Martin Logan has announced the introduction of the CLX, the world's finest full-range electrostatic line source loudspeaker. In addition to total dedication for unmatched performance, environmentally conscious considerations influenced the design and engineering of the CLX, including the use of rapidly renewable or highly recyclable structural materials like EcoSound. With an eye toward energy conservation, the CLX incorporates an advanced energy management design in its electrical circuitry.

2008 marks MartinLogan's 25th anniversary and the first expression of the CLX ($19,995), the CLX 25th Anniversary Edition ($24,995), commemorates this important milestone and both will be available in June.

Canton expanded its line of loudspeakers by introducing the Vento Reference 7 DC floorstanding speaker and the Vento Reference 9 DC bookshelf speaker with optional stand (LS 850). Price and release date aren't known yet.

Specifications (7 DC):
► Frequency response: 22Hz ~ 40kHz
► Nominal impedance: 4 - 8Ω
► Sensitivity: 88.5dB/mW
► Power handling: 170W

Specifications (9 DC):
► Frequency response: 25Hz ~ 40kHz
► Nominal impedance: 4 - 8Ω
► Sensitivity: 87dB/mW
► Power handling: 120W

The Marantz's Cinemarium ES7001 sound bar that offers a "one-box-for-all" design approach to surround sound is now available for sale in the UK at a price of £800. This includes six speaker drivers arranged in a tweeter, midrange and woofer configuration to deliver surround sound, each one powered by a digital class-D amplifier. There are also 32-bit/96kHz digital processors with Dolby Digital and DTS decoding to generate surround sound, two HDMI v1.1 inputs and on output, three optical digital audio inputs and two stereo audio inputs.

The Yamaha TSS-20 will succeed the TSS-15 released back in late 2006. The TSS-20 is a 5.1-ch. speaker system which could be used either on a TV or a computer, and it comes with a Dolby digital/DTS/AAC decoding unit with 4 DSP modes, analog/digital inputs and a function to virtually switch on a 3.1-ch. system. The system delivers 48 watts of power; Satellite: 5x 6W, Subwoofer: 18 W.

Pricing info is still unknown but it will be available in late May in Japan.

Sonus Faber has recently announced the relaunch of its most renowned Minima Amator bookshelf speaker. Named Minima Vintage, this speaker will get exactly the same design, but with better characteristics and new components inside to improve the transparency and sound reproduction. It features a 28mm ultra dynamic silk soft dome ferrofluid tweeter paired with a 120mm cellulose acrylate cone driver mounted in a vented cabinet. There is no word on pricing or availability at this time.

Specifications:
► Frequency response: 55Hz ~ 25kHz
► Nominal impedance: 8Ω
► Sensitivity: 84dB/mW
► Power handling: 25W - 100W

In observance of the 500th anniversary of the birth of legendary architect Andrea Palladio, Sonus Faber has created a unique Limited Edition of the prestigious Homage line. Cabinets are crafted from natural blond maple, with fittings in silver and palladium, and a woofer phase plug shaped from genuine Vicenza stone.

This ultra-limited series comprises three models available worldwide, 100 pairs of the Guarneri Palladio two-way monitor (€10,000), 50 pairs of the three-way Amati Palladio (€20,500) and just 25 pairs of the £32,500 Reference Stradivari Palladio speaker.

The Lisire 020 from Gais is a stylish cylinder-shaped 2.1ch speaker system made with aluminum cylinders. The Lisire 020 delivers 2.5W per satellite and 6W from the subwoofer which is 12-inch wide and it can connect to any stereo source with its 3.5mm stereo mini-jack input. Imported straight from Japan, this speaker system retails for about $200 at Audiocubes.

Martin Logan announced the introduction of the new Spire electrostatic loudspeaker. This hybrid loudspeaker features housed in an ultra-rigid, extruded aluminum AirFrame a curvilinear XStat electrostatic transducer and to remedy to the lack of bass, Martin Logan added an extra 10" aluminum cone woofer and its 200W amplifier, which extends frequency response down to 29Hz.

Spire loudspeaker will be available in May at $8495/pair in a variety of cabinet finishes including Black Ash, Dark Cherry, Natural Cherry, Maple, Birds Eye Maple, Wenge, and Rotary Cut Bubinga. Additional finishes are offered through the MartinLogan Custom Shop.

Scheduled for release in mid-May for £500, the new Yamaha YSP-600 digital sound projector will give you high quality surround sound with the Dolby Digital, DTS, Dolby Pro Logic II and DTS Neo:6 compatibility. The sound bar includes IntelliBeam Automated System Calibration for easy setup, a built-in 62W digital amplifier, 1080p-compatible HDMI (2 in/1 out) and several sound presets. The YSP-600 measures 61cm wide so it should nicely under a 32" flat TV.

Esoteric has introduced a new speaker line including two models, the MG-10 bookshelf speaker and the MG-20 floorstanding speaker. Designed by Esoteric in Japan and built and finished at Tannoy factory, this series is the world’s first all magnesium diaphragm two way loudspeaker system ever produced. The magnesium is an extremely lightweight metal, it improves the speaker sensitivity and provides extremely fast acoustic response.

Hard-wired with Van den Hul’s best silver-plated wiring, the MG speakers have five terminals for bi-wire plus a ground connection. Also the cabinet is made of American cherry wood (25mm thick on front baffle).

Prices are $5,500 for the MG-10 and $8,400 for the MG-20