New Subwoofer And Center Channels For PSBís Famed Stratus Series

Powerful New Subwoofer And Updated Center Channels Add Luster To Companyís Top-End Series

27-Sep-00

PSB Speakers, Canadian maker of high-performance speaker systems, is renewing its highest-performance Stratus Series with a potent new powered subwoofer, the Stratus SubSonic 7, and two updated center channel systems, the Stratus C5i and Stratus C6i. The new subwoofer is already bringing plaudits from its first users, and the two new center channels are expected to further solidify PSBís strong position in home theatre. According to PSB founder and Chief Designer Paul Barton, the new Stratus models offer the kind of improvements that contribute meaningfully to highest-end enjoyment. ""The Stratus SubSonic 7,"" he says, stands out among top-performance subwoofers not just with its power and depth of response, but with its freedom from audible problems on material that causes real trouble for many subs. And the two new Stratus center channels deliver a new level of definition on complex movie soundtracks.""The new Stratus SubSonic 7 employs a 15-inch driver coupled to a ""BASH"" amplifier that delivers 330 watts RMS, 600 watts dynamic power, and 1200 watts dynamic peak-power, in an acoustic-suspension enclosure that measures 17 3/8 x 18 1/8 x 17 3/8 inches. The Stratus C5i and C6i both employ a pair of new 1-inch neodymium-magnet aluminum-dome tweeters with the distinctive Stratus phase plug, replacing the poly-flare and fabric tweeters in the earlier Stratus centers. In the C5i, the new tweeters are coupled with dual 5 1/4-inch polypropylene-cone, rubber-surround woofers.In the C6i, the tweeters are matched with two larger (6 1/2-inch) polypropylene-cone, rubber-surround woofers. The enclosure of the C5i measures 19 1/2 x 6 3/4 x 9 3/4 inches, while that of the C6i measures 23 3/4 x 8 x 11 3/4 inches. Both the new centers are available in black ash or high-gloss finish, and the SubSonic 7 is available in black roughcast finish.Barton feels that the Stratus SubSonic 7 will stand out sharply in showroom comparisons. ""Itís not just the power of the heavy woofer and its built-in ëBASHí amplifier,"" he says. ""Most subwoofers are created equal until the source material demands more power than they can produce, which is quite often. In order to protect them, unsophisticated compression circuits are built into their amplifiers, and these unrefined limiters just restrict output to the woofer for a predetermined time, up to three seconds. In our SubSonic 7, an extremely sophisticated circuit limits power only while the power supply capacitors recharge - for only about 200 milliseconds. Power is restored so quickly that the operation is inaudible. So the subwoofer sails through many kinds of situations, both in music and movies, that make many other subs stutter audibly, or even quit! The difference is anything but hard to hear in a direct comparison. This subwoofer will play lower, louder, longer.""""As for the Stratus C5i and C6i upgrades,"" Barton continues, ""the improvements are subtle but very worthwhile. Using two new aluminum-dome tweeters makes for an even more precise match with our Stratus main speakers, and helps produce both a wider ësweet spotí for listeners to sit in and really outstanding intelligibility for complex movies. You wonít have to replay any dialogue with these speakers, even if the dialogue is shrouded by all kinds of things going on in the background. And the ëairí that these tweeters provide also makes a real difference in music.""PSB began shipping the Stratus SubSonic 7 in June, with a suggested retail price in the U.S. of $949 each. The Stratus C5i and C6i began shipping in August, at a suggested price of $549 for the C5i and $799 for the C6i. Both can be ordered in high-gloss finish for an added $100.For more information, visit www.psbspeakers.com. 

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