Starke Sound, known for crafting high-end audio gear that punches above its price, has launched the HALO series—a bold new lineup of loudspeakers, subwoofers, and power amplifiers designed to deliver uncompromising performance for “serious” home theater enthusiasts — as opposed to the rest of us who are just in it for the fun, love of music and salty meat treats?
From Scott DeLoache, Chief Design Director, Starke Sound Inc: “Our new HALO Series is designed to be a breath of fresh air for the audio industry, in that the models are powerful and voiced for true high-end listening in demanding systems, yet its price range is remarkably affordable for the series’ performance and overall build quality,…As Starke Sound celebrates its 15th anniversary, it’s a privilege to bring the third-generation HALO products to music and movie lovers of every stripe.”
The HALO Series includes seven models across three categories: three loudspeakers, two subwoofers, and two power amplifiers.
HALO Series Speakers
The three speaker models in the HALO Series are the M1 bookshelf speaker, the C2 center channel, and the W1 slimline on-wall speaker. Each features Starke Sound’s Rogrid™Aluminum Frame and a reinforced cabinet, engineered for long-term durability and precise acoustic performance.
M1
The M1 bookshelf speaker uses high-quality components, including a Diamaze28™ beryllium tweeter for clear high frequencies and a MaxCarbon65™ woofer for solid bass response. A first-order crossover ensures clean signal handling and consistent phase alignment across the drivers.
For flexible installation, Starke Sound offers the optional Stand 3S for the M1, available in black or silver. Made from aircraft-grade aluminum, the stand uses a three-point base and mechanically connects to the speaker to maintain structural integrity and support performance.
C2
The C2 center channel features a Diamaze28™ beryllium tweeter alongside two MaxCarbon65™ mid-bass drivers. This configuration delivers clear dialogue and balanced sound, making it well-suited for home theater setups where accuracy and tonal consistency are important.
W1
The HALO Series W1 is a slim on-wall speaker designed for spaces where floor or shelf placement isn’t practical. Using the same Diamaze28™ beryllium tweeter and MaxCarbon65™ mid-bass drivers found in the rest of the lineup, the W1 delivers solid performance while saving space—making it a smart choice for surround or standalone use in compact rooms or minimalist setups.
HALO Speaker Comparison
| M1 | W1 | C2 | |
| Product Type | Bookshelf Speaker | On-Wall Speaker | Center Channel Speaker |
| Price | $4,200 (pair) | $1,950 (pair) | $3,150 (each) |
| Tweeter | Diamaze28™ Be: 28 mm(1.15 inch) | Diamaze28™ Be: 28 mm(1.15 inch) | Diamaze28™ Be: 28 mm(1.15 inch) |
| Woofer | MaxCarbon65™: 165 mm (6.5 inch) | MaxCarbon65™: 165 mm (6.5 inch) | MaxCarbon65™: 165 mm (6.5 inch) x 2 |
| Max SPL output (1m, typical room) | 112dB | 112dB | 115dB |
| Frequency response (-3dB) | 33.5Hz-40 kHz | 40Hz-40 kHz | 33.5Hz-40 kHz |
| Recommended Amplifier Power | 50 – 500W | 50 – 500W | 80 – 500W |
| Nominal Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
| Sensitivity (2.83V at 1m) | 89dB | 89dB | 90dB |
| Finish | TrueChrome™ Piano Lacquer & CNC Aluminum | TrueChrome™ Piano Lacquer & CNC Aluminum | TrueChrome™ Piano Lacquer & CNC Aluminum |
| Color options | Samurai Black/Lunar White/Ember Noir | Samurai Black/Lunar White/Ember Noir | Samurai Black/Lunar White/Ember Noir |
| Dimensions with Grill (HWD) | 15.8 x 8.9 x 17 inches 402 x 225 x 431 mm | 19.6 x 8.9 x 7.4 inches 498 x 225 x 188 mm | 10.2 x 30.3 x 17 inches 258 x 770 x 431 mm |
| Dimensions without Grill (HWD) | 15.8 x 8.9 x 16.4 inches 402 x 225 x 416 mm | 19.6 x 8.9 x 6.8 inches 498 x 225 x 173 mm | 10.2 x 30.3 x 16.4 inches 258 x 770 x 416 mm |
| Weight | 30.2 lbs(13.7 kg) | 25.4 lbs (11.5 kg) | 51.6 lbs(23.4kg) |
HALO Series Subwoofers
Starke Sound’s HALO Series introduces two subwoofers designed to complement their speaker lineup: the SUB1 and SUB5. The SUB1 features a 12.5-inch driver powered by a 1000W RMS amplifier, delivering deep, precise bass in a compact form factor. For those seeking more extensive low-frequency support, the SUB5 incorporates a 17-inch driver with a 3000W RMS amplifier, capable of reaching frequencies as low as 8Hz, making it suitable for larger rooms or home theater setups. Let’s take a look at each one and see which one might be a better option depending on your specific needs.
