Phoenix Gold Radial SD Components
Capable of handling extreme conditions and demands, the components in the Radial Sd lineup (starts at $150) boast excellent power handling and class-leading sound quality. CAE/CAD designed, the lineup uses optimized magnet/motor structures and crossovers feature high-order asymmetrical design. Quality features abounding the woofers include interwoven tinsel leads and the injection-molded, aluminum-plated grained polypropylene cone. A butyl-rubber surround circles the cone and the entire assembly sits in an anti-resonant steel frame. For a tough look, custom-tooled grilles cover up the speakers with radial spokes. The strong construction and design add up to solid sound for your money.
www.phoenixgold.com
Rainbow Audio CS 260.30 Reference
Rainbow Audio's CS 260.30 Reference Series component set ($6,579) has all the bells and whistles you'd expect from luxury speakers. It starts with a woofer set in an aluminum die-cast basket with housing to shield the magnet. Gold-plated screw terminals, a copper phase plug and a mineral-coated, air-dried paper cone round the midrange off. The tweeter uses an enclosed spherically curved baffle to permit surround sound radiation into the lower treble range from its amorphous mineral fabric dome. Within the closed aluminum housing is a ventilated neodymium ring magnet system. Lastly comes the copper-plated shielded crossover, also with gold-plated terminals. It has a strictly symmetrical design for bass and treble and you can adjust for volume in just two steps.
www.distinctusa.com
Luxury Bargains
Pioneer Deh-P800prs
Designed with 24-bit Burr Brown DACs and Linear Technology high-slew rate Op amps, the Pioneer DEH-P800PRS ($450) provides the highest-quality sound and audiophile feature content at a friendly price point. Additional touches like a copper-plated chassis, which minimizes noise, and high 5-volt pre-outs make this receiver even more special. For incredibly easy user control, it has a Dual (L/R) 16-band graphic equalizer and also tunes itself automatically with auto EQ and time alignment. In addition, the receiver has a 3-way digital network and internal amp off mode. Features like the Auto-Flap motorized face for CD loading and the dual-color illumination with the white OEL display bring some fun to this serious piece of equipment.
www.pioneerelectronics.com
Alpine PDX-1.1000
Producing more watts of power per cubic inch than any other amp on the market, it's easy to see why the PDX amps have become so popular in space-lacking vehicles. Thanks to a groundbreaking damping factor and intelligent power processing, the monoblock PDX-1.1000 ($850) provides crystal-clear sound and excellent speaker control despite its small size (only 10.5" x 7.5" x 2.5"). Speaker wire plugs into the high-current, low-impedance speaker terminals that provide greater surface area while offering improved longevity and reliability. And thanks to their efficiency, the PDX amps maintain steady, low-temperature performance with no risk of sudden shutdown, even when they're stacked.
www.alpine-usa.com