API Launches Advanced SCTô Technology in an All-New Integrated Speaker Brand- Athena Technologies

Howard Heiber, President of Audio Products International Corp. has announced the development of an exciting new full-range speaker integration technology, dubbed System Creation Technology (SCTô). This new technology will be featured and marketed as the foundation of a new API loudspeaker brand, called Athena TechnologiesÆ.""The Athena name has a long and proud history with our Company,"" Mr. Heiber said, ""going back over ten years to the pioneering research project conducted by the Canadian speaker industry, and headed by our own Ian Paisley, in conjunction with the National Research Council (N.R.C.).""""When our Engineering Group developed this unique approach to the integration of speaker systems, it drew us all back to the spirit of that groundbreaking study,"" added Heiber. ""So, given the real sense of exploration that these new products embody, the use of ëAthenaí as the brand to launch them was almost inevitable.""The new SCTô technology, and its integration into the new, limited SKU high performance Athena Technologies speaker line was the brainchild of API's Gord Van Kessel. It was Van Kessel who was also responsible for the development of the acclaimed Sound DynamicsÆ RTS-Series and CINE-Seriesô products.Three Market Objectives""We started with three, fairly simple, premises,"" Van Kessel added, ""One; integrated, full-range powered speakers were growing in popularity with an emerging male and female twenties-something audio and home theater consumer. Second, this fear of complicated systems that 'married' them to a defined set of acoustic options. And third; our retail distribution was continually suffering from 'SKU-bloat' caused by manufacturers whose new product lines had swelled to meet a variety of price points.""Rigid Sonic Goals- Consistent With High PerformanceAll of API's product development grew out of the results of the research done at the N.R.C. It determined that there are three common characteristics in the speakers studied that consistently scored high in the listening trials:Low DistortionAny alteration of the original sound is called distortion. It can be generated from a wide variety of sources; mechanical, electrical, cone break-up, or even changes in phase. Since most of our listening falls into the midrange of frequencies, which includes the human voice, we are naturally very critical of inaccuracies and distortion in this part of the music spectrum.Distortion is minimized in Athena Technologies speaker designs by:1) using precise manufacturing processes,2) using close tolerance electrical components, 3) developing linear motor systems with well-damped linear suspension designs,4) and by using very rigid, well damped cabinet construction techniques.Flat On-Axis Response & Wide BandwidthImplementing correct crossover points and slopes, along with well-designed drivers and cabinets, results in flat on-axis response and wide bandwidth. A speaker that produces the entire range of frequencies (Wide Bandwidth) with equal efficiency (Flat Response), both on- and off-axis (Dispersion) is the goal of every Athena Technologies speaker.Wide and Constant DispersionApproximately 30 percent of what we hear in a live environment is direct sound, while 70 percent is reflected sound. The brain uses the direct sound to identify the source, and calculate its location. It uses the reflected sound to determine musicality and spaciousness, as well as the overall direction from which the source is heard.Therefore, a speaker with wide dispersion reproduces sound with far greater realism, and faithfulness to the original instrument. Wide dispersion is achieved by using:1) tweeters with excellent waveform properties, that also2) have the capability to be crossed over to the mid-range or woofer at a frequency of about 2kHz (the industry practice is 3.5kHz) before the woofer becomes directional.System Creation Technology (SCTô)In principle, integrating a speaker and a subwoofer into a single system is a simple proposition. Take a bookshelf speaker, and place it on top of a subwoofer. Mechanically connect them for rigidity and to minimize vibration transference. Then hook them up. That's all. Stack. Rack. And Wire. It's simple. Or, is it?What if the subwoofer chosen is fully featured with high-level inputs and outputs, low-level input, a crossover input, and variable phase control? And, how do you upgrade should you wish to grow your 2-channel setup into a full home theatre system, or just move it to a larger room?Keeping The End-User In MindIn this situation, the end-user would now be faced with a variety of connection and placement problems. And, unless they are VERY tuned in to the concepts of blending, crossover frequencies, and phase matching, there's likely to be a large margin for error and a fear factor built in to the installation of the products.SCTô solves these problems, simply, producing a high performance, perfectly integrated and easy-to-set-up speaker system. It's also one that is fully expandable and upgradable. The new Athena Technologies line connects the passive and active units BOTH mechanically AND electrically, using interlocking rails on the bottom of the passive speakers and the top of the powered subwoofer(s).""When the individual pieces are slid together, the rails become positively locked, making a rigid, virtually one-piece, mechanically integrated system."" Van Kessel continued, ""But, what is really neat, they are also connected electrically.""Connections Are Simple!By making this positive electro-mechanical contact, SCTô automatically disables most of the subwoofers' individual function controls, and assigns factory-specified values. These ensure that phase and crossover are in absolute harmony. Moreover, the Mode Switch on the front of each subwoofer enables the end-user to ""tell"" the sub which (of two or three) Athena Technologies bookshelf speakers are perched on the top; each separate setting is exactly customized to the unique characteristics of the specific model.In addition, connection of this new integrated powered system