At CES 2014, Ocean Way Audio is introducing its Montecito reference loudspeaker system, marketed as the next step forward for the company’s acclaimed AS1 loudspeaker. The three-way Montecito uses a 1-inch aluminum dome tweeter with an aluminum voice coil that is encased in ferrofluid, which Ocean Way claims yields increased power handling capability and dampens resonances in the dome for smooth. The tweeter is coupled to a solid hardwood waveguide for wide dispersion and a claim of smooth tonal balance over a wider listening area, along with higher efficiency.

The Montecito uses a 10-inch Polymer coated cone cast-frame midbass driver with a 1-1/2-inch aluminum voice coil and dual 12-inch aluminum cone woofers with 2-1/2-inch aluminum voice coils that are capable of over one inch of excursion. The tweeter and midrange drivers’ voice coils are physically aligned to provide symmetrical as well as linear time alignment.

The speaker’s on- and off-axis dispersion allows listeners to move around the room and hear the same sound in any listening location. According to Ocean Way, the Montecito utilizes an extremely high-quality passive crossover with hand-matched components and is available in matched pairs that are typically within plus or minus 0.5dB of each other and provide a frequency response from 30Hz to 24kHz plus or minus 1.5dB. Two sets of speaker terminals enable bi-wiring or bi-amping if desired. The Montecito’s enclosure is constructed from laminated birch plywood and other high-density woods selected to eliminate colorations that might be caused by unwanted internal resonances. Each cabinet is finished with select mahogany and spruce with intricate inlays on the edges of the 45-degree-angled front corners. The cabinets then receive an 18-coat polyester finish.

The Ocean Way Audio Montecito is offered in a choice of real-wood finishes and lists for $48,000 per pair — yes, you read that right — 48K! So, it’s this or a M5 from BMW — you pick! Here are all the specs.