New Rotel 12 Series

A new line of Rotel products will come in the next three month or so. The new 12 Series from Rotel will replace its budget line up in the 06-Series.

Rotel thought it necessary to introduce the new lineup to to comply with new technology. The new RT12 for instance. The RT-12 is an FM and DAB+ preset radio tuner and much more besides. By incorporating network capabilities, the RT-12 can bring thousands of internet radio broadcasts into your life and it can play audio files stored on UPnP™ servers such as Windows computers. If your computer is home to a library of music files and you have wondered about playing them over your hi-fi, the RT-12 is your answer. The RT-12 boasts digital to analogue conversion based on the Wolfson WM8740 DAC chip to ensure that each digital source retains every last drop of musical quality, and it can serve as the wireless hub for the Rotel iPhone and iPad control app to control the entire hi-fi system.

The RT 11 will be a straight forward tuner, giving still a high quality radio playback but will lack the network functions, keeping the old ones happy.

The RCD-06SE will be replaced by the new Rotel RCD12. In common with its partners in the 12 Series, digital to analogue conversion is handled by the Wolfson WM8740 DAC chip. The WM8740 is more usually found in CD players at the very top of high-end audio and if you are ever intrigued to know just how your favourite CDs would sound on the world’s finest players, the RCD-12 will get you to within a hair’s-breadth. In common with other 12 Series products, the RCD-12 can be controlled through either its front panel buttons and display, via its remote control handset, or via Rotel Link to an RT-12 and the wireless Rotel iPhone and iPad app.

The new RA 12 will replace the popular Rotel RA-06. The brain of the RA-12 is the Wolfson WM8740

24 bit/192kHz DAC, most often found in high-end audio products, and it ensures that the RA-12 extracts the full potential from its digital and Apple authorised USB inputs. Traditional audio is not forgotten however so the RA-12 also provides four analogue line-level inputs and a phono input. The RA-12 can be controlled from its front panel buttons, via a remote handset, or via an RT-12 and the Rotel iPhone and iPad app. The RA-12 is however not just about versatility, it is a very high performance 60 Watt per channel amplifier that puts music at the top of its priorities. Bluetooth streaming will also be an option.

Rotel will also introduce to smaller Rotel RA unites, namely RA11 and RA10. The RA11 will have all the functionality of the RA12, but will only have a 40watt amplifier. The RA10 will be stripped of any network features and will also have a 40watt amplifier.

The future of TV's

Soon the consumer will be introduced to a new TV technology called 4K2k, or Ultra High Definition. To explain 4K2K in short, it is 4 times High Definition, meaning 3640 x 2160 pixel image.

This technology will to be kept from the consumer till a later stage when 4K2K sources will be more readily available. Spoiling the party for some major TV brands like Samsung, their hand was forced to unveil its own 4K2K TV as seen in the video below.

Panasonic was one of the first embracing such technology with their 103 and 152 inch Plasma panels and was showcased at this year's CES exhibition.

On the next video's, note the deepness it creates:

Most newly filmed movies is already filmed with 4K2K cameras, but we will not expect any 4K2K movies in the market until middle 2013 as rumors are now. 

This in itself is only a step in the direction the bigger companies of the television world want us to go. The aim of the market movers is to introduce Ultra Definition2, called 8K4K, which will have 7680 x 4320 pixel image. It will have 16 times the resolution of the HDTV you own right now.

Funny enough, first 8K4K 30 min film was already created in 2003.  This is rumored to be introduced to the market in 5 years time, yet Japan and China will enjoy such technology as soon as 2013, most likely to test the market and overall performance before introduding it to European and US markets.

20min Video takes up roughly 4TB uncompressed.

 First TV to be introduced with 8K4K was an 85" LED as seen below:

Although these technologies is still on there way, Holographic TV's is already introducing concepts to the market, but so far failing to capture the enthusiasm of the market as color definition is still its biggest challenge.

Most Home Theatre receivers will be 4K2K ready. The new Yamaha RX-Vx73 range will be 4K2K ready, as well as the new Yamaha Aventage range which will be intoduced later this year.

Monitor Audio Shadow

Monitor Audio's new Shadow range brilliantly cools the friction between the desire for open plan styling and the need for full surround home theatre dynamics.

Think about a shadow: it has no physical depth but can be larger than life. This is the magical effect created by Monitor Audio's ultra-thin Shadow range of home theatre speakers, designed to complement the profile of flat TV displays and for super-discreet installation around the home.

