(Reprinted from Fi, January 1998)
Affordable Fun: Alón's Centris Speaker System
By Anthony Chiarella

Given his penchant for authoring exquisite upmarket loudspeakers, I assumed that Carl Marchisotto's first foray into home theater would deliver world-class performance, but I also expected it to be a complex, costly affair. That he has chosen to make his statement with an affordable ensemble comes as a delightful surprise. Carrying a suggested retail of $3000 for the five-piece system, Alón's Centris is unusually accessible-and not just in terms of price. With their compact enclosures, high efficiency, and extraordinary placement flexibility, these speakers will excel in situations that would hobble most competitive products.

Although many front-channel satellites are configured as D'Appolito systems, wherein the tweeter is flanked by a pair of mid/woofers in order to avoid lobing effects, the Centris LCR (an acronym for left, center, right) features an offset dome centered along one of the baffle's 16" edges. This arrangement allows the three drivers to be moved closer together, resulting in a smaller cabinet, and enables the left and right speakers to be mirror-imaged for enhanced image focus. Marchisotto insists that treble clarity is likewise improved.

Even the most casual observer will immediately recognize this LCR's audiophile pedigree. Since Marchisotto is one of a growing number of designers who believe that synthetic diaphragms obscure fine detail, the Centris' 5 1/4" paper cones are laminated to improve strength and damping, and terminate in lossy butyl surrounds. These cast-basket drivers employ a second magnet to minimize field leakage and boost efficiency, while a steel cup covers the motor assembly for superior video shielding. The 1" aluminum dome -also shielded-is surrounded by a velveteen ring to reduce baffle diffraction. A peek inside reveals a hard-wired (no pc board, folks) crossover network executed with Solen polypropylene "FastCaps," wirewound resistors, and air-core inductors. Mass damping materials line the interior walls of the unbraced, acoustic suspension enclosure, and a single pair of beefy metal binding posts occupies the back panel.

I'm happy to report that the Centris Surrounds embody the same high standards of engineering and construction quality as the LCRs. Identical trilaminate cones are housed in stamped baskets, while the 3/4" domes- chosen over 1" units due to their superior dispersion characteristics- are also equipped with soft anti-diffraction rings. Those superb binding posts have been retained, but are fitted into a recessed plastic cup to facilitate wall mounting. In what is becoming an increasingly common layout for effects-channel speakers, the front and rear baffles- each of which contains a vertically aligned tweeter, woofer, and port- form a 45 degree angle, with all drivers wired in-phase. Neither a front-firing design nor a bipolar, this approach combines the directional focus of the former with the broad soundfield of the latter.

Thanks to their diminutive dimensions, installing Centris in my theater system was a breeze. I plopped the left and right satellites on my trusty Sanus 24" Ultimate Foundations, tweeters pointing inward, situated as close as possible to the vertical edges of the screen. Given their extended bass response, achieving a seamless blend between the LCRs and my Velodyne F-1200R subwoofer (Alón does not offer a powered sub) was a no-brainer. The center channel rested upon the sub, its output aimed at seated ear level using two pairs of differently-sized rubber feet supplied with the Aerial CC3. Sturdy wall-mount brackets are included with the Centris Surrounds but, since my living room can't accommodate such placement, I stacked two 24" steel stands against the side walls, directly to the left and right of the listening position, and perched the speakers at their summit. A quick channel-balancing act with the Radio Shack Sound Level Meter, and I was off to the movies.

Once setup was completed, two aspects of the Centris proved distracting. First, I hate black woodgrain vinyl- the only finish available. And while I wouldn't call the Alóns ugly, painted or wood veneer cabinets should be offered as an extra-cost option. But remember, all speakers look the same when the lights dim. Second, these things only sound their best after a protracted break-in period. No matter. Fresh out of the box, this was one of the finest theater systems I'd heard, and they just kept getting better.

