September 2015 New Gear

A subwoofer to die for, some seriously bad-ass in-wall speakers, a 10-hour Bluetooth speaker from Bose, and more.

MartinLogan Stealth Architectural Series Speakers
We field tons of new product pitches every week, and most are either boring or peppered with ridiculous hyperbole, which is why we continued reading when MartinLogan’s marketing person described their new architectural speakers as “seriously bad ass.” All three models—the two-way Axis ($1,149) and three-way Edge ($1,699) rectangular in-walls and the Vanquish ceiling speaker ($1,399)—are designed for easy installation and have beefy cast-aluminum frames, spiffy gloss-black baffles (in case you want to show off), concealed mounting hardware, and bezel-free magnetic grilles to make the speakers as inconspicuous as possible.
High-Tech Accordion: But the coolest shared feature—sonically speaking—is ML’s sweet-sounding Folded Motion tweeter, which works with a high-end crossover network comprising electrolytic capacitors, custom wound inductors, and protection circuitry.
MartinLogan • (785) 749-0133 • martinlogan.com


GoldenEar Technology SuperSub XXL Subwoofer
Speaker genius Sandy Gross says the goal for GoldenEar’s new SuperSub line was “to create beautifully styled, finely finished, reasonably sized subwoofers that could generate very-low-frequency pressure waves of extremely high amplitude, while delivering accurate and precise low-frequency performance that is both highly impactful and extremely musical.” Translation: The XXL has looks that kill (for a sub) and is built to rock the house when duty calls.
Watts Up: At its core is a 1,600-watt digital amp originally developed for the flagship Triton One speaker, a sophisticated digital processor that manages the audio signal all the way down to 10 hertz, and patent-pending dual-plane topology that mates two outward facing 12-inch drivers with sub-bass radiators that fire from the top and bottom of the high-density Medite cabinet. Price: $1,999
GoldenEar Technology • (410) 998-9134 • goldenear.com


Wireworld Nano Series Flexible Minijack Cables
Until the world is truly wireless—meaning wireless power, wireless everything—we’re stuck with cables. So we might as well make the best of it. Designed for use with headphones and portable devices, Wireworlds’ Nano Series cables are described as ultra light and flexible.
Built to Last: The cables are insulated and utilize the company’s patented DNA Helix design, which is said to “channel the energy of the electromagnetic signal more efficiently.” Prices for 1.5-meter length cables range from $40 for the Pulse with molded plugs and oxygen-free copper conductors to $575 for the Nano-Platinum Eclipse with carbon-fiber plugs and solid silver conductors.
Wireworld • (954) 474-4464 • wireworldcable.com


Sewell Ghost IR Blaster
Don’t be scared. It’s not really a ghost, but it may be the world’s first battery-powered infrared (IR) repeater. The Ghost provides a no-fuss solution for anyone who wants to control A/V gear from behind closed doors. Put the peel-and-stick IR emitter inside the cabinet and stick the tiny IR receiver on the outside; the foot-long flat wire running between them is thin enough to slip between cabinet doors.
Long Ranger: Battery life is rated for 18 to 24 months, and the receiver has a generous 26-foot range so you can control your gear from the back of the room. The system is compatible with dual-band and RC-MM infrared signals. Price: $35
Sewell • (800) 709-1345 • sewelldirect.com


Bose SoundLink Mini II Bluetooth Speaker II
The popular SoundLink Mini has been updated with several new features, including multi-connect functionality for simultaneously linking two devices to the speaker, a built-in microphone for using the Mini as a speakerphone, and voice prompts that walk you through initial pairing; the eight most recently used devices are stored in memory to ensure a quick connection when you’re ready to stream. In terms of sonics and size, the Mini II is the same as its predecessor, weighing 1.5 pounds and measuring a svelte 2 x 7 x 2.3 inches.
Daydream: Bose has also upped battery life to 10 hours for day-long listening. Available in black or light gray, the speaker includes a charging cradle and can be outfitted with one of nine optional accent covers ($25 each). Price: $200
Bose • (800) 999-2673 • bose.com

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