CEDIA 2016

As has become standard practice, architectural speaker company, Origin Acoustics, announced a slew of new products and initiatives at this afternoon’s press conference, including a preview of products that will be part of an exclusive, co-branded line of architectural speakers with Bang & Olufsen. Rather than attempt to make architectural speakers invisible, the new Origin Acoustics/B&O speakers will incorporate extremely attractive, specially designed grilles that match the typical aesthetics found in traditional B&O products.

Origin also announced two new 3-channel DSP amplifiers. The DSP-3700 includes three 700-watt amplifiers and is switchable for 70-volt or 8-ohm operation. A network connection allows integrators to adjust parametric equalization levels remotely, and there are 64 EQ presets designed exclusively for use with Origin’s Seasons Landscape Collection and In-Ceiling Director Collection speakers. The DSP 3-100 is a 100-watt x 3 version.

Origin is expanding the Director Collection with the addition of two new in-ceiling subwoofers. The Director Minimal Opening 5 System utilizes a 6” bezel-less trim finish in square or round that is said to match the trim of common light fixtures. The new architectural sub has a dual-woofer enclosure with a three-inch or custom-tailored five-inch diameter port tube. Origin says installers can wire the new DSUB6F5 in parallel with two of Origins other new Director full-range speakers, the D57 and D59 when used with an Origin Acoustic’s A2150 amp. These new five-inch Director D57 and D59 speakers use 5.25-inch glass fiber and five-inch Kevlar drivers with a newly designed Multi-Motion DPSD tweeter, which, according to Origin, will provide wider dispersion and frequency response down to the upper 30 Hz range.

Of particular interest to integrators who design audio systems for commercial environments—but also applicable to homes with high ceilings—are the new Professional Director Housing (PHD) line of modular pendant enclosures that can be used to encase any one of 16 different Director Collection speaker models. Origin Acoustics calls it “Modern Modularity for Atmosphere Enhancing Audio.” The enclosures include Origin’s new Zip-Clip 2.0 Tool-Less installation mounting system, the original of which is considered by many to be the easiest-to-use architectural mounting system available today.

Exact pricing and availability for the new products were not announced.