Those of you who've tried using traditional audiophile speakers for home theater probably realize that, when it comes to motion picture soundtracks, high resolution and transparency are less important than broadband frequency and dynamic range. Sure, major statement models might do it all, but those darling minimonitors and planars that music lovers prize so highly are easily flustered by the output requirements of box-office blockbusters. On the other hand, few theater-specific systems convey the tonal and spatial subtleties which connoisseurs quite rightly demand. By approaching the highest levels of performance in each of these parameters- and this in a system of modest size and price- the Centris represents a remarkable fusion of high-end and home theater aesthetics.

Dynamic range is spectacular. Thanks to their lethal one-two punch of high efficiency and prodigious power handling, the Alóns had no trouble generating deafening volume levels in my medium-sized theater, and never betrayed the slightest hint of compression or distortion. A good thing, since most folks- at least, the ones I know- tend to listen to movies louder than they do music-only software. I should also mention that, due to their 90 dB sensitivity (91 dB for the Surrounds) and 4 ohm minimum impedance, you won't need an enormous amplifier to appreciate the Alóns' dynamic prowess. I recently drove the Centris package with a $500 Technics A/V receiver I was reviewing for Home Theater Magazine, and was startled by both the quantity and quality of their output. Naturally, these speakers will let you hear all the qualities that make the good stuff so good, but high-end pilgrims looking to upgrade their rack systems one piece at a time couldn't ask for more accommodating components.

Not only do the Alóns get very loud, they do so with blinding speed. Credit those Trilaminate driver cones, which seem to stop and start with surgical precision. As a result, minute volume gradations are unerringly tracked, while explosive special effects issue forth with ferocious intensity. Auditioning the tank battle of El Guettar in Patton [Fox Video 0414885], the percussive pressure wave which heralds each howitzer salvo was absolutely frightening. As you might have guessed, leading edge transients are meticulously rendered. Side two of the remastered Amadeus [Pioneer Special Edition PSE96-73] begins with Salieri leafing through a portfolio of Mozart's manuscripts. As the jealous composer's head rolls backward, the sheet music crashes to the floor. Through the Centris, the sharp strike of pages hitting the ground was conveyed with shattering power.

Ever since I reviewed Energy's RVS system for Video Magazine several years ago, I've considered spatial performance the Achilles' heel of most home theater speakers. My friends, you'll have no such complaint with the Alóns. Toe them in a few degrees, feed them a signal of suitable quality, and these speakers absolutely disappear within the broad and unusually deep soundstage they create. And don't think this superlative soundfield is limited to the front channels. Not surprisingly, the Centris Surrounds are a perfect complement for the LCRs' spatial abilities, enabling effects to bloom in a virtual 360 degree pattern around the audience, and glide from right to left or front to rear with outstanding cohesion. Whether I thrilled to Jurassic Park's[A 41829] tropical storms or the Harrier jet takeoff from True Lies [Fox Video 8640-85], this system always put me in the center of the action.

Individual images were portrayed with a similar sense of dimensional realism. Highly localized performance details remained firmly fixed upon the soundstage, but it was impossible to trace such sounds back to the speakers: a tribute to the Centris' marvelous transparency. Focus was quite good, although switching to the vastly more expensive Triad InRoom Gold ensemble provided an even higher level of refinement. And when evaluating such stereo spectaculars as Pink Floyd's Welcome To The Machine [Harvest CDP 7 46035 2], I never heard the wall-to-wall width which my reference Gallo and Aerial systems produce. For movies, then, the Alóns' spatial performance comes within shouting distance of the state-of-the-art. With music software I'd rank the LCRs with the best similarly priced stereo pairs, but the top high-end models-including Marchisotto's own-are better still.

