New Products

Ready for a high-end, THX certified speaker you can mount in the wall or a portable video projector with built-in streaming capability? Or how about a turntable shelf designed to mount on the wall? These are a few of the more interesting new products we’ve learned about in recent weeks.

PerListen Previews First THX Dominus In-Wall Speaker

PerListen Audio, a Wisconsin-based startup that made its debut at CES 2021, is previewing the first in-wall speaker designed to meet the THX Certified Dominus specification class announced earlier this year.

Due out in November, the S7i ($7,495 each) is an in-wall version of the four-way S7t tower speaker introduced in February. The speaker has two 7-inch carbon-fiber drivers above and below three 1.1-inch tweeters in sealed aluminum enclosure 39 inches tall and only 4 inches deep with a bituminous damping layer to “ensure the frequency response is consistent in any installation.”

Two of the 7-inch drivers operate as midranges, two as woofers. The tweeters are stacked vertically in a “beamforming” array with a patent-pending waveguide designed to control vertical and horizontal dispersion, and each tweeter has a rear absorption chamber to reduce internal reflections.

“The S7i marks the first time a manufacturer has achieved this Dominus specification in an in-wall model, especially one designed for the largest private theaters,” said CEO Dan Roemer.

Meant to bridge the gap between large home theater speakers and speakers used in commercial movie theaters, the THX Dominus designation is newest and the largest performance class of THX Certification, extending beyond THX Ultra and intended for spaces up to 6,500 cubic feet with viewing distances up to 20 feet. To meet the Dominus spec, a speaker must be able to play cleanly at an output level that is more than double that of the THX Ultra specification.

The company plans to introduce several additional in-wall models in the coming months. For more information, visit perlistenaudio.com.

Epson’s New Portable Projector Has Built-In Streaming

Epson is shipping a new portable 1080p projector with onboard streaming capability that harnesses the power of Android TV and Chromecast, providing viewers ready access to Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, YouTube, and other popular apps and allowing them to wirelessly cast video from Android and Apple devices.

Designed to accommodate casual home entertainment or video conferencing and other work-at-home needs, the 880X 3LCD projector ($630) has a rated brightness of 3,300 lumens and projects images up to 300 inches (diagonal). The projector is small enough to fit in a backpack and comes with a soft carry case and remote control featuring dedicated buttons for YouTube, Netflix, Google Play, and Google Assistant, enabling viewers to use voice commands to control the projector and access streaming apps.

Manual and automatic keystone correction (±30°) is provided and connections include one HDMI port, USB Type A and Type B ports, and a 3.5mm minijack stereo output. Lamp life is rated for up to 6,000 hours in Normal mode or twice that in reduced-brightness ECO mode.

“The demand for bigger displays has continued throughout the pandemic for both business and home entertainment,” said Epson product manager Kenny Tang. “The 880X smart projector is ideal for video conferencing and presentations with the added versatility to transform spaces into entertainment hubs.”

For more information, visit epson.com.

Here’s a Novel Idea: Mount Your Turntable on the Wall

Looking for a place to put your new (or old, resuscitated) turntable? If all else fails, mount it on the wall.

The new Vulcan Turntable Shelf ($150) from Grand Rapids-based accessory specialist Pangea is a vibration-resistant ledge designed expressly for wall mounting. A non-resonant MDF shelf sits on a steel U-frame attached to a backplate with screw holes for securing the assembly to studs spaced 16 inches on center. The shelf is finished in durable black vinyl and is supported by metal spikes that can be adjusted to level the turntable.

Because it mounts on the wall, the shelf inherently resists one of the turntable’s biggest enemies: floor vibrations from footsteps and rambunctious kids. The assembly is designed to support up to 20 pounds and the shelf is 18 inches wide, 15.5 inches deep, and three quarters of an inch thick. A 1-inch gap between the ledge and backplate allows for cable management.

Mounting hardware and an easy-to-follow illustrated installation guide are included. Pangea says the shelf can be mounted to any sturdy surface, including brick or concrete.

For more information, visit pangeaaudio.com.