San Clemente, CA–September 6, 2007–Sonance, the originator of the custom-installation loudspeaker concept and acknowledged leader today, has readied a radical new surface-mount speaker for introduction at the 2007 CEDIA Expo in Denver, Colorado. The new Sonance Flair loudspeaker combines an exceptionally fast and flexible new mounting system–one that requires only a screwdriver and a few moments of an installer’s time from start to finish–with performance that offers serious sound quality to many otherwise intractable locations. The Sonance Flair loudspeaker is ideal for installation in Multi Dwelling units (MDU) where in-ceiling speakers are difficult to install. Also, production homes where easy and inexpensive pre-wire to standard j-boxes is attractive.
The Sonance Flair speaker applies a great deal of fresh thinking to a familiar installation challenge, beginning with its entirely unique mounting system. A simple, round steel mounting plate that accepts conventional speaker wiring is affixed to a standard ceiling “J-box,” via two supplied screws. The speaker itself is then set in place below it–and is instantly and firmly held in place by a ring of powerful neodymium
magnets inset into the speaker’s upper surface. Signal connection is automatically made between two male terminals integrated into the speaker and corresponding swiveling females in the mounting-plate–consequently, after being set in place the Sonance Flair speakers can be rotated through 90 degrees to align it to room surfaces, lighting fixtures, or designer preference.
Of course, Sonance endowed its new surface mount design with much more than just a clever mounting system. The speaker features a coaxial duo of a 5-1/4-inch carbon-fiber cone mid/woofer with a 1-inch Ferrofluid-cooled silk-dome tweeter. The combination produces unexpectedly full-range, musically balanced sound, with outstandingly smooth, broad coverage that delivers natural stereo imaging to a wide range of listening positions, even when less-than-ideal mounting locations are dictated. (This also makes the speaker an excellent choice for surround- and rear-channel use in multichannel home-theater layouts.) The speaker’s excellent dispersion comes thanks both to its coaxial layout, which avoids the off-axis “lobing” response changes of conventional two-way arrangements, and its dome-shaped baffle surface, which is spherically radiused to all four corners. Additionally, the speaker combines good sensitivity with substantial power-handling capability, so is compatible with a wide range of high-performance electronics, delivering unexpectedly high-end sound from a deceptively simple form that protrudes just 2-1/2 inches from the ceiling surface.
The new 10-3/4-inch-square Sonance Flair loudspeaker enclosure is formed from a dense polycarbonate that resists resonances, improving musical clarity and dialog intelligibility. It is supplied with a full-coverage, removable, paintable perforated-aluminum grille that lends a quietly elegant and unobtrusive look.
Availability: January 2008
Suggested Retail Price: $480.00
About Sonance Headquartered in San Clemente, California, Sonance was founded by Scott Struthers and Geoff Spencer, who introduced the world’s first in-wall loudspeaker system to the consumer electronics market in 1982. With distribution in 45 countries around the world, Sonance remains at the forefront of technology by offering innovative design solutions that harmoniously blend sound with designs favored by leading custom integrators, architects, interior- design professionals, and design-conscious clients throughout the world.
