PreSonus has released the Sceptre-series CoActual studio reference loudspeaker monitors, featuring a coaxial design and 96kHz, 32-bit dual-core processor using Fulcrum Acoustic’s TQ Temporal Equalization technology.
The series comprises two models – the Sceptre S8 CoActual Studio Monitor combines an 8-inch low/mid driver and a 1-inch (25mm), horn-loaded, HF transducer into a single coaxial unit with aligned voice coils, while the Sceptre S6 CoActual Studio Monitor’s coaxial speaker integrates a 6.5-inch low/mid driver and a 1-inch (25 mm), horn-loaded, Hf transducer. Both models have acoustic ports.
‘Speaker designers have long been aware that coaxial designs offer the advantages of a single point source for a consistent acoustic center and a symmetrical dispersion pattern,’ says John Bastianelli, PreSonus Executive VP of Product Development. ‘But until time-based DSP became affordable, designing coaxial systems without a variety of acoustic anomalies has been extremely expensive.’
Through collaboration with Fulcrum Acoustics’ Dave Gunness, PreSonus software designers incorporated Fulcrum’s Temporal EQ algorithms. Gunness was also responsible for final tuning and voicing of both Sceptre-series monitors.
‘This high-tech approach requires massive amounts of DSP and subtle, sophisticated transducer design, which is why such systems have, in the past, been limited to very high-end systems with external processors,’ Bastianelli says. ‘Clearly, PreSonus Sceptre CoActual studio monitors represent a huge price-performance breakthrough.’
Sceptre monitors controls include a four-position Acoustic Space switch which operates a second-order shelving filter centred at 100Hz, with four attenuation settings (no attenuation, -1.5dB, -3dB and -6dB) to tailor bass response relative to room dimensions and speaker placement. A High Pass switch sets the 12dB/octave filter’s low-frequency cutoff to linear, 60Hz, 80Hz, or 100Hz. A High-Frequency Driver Adjust switch adjusts the tweeter’s overall level to linear (0dB), +1dB, -1.5dB, or -4dB. The Sensitivity control ranges from +4dBu to -10dBV. The systems are biamplified: Each transducer is powered by a 100W RMS, class-D power amplifier with an internal heat sink. All Sceptre-series monitors have a balanced XLR and quarter-inch TRS line-level inputs with A-taper level control.
All Sceptre-series monitors offer RF shielding, current-output limiting, and over-temperature protection and have internal power supplies with IEC connectors and power switches with on/off LEDs. An amplifier ‘soft start’ feature eliminates popping on power-up.
PreSonus Sceptre CoActual-series monitors are expected to be available in the first quarter of 2013.
More: www.presonus.com
