listeners all over the world.

THE PURSUIT OF PERFECT SOUND

KEF’s ethos of continual innovation has resulted in the introduction of many new and groundbreaking technologies over the years. The latest pioneering developments have allowed KEF to prioritise sound and design in equal measure.

KEF’s patent-pending Uni-Core technology, as applied in the ultra-compact KC62 subwoofer, proves that deep and powerful bass is no longer solely the domain of super-sized subwoofers.

KEF UNI-CORE TECHNOLOGY: REDEFINING SIZE VERSUS PERFORMANCE

With exceptional engineering and creativity, KEF’s engineers have developed the KEF KC62 Uni-Core™ Force-Cancelling subwoofer.

KEF continues to revolutionise traditional expectations of what a subwoofer can achieve, in particular the new subwoofer’s force-cancelling abilities. The Uni-Core design delivers ultracompact size and big performance, which sits at the heart of the innovative KC62.

“To deliver deep and loud bass from a compact product is a big engineering challenge.

The Uni-core is a breakthrough technology for KEF because it allows us to pack two drivers into a tighter space without compromising their performance.” Says Dr Jack Oclee-Brown, Vice President of Technology, KEF. By rethinking the traditional force-cancelling arrangement with a Uni-Core design, KEF engineers have managed to overcome

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performance compromises when placing force-cancelling drivers into a smaller cabinet.

Uni-Core™ combines both back-to-back drivers into a single motor system. The overlapping, concentrically arranged voice coils allow for far more driver excursion than in other force-cancelling designs, unlocking more output and depth from less space.

Along with the space-saving Uni-Core driver, a second and third technology also allows the KC62 subwoofer to excel.

INTRODUCING THE P-FLEX DRIVER SURROUND The P-Flex Surround is a brand-new patentpending driver surround. With a unique pleated design inspired by Origami, (the Japanese art of paper folding), it is engineered to better resist the acoustic pressure in the cabinet to allow the driver to move more precisely when compared to traditional surround designs. The result is deeper bass extension and a more accurate and detailed bass reproduction.

ACCURATE BASS WITH SMART DISTORTION CONTROL TECHNOLOGY This patent-pending, sensorless and motional feedback system helps correct even the slightest abnormalities that may occur. The new approach dramatically decreases the potential for distortion and delivers a more accurate bass performance.

KC62’s connection options allow it to be used with almost any audio system; with KEF SmartConnect and speaker level inputs eliminating any connection issues. Line output with HPF allows for exceptional fine-tuned integration, and KC62 is also compatible with the KW1 Wireless Subwoofer Adapter Kit for simple wireless compatibility.

Ideal for smaller listening areas, discrete installation or for living rooms that transform into thunderous multi-sub home cinemas by night, the KC62 subwoofer shows what KEF’s world-class engineers can achieve when they push the boundaries of loudspeaker design.

Through significant new technological advancements and considered engineering, KC62 delivers an unprecedented combination of depth, detail, and output from an ultracompact form. By pushing the boundaries of what has been considered possible, KEF offers a way for almost anybody with any system, in almost any room to benefit from what a welldesigned and integrated subwoofer can bring to both music and film - the complete experience, just as the artist intended.

KEF uk.kef.com

EASY INTEGRATION INTO ANY HOME KC62 slips effortlessly into any environment or listening room, with the five pre-set Room Placement Equalisation feature ensuring the same performance no matter where you decide to place it; in free space, next to the wall, in a corner, nestled within a cabinet or using the dedicated apartment mode.

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SPEAKER SUPPLEMENT 2021 23

SPEAKER SUPPLEMENT

ACOUSTIC ENERGY:

FOR THE LOVE OF MUSIC Founded in 1987, Acoustic Energy is a British loudspeaker manufacturer based in the Cotswolds. The company’s first speaker, the AE1, gained an enviable reputation as one of the finest high-end compact monitors available, setting performance standards in accuracy, power handling, dynamics, transparency and musicality.

These qualities reflect the company’s core product ethos, which is faithfully maintained to this day by using new driver technologies, cabinet materials and manufacturing techniques within a focused product portfolio. Each loudspeaker is expertly conceived to deliver a lifetime of listening pleasure and enjoyment.

