At CES 2003 in Las Vegas, Atlantic Technology demonstrated its new THX Ultra2-certified loudspeaker series, the System 8200. The company also announced that it will begin delivering the 8200 line to dealers in January 2003. System prices will range from $7,000 to $18,500 (US), depending on configuration and finishing options.
The System 8200 is a THX Ultra2-certified system that takes multi-channel audio to the highest levels of performance, and provides perhaps the most flexible acoustic and aesthetic loudspeaker customization options ever offered.
System 8200 components include the 8200 LR three-way front speaker, 8200 C three-way center channel, 8200 SR dipole/bipole surrounds, and either a traditional 8200 box-style powered subwoofer or the unique 8200 Pedestal Subwoofers
When fully configured, System 8200 carries the prestigious THX Ultra2 certification, designating the ultimate in home theater performance. A wide array of available sonic adjustments impart a level of acoustic control and performance previously unavailable in consumer speakers, allowing each speaker to be uniquely adjusted according to its placement in the listening environment.
The System 8200’s modular speaker components are delivered in duraBlac™, Atlantic’s matte black “speckled” lacquer finish, for installation inside cabinets, or behind screens or curtains. These same black enclosures can be fitted with optional stunning high-gloss black lacquer or wood veneer accent panels that change them into works of art to match any décor.
System 8200 components include the 8200 LR three-way front speaker, 8200 C three-way center channel, 8200 SR dipole/bipole surround speakers, and either a traditional 8200 box-style powered subwoofer or the unique 8200 Pedestal Subwoofers. These PedWoofers™ can be combined with 8200 LRs to form attractive tower speakers. A dedicated outboard 350-Watt-per-channel servo controlled amplifier with dual parametric equalizers for exceptional bass control and optimization completes the PedWoofer option.
“Our System 8200 demonstrates that it is possible to approach the outer limits of the state of the art in multi-channel sound without having to pay the price equivalent of a new luxury car,” says Atlantic Technology president, Peter Tribeman.
“We have seen some very high-end custom home theaters with $100,000 speaker systems that, practically speaking, would be hard pressed to substantially exceed the performance of our new system at one tenth the cost,” continues Mr. Tribeman. “We have devoted a great deal of effort and cost to build in sophisticated controls that let the installer or consumer fine tune the speakers to the room and the source material. It’s certainly not an overstatement to say that this system will outperform most competing speaker systems simply because it works with the room and source material as opposed to against them!”
System 8200 is the first implementation of the company’s C.O.R.E. (Custom Optimized Room Enhanced) design philosophy.
Custom Optimized
System 8200 is optimized for sophisticated high-end home theater systems by giving the consumer or custom installer the option of concealing the duraBlac speakers in cabinets or behind screens, or dressing them up to display them in plain sight, and only paying for the level of finish required by the installation.
The optional accent panel kits (available only for the L/C/Rs, PedWoofers, and empty pedestals) are available in high gloss black lacquer, Natural Maple, Oiled Cherry, Natural Mahogany, duraBlac™, and unfinished MDF that can be customized by the installer/consumer to match any décor. The kits include tempered smoked glass tops for the LRs, while the PedWoofer kits offer the glass tops as an option. Should the consumer choose not to use PedWoofers, empty pedestals are available to take the place of the PedWoofers in building up the floor standing LRs.
Room Enhanced
One of the least addressed aspects of home sound systems is the room itself. System 8200 makes use of a wide array of sonic adjustments to optimize the system to the room, the source material and the listener’s acoustic taste.
The SA 8200 Servo controlled PedWoofer amplifier includes parametric EQ, a four-position phase adjustment along with remote controlled preset source EQs and level trim that impart a degree of bass control fine tuning previously unavailable. Although there are several powered bass loudspeakers on the market today, few if any offer the kind of sonic customization and optimization provided by this system.
The three-way 8200 LR front left/right and 8200 C center channel speakers feature a trio of acoustic controls to compensate for different room environments. First, by adjusting the tweeter’s output slope according to acoustically ‘live’, average, or ‘dead’ rooms. Second, by adjusting mid and high frequency output for placement of speakers behind perforated screens or curtains. And third, by adjusting the lower midrange for Boundary Compensation to reduce the sonic impact of placing speakers in cabinets or directly adjacent to a TV screen.
The 8200 SR surrounds are dipole/bipole switchable and meet the stringent THX Ultra2 specifications for all surround channels. The speakers are available in either duraBlac or matte white finish, and can be wall-mounted or used in conjunction with optional surround pedestals.
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