SUB1
The SUB1 is a compact subwoofer that still incorporates a robust 12.5-inch driver and 1000W RMS of clean, controlled power to fill a space with bass that is both deep and precise, proving size is no limit to performance.
SUB5
If you need something a little beefier, you can opt for the SUB5. This sub incorporates a large 17-inch driver combined with a Umbraxis™ Diaphragm Support Structure, and industry-leading 120mm excursion, delivering bass that plunges as low as 8Hz. Powered by up to 3000W RMS, it produces ultra-deep, dynamic, distortion-free low frequencies that can fill the largest rooms.
HALO Subwoofer Comparison
| SUB1 | SUB5 | |
| Product Type | Powered Subwoofer | Powered Subwoofer |
| Price | $2,499 | $4,999 |
| Driver | 12.5 inch with LMF technology 1-piece carbon fibre sandwich cone | 17-inch with Umbraxis™ technology, extremely high excursion. |
| Amplifier Power Output | 1000W Continuous RMS 2000W Peak Power | 3000W Continuous RMS 6000W Peak Power |
| Frequency response (-3dB, Half space) | 18Hz-250Hz | 8Hz-250Hz |
| Max SPL output | 104.5 dB@20Hz(Half space, 1 meter) 116 dB @40Hz-200Hz（Half space, 1 meter) 120 dB @40Hz-200Hz（Typical room, 1 meter) | 101 dB @10Hz (Half space, 1 meter) 113.5 dB@20Hz(Half space, 1 meter) 125 dB @40Hz-200Hz（Half space, 1 meter) 130 dB @40Hz-200Hz（Typical room, 1 meter) |
| Input terminals | Line In: RCA Stereo (Left & Right) Balanced Input: XLR Stereo (Left & Right) Digital In: AES | Line In: RCA Stereo (Left & Right) Balanced Input: XLR Stereo (Left & Right) Digital In: AES |
| Outputs | Balanced Output: XLR Digital Out: AES | Balanced Output: XLR Digital Out: AES |
| Finish | TrueChrome™ Piano Lacquer | TrueChrome™ Piano Lacquer |
| Color Option | Samurai Black/Lunar White/Ember Noir | Samurai Black |
| Dimension (HWD) withGrille, with feet | 16.5 x 15 x 20 inches 417.9 x 380 x 508.5 mm | 21.3 x 20.1 x 24.6 540 x 510 x 625.5 mm |
| Dimension (HWD) without grille, without feet | 15 x 15 x 17.7 inches 380 x 380 x 450 mm | 20.1 x 20.1 x 21.7 inches 510 x 510 x 550 mm |
| Weight | 62 lbs (28.1kg) | 164 lbs (74.5kg) |
HALO Series Power Amplifiers
Having high-quality speakers is just one part of the equation; you also need an amplifier capable of delivering the power those speakers require. To meet this need, Starke Sound offers two power amplifiers: the two-channel A2 and the three-channel A3.
