Stephen Mejias

Boston Acoustics A Series

Stephen Mejias  |  Mar 11, 2011

Boston Acoustics A Series loudspeakers—on the beach, which is where I'd like to be right now.

Is it just me or are we really experiencing the beginnings of a new stereo renaissance, a return to dedicated, high-quality, two-channel sound? Could it be that the home theater sector has become almost entirely commoditized so that little besides cost and availability are important to the consumer? In an age when craftsmanship and dedication have become clouded by convenience and fashion, hi-fi—good, old-fashioned, two-channel hi-fi—symbolizes the importance of quality experiences and a more meaningful life. But that’s just my opinion.

D&M Holdings, parent company of classic audiophile brands Denon, Marantz, McIntosh, Snell, and Boston Acoustics, might agree. That last brand, Boston Acoustics, founded by Frank Reed and Andy Kotsatos in 1979, is the latest to pay respect to a heritage of high-quality sound. While in recent years, the company had become best known for its in-car speakers and table-top electronics, the new A Series brings Boston Acoustics back home.

The A Series includes two floorstanding models—the flagship 3-way A 360 ($800/pair), which employs dual 6.5” woofers and a 3.5” midrange unit, and the 2-way A 250 ($600/pair), with dual 5.25” woofers; and two 2-way standmounted designs—the A 26 ($400/pair) and the A 25 ($300/pair). For those still interested in home theater, there is also the A 225C center-channel ($250 each), A 23 satellite ($140 each), and two powered subwoofers—the 300W, front-firing ASW 650 ($500 each) and the 150W, down-firing ASW 250 ($350 each). All of the 2- and 3-way models utilize Boston’s 1” Kortec soft-dome tweeter.

Housed in high-gloss scratch-resistant cabinets with textured tops and magnetic grilles, Boston Acoustics’ A Series speakers are meant to combine high-quality sound with modern style and great value. Eli Harary, senior vice president for Boston Acoustics, said: “With the creation of our new A Series loudspeakers, Boston Acoustics has set the benchmark for loudspeaker performance, design, and value once again.” Involved in the engineering and design were Marantz’s Ken Ishiwata, Karl-Heinz Fink of Fink Audio Consulting, and Kieron Dunk of Industrial Design Associates—big names, big promises. A pair of the A 25 are being sent to Stereophile for coverage in an upcoming chapter of “The Entry Level.” (Woo!) You can read more about Boston Acoustics A Series loudspeakers in Paul Messenger's "Industry Update" in the April 2011 issue of Stereophile, on newsstands soon.

COMMENTS
Kal Rubinson's picture
Submitted by Kal Rubinson on March 12, 2011 - 7:04am

Well, they certainly look more seriously audiophile than BA's offerings in the recent past but, with a center and subs featured, I wonder if it indicates a major commitment to "good, old-fashioned, two-channel hi-fi." Of course, that shouldn't matter to us: We can enjoy the main speakers and leave the dedicated centers to those who need them.

Kal

deckeda's picture
Submitted by deckeda on March 13, 2011 - 4:18pm

As someone who sold a boatload of A40, A60, A70, A100 and A150 pairs in a former life, I wish BA well here.

And I'm sure the center and sub availability is just a reflection of the times---customers can start out with a L-R pair and add Center and Sub later as funds allow. Particularly since it's almost a given they'll be using a surround-sound receiver, even if they don't play movies through it.

Now, if you guys tell us dealers are pairing them quite often with say, NAD integrateds and cheap 2-ch. receivers, then THAT would be a story!

jmsent's picture
Submitted by jmsent on March 14, 2011 - 9:14am

So is there any real "Boston" content or design philosophy to this speaker at all? Somehow I doubt it, given that it's design seems to emanate not from Boston, but Japan and Germany. And I'm quite sure you won't find any of it manufactured anywhere near Boston either. More likely Malaysia. That said, it may be a decent value and a good sounding product. Just like a slew of other generic stuff made in the far east, but carrying venerable old American names. Boston Acoustics is a mere shadow of its former self, and has apparently given up on any in house engineering or manufacturing.

matth27's picture
Submitted by matth27 on March 21, 2011 - 11:08am

The new A Series from Boston has indeed been designed and engineered in Boston, well, Peabody actually. They did a fantastic job on these, they look great, and sound great. I would be hard pressed to find another speaker in this price range that can match their performance. Congratulations to the folks at Boston on these speakers.

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