To augment the hugely successful Alumni sub-satellite system, Mordaunt-Short has released the Alumni 3 LCR(left/centre/right) speaker and Alumni 8 tower. Both provide even more flexible options for configuring an Alumni system underlining its status as the little home cinema speaker package that thinks big. Designed at the company’s dedicated UK research and development centre, the Alumni LCR and tower use the range’s new curved cabinet design which not only provides extreme rigidity whilst reducing standing waves but also looks absolutely stunning from every angle and features stylish piano black and white high gloss finishes.
A configuration that has sometimes been shunned by audiophiles in the past the Alumni LCR has been carefully created to offer highly realistic and audiophile 3-channel imaging from one neat decor friendly enclosure. The ultra low profile design combines the three front Left, Centre and Right channels for extreme compactness and can sit flush under the latest flat screens.
Aesthetically pleasing from any view, the Alumni 8 tower uses and combining the healthy bass extension of a standard box speaker with the elegance of a slim podium. Alumni thrives on Mordaunt-Short’s acoustic pedigree and is equally at home in stereo, 2.1 with an Alumni 9 subwoofer or multichannel set-ups.
Using the company’s no compromise design and attention to detail and bespoke components, Alumni provides an accessible way into high quality, stylish hi-fi and home cinema sound reproduction at an incredibly affordable price.
Alumni 3 LCR available now
Alumni 8 tower available October 2008
Key features:
• Stylish curved cabinet design to reduce standing waves and provide rigidity
• Stunning piano black and white high gloss finishes for satellites, LCR, centre and tower complemented by a subtle satin-finish subwoofer
• 25mm aluminium dome tweeter which is light but incredibly rigid to reduce distortion
• Latest generation 3.5″ CPC (Continuous Profile Cone) mid/bass drivers
• Passive ABR (Acoustic Bass Radiators) for coherent and integrated lower frequency response
• Audiophile grade components throughout
• Designed to blend into any listening environment
• Protective grilles with contrast finishes
• Dedicated stands and Omnimount Ready fittings
Encapsulating the needs of the style conscious audiophile is the Alumni 3 dedicated home cinema LCR. Combining the left, centre and right (LCR) channels, this ultra low-profile design sits tightly against walls underneath the latest flat screen. Alumni’s LCR adds a new dimension to any video or music collection and thanks to Mordaunt-Short’s commitment to engineering excellence, provides excellent 3 channel imaging from one stylish cabinet, offering a huge advance over integrated flat screen speakers which can suffer from poor imaging. The LCR can be used in standard 5.1 or 7.1 set-ups with Alumni 2’s acting as surround rear and surround back rear satellites or 6.1 with an Alumni 5 as the rear back surround. Alternatively two LCRs, one located at the front, the other at the back of a room can also provide a full 6.1 surround sound set up. The Alumni 9 makes the perfect subwoofer in all cases.
The Alumni 8 tower adds another dimension to the range by providing a deep and rich stereo sound but can also be integrated into a home cinema set-up to great effect. As well as a 1″ aluminium tweeter and two CPC Continuous Profile Cone drivers it also uses four Acoustic Bass Radiators to create its impressively deceptive performance At lower frequencies, subwoofers become omni-directional in that it is difficult to detect where the sound is coming from. The Alumni 8’s greater frequency range allows the subwoofer crossover to be set lower therefore aiding its integration into the system. Indeed, the frequency response of the tower is such that a subwoofer is not required in many installations.
Other models already in the Alumni range include:
The Alumni 2 satellites benefit from an improved signal path via an upgraded crossover with low saturation inductors and polypropylene capacitors which reduce distortion and improve detail, integration and clarity. Alumni 2 profits from much of the technology present in some of Mordaunt-Short’s other loudspeakers such as Avant i, Mezzo and the flagship Performance range. The 25mm aluminium dome tweeter delivers elevated dynamic accuracy and razor sharp resolution while the CPC (Continuous Profile Cone) mid/bass drivers’ clean lines are fundamental to Alumni 2’s superior audio reproduction. Indeed, the uninterrupted cone surface ensures excellent rigidity and therefore minimal distortion. One of the most interesting aspects of the design is the cabinet: Alumni’s curved shape discourages the build up of standing waves for a cleaner and more realistic sound. Improved internal wadding gives support where needed, inherently strengthens the speaker and most importantly helps critical damping. Alumni 2 is Omnimount Ready and prepared to industry standards with pre-fitted mountings. They also have the option of dedicated speaker stands with integrated cable management which carefully channel wires away.
Mordaunt-Short has been making compact speaker packages for nearly two decades and is an advocate of the necessity for a dedicated centre speaker design. This is ably demonstrated by both the award winning Genie and Premiere systems. The Alumni 5 centre speaker is critically voiced for the demands of dialogue in films which require crisp clean treble and high levels of detail for precise reproduction. But the centre is also adept at recreating a broad and open natural soundstage when playing music in surround. The symmetrical D’Appolito (woofer-tweeter-woofer) configuration with two 3.5″ mid/bass drivers has consistently been proven to provide the best power response and performance for speakers of this size. Like the satellites, the curved design reduces standing waves, as well as improving audio dispersion which makes positioning easier and less demanding. It is designed to be placed against a wall or under a TV for improved integration and impact. The centre also comes with an infinitely adjustable plinth.
Providing a tight and controlled bass to any movie soundtrack is the Alumni 9 subwoofer, a fact underlined by an extremely low frequency response. It uses a brand new 8″ ultra long throw woofer, the latest in Mordaunt-Short’s illustrious line of subwoofer technologies. Alumni 9 delivers an impressive 120W of power and all from a remarkably compact cabinet. Indeed the subwoofer’s box is so small it blends seamlessly into any room. The cabinet’s vent is carefully terminated for extremely low mechanical noise and distortion. Meanwhile, the downward firing port and forward firing woofer combine to produce a very clean response and reproduction of the lowest frequencies. Low level and high level inputs, phase control and volume/frequency filter complete this impressive sub. The Alumni 9 also comes with custom made feet to facilitate perfect operation in any environment.
