Digital Trends
Nearly a year after Rock Band first launched, the aftermarket for controllers is finally picking up. From full-size replicas to more stylized axes, options have generally been expanding, but one instrument has been quite conspicuously lacking: a true bass guitar. Mad Catz remedied that issue on Monday with the release of its Fender Precision Bass replica, the first of its type for Rock Band.
Audio gear maker Canton has begun shipping its new Chrono series high-performance speakers aimed at bringing high-performance audio to home theaters and home audio fans without the pocketbook-gouging prices sometimes associated with quality speaker rigs. Based on technology developed for the company’s Ergo line, the Chrono series offers two floorstanding units, a compact two-way unit, 2.5-way center channel unit, and a 150 Watt powered subwoofer.
“We are very proud to introduce the new Chrono line,” said Canton USA President Paul Madsen in a statement. “It uses the same technology and basic design criteria as our classic Ergo series speakers, but thanks to more cost-efficient construction and finish options we’ve managed to reduce pricing by over 30 percent.”
The dual-purpose piece is designed to function as an end table as well as a powerful subwoofer. The M•Bass 1000 complements the Centra line of home theater component centers, including the soon-to-be-released Centra StreamLine Tower Speakers.
Until now, some subwoofers have been big, ugly, black boxes. Centra M•Bass 1000 is a high-powered subwoofer that’s also designed to look and function like a stylish and attractive end table. The M•Bass 1000 features a high-gloss wood veneer and is available in hand-rubbed, high-gloss piano black or light cherry finishes. Its stylish curves are also meant to complement most décors.
Quote from the review:
What is it?
The ButtKicker, in simplest terms, is a bass shaker, but it can’t accurately be described in words. It has to be felt to be believed. It literally rocks your couch at just the right times during explosions, crashes, jet fights, or battle scenes in movies.
Does it work?
I was initially skeptical the ButtKicker would shake at the wrong times or be distracting. But the ButtKicker intelligently shuts itself off when no bass signal is present, which prevents unrelated vibrations and also saves energy. The ButtKicker remained off during most regular TV shows or news programs, which contain little or no bass. When it’s movie time, you will be pleasantly surprised how the ButtKicker jumps into action as soon as you pop in a DVD.
The Canton CD 300 series combines technology derived from the company’s high-end Karat line of loudspeakers with the sleek, brushed aluminum lifestyle design of its popular CD 100 series.
The current line consists of the CD 300 floor-standing tower speaker and the CD 360F, which includes the same driver configuration adapted for vertical or horizontal wall mounting. With their slender brushed-aluminum enclosures and silvery grills, these speakers create a very dramatic presence in a room, while delivering sound quality that will please the most demanding audiophiles.
Quote from the review at The Tech Zone:
“The Z5300 uses a patented dual chamber subwoofer to pound out twice the bass of conventional designs to deliver deep, loud and powerful bass. Polished aluminum phase plug satellite drivers are designed to project crisp high-end and rich mid-range tones for balanced sound. The system comes with a full-featured SoundTouch wired remote control for quick adjustments.”
Read Designtechnica’s review
The LMF-1features a long-throw 12″ downward-firing driver aided by two large ports for deep bass extension. Frequency Response is specified at 25Hz. -180Hz. +/- 2 dB, with SPL rated at 115dB. Amplifier is a built-in “BASH” powerhouse claimed capable of 325wrms continuous operation and 1300W peaks. The downward-firing arrangement is said to reduce room boundary problems typically encountered with side-firing subs.
Canton has introduced eight new loudspeakers in its premium Ergo line, including a new powered subwoofer and seven full-range models featuring new crossover technology for a remarkable refinement in the line’s already formidable midrange and high frequency reproduction. New models include a trio of three-way floorstanders, two bookshelf speakers, two 2-1/2-way center channel speakers, and a 200-Watt powered subwoofer, and all are available in silver lacquer, black, beech, and cherry wood veneer finishes.
Britain’s B&W Loudspeakers has been creating active subwoofers almost since the powered-sub concept has existed. The UK company has a long history of designing for powerful levels of genuine deep bass. The latest models to advance this tradition are B&W’s new 15-inch ASW-850 and 12-inch ASW-800. These new powered subs, technically identical but for driver and cabinet sizes, combine massive, 1,000-watt (continuous) audio power with newly developed transducers to produce more intense, dynamic, ultra-deep bass than any preceding B&W subwoofer.
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