CES 2004 : Sunfire

Restylage

Dans la famille « composants électroniques et caissons de graves actifs », j’appelle la marque Sunfire qui présentait lors de ce CES peu de nouveautés mais quelques evolutions dont ils nous semblait important de vous parler.

Tout d’abord concernant le processeur Theater Grand la marque propose une 4ème version de sa machine avec à la clé une évolution sur le nouveau format audio DPIIx et la possibilité de convertir tous les signaux composite et S-Vidéo vers du YUV.
Pour ce qui est des autres produits, aucune autre modification technique n’est apportée, on notera toutefois que ces produits (Gamme Cinéma Grand) bénéficie d’un léger restylage.


Theater Grand

Pour ce qui est des caissons de graves la marque propose deux nouveaux produits les Solitaire 10 et solitaire 12. Ces caissons sont respectivement équipés d’un HP de 10 et 12 pouces (25 et 30 cm), d’un module EQ où il faudra relier un micro permettant de calibrer tous les niveaux du caisson.

Les modèles EQ et EQ Signature disposent désormais des finitions différentes.


Solitaire 12

Communiqué de presse

Snohomish, WA – 1/01/04 – A new look for a new decade is debuting at Sunfire’s 2004 CES demo room in the South Hall. But the changes are more than just cosmetic.

According to Sunfire Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Randy Bingham, the popular Theater Grand Tuner/Preamp/Processor has been upgraded to version IV with the addition of Dolby® Pro Logic IIX, video format conversion that automatically modulates composite to both S-video and component, and new oval display window.

Dark rosewood under a hand-polished clear lacquer distinguish the Sunfire EQ and EQ Signature model subwoofer enclosures. On the back are balanced inputs and connections for a measurement microphone used to tailor subwoofer frequency contour to the user’s room. “We’re certainly not the first to offer microphone-based subwoofer response tailoring, but we believe that our approach more accurately compensates for room anomalies with a minimum of user interaction,” noted Sunfire Vice President of Engineering Alan Cooney.

Two new subwoofers, the Solitaire 10 and Solitaire 12 also have built-in diagnostic EQ with calibrated measurement microphone, balanced inputs and re-designed amplifiers…“—although what you first notice about the Solitaries is their elegant piano gloss black finish,” observed Bingham, “Finally Sunfire makes subwoofers that look as good as they sound.” “Less industrial,” added Cooney.

Sunfire stereo power amplifiers have been re-styled and re-named as the Sunfire 600 two (600-watts/channel ) and Sunfire 300 two (300 watts/channel). Multi-channel amplifiers include the Cinema Grand 400 five (5 x 400 watts/channel), Cinema Grand 200 five (5 x 200 watts/channel), Cinema Grand 400 seven (7 x 400 watts/channel) and Cinema Grand 200 seven. (7 x 300 watts/channel). Each has Sunfire’s distinctive new oval meter window.

In fact, the only Sunfire products that remain the same are the True Subwoofer Super Junior and Ultimate Receiver. “Hey, it’s not called the ultimate receiver for nothing you know,” Bob Carver quipped when finally tracked down for a quote, “ We’re gonna have a hard time topping that on.”