Essential Install | EI Live ! 2017 Review
New colours and four new products featured on the Artcoustic stand
HEADLINE SPONSOR
Lounge was a really good move for us , allowing us to showcase more products , in more space and entertain more visitors at any one time . If the quality of the show visitor is the measure of a show , then we ’ ll certainly be back next year .”
Sound Ideas
Speaker-wise , the show was chosen as the launch pad for Podspeakers , a reinvention of the curved family of speakers from Danish brand Scandyna . Now being distributed in the UK by Hi-Fi Cinema , Podspeakers are back to deliver some fun and high-quality sound options . Although the curved shapes will be familiar to many , what is inside has been redesigned . Hi-Fi Cinema says the brand is suitable for retailers and installers offering a series of options for two channel , multi-room and surround sound . A new product , Big Pods , got a first showing in the UK . Underlining the brand ’ s aim to deliver quality sound , but a design statement too , the speakers ’ curved enclosures not only look attractive , but reduce internal standing waves . In demo they are just one of those types of speakers that put a smile on your face ; it almost feels like they are having fun too . There are passive or active versions , Bluetooth capability and further new options on the way .
There was more news on the speaker front as Anthony Gallo Acoustics was relaunched into the UK following a buyout by its UK distributor . Moving the brand ’ s HQ from California to Lanark in Scotland , the team were enthused to be able to be fully in control of this characterful brand . New additions have already been added to the company ’ s familiar spherical designs as RAL and Pantone colours are now available on the products ’ increasing interior design options . Turnaround time for the bespoke colours is two weeks . The full range is now back in production and the company is also promising new product too .
There was more audio innovation from Redline as this distributor was showing some style with its new printing service for speaker grilles . RAL / Pantone colours can all be accommodated , but this service goes a step further by offering high quality prints of any image the customer wants . So , if the client just wants the speaker to match their curtains , fine , but if they want an image of their kids playing football , they can have that as well . Looking at the examples on the stand , the images are absolutely pin sharp and offer real vibrancy .
There was a definite theme at the show this year : that speakers which make a bold design statement are on the rise .
Another audio UK first on the Redline stand was the Artison Backpack P-5 , a compact and cool running AV amp available Q2 of this year . The distributor says the unit is compatible with everything and is compact enough to offer lots of flexibility when installing . With no need for connection to a central rack , the unit can cut costs as well as get the job done . The machine uses copper heat sinks so it can cope with a wide variety of installation locations . The unit will also come with its own wall bracket and is network controllable via RS232 .
Yet more new product was on show on the Karma AV stand . The distributor chose the show to launch the Emotiva brand into the UK , a US AV design specialist which manufacturers a range amplifiers , loudspeakers and subwoofers .
Karma was particularly keen to draw attention to the brand ’ s amplification abilities with the X-Series range of processors , audiophile balanced preamp / monoblocks , compact in-line phono preamp and a two-to-seven channel Class A / B modular amp platform . Also available is the BasX line of processors , multiple pre / power combinations and multi-zone amps . The distributor also wanted to highlight the innovation on offer from its own Ultimate Screens concept with a new screen masking version . This option still delivers the ease of installation that the brand has been built around , designed to offer a one-man risk free installation , but adds masking options with some interesting features of its own . Driven by a Future Automation switcher box , the screen can cope with any format needed , but has built-in safety features which means wandering hands cannot be injured in the mechanism and the mechanism won ’ t be damaged by interference . The company is keen to underline that the product has been designed using direct experience in the field to deliver an installer friendly solution .
There was more audio on the Amina stand where the company ’ s new Amina Edge was put through its paces – another UK show first . This new series has put the brand at a different level in terms of audio quality ; yes it has all the benefits of a hidden speaker , but it ’ s also just a damn good speaker . The show gave installers a key opportunity to discover that for themselves .
The Artcousitc stand was buzzing with several introductions . The company ’ s UK director , Paul Cummin , said : “ We had four brand new products to launch at the show and whilst we were very confident in them , the opportunity to show them directly , in front of the whole industry is a vital test for us . The reaction was amazing , better than we ’ d even hoped for , with the diminutive Target Mini being a real highlight . Dealers immediately loved them , they sounded great and look really cool . We were delighted with the reaction and congratulate everyone on a fantastic EI Live !”
The Target Mini measures just 15cmsq and 5cm deep , but packs a punch in its attractive enclosure . Black and white are available as standard , but the company can produce the product in any colour as long as it has the paint code to match . Also new was the Performance PS2 front horn-loaded and vented sub , a powerful versatile sub which can be built into cabinetry . The CPH10 is a new full range speaker which boasts a 10in driver partnered with a tweeter , designed to offer an option when bass is required , but a sub is not a practical option ; the unit can go all the way down to 38hrtz . Finally , there was the new top of the range line array model , the SL24-12 TAAA . Line Array speakers can sometimes be affected by phase issues , however this product looks to solve those by creating a time aligned performance curve by recessing some of the speakers into the cabinet . The idea is that all of the sound reaches the listener at the same time . Word from those who have heard it in full cry , is that this is one of the best performing speakers Artcoustic has made .
26 | May 2017