Paul Hales has announced the launch of Theory Audio Design (Theory), a manufacturer of loudspeakers and speaker controllers, which will make its debut at CEDIA Expo 2018 in San Diego, Calif.

Theory loudspeaker models consist of three in-wall and four slender on-wall models, featuring dual 5-inch, 6-inch and 8-inch woofers. Theory offers two subwoofer models sporting 12-inch and 15-inch high-power drivers. Three soundbars round out the loudspeaker line designed to pair with 65-inch, 75-inch and 85-inch flat panel TVs. Two Amplified Loudspeaker Controllers (ALC) provide the power and brains.

Looking under the hood of Theory’s loudspeakers, you’ll find 1.4-inch aluminum diaphragm compression drivers on proprietary Theory waveguides, that the company says achieves 110dB of SPL with just 1 watt input. For the bottom-end, Theory loudspeakers feature reflex-loaded carbon fiber woofers which generate 95dB – 100dB SPL per watt, depending on model.

Constructed from custom aluminum extrusions that are only 3.6 inches in depth and available in black or white, Theory loudspeakers feature clean lines, rounded edges, machined aluminum accents and configurable decorative trim. Finish options for the trim pieces include carbon fiber, white, gra, or black gloss, natural and black aluminum, brushed stainless steel and matte pewter.

Theory on-wall and soundbar models offer installers quick and easy installation on any surface, with a T-slot mount system that accommodates a variety of mounting bracket styles, including Z-Clips, yokes and ball mounts that can be positioned anywhere along the length of the speaker to perfectly align with architectural structural elements.

At the core of every Theory system lies a 96kHz / 24-bit DSP processing engine called a Loudspeaker Controller. Theory’s ALC-1508B and ALC-1809B eight and nine channel Amplified Loudspeaker Controllers create a new product category by combining the functionality of a multichannel DSP processor, high-power multichannel home theater and distributed audio amplifier, multichannel mixing amplifier, high-resolution loudspeaker processor and multichannel bass management – all in a single 1U package.

High-Power Multichannel Amplifier: The fan-less, 1U ALC-1508B and ALC-1809B models offer two and three 300-watt high-current amplifier channels for subwoofer drive respectively, plus six 100-watt bridgeable amplifier channels to drive full range loudspeakers. As such, the ALC-1508B can support 5.1, 5.2, 7.1 surround sound formats while the 1809B, with its additional 300W channel, adds support for 5.3, 7.2 and the new 5.2.2 Dolby Atmos format.

Multichannel DSP Processor: Both Amplified Loudspeaker Controller models include 80 user-programmable parametric EQ filters (10 per channel), plus gain adjustment, source signals for system diagnosis and delay of up to 75msec per channel for on-site system-wide optimization and calibration.

High Resolution Loudspeaker Processor: At the heart of the ALC lies a 96kHz/24bit DSP engine for all Theory and Pro Audio Technology loudspeaker and subwoofer products, with over 160 IIR filters, eight FIR filters, intelligent power-limiting and delay.

Mixing/Distributed Audio Amplifier: The ALC-1508B and ALC-1809B each include a full 8×8 matrix mixer, mic input, all-channel priority ducking/paging, four stereo plus mono-sum inputs, bass and treble controls and up to 75 msecs delay per channel. The ALC ducking feature and mic input enables priority paging in commercial distributed audio installations. In residential systems, 8×8 automatic ducking allows new voice-activated control devices such as Amazon Alexa to page any or all of the audio zones within a distributed system. When Alexa speaks, the currently playing audio is immediately reduced in volume, or “ducked,” allowing Alexa to speak clearly over the distributed loudspeaker system. When Alexa is done talking, the audio content gradually rises to full output once again. Since any or all inputs can duck any or all output channels, complex systems with many distributed voice control devices can speak over the audio system globally or locally or any combination in between.

Bass Manager: The Theory Amplified Loudspeaker Controllers can steer low frequency energy of any of the eight balanced analog audio inputs to any of the two or three subwoofer amp channels enabling distributed bass management in home theater and distributed audio applications. Full range speakers can easily be bass-managed to nearby or local subwoofers.

Theory Audio Design will exhibit at CEDIA Expo 2018, September 6 – 8, 2018, where a selection of loudspeakers and Amplified Loudspeaker Controllers will be on display along with Pro Audio Technology products in Sound Room 14 (SR-14).

The first seven models of Theory loudspeakers and Amplified Loudspeaker Controllers will ship in Q1 2019, with additional models introduced throughout the year. For more information on Theory Audio Design, watch for updates here.