FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- January 2001, Las Vegas, NV USA

KRELL UNVEILS "LOSSLESS ACOUSTIC TRANSDUCER" LOUDSPEAKER SYSTEMS

Las Vegas -- Krell Industries, Inc., introduces a new lineup of high-performance loudspeaker systems at the 2001 International Consumer Electronics Show. The "Lossless Acoustic Transducer" (LAT) Series is Krell's first foray into the full-range loudspeaker arena and will include models for high-end stereo music systems as well as high-end multichannel home theater systems. Together with new surround processor, source, and amplifier components--also slated for debuts at the CES--the LAT Series highlights Krell's 20th anniversary as a high-end audio manufacturer.

"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 CEO 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."

Krell CAST--Current Audio Signal Transmission--technology, featured in Krell's latest electronic components, 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. With current sensing, moreover, long cable runs no longer cause signal degradation.

All-Aluminum Cabinet Design
The Krell LAT Series features massive aluminum construction. (The LAT-1 weighs approximately 250 pounds.) The external enclosures range from 0.75 to 1.5 inches in wall thickness. Internal midrange/tweeter sub-enclosures, where present, are constructed of 1/4-inch aluminum. The curvature of the cabinets is designed to absolutely minimize the effects of internal standing waves and external high-frequency diffraction.

"Aluminum is the best material for the job," Mr. D'Agostino explained. "Other than concrete and lead, which aren't 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 can't say about any wood or wood derivative."

High-Performance Crossover Networks
Separate crossover network assemblies are used for each driver complement (low, mid, and high). All network components are mounted on 1/8-inch thick glass epoxy circuit boards with 4-ounce copper traces. This design ensures superior linearity by minimizing circuit resistance and inductance. It also eliminates microphonics and assures high current handling capability.

Network inductors are all air-core pure-copper designs; in the LAT-1 the largest of these is formed of 10-gauge wire, measuring 5 inches in diameter. Multiple individually potted polypropylene WIMA capacitors are employed in parallel--again to minimize resistance and inductance while improving current handling.

In combination with the advanced drive units, the LAT crossover networks are engineered to provide an extremely smooth impedance curve with high efficiency. They, therefore, present a predictable, nearly ideal load to the power amplifier.

The LAT-1 employs a total of six drive units in a 3-way design. The 1-inch (25mm) tweeter delivers flat response to 50 kHz. It incorporates a central waveguide for enhanced dispersion characteristics. The two 5.25-inch (15cm) midrange drive units feature multifaceted cones designed to break up resonance modes, thereby eliminating sonic colorations in the key mid-frequency band. A proprietary suspension and extended voice coil structure assure extremely linear performance. The frames are made of a cast aluminum-magnesium alloy, and each unit is video shielded. The two midrange drive units and tweeter are arranged in a D'Appolito configuration with its acoustic center at ear level--a design that optimizes vertical dispersion and delivers highly accurate stereo imaging.

The three woofers are custom-designed 8-inch (21cm) drive units characterized by extremely low free-air resonance. They feature composite carbon fiber cones and butyl surrounds. The long-excursion design (capable of 1-inch peak-to-peak displacement) is highly optimized for vented cabinet perform. As with the midrange drive units, each woofer has a cast aluminum-magnesium alloy frame and is video shielded. The three rear bass ports are precisely dimensioned, flared, and positioned with respect to the bass drive units to eliminate turbulence while providing the correct acoustic loading.

An innovative suspended elastomer grille enhances aesthetics while ensuring total acoustic transparency. The LAT-1 also features articulating 3-point floor supports for absolute mechanical stability.

The LAT-1 has a frequency response of 35-25,000 Hz. System sensitivity is 91 dB SPL at 1 meter with 1 W input. The cabinet measures approximately 12.5(w) x 54.6(h) x 14.0(d) inches and weighs an estimated 250 pounds.

Unprecedented Performance
"There is nothing 'mystical' about the design of Krell Lossless Acoustic Transducer," said Mr. D'Agostino. "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 LATs 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. "Together with our CAST components and our new KAV Series and Home Theater Standard product line, I can't think of a better way to launch our next twenty years in high-end audio."

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. CEO Dan D'Agostino designs all components.

The Krell mission continues to be the introduction of high-end audio components and integrated system solutions known for innovative engineering, perfection in build quality, exceptional value, exemplary service support, and outstanding audio reproduction--the authentic sound of music from Krell.

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