to the end-user's electronics is a simple matter of selecting a single pair of clearly marked 5-way binding posts located on the rear panel of the sub.But, What If....?I Need A Truly Full-Range Center ChannelVan Kessel concluded, ""We also took into account an end-userís growing needs. The center channel easily mounts on the wall for use as a rear or effects channel, for use in home theater applications. Plus, it's been sized so that the smallest sub (the P1) can be nestled in behind to produce the first truly full-range center channel speaker available. And, we've structured the cabinets so that television receivers can be placed ON TOP of the C1P1 combination, should circumstances dictate.""My System Needs Expansion In A few YearsBecause virtually all of the units in the new Athena Technologies series can be ""mixed and matched"", end-users can also easily upgrade from a simple 5.5-inch two-way, two-channel, one-sub system, to a 6.5-inch full five-channel, four-way, five-sub killer home theatre.WILL The Subs Stand Alone?The three Athena Technologies subwoofers are also fully featured to act as stand-alone subs. Their minimal footprint shape(s) allow for ease of placement in virtually any dÈcor or sonic application. And, for the Bi-amp, Bi-wire crowd, this full-featured flexibility allows them to NOT connect the components via the rails, and retain complete user-customizing capability.Ending Retail SKU BloatThe entire Athena Technologies line offering is just seven models. There are three passive bookshelf models, three matching powered subwoofers and a passive center/L/C/R speaker.Price points at retail range from $250US for a pair of S1 two-way, 5.5-inch models up to $4,100US for a full-blown range topping home theatre system consisting of four S3P3 integrated speaker systems and a C1P1 integrated powered center channel system.First production of the new Athena Technologies line is scheduled for late October 1999. The line was previewed at CEDIA '99 in Indianapolis recently, where dealer and installer reaction was very positive.""It is not our intention to simply sign on any retailer who wants the Athena Technologies product,"" said Gary Post, US National Sales Manager for API, ""That's not the way we do business. For us to be successful, our retail distribution must be successful as well. Our achievements will be joint ones, where we work closely with our distribution to ensure that our Athena Technologies business positively affects theirs. This is a two-way commitment. Fit and style will be important considerations in choosing our Athena Technologies partners.""""We feel Athena Technologies is a serious sales and profit opportunity for the right retailers. We have already begun, and will continue, to carefully target and directly approach only retailers in whom we have the confidence that they can properly merchandise, stock, and promote this exciting new product, and new brand.""""Of course, our current MirageÆ, EnergyÆ and Sound DynamicsÆ retail distribution will be examined first for candidate dealers. These will be the ones we feel can add this new brand to their business, without sacrificing any of the strides that weíve already made,"" he added.About Audio Products International Corp.Based in Toronto, Canada, Audio Products International Corp. has earned an enviable reputation for high performance audiophile speaker products over the last 28-years. The Company's state-of-the-art 165,000 square foot factory and warehousing complex features one of North America's best Acoustic Research and Development centers. In addition, an automated driver line and woodworking facilities, plus a programmed multi-line conveyor system enables the Company to be one of the most efficient manufacturing operations in the Industry.This vertically integrated capability has allowed API to excel with products that are of consistently highest quality, yet remain very competitively priced.Audio Products International Corp. has designed manufactured and marketed products that are sold in over 6 countries, and the Company ranks among the ten largest speaker manufacturers in the world.For more information, contact Robert Donnelly, Athena Technologies at 416 321 1800, or visit the Web site (under construction) at www.athenaspeakers.com.-Athena TechnologiesÆ - Speaker StatisticsS1Tweeter: o 1-inch Teteron dome - magnetically shieldedWoofer: o 5.5-inch High Performance - magnetically shieldedFrequency Response: o 60Hz - 20KHz, +/-3dBPower Handling: o 100 watts/channelSensitivity: o 91dBMSRP: o $275US/PairS2Tweeter: o 1-inch Teteron dome - magnetically shieldedWoofer: o 6.5-inch High Performance - magnetically shieldedFrequency Response: o 50Hz-20KHz, +/-3dBPower Handling: o 150 watts/channelSensitivity: o 93dBMSRP: o $375US/PairS3Tweeter: o 1-inch Teteron dome ñ magnetically shieldedMidrange: o 6.5-inch High performance ñ magnetically shieldedWoofer: o 8-inch High PerformanceFrequency Response: o 40Hz - 20KHz +-3dBPower Handling: o 200 watts/channelSensitivity: o 95dBMSRP: o $600US/pairC1Tweeter: o 1"" Teteron dome ñ magnetically shieldedWoofer: o 1-5.5-inch High Performance active ñ magnetically shielded AND 1-6.5-inch passive radiator Frequency Response: o 60Hz-20KHz +-3dBPower Handling: o 100 wattsSensitivity: o 91dBMSRP: o $250US/eachP1Woofer: o 6.5-inch High Performance ñ magnetically shieldedAmplifier: o 75-Watt discrete MOSFETControls: o Bass Level- Bass Range: from 50Hz-150Hz- Blend Switch ñ 2 position- Mode Switch ñ 2 position- Auto on/off- Anti Clip CircuitryFrequency Response: o 35Hz - 150HzMSRP: o $275US/eachP2Woofer: o 8"" High Performance ñ magnetically shieldedAmplifier: o 100-Watt discrete MOSFETControls: o Bass Level- Bass Range: from 50Hz-150Hz- Blend Switch ñ 2 position- Mode Switch ñ 3 position- Auto on/off- Anti Clip CircuitryFrequency Response: o 25Hz - 150HzMSRP: o $375US/eachP3Woofer: o 100-inch High Performance ñ magnetically shieldedAmplifier: o 150-Watt discrete MOSFETControls: o Bass Level- Bass Range: from 50Hz-150Hz- Blend Switch ñ 2 position- Mode Switch ñ 3 position- Auto on/off- Anti Clip CircuitryFrequency Response: o 20Hz - 150HzMSRP: o $600US/each