Krell LAT-2 Loudspeaker Debuts
at the Home Entertainment 2001 Show
New York City–The Home Entertainment 2001 Show marks the world premiere of the newest Lossless Acoustic Transducer (LAT™) loudspeaker from Krell Industries, Inc., the LAT-2. Following the overwhelming success of the LAT-1 introduced in January 2001, the LAT-2 combines the design of its larger predecessor with Krell™ engineering to achieve unprecedented performance from a small loudspeaker.
The Development of the Lossless Acoustic Transducer Concept
"The development of the Lossless Acoustic Transducer was a virtual necessity, arising from the great success of our CAST™ technology," said Dan D’Agostino, Krell C.E.O. and Chief Designer. "Because our CAST components deliver an audio signal of such exceptional resolution and bandwidth, we needed loudspeakers that would do them justice. The more we listened, the more we became convinced that Krell had to provide the solution. The new LAT Series are the first loudspeakers engineered to our exacting standards. I believe they are unique in their ability to provide accurate, high-powered reproduction without the distortions and information loss that occur in conventional loudspeaker designs."
Massive aluminum construction is the design signature of the LAT loudspeakers. "Aluminum is the best material for the job," Mr. D’Agostino explained. "Other than concrete and lead, which are not practical choices, aluminum possesses the ideal combination of structural rigidity and resonance damping characteristics. Within the audio passband, our cabinets are sonically inert–something you cannot say about any wood or wood derivative."
The LAT-2
The LAT-2 is a 2-way system based on the same engineering principles that distinguish the Krell Lossless Acoustic Transducer concept. The all-aluminum enclosure features wall thickness ranging from 0.75 to 1.0 inch. The curvature of the cabinets is designed to absolutely minimize the effects of internal standing waves and external high-frequency diffraction.
In addition to the easily recognizable visual resemblance, the LAT-2 shares a great deal of driver technology and cabinet construction with the LAT-1. The tweeter is identical and the 7-inch (18 cm) mid-bass drive unit features the same multi-faceted cone construction and proprietary suspension design as the midrange units in the LAT-1. This advanced driver design, according to Krell, simultaneously ensures extraordinary bass reproduction and outstanding midrange accuracy. The vented cabinet of the LAT-2 features two rear bass ports. As with the LAT-1, these ports are precisely dimensioned, flared, and positioned with respect to the woofer to eliminate turbulence while providing the correct acoustic loading.
The LAT-2 has a frequency response of 40-25,000 Hz +/- 3dB. System sensitivity is 90dB SPL at 1 meter with 1 W input. The cabinet measures approximately 9.6 in. (24.4 cm) wide by 12.9 in. (32.8 cm) high by 14.7 in.(37.3 cm) deep and weighs approximately 75 pounds (34 kg).
System Performance
While the LAT-2 is an easy speaker to drive, its full potential is realized when played through top flight electronics, such as the Krell CAST system recently used at the Home Entertainment 2001 Show. Krell CAST–Current Audio Signal Transmission–technology, featured in the KPS 28c compact disc player, the KCT stereo preamplifier, and the Full Power Balanced amplifiers, keeps the signal entirely in the current domain from source to speakers. This enables a system of Krell CAST components to perform as a unified whole, eliminating cable interaction as a performance variable. As Mr. D’Agostino observed, "There is nothing ‘mystical’ about the design of Krell Lossless Acoustic Transducer. We set out to design a mathematically correct loudspeaker that neither took anything away nor added anything superfluous to the audio signal. In the process, we ended up doing some things that have never been done before. The acoustically inert low-diffraction aluminum cabinetry, the high-power low-distortion crossover network design, and the high-performance drivers add up to a unique listening experience. Put the LAT loudspeakers in a system with our CAST components, and you get sound that I can only describe as pure Krell–as explosive, delicate, and immediate as music itself."
About Krell
Krell Industries, Inc., is America’s premier manufacturer of high-end audio equipment featuring award-winning amplifiers, preamplifiers, compact disc players, surround sound processors, and loudspeaker systems for serious music lovers and home theater aficionados. All components are designed by C.E.O. Dan D’Agostino.
For more information on Krell or any Krell product, contact Irv Gross
at Krell Industries, Inc., igross@krellonline.com