TAS CEDIA 2012 Show Report: Loudspeakers - Part 1

Posted by: Chris Martens at 2:02 pm, September 12th, 2012

Monitor Audio

For CEDIA, Monitor Audio announced a stylish new sat/sub product family collectively known as the MASS system (Monitor Audio Subwoofer Satellite), which loosely slots in above the firm’s popular and very elegant-looking Radius speaker line. MASS combo’s can be put together for stereo (2.1-channel) or surround (5.1-channel or 7.1-channel applications), with 2.1 channel packages starting at just under $880. The MASS satellite, called the MASS 10, features a quasi-cylindrical enclosure made of a polymer material, with each satellite sporting a 4-inch C-CAM mid/bass driver and a 1-inch C-CAM tweeter. The MASS subwoofer, in turn, features a 10-inch woofer augmented by a passive radiator with a DSP-controlled 220-watt Class D amplifier. MASS systems are bought as product bundles where customers would choose from MASS 2.0 packages (two satellites at $279/pair), MASS 5.0 packages (five satellites at $699/set of five), and then add one or more MASS subs ($599/each). The consensus among the Monitor representatives at CEDIA was the MASS system offered dramatic styling plus useful sonic gains vis-à-vis the well-regarded Radius system.

Also joining in the desktop audio revolution, Monitor announced its new Airstream WS100 wireless multimedia speaker system ($399). The Airstream speakers look like swept-back, two-tone, black and silver cubes that perch on your desktop with a notable absence of speaker and/or interconnect cables. Instead, connectivity is handled by a wireless, 2.4GHz USB dongle based on SKAA technology said to provide “superb CD quality audio.” Each Airstream speaker features a 3-inch C-CAM mid/bass driver and a ¾-inch C-CAM tweeter, with the mid/bass driver and tweeter driven, respectively, by built-in 20-watt and 10-watt amplifiers. Interestingly, you can also connect up to four Airstream systems to a single source, for low cost, easy to use whole-house audio systems.