Power amplifiers like the A2 and A3 are designed to deliver power and transmit audio signals to speakers. Unlike home theater receivers, they lack features like radio, input switching, or AV processing. The only control typically found is a primary gain control (similar to volume). A separate preamp or AV processor is needed to send audio signals from content sources to the amplifier.
Both the A2 and A3 amplifiers feature Starke Sound’s third-generation Class A+AB amplifier design, delivering up to 620 watts per channel at 4Ω. They incorporate a fully balanced topology and a power supply capacitor array of up to 176,000 microfarads, ensuring high efficiency and stable performance.
The high-bias design of the A2 and A3 amplifiers allows them to operate in Class A mode under typical conditions, providing excellent linearity and low distortion for a clean, natural sound.
When the signal demands more power, the amplifiers switch to Class A/B mode, maintaining efficiency while preserving dynamic range and ensuring the system can handle demanding audio without sacrificing performance or clarity. This design strikes a balance between audiophile-grade sound quality and practical power output.
Halo Amp Comparison
| A2 | A3 | |
| Product Type | Power Amplifier | Power Amplifier |
| Price | $6,000 | $6,900 |
| Amplifier Type | Class A+AB | Class A+AB |
| Number of Channels | 2 channels | 3 channels |
| Output Power | Class A/B: 620W RMS at 4 ohms Class A: 50W at 2Ω, 4Ω, 8Ω, per channel | Class A/B: 620W RMS at 4 ohms Class A: 50W at 2Ω, 4Ω, 8Ω, per channel |
| Frequency Response (+0/-1 dB) | 5 Hz to 50 kHz | 5 Hz to 50 kHz |
| Signal-To-Noise Ratio (SNR) | >120 dB, A-weighted | >120 dB, A-weighted |
| THD+N | <0.002% at 1 kHz, at 10 W, 4 Ω | <0.002% at 1 kHz, at 10 W, 4 Ω |
| Maximum Output Current per Channel | 100A | 100A |
| Input Terminals | 2 Balanced Self-locking XLR connector, 24K gold plated, Teflon PTFE Isolation | 3 Balanced Self-locking XLR connector, 24K gold plated, Teflon PTFE Isolation |
| Output Terminals | 2 pairs of HL301, CNC beryllium copper binding posts, 24K gold plated | 2 pairs of HL301, CNC beryllium copper binding posts, 24K gold plated |
| Power input | 32A self-locking power socket | 32A self-locking power socket |
| Dimensions (WHD – with foot & faceplate ) | 17.3 x 7 x 21.3 inches 440 x 177.8 x 540 mm | 17.3 x 7 x 21.3 inches 440 x 177.8 x 540 mm |
| Weight | 88.2 lbs (40kg) | 89.5 lbs (40.6kg) |
The Bottom Line
The Starke Sound Halo Series offers everything you need for a home audio or home theater system, except the preamp/processor and source. With all new drivers and components, Halo Series promises “high end performance at an affordable price.” Yet that affordability starts at about $10K for a two channel system or $30-$50K for a 5.1 or 7.2 home theater. Intriguing claims. We want a listen!
Finish, Availability, and Price
HALO models are finished in TrueChrome piano lacquer, with 14 layers of paint and a mirror-finish polish to complete the picture. The new HALO speakers and the SUB1 are available in Samurai Black, Lunar White, and Ember Noir. The SUB5 is available in Samurai Black only.
All of the following products can be purchased directly from Starke Sound or through Authorized Dealers at the following MSRPs:
- M1 Bookshelf Speaker: $4,200 (pair)
- W1 On-wall Speaker: $1,950 (pair)
- C2 Center Speaker: $3,150 (each)
- SUB1 $2,499 (each)
- SUB5: $4,999 (each)
- A2 2-Channel Power Amp: $6,000 (each)
- A3 3-Channel Power Amp: $6,900 (each)
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