Impressive looking floor-standing speakers can often enhance the style and interior design of today’s living rooms acting as pieces of audio furniture encased with fashionable finishes. So, heading up AE’s line up, the AE520s deserve their flagship status within the 500 Series.

Comprising three models, a stand-mount and two floor-standers, all boast newly developed carbon fibre tweeters and mid/bass drivers,

designed to match the pistonic power and accuracy of the legendary ceramic aluminium drivers, but with improved self-damping for a smoother, more transparent sound.

Talking of which, the first AE1 speaker used these same drivers, as does the latest powered version – the AE1 Active. Where space is at a premium in smaller rooms and apartments, ‘active’ stand-alone speakers can provide discrete and simplified audio solutions when partnered with streaming devices. A pair of AE1 Active speakers connected to a DAC/streamer or a turntable/pre-amp can offer unequalled performance and convenience.

The 300 Series features multiple upgrades over the entry-level 100 Series, all designed to improve both audio performance and aesthetics befitting of its more premium, mid-level status.

For use in both Hi-Fi and home cinema applications, bespoke new drive units have been designed in tandem to offer seamless tonal integration in addition to low distortion and high power handling benefits. They are finished in attractive real open grain walnut wood veneer,

piano grade high gloss black or white lacquer options.

Finally, the 100 Series is an entrylevel range focusing on refining the listening experience whilst providing a room friendly, affordable loudspeaker. Using driver tech from our higher end ranges and an external design for a more elegant appearance with smaller footprint, the 100 Series is designed to work well in a wide variety of surroundings within any two and multi-channel system.

Backed by press awards and critical acclaim from around the globe, Acoustic Energy loudspeakers are loved by music fans, installers and professional studios in over fifty countries worldwide, helping to secure an enviable status as one of the most highly regarded British brands in the audio industry for those who truly love music.

Acoustic Energy acoustic-energy.co.uk

for the love of music

Multi-award winning British loudspeakers for over 30 years...

500 Series

24 SPEAKER 2021 Untitled-1 v4.indd SUPPLEMENT 1

300 Series

100 Series

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AE1 Active

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essentialinstall.com 22-Feb-21 12:04:38 PM

“You Ain’t Heard Nothin’ Yet

JBL’s founder helped motion pictures to speak. From then on, we’ve been continuously advancing the science of high-fidelity sound reproduction, right up to and including the new Synthesis Custom Loudspeaker (SCL) range, the industry’s first comprehensive selection of compression driver-based architectural loudspeakers. As the Jazz Singer put it back in 1928, “You ain’t heard nothin’ yet.”

For further information please call 01423 358846, email info@karma-av.co.uk or visit karma-av.co.uk

SPEAKER SUPPLEMENT: L ACOUSTICS CREATIONS

BRING THE NIGHTCLUB HOME Nick Fichte, Business Manager, L-Acoustics Creations explains exactly what a home night club is and how to offer one.

A home nightclub is a space located in a property with the primary aim of entertaining with music.

Everyone knows about home cinema, but ‘home nightclubs’ are an emerging trend that has been picking up speed. Typically, spaces are multi-purpose with a bar area, perhaps a pool table or football table, comfortable lounge-style seating, a connection point for DJ equipment or a mix console for live performances and most importantly, a dancefloor! Another consideration is whether the space is indoor, outdoor, or a little of both. Whilst we may not always have perfect weather here in the UK, we are designing sound systems for both indoor and outdoor use across the world.

of L-Acoustics, you have probably heard our sound.

In 2020, L-Acoustics launched a new division L-Acoustics Creations. For the first time, integrators working in the luxury residential and marine sectors can access not only the L-Acoustics product range, but also the design--using Soundvision, our proprietary 3D modeling software--and calibration services.

We are in a fortunate position to have been asked to assist integrators on some truly fantastic projects. By becoming ‘L-Acoustics Creations Integrators’ they have added ‘home nightclub’ to their services. We know with certainty that people want to bring the private nightclub experience home, but as an end user doing a Google search you would likely struggle to find a company who could provide that. We hope to enable more integrators to address this growing luxury niche market.

How do installers get involved?

Why would consumers want one?

What is a home nightclub?

