KEF announces the all-new R Series high-performance speaker range just in time for its 50 anniversary, aiming to make higher-end audiophile standard sound more affordable.

Innovations include the new Uni-Q MF/HF driver array-- braced magnesium/aluminium alloy cone, Z-flex surround and sturdy decoupled die-cast aluminium chassis. Inside the midrange cone is the same vented tweeter from the KEF Blade, with large neodymium magnet and computer-optimised dome structure operating pistonically over its entire working range.

The bass driver combines a massive vented magnet assembly with a large lightweight aluminium voice coil driving a light hybrid cone to assure clean, uncompressed bass output.

Computer-designed crossovers allow driver level fine-tuning, while constrained layer damping panels prevent vibrations from muddying mid-range and bass.

Cabinets come in either classic piano black or satin real wood veneer finishes in rosewood or walnut.

The R-Series has x9 models in total-- x3 floorstanders, x2 bookshelf speakers, x2 centre channels, x1 three-way dipole and x1 500W subwoofer.

Go KEF R-Series

Meridian Audio launches the DSW DSP Subwoofer-- the first DSP-powered subwoofer from the company.

Designed to complement the Meridian DSP loudspeaker range, the DSW carries a high-power long-throw downwards-facing 12" driver and amplifier combination which the company says delivers maximum performance under DSP control.

The closed-loop Class D amplifier is rated at 600W peak.

It only uses the proprietary Meridian SpeakerLink connection-- sending 96kHz/24-bit digital audio and control signals from Meridian components over CAT5e cable.

The cabinet is ultra-rigid (via internal bracing) to minimise resonances and other undesired effects, while DSP features include thermal monitoring and bass protection.

Go Meridian DSW DSP Subwoofer

Aperion teams up with Summit Wireless to create the Intimus 4T Summit Wireless-- an audio-phile grade wireless 5.1 speaker system replacing audio cables with an uncompressed 24-bit digital wireless link.

The company insists setup is as painless as possible-- it involves connecting sources to the included transmitter and plugging each speaker to a power outlet. The system carries an automatic configuration function complete with Automatic Speaker Discovery, determining speaker position and optimising audio accordingly.

The package includes x5 Aperion Intimus speakers, x1 Bravus 8A subwoofer (all with built-in digital receiver and dual amps), the Aperion HDMI wireless transmitter and remote control.

A 7.1 option is also available, adding two more surround speakers.

Go Aperion Intimus 4T Summit Wireless System

Navvo demonstrates Voco at CEDIA 2011-- a voice-operated wireless multiroom music system featuring a voice-enabled cloud-powered search engine running on Android devices.

To use the system, a customer simply speaks the artist or album name (or any other piece of metadata) into an Android smartphone carrying the Voco app, and the system will stream requests from both local (PCs, MP3 players, USB drives) and online (internet radio stations, Youtube) sources to one or multiple rooms.

The Voco V-Zone receiver handles music streaming (via wifi or ethernet), connecting to either powered speakers or stereo systems. It includes an HDMI port, DAC and IR blaster.

A future Pro version also offers internal WAP, internal/external e-sata drive support and line-in via RCA jack.

At CEDIA Navvo also shows a self-contained V-Spot powered speaker-- similar to Sonos powered speaker offerings, featuring hard buttons allowing music control sources from the speaker itself.

Go Voco

Crestron launches the digital SWAMP-24X8 multi-room audio system with built-in Sonnex audio transport technology-- a 24x8 matrix switching system transmitting 48 channels (L&R) of uncompressed 24-bit audio across a single shielded CAT5e cable.

Integrated with a 30000W audio amp, it comes inside a 4-U rack mountable enclosure.

Each link transports 24-bit, 48 kHz digital audio from all 24 inputs simultaneously to each expander, supporting wiring distances up to 61m over a single CAT5e shielded twisted-pair (STP) cable.

User controls include room volume, bass, treble, balance, loudness, mute, zone on/off and x5 selectable tone profiles-- and Crestron says more advanced user functions are possible (including priority modes, zone grouping, paging and sleep timer) through the control system program.

Go Crestron SWAMP-24X8

Atlantic Technologies says a companion subwoofer is optional with the H-PAS PowerBar 235 soundbar, thanks to the patented H-PAS bass technology it carries.

The H-PAS PowerBar 235 is a 2-channel powered soundbar with digital surround processing inside a single 42- x 5¼- x 5¾-inch cabinet, with bass response down to 47 Hz at -3dB.

H-PAS is the result of a collaboration between Atlantic Technology and Phil Clements (of Solus/Clements Loudspeakers), and allows "exceptionally deep bass response with very low distortion relative to speaker size" according to the company.

It is wall-mountable beneath a video display and invertable for self mounting-- and the control panel display electronically rotates to provide correct viewing in either configuration.

The package also includes alternate display lables for both orientations.

Go Atlantic Technology