2
CAS 3.1/CAS 2.1
CAS Series loudspeakers incorporate several innovative
technologies that, when combined with many hours of subjective
listening evaluations and our rigorous engineering standards,
result in a loudspeaker that realistically and accurately reproduces
the signal source with minimal distortion and coloration.
Ceramic Metal Matrix Diaphragms
™
(C.M.M.D.)
For decades, loudspeaker engineers have known that the ideal
transducer should be stiff, yet light, and have high internal
damping (damping is a material’s ability to absorb energy).
Infinity’s C.M.M.D. transducer is a significant advance in
transducer technology. Ceramic, a class of material new to
loudspeakers, offers better performance than that of other
materials. Ceramic is stiffer than metals and lighter than plastics
and typical composite materials; it also offers improved damping.
These ceramic-based transducers take us a giant step closer to
the ever-elusive “ideal transducer.”
In tweeters, C.M.M.D. technology offers stiffness and damping
superior to that of traditional metals and soft-dome materials.
In woofer and midrange applications, it offers accurate pistonic
operation over the entire frequency range of the driver,
completely eliminating coloration due to cone breakup and
dramatically reducing distortion. And when ceramic-metal-matrix
transducers are exposed to moisture, sunlight or extreme
temperatures, their performance does not deteriorate.
In addition to ceramic diaphragms, all the transducers incorporate
rigid cast-frames that, through our FEA computer modeling and
scanning-laser-vibrometer measurements, have been optimized
to reduce resonances.This ensures minimal distortion and
incomparable performance.
The Baffle Isolation System
™
Designing a high-performance in-wall loudspeaker poses a
unique problem…the wall itself. Drywall is not intended to be a
loudspeaker enclosure. It is neither stiff nor rigid and tends to
resonate, or vibrate, severely when typical in-wall speakers are
used. Wall resonance is generally caused by two things. One is by
sound emanating from the back of the loudspeaker bouncing
around the inside of the wall cavity. Filling the wall with a
suitable damping material, such as fiberglass, helps to minimize
this problem. The second – and more difficult problem to solve –
results from the energy transfer caused by the mechanical
coupling of the loudspeaker to the wall. Infinity’s Baffle Isolation
System solves this problem by mechanically de-coupling the
baffle from the wall. A compliant suspension system “floats” the
baffle within the mounting frame and greatly reduces the energy
transfer. Four of these assemblies – one at each corner of the
baffle – form the isolation system. These assemblies reduce wall
resonance in much the same way the suspension system of a car
isolates the passenger cabin from road vibration.
Noryl
®
Baffle and Cast-Aluminum Woofers
The baffle of most in-wall speakers is typically made of ABS
plastic, which is prone to flexing. Yet another resonance for our
engineers to tame! After exhaustive research, a two-pronged
attack was chosen. First, the CAS baffles are constructed of
Noryl, a high-stiffness thermoplastic resin. Noryl is 40% stiffer
than typical ABS and has higher internal damping, resulting in a
rigid, but acoustically “dead,” baffle. Also, Noryl’s resistance to
extreme heat and moisture make it an ideal choice for
architectural applications. Second, the cast-aluminum woofer
frames have been designed to enhance the structural rigidity of
the entire baffle. Structural ribs on the baffle integrate with
mounting bosses used to attach the cast-aluminum frame, which
further strengthens the entire assembly.
Listening Window Selector
™
There should be no question that the CAS loudspeakers are the
most “room-friendly” in-wall loudspeakers available. However,
speaker location and listener positions vary so much that even
the CAS loudspeakers may need the occasional adjustment.
Therefore, Infinity has developed a Listening Window Selector
that allows the speaker to be fine-tuned for optimal performance
and deliver smooth, accurate sound reproduction, regardless of
where the speaker is installed or the listener is positioned.
Room-Friendly Acoustical Design
One characteristic of forward-facing loudspeakers is that the
sound output lessens as one moves away from the principal axis.
This happens both horizontally and vertically and it means that
radiated sounds that are reflected from the floor, ceiling and side
walls will be lower in amplitude than direct, forward sound. This
is usually a good thing. But, if the dispersion characteristics of
the loudspeaker are different at various frequencies, the sound
quality of the reflected sounds will be very different both from
each other and from the first (i.e., direct) sound. The ears don’t
ignore these differences; they perceive them as coloration, or as
sound quality that’s been degraded. Intermezzo loudspeakers
have been carefully designed to maintain a directional pattern
that is similar at every important angle, on- and off-axis.The
positive result is that both direct and reflected sounds arriving at
the listeners’ ears have similar timbral signatures.
Completing the Experience
The technology and performance that make Infinity CAS
loudspeakers ideal for music listening also make them the
perfect digital multichannel loudspeaker system. To complete a
home theater system, Infinity has designed, to the same standards
as for the CAS, several powered subwoofers. Ask your Infinity
dealer which model is best for your application.
We hope you enjoyed this brief introduction to the technology
of CAS loudspeakers. If you would like to further explore their
technology and design, please ask your Infinity dealer for the
C.M.M.D. and CAS White Papers.The White Papers can also be
downloaded from Infinity’s Web site at www.infinitysystems.com.
T
ECHNOLOGY
