Jordan O'BrienSpeakerCraft has some major announcements at CEDIA 2016 with the company launching its new AIM Series 2 in-wall LCR speaker line. In addition to that new product launch, the company also announced that orders have begun for its Dolby Atmos enabled in-wall height speaker, the AIM Series 2 ATX100.
The big announcement for CEDIA 2016 was SpeakerCraft’s two new in-wall left-centre-right (LRC) speakers, the AIM LCR5 Five Series 2 and AIM LCR5 Two Series 2. Like the AIM Series 2 ATX100, SpeakerCraft have made its latest speakers available for pre-order starting today.
“We took the key technologies developed for the AIM Series 2 in-ceiling line and applied them to these new in-wall speakers,” says Matt Dever, Core Brands’ SpeakerCraft Product Manager. “And the technology translated flawlessly, delivering an exceptional home theatre-audio experience.”
The new AIM LCR5 FIVE Series 2 and AIM LCR5 TWO Series 2 speakers employ the all-new Arrayed Point Source (APS) Tweeter Module. The APS module incorporates three pivoting titanium dome tweeters mounted in a rotational sound baffle for high frequency sound steering. By rotating the baffle, the LCR can focus the high frequency sound precisely into the targeted listening area. Like their AIM Series 2 in-ceiling counterparts, the extra surface area from the three tweeters enables a lower crossover point; this delivers extra sound pressure in the midrange frequencies critical for crisp, clear dialog.
“When we developed these new speakers, we started with a clean sheet of paper. The technology we crafted for the LCR is unique. Features like the APS and our exclusive Acoustic Isolation Technology help us really stand above the competition,” says senior director of Acoustics, Mike Strange. “By designing and engineering every aspect of these speakers, we’ve crafted the best of a long line of bests from SpeakerCraft.”
Both of the new models incorporate Dual, 5 ¼in woofers – angled within the assembly to prevent ‘acoustic lobing’ – and both employ SpeakerCraft’s Acoustic Isolation Technology to minimise acoustic energy transfer to the mounting and surrounding surfaces.
The other announcement at CEDIA 2016 was the fact that SpeakerCraft’s AIM Series 2 ATX100 speakers are now available for order. Having been announced at CEDIA 2015, the AIM Series 2 ATX100 the company’s first-to-market in-wall Atmos height speaker, which can also handle other forms of object-based surround-sound systems, such as DTS:X.
“If you heard them play at last year’s Expo, you’ll be blown away at how they sound this year,” says Core Brands audio product manager Matt Dever, who explains that the SpeakerCraft engineering and design team spent countless hours refining the speaker design and performance to get the correct reflections off the ceiling and have the speaker fit into a shallow 2×4 wall.
“This involved developing drivers, crossovers, and enclosures very specific to this purpose,” adds Mike Strange, Core Brands senior director of acoustics. “The result is a design that brings the Dolby Atmos experience into an installed environment completely hidden away in the wall.”
The ¾in custom titanium dome tweeter with Neodymium magnet structure boasts a frequency response up to 22kHz. With its dual 2 ½in Kevlar-reinforced pulp mid-bass drivers, the ATX100 can handle up to 125 watts of amplifier power at 8 Ohms.
SpeakerCraft will be taking orders for the ATX100 Height Speaker at CEDIA, with the product expected to begin shipping in October.
For those looking for speakers to round out an Atmos installation, the ATX100 can be paired with either of SpeakerCraft’s two new AIM Series 2 LCR In-Wall speakers.
“We took the key technologies developed for the AIM Series 2 in-ceiling line and applied then to these new in-wall speakers,” says Matt Dever, Core Brands SpeakerCraft product manager.
Designed to mirror the size and shape of the ATX100, the AIM LCR5 FIVE Series 2 and AIM LCR5 TWO Series 2, are intended to be recessed into the wall adjacent to a flat panel TV along with or apart from the ATX100.
Bottom line: dealers will have five different options to create a surround-sound system for their clients. The AXT100 on its own, the LCR5 FIVE on its own, the LCR5 TWO on its own, the AXT100 paired with the LCR5 FIVE, and the AXT100 paired with the LCR5 TWO.