Audio Video News

New Totem Towers Support Bluetooth Streaming

Totem Acoustics, the Montreal-based high-end speaker specialist, has added a powered speaker system that supports high-quality aptX HD Bluetooth streaming to the lower-priced KIN series it introduced several years ago.

The new KIN Play Tower system ($2,250) supplements the convenience of 24-bit Bluetooth streaming with built-in amplification and flexible connectivity in the form of two 24-bit/192kHz-capable optical digital inputs and analog connections offering the choice between stereo RCA, stereo minjack, and moving-magnet phono options.

The system comprises a passive speaker and an active speaker featuring an onboard digital-to-analog converter (DAC)/amplifier rated to deliver 2 x 200 watts of RMS power. Each speaker mates two 5.25-inch woofers with a 1-inch titanium-infused soft-dome tweeter in a black- or white-satin finished cabinet just over 40 inches tall with grilles that attach magnetically; the active speaker has a multifunction control dial on its front panel for adjusting volume and selecting inputs or Bluetooth pairing. The system is rated down to 30Hz (±3dB).

Additional features include a subwoofer output with a fixed 220Hz crossover and an amp-bypass input with “auto on” sensing for use in custom-installation setups or with streaming systems such as Sonos. A remote control with bass and treble controls is provided along with optical and analog interconnects and speaker cable for connecting the passive speaker to its active counterpart. For more information, visit totemacoustics.com.

Monoprice Adds On-Walls to its THX Collection

The latest entrant in Monoprice’s ever-expanding Monolith line of THX-certified speakers is a trio of slender on-wall speakers that can be mixed and matched in a variety of home theater settings.

From largest to smallest, the Monolith M-OW3 ($500) combines front left, center, and right channels in a svelte, wall-hugging enclosure 47 inches wide, 7 inches tall, and only 3.5 inches deep. Each channel comprises two 4.5-inch passive radiators and a 4.5-inch driver featuring a coaxially mounted 0.8-inch silk-dome tweeter for a total of nine drivers.

The Monolith M-OW1 ($500/pair) features two of the same passive radiators — one above and one below the same concentric driver in a cabinet 16 inches tall, 7 inches wide, and 3.5 inches deep. The smallest of the new speakers is the Monolith Compact Satellite ($250/pair), which houses a single 4.5-inch concentric driver in a cube-like enclosure with curved sides measuring 6 x 6.3 x 5.9 inches.

The satellites are rated down to 80Hz, while the M-OW3 and M-OW1 are rated a bit lower at 70Hz. In either case, you’ll need a subwoofer. All three models are rated at 4 ohms and have a keyhole slot for wall mounting with recessed spring-loaded binding posts. The cabinets are made of medium density fiberboard (MDF) with a black matte finish.

Monoprice backs the speakers with a five-year warranty and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can try before you buy. Click here for more information on the M-OW3, here for more on the OW1, and here for the Compact Satellite.

Theory Debuts In-Ceiling Speakers, IP-Controlled Amp

Theory Audio Design, the venture started by Pro Audio Technology in early 2020, continues its expansion with an IP-controlled amplifier and high-output ceiling speaker.

The new ic6 speaker ($675 each) houses a 6.5-inch carbon-fiber woofer with a coaxially mounted 1.4-inch compression driver in a rugged enclosure measuring just over 9 inches across. The speaker comes with a white or black perforated metal grille and is designed to be recessed in the ceiling or mounted in a pendant housing (shown below, $85 in white or $95 in black). Theory also offers pre-construction mounting brackets for $62/pair and an all-weather grille for outdoor installations.

The speaker is rated down to 68Hz (–3dB) and designed to hit a maximum output of 112dB SPL @ 1 meter. For large multispeaker installations, the ic6 includes a switch-selectable 70/100-volt transformer that can be driven by Theory’s new DLC-250.4 four-channel amplifier/controller ($1,950), which is slated to ship next month.

The amplifier is TCP/IP controlled through a wired connection or directly via an on-board Wi-Fi access point and rated to deliver 250 watts per channel into 4, 8, or 16 ohms (125 watts per channel with all channels driven). Taking a full-system approach, the DLC-250.4 automatically applies DSP that is tailored to the speakers to ensure high-quality sound. And thanks to its configurable outputs, the amplifier can power up to 64 speakers.

“Because the DLC can operate in both 8-ohm or 70/100-volt modes, separately or in combination, and because all of our architectural loudspeakers have the same dual operation, systems of any size or complexity can easily be realized from a tiny half-rack space unit,” explained company founder and president Paul Hales. “And because our ceiling and pendant models can operate at 16-ohms, up to 16 speakers can be powered from a single half-rack unit without the need to invoke the 70V transformers; this is remarkable from a 6-pound amplifier and insures the highest possible fidelity even in systems with a high quantity of speakers.”

The DLC-250.4 provides a digital audio input/output and eight analog inputs — four standard RCA and four balanced with selectable sensitivity. For more information on the ic6 speaker, click here; for more on the DLC-250 amplifier click here.

Olive’s New Wireless Earbuds Double as Hearing Aids

Olive Union, the Nevada-based startup that introduced the successful Olive Pro wireless earbuds that double as hearing aids in 2020, is previewing a follow-up model that features a sleek wraparound design, improved performance, and extended battery life.

Described as “FDA Class 2 hearing aids with support for mild to severe hearing loss,” the new Olive Max earbuds resemble ordinary wireless earbuds but use advanced machine learning and artificial intelligence to adaptively improve hearing in any environment, according to Olive Union. An array of six omnidirectional microphones detects voices and background noise with “incredible accuracy” while background noise is filtered out without distorting the user’s voice, a process that has been improved thanks to the use of a new auto-focus feature and sound engine.

Instead of visiting an audiologist, a companion app walks the user through a 5-minute hearing test to establish a baseline. Rated battery life is 8 hours on a single charge with more than 18 hours possible with the charging case. The wraparound form factor is designed to provide a more stable listening experience regardless of setting.

Though the Olive Max earbud/hearing aids are slated to ship late this year, the company is making them available for pre-order on Indiegogo at a limited-time discount of $150, which drops the price from $549 to $299. For more information, visit max.oliveunion.com.