While an examination of the minimalist crossover networks and no-nonsense drivers makes it clear that their designer hasn't employed any extraordinary measures to alter frequency response, the Centris' tonal balance is almost ideally suited to the specific requirements of home theater reproduction. Starting at the top, it is obvious that great care has been taken to tame the metallic hardness of its metal dome tweeters- a consideration which becomes even more important when auditioning notoriously bright motion picture soundtracks. And yet, treble extension and detail has not been sacrificed. As I said earlier, transient response is exemplary, but there's more. Through both front and rear channels, ambient detail is rendered with a pristine clarity that enhanced the atmospheric quality of Braveheart's [Paramount LV33116-2WS] open-air scenes in the Scottish highlands. For entry-level loudspeakers, the Alóns' high frequency harmonic envelope is unusually complete.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, low bass is nonexistent. Hey, what do you expect from two 5 1/4" cones in a small box? But while many compact loudspeakers which claim to plumb the bottom octaves measure flat and sound wimpy, the LCRs maintain their weight and authority all the way through the midbass. Ditto the Surrounds, which reproduced rear-channel Dolby Digital effects with frequency extension that rivaled the oh-so-pricey Aerial SR3 and Triad InRoom Gold surrounds, albeit with a shade less definition. Just for laughs, I turned off the Velodyne and ran the Centris system full range. To be sure, I missed the visceral wallop which a good sub provides, but with all but the deepest and loudest passages, these satellites proved thoroughly satisfying. Not ready to buy a subwoofer? Alón understands.

It would be unreasonable to expect price-point loudspeakers to deliver absolute tonal neutrality and in truth, the Alóns don't. Both LCR and Surround exhibit a slight but unmistakable prominence in the upper bass/lower midrange region. (Something an internal cabinet brace might cure?) With movie software, this tendency is most noticeable through the dialog channel. Articulation is excellent and sibilants are well-controlled, but male vocals- Ray Liotta's narration of the Bamboo Lounge scene of Goodfellas [Warner 12039], for example-sometimes acquired a chesty resonance which I did not hear when the Aerial and Triad centers were in the system. The left and right speakers exhibit the same mild coloration, but it only becomes intrusive when listening to music. And compared to many high-resolution audiophile designs, the subtlest harmonic overtones, especially those of stringed instruments, are somewhat obscured.

Want something better? Well, if you've got the money to spend on them, the room to accommodate them, and the amp to drive them, it is entirely possible to buy a more capable quintet of theater speakers. But for the majority of movie lovers, whose cramped environs or anorexic bank accounts might militate against big system ownership, Alón's Centris proves that good things do indeed come in small and affordable packages!

FI SPEC SHEET

Product Type
Home theater loudspeaker system, consisting of three Centris LCR speakers and two Centris Surround speakers

Manufacturer
Acarian Systems, LTD
181 Smithtown Blvd, Suite 104 Nesconset, NY 11767
Tel: 516-265-9577
Fax: 516-265-9560

Centris LCR
Two cast-frame, shielded 5.25" bass/midrange drivers, one 1 " aluminum-dome tweeter with diffraction ring in front-firing, sealed enclosure; black ash laminate finish

Useful Info
Sensitivity: 90 dB
Frequency Range: 60 Hz to 25 kHz
Power Handling: 200 W
Maximum Output: Greater than 110 dB
Weight: 16 lb.
Size: 16" H x 7 5/8" W x 9 1/2" D
MSRP: $600 ea.

Centris Surround
Features: Two 5.25" bass/mid-range drivers, two .75" aluminum-dome tweeter with diffraction ring in front-firing, ported enclosure; black ash laminate finish

Useful Info
Sensitivity: 91 dB
Frequency Range: 55 Hz to 25 kHz
Power Handling: 200 W
Maximum Output: Greater than 110 dB
Size: 16" H x 13 1/2" W x 9 1/2" D
MSRP: $600 ea.

ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT
LD Player: Pioneer CLD-D406
DVD Player: Toshiba SD-3006
CD Player: Dynaco CDV-PRO
Receiver: Technics SA-AX91 0
Processor: Pioneer Elite SP-99D
Power Amplifier: Krell KAV-500
Video Projector: Vidikron Crystal Two A
Cables: Nirvana, JPS Labs