Final Sound Aims High and Low With New Home Theater Electrostatic Loudspeakers

Final Sound, the Dutch manufacturer of electrostatic speakers for home theater, custom installation and professional audio applications, has announced several new models for 2003, as well as new pricing for existing models.

The new models expand Final Sound's range for the entry level consumer, as well as the high-end audio professional.

The affordable end of the spectrum is addressed by the Model 90 ($999 US per pair), a 20-inch wall-mountable in Final's Home Theater Series. At the other end of the price range is the Model 700 ($4,999 US per pair), a 73-inch floor-standing model in the Reference Series for audio professionals and high-end consumers.

Final Sound demonstrated the new speakers at the recent Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The company says they represent the first true flat-panel line of high-definition electrostatic speakers designed for mounting on walls or ceilings, with flat-screen TVs and home theater systems.

"Using our patented technology, we are able to completely separate the speaker from its bulky drivers and electronics," explains Maarten Smits, co-founder of Final Sound and inventor of the new flat speaker technology. "This achieves a flat, lightweight, virtually transparent speaker design that can be mounted easily beside even the thinnest LCD or plasma display, or suspended from the ceiling."

Final also demonstrated its new Model S12 Subwoofer featuring a 12-inch aluminum cone woofer and a frequency range from 28 to 50 Hz, fixed and 28 to 300 Hz, variable; and the Model 700 Center, specially designed for use as a center channel in combination with Reference Model 700 only. See specifications below.

The new models will be available in stores in April, 2003.

New Line Includes First Home Theater Electrostat Priced Below $1,000

Final also announced new pricing for 2003. The complete Final Sound line-up now includes five different models ranging from 20 inches to 80 inches in height. Pricing ranges from $999 (US, per pair) for the Model 90, which the company says is the first home theater electrostatic speaker priced below $1,000, to nearly $20,000.

In the Home Theater Series, Final offers the 28-inch Model 100 ($1,499 US per pair); and the 48-inch Model 200 ($1,999 US per pair), in addition to the new 20-inch Model 90. The Series is designed for use with today's flat-screen TVs and LCD displays. All three Home Theater Series models can be mounted on a wall or hung from the ceiling.

There are now two models in the Reference Series, designed for professionals and the most discriminating audio consumers. In addition to the new 73-inch Model 700, there is an 80-inch Model 1400 ($19,999 US per pair). Both Reference designs come with floor stands, while the Model 700 can also be wall mounted.

All models are finished in a silver satin anodized frame.

Final's complete modular range also includes two center speaker models, 10-inch and 12-inch subwoofers, and a variety of mounting systems and stands.

Ultra-Thin Speaker Panels are Completely Separate from Bulky Drivers

The most striking feature of the new Final speaker line is the complete separation of the audio driver and electronics from the speaker panel itself. This unique modular approach frees the speakers from the heavy bass drivers that have dominated loudspeaker design for nearly 50 years. The result is a line of speakers that are so thin and light that they can be easily mounted anywhere, creating a true surround sound environment.

"Weight has been such a major part of speaker design for so long, that most people think a speaker has to be the size of a file cabinet to produce theater-quality sound," says Mr. Smits. "That's absolutely no longer true."

"By redesigning the way sound is generated by the diaphragm, we've eliminated the bass driver that could weigh 100 grams or more, and replaced it with a far more efficient design weighing barely one-half gram. That's a factor of 200 times less weight, and the result is a much more open and lifelike sound."

Recently, Final was awarded a patent from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for its "modularly expandable electrostatic speaker system." The unique modular design marks the first major breakthrough in electrostatic speaker technology in a generation and is the basis of Final's new line of ultra-thin speakers for the home theater.

Sealed Audio Circuit Virtually Eliminates All Distortion

In addition to the unique modular design, the Final speaker line includes a number of other technical innovations.

Audio signal is distributed evenly across the entire film diaphragm, and the whole speaker surface produces sound, delivering sound that is almost entirely distortion-free.

With no drivers and electronics to house, the flat electrostat design needs no cabinetry, and can be set into a simple aluminum frame similar to a lightweight picture frame. The completed assembly weighs just under 6 pounds for the 20-inch model and 12 pounds at the 48-inch size.

"These speakers are perfect blend of art and science," said Smits. "We've redesigned the way sound is generated by the diaphragm and replaced the heavy bass driver with a more efficient design that weighs less than a few sheets of paper. The result is a much more open and lifelike sound and an elegantly slim design that truly blends with any home theater décor."

Model 700 Specifications

• Frequency Response: 45 Hz – 25 kHz +/- 3dB(A)
• Sensitivity: 86 dB (2.83 volts at 1 m)
• Impedence: 4 ohms, minimum of 3 ohms at 20 kHz
• Amplifier Minimum Power: 60 watts rms
• Amplifier Recommended Power: 90 – 150 watts rms
• Voltage: 12 volts AC, 50-60 Hz
• Dimensions: 73.2 x 11.3 x 2 in (186 x 28.8 x 5 cm)
• Weight: 20.9 lbs. (9.5 kg)
• Options: Floor-Stand (FS) or Wall-Mount (WM)
• Wall Bracket: Uni-pivot design with pan, pivot, and tilt
• Finish: Satin-silver anodized frame

Model 700 Center Specifications

• Frequency Response: 60 Hz – 25 kHz +/- 3dB(A)
• Sensitivity: 86 dB (2.83 volts at 1 m)
• Impedence: 4 ohms, minimum of 3 ohms at 20 kHz
• Amplifier Minimum Power: 60 watts rms
• Amplifier Recommended Power: 90 – 150 watts rms
• Voltage: 12 volts AC, 50-60 Hz
• Dimensions: 36.6 x 10.6 x 2 in (93 x 27 x 5 cm)
• Weight: 12 lbs. (5.4 kg)
• Options: Floor-Stand (FS) or Wall-Mount (WM)
• Use with models: 700
• Wall Bracket: Uni-pivot design with pan, pivot, and tilt
• Finish: Satin-silver anodized frame

Model 90 Specifications

• Frequency Response: 150 Hz – 25 kHz +/- 3dB(A)
• Sensitivity: 86 dB (2.83 volts at 1 m)
• Impedence: 4 ohms, minimum of 3 ohms at 20 kHz
• Amplifier Minimum Power: 60 watts rms
• Amplifier Recommended Power: 90 – 150 watts rms
• Voltage: 12 volts AC, 50-60 Hz
• Dimensions: 20 x 7.9 x 1.6 in (50 x 20 x 4 cm)
• Weight: 6 lbs. (2.7 kg)
• Options: Wall-Mount (WM)
• Wall Bracket: Uni-pivot design with pan, pivot, and tilt
• Finish: Satin-silver anodized frame

Model S12 Subwoofer Specifications

• Frequency Range: 28 – 300 kHz
• Frequency Range Fixed: 28 – 50 Hz
• Frequency Range Variable: 50 – 300 Hz
• Amplifier: 200 watts – 4 ohm / True balanced – Linkwitz Riley 24 dB octave
• Dimensions: 23.6 x 11.8 x 15 in (60x 30 x 38 cm)
• Weight: 44.1 lbs. (20 kg)
• Driver units: 10-in active aluminum cone woofer / 10-in passive aluminum cone pass live radiator
• Voltage: 12 volts AC, 50-60 Hz
• Finish: Satin-black

Final Sound Web Site