CEDIA EXPO 2012: Protegé & Synergi from SpeakerCraft

SpeakerCraft aims to surprise at CEDIA EXPO 2012 with two important new launches. SpeakerCraft Protegé sees the brand attacking the fast-growing soundbar market with an active speaker system designed to sit beneath any flatscreen TV. The Protegé features four digital power amplifiers: 2 x 20W drive four front facing 64mm midrange drivers and two 25mm silk dome tweeters, while another 2 x 20W go to the downward-firing 133mm bass drivers housed in a ported enclosure.

Connectivity includes two digital inputs (one optical, the other coaxial) and a phono stereo input, making it suitable for set top boxes, disc players and media streamers. Protegé also supports device connection via Bluetooth. Finished in black satin, the bar will ship with a full-function (source selection, volume, EQ) remote control, when it launches Q4 2012.

Joining Protegé on the SpeakerCraft booth will be Synergi, a new eight zone, Bluetooth compatible wireless multi-room audio distribution system. The expandable Synergi family consists of a central transmitter, a wireless 2 x 35w receiver/amplifier, a wireless receiver preamp and a 2 x 40w power amplifier. The latter can be used with the receiver amplifier, receiver preamplifier or any other variable line level output device. The wireless range, which is approx. 27m out of the box, can be boosted with a wireless extender, up to a total of 57m.

Fidelity should be high. Audio is transmitted as uncompressed PCM. The system can serve up to 8 independent zones, without suffering latency problems.

Rather cutely, the Synergi system can be used alongside the aforementioned Protegé system to create a wireless entertainment solution.  It can also be partnered with Apple's Airport Express; single Airport Express connected to the central transmitter will deliver music in up to 8 separate zones, be it from local iTunes library, iPhone /iPad or app controlled internet radio.

SpeakerCraft says it will bundle the transmitter and receiver amplifier as a single zone starter system, when it begins shipping in Q1 2013. Other components can then be added as required.  

The brand has also told Inside CI that it is planning to showcase its behind-wall sound system Seamless at EXPO, saying the dealer reaction to it thus far "has been phenomenal." It has also now extended Profile "to virtually the entire SpeakerCraft range of architectural speakers."

 For more on SpeakerCraft visit our Partner Page.