The new Shadow range is engineered to achieve an astonishing unity of wafer-thin design and life-like sound, complete with the natural dynamism and wideband response you'd expect from larger, more obtrusive speakers. This elusive blend of high performance and lifestyle appeal is the work of innovative flat-profile driver designs, developed using new materials and thousands of hours of Computer Aided Design and performance simulation.

The four Shadow speakers are conceived to work in pairs for music, or combined in supremely low profile multi-channel systems, ready to unleash the full audio impact of today's Blu-ray and other HD audio sources. There's the diminutive Shadow 25, supplied with a shelf stand option; two main speakers: the Shadow 50 and the Shadow 60 (for 50"+ displays), and the Shadow Centre speaker: a dedicated centre-channel design supplied with a shelf/rack mounting option.

Here follows the units making up the Shadow Series

SHADOW 25

The ultra-compact S25 is designed for front or rear channel duties in a compact home theatre system.  It features a single 4" RDT (Rigid Diaphragm Technology) bass/mid-range driver and 25mm C-CAM dome tweeter in a sealed enclosure. The S25 is supplied with its own metal desk-top stand as an alternative to wall mounting.

• Ultra-slim depth of just 40mm (1½") complements the slimmest TV screens.
• Designed and tuned to provide optimum sound quality when flush wall mounted.
• Black anodised aluminium finish for excellent aesthetic results.
• Easy installation: flat to wall fixings, invisible cable entry/connection and a removable magnetic grille make installation simple and seamless.
• A single alloy extrusion provides a slender profile, maximises the internal cabinet volume and offers high rigidity to suppress resonance.
• A specially developed 25mm C-CAM® tweeter features a unique venting and rear loading chamber for low resonance and clean pure sound down to the low frequency crossover point.
• 4" low profile bass-midrange drivers feature a flat RDT® sandwich diaphragm constructed from C-CAM® and Rohacell materials.
• Unique 'floating' driver mounting reduces colouration: the drivers bolt to the rear of the cabinet and are de-coupled from the baffle at the front in an airtight neoprene seal.
• A special 'concertina' driver suspension design provides high excursion from a low profile assembly.
• Supplied with a metal desk-top stand.

Frequency Response - 100Hz – 30kHz

Sensitivity - 84dB

System Configuration - 2- way

Driver complement 

1 x 4" flat diaphragm mid-bass driver

1 x 25mm C-CAM® tweeter 

with vented loading system

Nominal  Impedance - 8 ohms

Maximum SPL (each @1M) - 102.6 dBA

Power Handling - 60 watts

With amplifier crossover set to - 100Hz@12dB/Octave

Recommended Amplifier Requirements - 25-60 watts

Bass Alignment - Sealed box

Recommended H.P  crossover frequency - 100-120Hz

Overall Dimensions (H x W x D) 300 x 156.6 x 40 mm (11¾ x 6 3/16 x 1½ Inches)

Weight - 1.68kg (3lb, 11oz)

SHADOW 50

The S50 is designed to coordinate with video displays of up to 50". It features dual 4" RDT drivers and a 25mm C-CAM tweeter in a D’Appolito array, augmented on either side by dual ABRs.

• Ultra-slim depth of just 40mm (1½") complements the slimmest TV screens.
• Designed and tuned to provide optimum sound quality when flush wall mounted.
• Black anodised aluminium finish for excellent aesthetic results.
• Easy installation: flat to wall fixings, invisible cable entry/connection and a removable magnetic grille make installation simple and seamless.
• A single alloy extrusion provides a slender profile, maximises the internal cabinet volume and offers high rigidity to suppress resonance.
• A specially developed 25mm C-CAM® tweeter features a unique venting and rear loading chamber for low resonance and clean pure sound down to the low frequency crossover point.
• 4" low profile bass-midrange drivers feature a flat RDT® sandwich diaphragm constructed from C-CAM® and Rohacell materials.
• Unique 'floating' driver mounting reduces colouration: the drivers bolt to the rear of the cabinet and are de-coupled from the baffle at the front in an airtight neoprene seal.
• A special 'concertina' driver suspension design provides high excursion from a low profile assembly.
• 4" low profile ABR drivers are individually tuned, providing punchy bass without the noise associated with ported designs.