In joining L-Acoustics, I could see that there was a fantastic opportunity to offer professional audio products in a residential or marine environment. L-Acoustics have been known for creating some of the best loudspeaker technologies for concerts, festivals, theatres and of course nightclubs all over the world since the 1980s. So, whilst many may not have heard

26 SPEAKER SUPPLEMENT 2021

In a nutshell, privacy, creativity & partying. With confinement, people are spending more time in their residences. Many miss music festivals and clubbing and want to recreate that front-row feeling at home. Additionally, people are getting more creative at home and there is a trend of consumers wanting to learn to DJ themselves, fuelled in part by social media which makes it

very easy to both learn and share. Trying to get hold of a pair of Pioneer CDJs at peak lockdown last year was harder than trying to get anti-bac wipes or flour!

In the UK we are seeing people take derelict barns and convert them into premium party spaces. To quote one integrator, “There’s a trend of homeowners booking big name DJs and having small intimate parties at home where they can misbehave as much as they like.”

What are the systems involved?

L-Acoustics Creations proposes a handful of turnkey packages designed to show end users exactly what can be achieved within their setting, whether that be on land or at sea.

Named after islands: Fiji, Hawaii, Tahiti, Tonga & Ibiza and collectively named Archipel (French for archipelago) these systems are available in stereo with surround options as well. Instead of focusing on watts and frequency response we focus on delivering the L-Acoustics sonic signature—the benchmark of the live music world—at a particular listening position. In premium pro audio, L-Acoustics is known for its natural, powerful, and realistic sound reproduction. These sound systems deliver the same levels of performance that a mix engineer would have at the mixing desk at venues with full concert-like dynamics. 105 dB is the reference for this, but all the systems will happily perform at over 117 dB for that extra thump.

In addition to our sound systems, we offer ‘sound spaces’ – Ocean & Island Prestige. As L-ISA technology for ultra high-res, spatialised audio was introduced to the pro sound world, it was decided that Immersive Hyperreal Sound should not be reserved only for concerts and festivals, but also the home. Imagine audio so potent and realistic that you can close your eyes and visualise a whole other world around you.

For more information about L-Acoustics Creations sound systems and sound spaces, or to schedule a listening session in Highgate, London, Paris, or Los Angeles, please visit l-acoustics-creations.com

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We created amazing on-wall speakers long before we made them wireless

legend 7.2 silverback active for wireless 7.1 home theatre with WiSA surround hub

With over 150 awards for speaker innovation since 1984, System Audio blends excellent acoustic design with the latest tech to make full-range audio dynamics the easiest lifestyle upgrade……

For further information please call 01423 358846, email info@karma-av.co.uk or visit karma-av.co.uk

SPEAKER SUPPLEMENT: PMC

GIVE YOUR CUSTOMERS EXACTLY THE SAME SPEAKERS USED TO MAKE THE MOVIES

The new PMC ci series breaks the mould for custom installation loudspeakers. It’s the only range of CI speakers that are also used to make the movies. So Essential Install (EI) wanted to find out more about them.

EI: Why did you develop this new range?

Oliver Thomas, chief technical officer, PMC (OT): “We wanted to make a single range of speakers that can be used both in the movie and music making process and for home playback.

They provide reference quality performance from end to end – whether it’s the Hollywood studio or a high-end home cinema installation.”

EI: So what is your Hollywood pedigree?

OT: “PMC has been at the forefront of music and movie mixing since the company was founded, with our speakers used to compose and mix literally thousands of major movies.

And, when surround started, we were there as the reference speakers for the professional world, demonstrating the benefits and opportunities of the formats. For example, we worked with Tomlinson Holman (founder of Lucasfilm’s THX) in 1999 on format demos and on the BBC’s pioneering trials of immersive audio, long before anyone had even heard of it.

And over the past few years we’ve been working very closely with Dolby and are now the go-to speaker brand for Dolby Atmos music mixing.”

28 SPEAKER SUPPLEMENT 2021

EI: What makes them so suitable for custom installers?

OT: “We know that slick, effortless install is paramount for installers, along with a really high standard of fit and finish for their top-end installs. The new ci series is an in-wall range that also can be adapted to on-wall use with an additional sleeve that creates a beautiful slimline on-wall speaker. So, however the cinema has been designed, with speakers mounted behind an acoustically transparent screen or to the side of the screen, either inset or surface mounted, they are the perfect solution. We have engineered pre-install kits, mounting templates and install bracketing hardware, plus the Qikfire in-wall mounting system makes the entire range very installer friendly. We’re also offering unparalleled installer support from the development team to make them perform to their best in any situation.”

