| Atlantic Technology IWCB-52 In-wall Speakers |
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| Home Theater Loudspeakers In-wall Loudspeakers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Written by Andrew Robinson | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Saturday, 01 December 2007 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Page 3 of 3 The Downside The IWCB-52s are purpose-built in-wall speakers. By purpose-built, I mean they are made for home theater. If you’re looking for a speaker that will recreate the true feeling of the movies or, better still, a Hollywood recording/mixing studio, then the IWCB-52s are for you. If white-knuckle, short of breath, eye-bulging action is your bag, then the IWCB-52s are for you. If you’re a Sense and Sensibility kind of person, then the IWCB-52s are not for you. That said, the IWCB-52s do their movie magic best when not seen. Yes, the DVC works and works well. However, the illusion is never fully an illusion when your eyes can glimpse the speakers. My best viewing and listening sessions with the IWCB-52s were during the evenings when they were hidden in darkness, never allowing my eye or mind to sway to their trickery. I’m sure painting them to match my décor would help the illusion, but I’ve decided to cover them with a fabric wall instead. Those of you building dedicated home theaters may want to look into perforated screens for the IWCB-52s to go behind for a truly remarkable and professional look and sound. The less you can eye the IWCB-52s, the more convincing they become. Lastly, while the DVC does work well, I wouldn’t push your luck by mounting the IWCB-52s too high or low. Yes, you can turn them upside-down and mount them below ear level and get the same effect. Ear level for most chairs and viewers hovers somewhere around three or so feet from the floor. If you are considering the IWCB-52s, or any of the IWCBs for that matter, I wouldn’t recommend mounting the tweeter much higher than three feet above ear level. The same holds true for those of you mounting below as well. Conclusion Unlike other ubiquitous in-walls products from numerous other manufacturers, I consider the IWCB-52 to be a unique niche product. The IWCB line of speakers is for those who almost exclusively watch movies and have a dedicated space to not only do so, but do so with a bit of conviction. The IWCB-52s really are exceptional loudspeakers and fit Atlantic Technology perfectly, for the company has always been about recreating a dynamic theater experience at home. Toss any of the IWCB series of speakers behind a perforated screen or fabric wall, as Atlantic does in all of their demos, and you won’t know what hit you; mount them off-axis and utilize the DVC and the effect will send chills down your spine. With the money you save by buying the IWCB in-walls over the costlier competition, you can afford to add a level of stealth to your home theater. Just don’t forget the sub. Then again, how can one forget the 10e CSB, together with the IWCB-52s? It was a match made in movie heaven.
3.26 Copyright (C) 2008 Compojoom.com / Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."
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