Parasound Debuts Three-Way In-Wall Speaker To Launch Precision Architectural Loudspeaker Line
Parasound has introduced the first product in its new Precision Architectural Loudspeaker line. The PAL-380 is a three-way in-wall speaker system with sound quality superior to competing in-walls and comparable to premium enclosed speakers. Since no sane speaker designer would willingly choose sheet rock and two-by-fours to build a speaker cabinet, the PAL-380 uses premium drivers, a fully-isolated main baffle, and a pivoting tweeter-midrange sub-baffle to overcome the acoustic difficulties inherent to in-wall systems. The PAL-380 is also easy to install thanks to its two-piece design and separate mounting frame. ""The PAL-380 doesn't sound like a typical in-wall speaker ... like an escapee from the rear deck of a '68 Chevy,"" said Richard Schram, President of Parasound Products. ""By using only the best quality components and taking the time to get it right, we feel the PAL-380 is worthy of comparison to serious enclosed speakers."" The PAL-380 has a two-piece structure consisting of a separate mounting frame and a non-resonant main baffle and driver assembly. An elastomeric isolation barrier prevents parasitic sound from radiating from the drivers through the frame and into the surrounding wall area. It also provides an effective seal to prevent back-wave leakage. The separate mounting frame is easy to install and paint before the main baffle assembly is added. This is especially valuable during new construction where debris could damage the complete speaker. The PAL-380 has an 8-inch woofer mounted on the main baffle. A pivoting sub-baffle contains a 1-inch aluminum tweeter and 2-inch soft-dome midrange, and it is tightly sealed to prevent air leaks around the edges. The sub-baffle can pivot ±15 degrees along the long axis of the speaker. The tweeter and midrange levels are each adjustable with three-position -3 dB, 0 dB, and +3 dB switches; the woofer has a two position switch at -3 dB and 0 dB. By mounting the speakers either vertically or horizontally and by using these controls, the installer has a great deal of control over the speaker's radiation pattern. The tweeter and midrange are each double chamber drivers, which means there is a vented chamber behind the magnet structure. While this structure is very expensive, it lowers the resonant point of the driver and increases the frequency range. The tweeter is Ferrofluid cooled, and both the tweeter and midrange have powerful Neodymium magnets. The 8-inch woofer has a Kevlar cone with a polyurethane surround and a die cast basket with eight mounting screws to make the baffle rigid and less resonant. This premium driver has a 1-1/2-inch voice coil and a 2-1/4 lb. magnet to provide high power levels and excellent efficiency. The PAL-380 has a sensitivity rating of 89 dB/1W/1M, and a frequency response of 36 Hz to 22 kHz ±3 dB. Parasound recommends using amplifiers rated between 10 and 150 Watts RMS per channel. There is also an opening on the woofer basket for mounting a hidden infrared receiver eye behind the fine-mesh grille The Parasound PAL-380 will be available in the first quarter of 1999 with a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $795 per pair. Founded in 1981, Parasound is a privately owned U.S. company that specializes in providing affordable audio and home theater components to the critical listener.