After combing the halls of KnowledgeFest in Long Beach, CA last month, we found two worthy products that we had failed to report on earlier, and thought they deserved mention now.
Tiny DSP/Amp With Big Power
Match is offering a new version of its palm-sized DSP/amp with high power in a tiny chassis.
The M 5DSP MK2 delivers 400 watts RMS minimum or 800 watts max with 5 amplifier channels. The small size of about 3 by 4 inches means it can fit anywhere and you don’t have to build an amp rack. “It’s not taking a lot of space or generating a lot of heat or drawing a lot of current. In a modern car, you just don’t have all that space,” said Jason Digos, VP of MSC America, which distributes Match and other Audiotec Fischer products.
M 5DSP MK2 is the first Match amp to move to a new 32 bit ACO platform that provides a speedier interface with PC software and when switching between 10 internal memory locations for sound setups.
The amp’s DSP (digital signal processor) segment provides 64-bit audio with 7 channels. Users get features such as “Augmented Bass Processing,” the “StageXpander” and the “RealCenter” function for sound tuning.
It has two power modes–high power for the best performance or mid power mode with lower power use. Retail price is $800.
Arc Audio’s Unusual Sub
Who puts a magnet on top of a subwoofer instead of under it? Actually, a few suppliers such as Bose, Illusion Audio and more recently Arc Audio.
Through its inverted design, the Arc Audio SW12 subwoofer has a shallower mounting depth of only 2 5/8-inches while handling 400 watts RMS and 800 watts peak power, said the company.
Secondly, having the motor on top of the 12-inch subwoofer makes for better cooling. Instead of the motor being buried inside the enclosure, it’s exposed to cool air so users can play the SW12 louder and for longer periods of time.
Also, the voice coil and motor occupy space that would normally be wasted by the concave shape of the cone. The motor also serves to protect the subwoofer, allowing you to push a seat back up against the subwoofer with no fear of damage, says Arc Audio.
A 10-inch version of the subwoofer is in the works.
The SW12 is made from a cellulose fiber that has been pressed and treated with a hydrophobic coating. It has a 3-inch CCAW voice coil, and is designed mainly for front-loaded applications like down-firing under-seat enclosures, or against seat backs. Suggested retail price is $529.
