FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 24 October 2012, 5 pages PRESS RELEASE Contact (not for publication): Keith Haddock Tel: 01752 770220 Mbl: 07767 684562 keith@keithhaddock.com BIJOU MASS MAKES BIG SOUND EASY Seductive AV ensemble promises cinema-scale dynamics from space-efficient design. Monitor Audio s diminutive MASS home cinema system offers sculpted space-efficient design, packed with technology and easy-installation features to make the introduction of high quality home cinema sound into any living space a simpler and more satisfying experience. There are two main system models: a compact satellite speaker and active subwoofer. Both are ground-up designs, involving the specification of wholly new signal path components. 1
MASS 10 satellite and centre The compact MASS 10 satellite speaker and its centre-channel counterpart have a stylish construction of rigid polymer, enveloped in a black cloth finish and crowned at either end with contrasting solid aluminium end caps. Their eye-catching curved design is ribbed internally and enhanced by variable wall thickness to produce the most inert enclosure for the twin C-CAM drivers: a newly developed 1 tweeter and 4 bass/midrange. The 1 high frequency transducer is adapted from a new generation of ultra-compact low-profile designs, conceived to maximise performance in reduced cabinet volumes. It vents through a customformed housing and around the outside of a high power Neo magnet system to a rear-loading chamber, reducing resonance to a point way below the crossover frequency. Adopting innovation first applied to our flagship Platinum speaker range, the 4 bass/mid driver is mounted on a tie-bolt fixed to the back of the cabinet. This configuration has the effect of cross-bracing the structure for added rigidity while avoiding front fixings, which can transfer unwanted resonances to the system. Monitor Audio s award-winning Platinum blueprint is also represented by the Hive reflex port, rifled to optimise airflow and reduce turbulence. W200 Active subwoofer Underpinning the mid-high frequency refinement of the MASS satellite is a bass engine of equal calibre. The W200 active subwoofer is primed with the precision-crafted ordinance of twin 10 bass drivers and a potent 220W Class D amplifier, but, with some digital magic from Monitor Audio s engineers, is so much more than the sum of its parts. 2
The on-board amplifier is controlled by an advanced DSP, custom-tuned in the software to optimise the response characteristics of the drivers for the deep, sustained bass delivery that distinguishes the best home cinema systems. It powers a side-firing 10 long throw C-CAM bass driver equipped with a large, dual-stack magnet system, which produces high electro-mechanical damping to ensure there is no overhang, keeping the bass lines perfectly in time. Complementing the active driver is a 10 Auxiliary Bass Radiator (ABR), the two working in tandem within the W200 to generate the output and scale normally associated with ported designs, but with the fast accurate transient response of a sealed box. By doubling the effective radiating area of the system, the drivers maximise the Sound Pressure Level (SPL) from the W200 for room-filling, foundational low frequencies, which match the performance of the MASS 10 satellites in speed and quality. In addition, the W200s integrated DSP offers tailored bass curves for fine-tuning according to taste. Music, movie and impact pre-sets may be selected by way of a switch on the back of the W200 s heavy-duty MDF cabinet, which is cloaked in stealthy black cloth grilles on four sides to complement the aesthetics of the MASS 10. Easy Installation The MASS multichannel speaker system is designed for busy lives and rooms, engineered for negligible compromise in sound quality, living space, and installation. Its satellite can be wall mounted using a single-point fixing located on the rear panel, which dovetails with an optional universal wall bracket for an easy, secure and reliable solution. The centre version is supplied with a soft rubber puck designed to tilt the speaker toward the listener and also to damp any unwanted transfer of vibration to rack or shelf. When wall mounting is not ideal, a dedicated MASS floor-stand with integrated cable management offers a stylish alternative. The stand is pre-wired and locates with the MASS 10 s high quality speaker terminals via a pair of connecting rods, leaving floor level terminals to accept the cables from the AV amplifier. In concept and in execution the elegant MASS home cinema is an eloquent tribute to the quality and innovation of Monitor Audio design. It represents some of the finest audio engineering available, blending great looks and sound with immense easy-to-use practicality at a very modest price point. 3
Features MASS 10 and centre 4 bass midrange driver featuring C-CAM cone technology. Specially developed 1 C-CAM tweeter design featuring unique venting and rear loading chamber low resonance design to provide clean, pure sound. Damped polymer moulded cabinet with internal ribbing. Single bolt-through driver and bracing system for increased overall bracing and rigidity. Single rear-mounted port featuring HiVe technology for clean, powerful, punchy bass. Black cloth finish with contrasting solid aluminium end caps. Optional floor-stand with internal (pre-wired) cable management system. MASS W200 Active subwoofer Long throw 10 sub bass driver featuring C-CAM cone technology 10 flat ABR (Auxiliary Bass Radiator) tuned for tight, fast bass punch 220watt class-d power amplifier 3 x pre-set bass modes (Music, Movie, Impact) 12V trigger input Heavy-duty MDF construction Discreet black cloth finish. Monitor Audio MASS AV System approx. retail price (inc VAT): 800 Pre-wired floor stand (pair): 125 pair Wall bracket 25 pair Availability: November 2012 4
IMAGES: http://www.flickr.com/photos/keithhaddock/sets/72157631836543760/ What is C-CAM? Ceramic-Coated Aluminium/Magnesium is an innovative material originally developed by the aerospace industry for use as blades in jet engines. It exhibits ideal qualities for use as a driver dome, avoiding the break-up or bending modes of more conventional materials. Increased efficiency and clarity and reduced distortion are the result. Monitor Audio is a wholly British owned and managed loudspeaker designer and manufacturer. Since 1972 it has been at the forefront of loudspeaker design and technology, perfecting the implementation of metal drivers. It is renowned for exemplary speaker cabinet construction and finish. For more information on the complete range of Monitor Audio loudspeakers, contact Monitor Audio Ltd, 24 Brook Road, Rayleigh, Essex SS6 7XL. Tel: +44 (0) 1268 740580, E-mail: info@monitoraudio.co.uk, www.monitoraudio.co.uk 5