“They have really wide dispersion characteristics that gives exactly the same sound wherever you’re sitting, which is really important for home cinema installations. And the resolution and definition of sound produced by them is head and shoulders above any other CI speakers currently available.

“They also benefit from low sound leakage into other rooms as they come with an enclosed cabinet, rather than using the wall cavity. Plus, they have the ultra-high reliability that the studios and installers demand.”

The ci series is available now from PMC. More details from www.pmc-speakers.com, or email sales@pmc-speakers.com

EI: Do they sound better that what’s currently available?

OT: “Yes. We know what it takes to make a reference loudspeaker for the studios and our speakers have been leading the way since the early 1990s. The ci series benefits from all of our technologies developed over 30 years, such as the ATL (Advanced Transmission Line) bass loading and Laminair aerodynamic airflow technology, which combine to create an incredibly deep and precise bass at all levels.

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Go straight to the source The ci series incorporates cutting edge technologies and audio quality from the world-renowned PMC studio monitors that have been responsible for countless hit records and movies, into the ultimate in slimline, high-performance on-wall and in-wall loudspeakers.

• SLICK, EFFORTLESS INSTALLATION • PROFESSIONAL STUDIO RELIABILITY • PHENOMENAL SOUND QUALITY • BEAUTIFUL BEZEL-LESS DESIGN • NO DISTURBANCE TO ADJOINING ROOMS • VAST, EVEN SOUND COVERAGE • DEEP, PRECISE BASS AT ALL LEVELS To recreate the awe-inspiring realism and dynamics of a hit record or blockbuster movie, there is no better choice of loudspeaker than the ones used to make them.

The ci140 and ci140sub are dedicated on-wall designs. All other models may be mounted in or on-wall, thanks to the Qikfire™ fittings, bezel-less grille and stylish cabinet sleeve.

Find out more T 01767 686300

www.pmc-speakers.com

Discreet in looks, warm in sound We believe that amazing audio is for everyone, in any space so we’ll help you create the perfect set-up, be it in-ceiling speakers in the kitchen, an integrated home cinema system, or weather resistant speakers by the pool.

Learn more at monitoraudio.com/install

SPEAKER SUPPLEMENT: MONITOR AUDIO

SOUND THAT MOVES YOU

Monitor Audio wants customers and installers alike to be moved by its efforts to produce the best speaker range possible.

Whether you’re an expert or a beginner, Monitor Audio will encourage you to set the bar high and help you reach it. The company has more technical knowledge than you can shake a stick at, but you don’t need to hear all about it. You just need to listen and then you’ll understand.

Monitor Audio is the audio expert you can trust. The company believes great sound is about listeners as much as speakers; so the mission is to make audio human. That’s why Monitor Audio craft speakers that will move you, make your hair stand on end and take your breath away.

Monitor Audio wants its products to be appreciated the way that great music and movies are: not just for its technical brilliance, but for the effect it has on you.

or weather resistant speakers by the pool.

Wherever you decide to experience rhythmic music and dynamic film sound, there’s a speaker that’s perfect for the role!

COMMITMENT TO QUALITY

Monitor Audio’s architectural speakers will create harmony all around the home. Every product is designed and built with the consumer firmly in mind. Monitor Audio is so confident with its performance, reliability and robustness, that the company offers a minimum of five years up to lifetime warranty on the products.

Since Mo Iqbal founded Monitor Audio in 1972 from a small base near Cambridge, Mo worked with a tight-knit team of engineers, assembling loudspeakers by hand – with quality, precision and a near-maddening perfectionism which is still with Monitor Audio today. From the very first speaker, the iconic MA1, the

brand developed, innovated, designed and refined, with a pioneering approach that saw patent after patent filed. It’s an ethos that hasn’t changed at all. In fact, Monitor Audio is one of very few high-end audio brands still developing new, cutting-edge technologies today.

Monitor Audio www.monitoraudio.com

SOLUTION FOR EVERY SPACE

Available across varying performance levels, Monitor Audio’s architectural speakers are engineered for high performance, reliability, secure installation and ease-of-use. They’ve been developed using the advanced driver technologies of the award-winning Hi-Fi speaker ranges to deliver world-famous sound quality.

