Canton Showcases THX Speaker Set At Hi-Fi ë99

Canton, U.S. arm of the highly regarded German manufacturer of high-end loudspeakers for home, home theatre and mobile audio systems, showcased its newly introduced THXÆ Speaker Set as part of an advanced home theatre system demonstrated at Hi-Fi ë99, the Home Theater & Specialty Audio Show held in May in Chicago. Cantonís THX Speaker Set realized the full THX specification set mandated by the Lucasfilm Group, and reflects Cantonís high standards of loudspeaker design and manufacture. The seven speakers of the suite thus carry both the Canton logo and that of the THX system.The THX Speaker Set includes two front speakers, a pair of matching subwoofers, a center-channel speaker, and two dipole surround speakers. Dipole design of the surround speakers is one of Lucasfilmís stipulations for optimum reproduction of motion picture soundtrack material. The subwoofers are designed to be placed beneath the left and right front speakers, to support the front speakers at listening height, but can be placed elsewhere at the userís option.The three front speakers - left, center and right - have essentially identical specifications with the center speaker configured horizontally. The are three-way, nominal 4-ohm systems rated to handle 250 to 500 watts a piece. The rated output from a 1 watt input is 90 dB SPL (90.5 dB for left and right speakers). Each speaker is fitted with two 7-inch woofers, which are crossed over at 500Hz to two 4-inch midrange drivers. These, in turn, are crossed at 7kHz to a 1-inch tweeter. Total rated frequency range of the systems is 60Hz to 25kHz.The passive subwoofers also are rated to handle maximum inputs in the range of 250 to 500 watts. Each has a pair of 10-inch drivers, mounted in a bass reflex enclosure. Nominal impedance is 8 ohms. Rated response from a 1-watt input is 94 dB SPL, and the frequency range is 20Hz to 150Hz. Actual crossover frequency between the subwoofers and the front speakers is governed by the associated electronics.The dipole configuration of the surround sound speakers, in keeping with Lucasfilm requirements for THX, helps create the needed diffuse sound field for this information. They are two-way systems with nominal impedance of 4 ohms and power handling of 120 to 170 watts. Each contains two 5-inch woofers crossed over at 4.8kHz to a pair of 1-inch tweeters. The rated frequency range is 100Hz to 25Hz.The enclosures are finished in black ash or cherry veneer, with black fabric grilles. The front speakers and subwoofers stand 27.5 inches tall and 12.2 inches wide, while the center speaker is 27.5 inches wide and 12.2 inches high, giving a modular relationship to the ensemble. All front speakers are 10.2 inches deep; the subwoofers measure 24.6 inches deep. The surround speakers measure 8.7 x 6.3 x 10.2 inches (h/w/d).The suggested price of the THX Speaker Set is $9,000.For more information contact J.B. Stanton Communications at 860 542 1234 voice or 860 542 0005 Fax or Stan Pinkwas 718 788 7777 voice or stanp@jbstanton.com.