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Industry Update
Stereovox's new Signals: Stereovox, Inc. and Signals-SuperFi, LLC have announced that worldwide distribution for Stereovox products will be handled exclusively by Signals-SuperFi from its Atlanta, GA offices as of November 1, 2005. Known for innovative audio, video, and digital cable technology, Stereovox hopes to increase its exposure and market share by more closely associating with the luxury audio brands represented by Signals-SuperFi.
Signals-SuperFi introduced its debut collection of distributed brands at HE2005 in May, a selection that included the Danish-made Peak-Consult loudspeakers and the Australian Continuum Audio Labs analog playback system. "Adding Stereovox to this mix of ultra-fidelity audio gear was a natural fit and we have actually been preparing for this for several months," said Christopher Sommovigo, who holds significant interest in both companies. "It was simply a matter of crossing t's and dotting i's, but we're very enthusiastic and confident that this arrangement will create a whole much greater than the sum of its parts."
Onkyo USA's new brass: Onkyo USA, the North American sales arm of Onkyo Corporation of Osaka, Japan, has announced that Ken Araki will replace Kevin Miyagi as president. Mr. Miyagi will now head Onkyo Europe.
Mr. Araki has worked at Onkyo since 1991, in sales, marketing, and engineering. He was manager of US and European Sales in the international marketing department at corporate headquarters in Osaka, and has also worked as manager of China/Export Sales, International Marketing; manager of the new product planning department for international markets; manager of new product planning & marketing for Onkyo Europe; and manager of engineering quality control in Osaka. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Setsunan University.
"I am both honored and excited to be given responsibility for Onkyo USA and its various divisions," said Araki. "There are many challenges and opportunities facing our four key brands in the US market. Onkyo, Onkyo Professional, Integra, and Integra Research all have a special place within their respective market segments, and it is this diversity of opportunity that will make my life very interesting over the coming years."
Danley's new horn: Danley Sound Labs has launched the SH-50, a high-output, fully horn-loaded, three-way loudspeaker that, the company claims, "performs exceptionally well in tight packed arrays to offer practically seamless overlap regions." The SH-50 ($7850/pair) combines two proprietary Danley Sound Labs technologies, the "tapped horn" and the "synergy horn," to produce "exceptional low-frequency pattern control, incomparable audio quality, seamless arrayability, and low-frequency extension." The SH-50 is also available as a powered option using class-D audiophile power and onboard DSP ($11,290/pair).
The SH-50 measures 28" by 28" by 22.5" and is said to generate "up to 132dB SPL with a recommended 1600W (program) power input, operating across the frequency range 28Hz–100kHz (–3dB)." The company claims sensitivity of 100dB SPL "(measured as 20V input free space@10m distance, –1dB 80Hz–20kHz)." Danley says the SH-50 is "designed for a broad range of live sound applications, including houses of worship, live performance venues, stadiums, discos, and high-end home theaters." Its compact size and apparent drivability practically guarantee that it will make its way into homes as well.
Danley also manufactures the SH-100 ($2340/pair; powered version with built-in DSP, $4540/pair), a wide-dispersion, fully horn-loaded, full-range loudspeaker "with a large horn mouth that offers substantial directivity and front-to-back rejection." The company claims that high frequencies are very smooth throughout the SH-100's coverage pattern, making the SH-100 "suitable for point source applications whereby one loudspeaker is required to cover a large area, or distributed approaches, where wide coverage with high directivity is desired."
The SH-100 employs an 8" coaxial driver in an enclosure that measures 20.5" by 20.5" by 9". Its sensitivity is claimed to be 95dB (measured as 28.3V input ½-space@10m distance, –1dB 80Hz–20kHz). The company says the speaker produces 123dB SPL (program) from a recommended 800W amplifier power with a frequency range of 70Hz–20kHz (±3dB).
The press release describes Tom Danley as "one of the most innovative loudspeaker designers in the industry today, recognized worldwide as a pioneer for 'outside the box' thinking in professional audio technology." His designs, the release says, "have been utilized in projects ranging from ground zero bombing simulation, jet engine active noise cancellation, and sonic boom generators to critical listening mastering studios, high-end home theaters, and houses of worship around the world."
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