Frequency Response -80Hz – 30kHz

Sensitivity - 87dB

System Configuration - 2- way

Driver complement

2 x 4" flat diaphragm mid-bass drivers 

2 x 4" flat diaphragm ABR drivers

1 x 25mm C-CAM® tweeter 

with vented loading system

Nominal  Impedance - 8 ohms

Maximum SPL (each @1M) - 108.6 dBA

Power Handling - 120 watts 

With amplifier crossover set to - 80Hz@12dB/Octave

Recommended Amplifier Requirements - 40-120 watts

Bass Alignment - ABR loading

Recommended H.P crossover frequency - 80-100Hz

Overall Dimensions (H x W x D) - 686 x 156.6 x 40 mm (27 x 6 3/16 x 1½ Inches)

Weight - 3.24kg (7Ib, 2oz)

SHADOW 60

The S60 uses a similar driver complement to the S50 but in a taller cabinet, ideal for displays above 50". Its dual D’Appolito driver arrangement, high power handling and good sensitivity generate a high Sound Pressure Level with low distortion, but the S60s additional cabinet volume and custom-tuned ABRs also provide superior low frequency performance.

• Ultra-slim depth of just 40mm (1½") complements the slimmest TV screens.
• Designed and tuned to provide optimum sound quality when flush wall mounted.
• Black anodised aluminium finish for excellent aesthetic results.
• Easy installation: flat to wall fixings, invisible cable entry/connection and a removable magnetic grille make installation simple and seamless.
• A single alloy extrusion provides a slender profile, maximises the internal cabinet volume and offers high rigidity to suppress resonance.
• A specially developed 25mm C-CAM® tweeter features a unique venting and rear loading chamber for low resonance and clean pure sound down to the low frequency crossover point.
• 4" low profile bass-midrange drivers feature a flat RDT® sandwich diaphragm constructed from C-CAM® and Rohacell materials.
• Unique 'floating' driver mounting reduces colouration: the drivers bolt to the rear of the cabinet and are de-coupled from the baffle at the front in an airtight neoprene seal.
• A special 'concertina' driver suspension design provides high excursion from a low profile assembly.
• 4" low profile ABR drivers are individually tuned, providing punchy bass without the noise associated with ported designs.

Frequency Response - 70Hz – 30kHz

Sensitivity - 87dB

System Configuration - 2- way

Driver complement

2 x 4" flat diaphragm mid-bass drivers 

2 x 4" flat diaphragm ABR drivers

1 x 25mm C-CAM® tweeter 

with vented loading system

Nominal  Impedance - 8 ohms

Maximum SPL (each @1M) - 108.6 dBA

Power Handling - 120 watts

With amplifier crossover set to - 80Hz@12dB/Octave

Recommended amplifier Requirements - 40-120 watts

Bass Alignment - ABR loading

Recommended H.P crossover frequency - 80-100Hz

Overall Dimensions (H x W x D) - 815 x 156.6 x 40 mm (32 x 63/16 x 1½ Inches)

Weight - 3.72kg (8Ib, 3oz)

SHADOW CENTRE

The Shadow centre is designed as a dedicated centre-channel speaker. Having the same drive unit configuration as the S50 and S60, it’s the perfect match for these speakers in a high performance home theatre system. The Shadow centre is also supplied with feet for use with an AV rack.

Specification Identical to Shadow 60.

Brochure Download click here

It not only a speaker, it is ART

Scanning the globe for extra ordinary speakers, I have come across beautiful speakers, and not so much beautiful. Talking to some of these manufacturers it is clear they are first about the music, second about design, but in some cases as you will see, some are a bit more brutal om their designs.

First of them all, is a speaker manufacturer you will be able to see some more info about on this blog. The company called, Everything But the Box. I am to admit the first impression I got from the speakers was not the design, but the pure stereo brilliance it delivered. It is unique in every way, stylish in more ways then one, here follows my favorites from the EBTB camp:

EVERYTHING BUT THE BOX

New Sputnik: Similar to their SubTerranean this could be used as a subwoofer or a Stereo setup, where it will consist out of three amplifier, enabling you to add to monitor speakers to the unit and connect your CD player, giving you a very unique stereo experience

ELIPSON

The French have always thought us that you can make something unique, but this next one will confuse a South African and in a way an American. No you can not barbecue or braai on this, this is a speaker, a real speaker. It ranges from between 40hz to 20KHz, handles between 50-100watts, perfect speaker to confuse the masses

And then this is where ELIPSON makes a stunning impression, it looks fabulous. Gross weight of 80kg, 150watts max power, you will have between 7 or 13 speakers in this very unique ART of a speaker. Consiting of one sub with option of 6 monitors (or fruit as they will call it) or 12 monitors, this speaker package will make sure you are covered under music, literally.

WATERFALL AUDIO KRYSTALINE

Waterfall Audio uses glass on this next design. It really looks stunning in real life, photo's can not do it justice. Having a sort of Horn Tweeter design combined with a down firing woofer, it makes for some interesting listening.

 The Swimming Pool Speaker

Not entirely sure about how practical this might be, but unique none the less. Through it into your pool.

This is part one done, will follow up on a later stage with more unique speaker collections.