Monitor Audio believes that amazing audio is for everyone, without having to compromise room design. The company will help you create the perfect set-up with seamless room integration, be it in-ceiling speakers in the kitchen, an integrated home cinema system,

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SPEAKER SUPPLEMENT 2021 31

SPEAKER SUPPLEMENT: AVOKE

LOUDSPEAKER SOLUTIONS FOR ANY INSTALLATION

Sales and distribution specialist, Avoke, highlights the abilities of Elipson loudspeakers.

Elipson has over 80 years of audio expertise designing loudspeaker systems; from professional broadcast (France’s General de Gaulle’s inauguration speech was delivered using the company’s speakers), to consumer hi-fi and home cinema systems that’s won much acclaim from the world’s audio press… so it knows a thing or two about sound quality.

This highly respected French brand has built a worldwide reputation for the highest standards in quality, performance and value.

Now, through their exclusive distributor here in the UK (Avoke Limited) you can now experience these loudspeaker speaker systems for yourself and discover how Elipson can offer audio solutions for any custom installation, domestic or commercial.

32 SPEAKER SUPPLEMENT 2021

The brand is perhaps most recognised for its iconic spherical shaped ‘Planet’ speakers innovatively installed into famous restaurants, bars and boutique hotels round the globe.

However, since being owned by a large Group of AV companies a little over ten years ago, the brand has successfully entered other growth sectors of the market including architectural in-wall and ceiling speakers, dedicated high performance cinema room systems, outdoor weather-proof speakers as well as more traditional Hi-Fi speaker designs such as their Prestige, recently launched retro ‘Heritage’ speaker and high-end audiophile Legacy Series.

The Planet Series features the larger bowling ball sized ‘L’ speaker, the smaller Planet ‘M’ version and their latest W35 proving wireless speakers can be both stylish and powerful. All Planet L and M speakers are available in various bold and pastel colours to match or dictate any home décor and all offer creative mounting options with their own accessories, enabling the speakers to be mounted on a floor, shelf, wall and even hung from a ceiling. Boasting the latest HD streaming tech, experience the future of audio with the new W35 speaker. Combining stunning looks with superior omni-directional performance, the W35 provides fantastic sound quality regardless of where you’re sitting in the room and all operated from the app on your smart device. It’s also compatible for multi-room audio systems or simply to improve the stereo sound from your TV. For the enjoyment of music in the great outdoors there’s a growing demand for weatherproof speakers installed on garden patios, decking areas, summerhouses etc. With improved UV protection, ease of mounting and construction techniques to withstand temperature and humidity extremes, coupled

with acoustically advanced designs to provide a wider sound dispersion, Elipson’s RAIN Series are now becoming increasingly specified in gardens and marine installations for yachts and motor cruisers. For the discerning movie buff whose idea of home cinema is to create a dedicated cinema room in the home with projector, seats, speakers, popcorn! etc.

Elipson’s INFINITE range of high performance speaker systems deserve their flagship status and the acclaim they’ve received from the world’s most respected audio journalists… “An outstanding set of installation speakers that delivers spellbinding performance across a high range of material.”

Finally, Elipson hasn’t forgotten its more traditional audio routes where true Hi-Fi speakers are concerned. Today the Prestige Facet and higher end Legacy Series target this more discerning market with the recently launched Heritage speaker meeting the latest trend towards more ‘retro design’ products.

Whilst the Legacy Series and Heritage speakers cater for two-channel music, the Prestige Facet Series consists of standmount, bookshelf and floor-standing designs, in addition to centre, rear and side channel models, sub-woofers and Atmos speakers for home cinema multi-channel installs.

Elipson is a solution based audio brand with pedigree from over 80 years industry experience.

Its comprehensive product portfolio meets the demands of any discrete or visible audio installation, through innovative and creative design, clever engineering and manufacturing… and unequalled build quality and performance.

To experience Elipson loudspeakers in the UK, please contact Avoke Limited on 07585 776789 / 01628 362412 or email david@avoke.co.uk

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Elipson is an award winning audio brand with over 80 years industry experience in designing stylish solutions to meet the demands of any domestic or commercial installation.

SUPPORTING THE UKʼS FINEST CUSTOM INSTALLERS

W: www.pulsecinemas.com

E: info@pulsecinemas.com

T: +44 1279 647 039