Audio Video News

PSB
You know that a product is going to be good when the designer is also the company's founder. Such is the case with PSB's new Platinum Series, designed and developed by founder Paul S. Barton. The line includes seven new models: the T8 and T6 towers, M2 minimonitor, C4 and C2 center channels, S2 bipolar surround, and SubSonic 10 subwoofer. The PSB Platinum T8, the flagship tower, uses three 8-inch woofers, two 4.5-inch midrange drivers, and two 1-inch tweeters. The front tweeter faces forward, while the other tweeter is rear-firing. The midrange drivers and front tweeter are arranged in a D'Appolito array. According to the company, this arrangement produces a large horizontal and vertical sweet spot with outstanding clarity. The enclosure measures 10.5 by 46.5 by 16 inches and is available in black ash or cherry, with a die-cast aluminum base, top, and side extrusions. The T8 is available at a suggested retail price of $6,500 per pair.
PSB Speakers
(888) 772-0000
www.psbspeakers.com

Onkyo
A good deal is hard to come by, but Onkyo's newest receiver is a good place to start. The new TX-SR701 A/V receiver delivers 100 watts of power (times six) and features THX Select performance and processing capabilities. Using Onkyo's Powered Zone 2 flexibility, the receiver can process separate stereo sources simultaneously in two different zones, or it can send the same signal to both zones. The receiver offers a full suite of features, such as digital bass management and a six-channel analog input for DVD-Audio and SACD and video-conversion and -switching capabilities. You can integrate the TX-SR701 with your video equipment using the model's two assignable component inputs or its five S-video and composite inputs. With an AM/FM tuner that has 40 random presets, this anything-but-basic receiver is priced at $800.
Onkyo
(201) 785-2600
www.onkyousa.com