KEF adds x2 round in-wall speakers to its Custom Install (Ci) range, with what the company describes as the slimmest possible visible rims around the speaker.

The models are the Ci130QR and the Ci130CR, each with KEF's Ultra Thin Bezel design.

The Ci130QR carries a 130mm Uni-Q driver array, a 19mm aluminium dome tweeter and "tangerine" waveguide, together with gold plated spring-loaded binding posts.

The Ci130CR meanwhile comes with an asymmetrical tweeter island (for wide off-axis response) and a 130mm extended response bass driver.

Go KEF Custom Install Range

Arvani will be AuraSound's exclusive sales and marketing partner in W.Europe as the 2 companies form a partnership.

AuraSound is a high-end speaker specialist, whose products range from TV and laptop drivers to subwoofers and tactile transducers.

The first Aurasound products to make it to our territory will include its TV soundbar range as well as its Sound Station iDevice dock/universal media player.

Arvani will market all products under its own brand, and it will broaden its range as AuraSound launches more consumer audio products.

Go AuraSound Partners with Arvani in Europe

Philips combines its SoundSphere and Fidelio lines with its latest speaker offering, which it reveals at the IFA Global Press Conference.

Immediately catching the eye is the curved design, consisting of separate speakers with a "free-floating" tweeter suspended on top. The company says this combination aids to produce a deeper and wider audio impression with minimal interference.

Users can connect their PC/Mac or iDevice to the speakers wirelessly, via either Airplay or wifi, as well as through the included docking station.

Go Philips Audio

Altec Lansing's latest take on the iPod dock, the Octiv 650, not only lets customers pipe their tunes through the room but comes with a free Mood Music app, preloaded with relaxing sounds and videos.

It comes in a slim, wedge-shaped design and carries x2 3" full-range drivers and a nested 4" subwoofer. Users can also watch video content on their iDevice from the dock, since it also has component and composite video out jacks, as well as a second audio device through aux input.

The package includes a remote control, for audio and video control.

Go Altec Lansing Octiv 650

Procella announces a slew of improvements to its P8 loudspeaker, increasing its output at both frequency extremes.

The system's surround channel speaker now carries a 1.5" neodymium compression driver (mounted on custom Procella constant directivity waveguide) and a new 8" woofer driver (increasing power handling and output).

The crossover is also optimised for the new driver components, with the company saying it improves dispersion at crossover frequencies.

The P8 is THX Approved for professional room integration, including THX Certified screening rooms and professional multi-channel mixing and monitoring studios.

Go Procella Loudspeakers-- P8 Gets Upgraded

Monitor Audio upgrades its Gold GS speakers-- not only by replacing the "S" with an "X" but by bringing them closer in technology performance to its Platinum range.

The Gold GX series has 7 models, with hand built cabinets in black and white piano laquer and bubunga, walnut and natural oak veneers. The range consists of x2 2-way stand-mounting monitors (the GX50 and GX100), x2 3-way floor-standing models (the GX200 and GX300), a surround speaker (GX-FX), a 15", 650W subwoofer (the GXW-15) and x2 specialised centre channel speakers (the GXC 150 and GXC 350)

Inside is a new version of the Platinum C-CAM ribbon tweeters (reproducing frequencies beyond 60kHz) and the RST C-CAM bass and mid drivers. Single bolt-through driver fixing improves cabinet rigidity and mid-range frequency communication while reducing driver/cabinet interface vibrations.

Meanwhile each speaker carries individual driver crossovers on a dedicated panel on its underside. The adjacent GX speaker terminals are gold plated, and internal wiring comes via Pureflow silver cable. All 7 models also feature the latest "floating" magnetic grilles.

Finally the series' enclosures are hand-built, with a rigid and curved nature. The floor-standing models' base plinths are made of die-cast alloy, complete with non-slip rubber pads.

Go Monitor Audio