News

Mordaunt-Short launches new Aviano range (16/6/2009)

Available from August 2009.

Aviano is the very latest speaker series from Mordaunt-Short which builds on the strengths of the highly regarded Avant i, Mezzo and Performance ranges which have won the company many accolades from across the globe.
Combining unprecedented levels of performance, refinement and value, Aviano is a seven-strong hi-fi and home theatre speaker range comprising bookshelf, standmount and two floorstanding speakers, a dedicated centre channel design and two subwoofers.

Positioned between the company’s Avant and Mezzo ranges, Aviano embraces a raft of innovative developments which join forces with Mordaunt•Short’s critically-acclaimed audiophile technologies to deliver incredible sonic results.

Designed in London at Mordaunt-Short’s research and development centre, Aviano scores instantly with a purposeful yet refined look; blending seamlessly into any living space. Soft organic contours of the front profile combine with exquisitely finished cabinets. Three carefully chosen hues – black, dark walnut and rosewood – were selected to reflect customers’ increased preference towards darker shades.

Equally adept within a stereo system as it is part of a home theatre, Aviano has been carefully developed and tested for compatibility with the widest possible range of today’s most popular amplifiers. And whatever the musical genre – be it rock, classical or jazz, – Aviano is guaranteed to impress with an thrilling combination of timing, stereo imaging and accuracy.

Key features

• Mordaunt-Short’s in-house-developed drivers
- Aluminium dome tweeter technology now features computer-modelled housing for improved dispersion characteristics
- Thoroughly updated third generation aluminium CPCTM (Continuous Profile Cone) mid/bass drivers feature across the range
• Innovative purist crossover design for incredible clarity. Isolate mounted to minimise distortion
• New cabinet and driver bracing design provides ultimate rigidity and support
- Internal high density wadding for critical damping of standing waves
- Curved front baffle improves rigidity and dispersion characteristics
- Sculpted bullet terminals - easy connection using banana plugs, spade terminals or bare cable.
• Completely new cosmetic design. Soft organic contoured cabinet complemented by three new finishes.

Mordaunt-Short’s 20 year expertise in aluminium dome tweeters is taken to new levels in Aviano. This highly regarded bespoke driver utilises a high temperature voice coil with liquid cooling and damping for controlled high frequency performance and amazing detail. Key to the most important developments is a new tweeter housing which takes cues from the company’s flagship Performance Series for improved dispersion characteristics.

Finally, the use of high flux density, self shielding neodymium magnet assemblies offer improved sensitivity and better dynamics than conventional tweeter magnets.

Meanwhile, a thoroughly updated third generation CPCTM mid/bass driver – once again a proprietary Mordaunt-Short design – lifts the company’s aluminium driver technology to new levels of refinement. CPCTM aluminium cone ensures highly predictable driver performance with controlled piston-like movement at lower frequencies and minimal distortion at higher frequencies. Lightweight aluminium is chosen for faithful dynamics. V-Form technology – an innovative driver cone connection – is used to maintain driver rigidity and results in a bigger, purer soundstage. Varied surround thickness aids pistonic operation and gives genuine timing improvements.

An all-new purist crossover design guarantees incredible clarity. Isolate mounted to minimise distortion, it features premium grade components including high saturation inductors, DVPC (Dual Value Parallel Capacitors) and oversized resistors to ensure optimal signal transfer.

Providing the ultimate platform for all this technology, a sonically advanced bracing system and internal cabinet assembly increases rigidity and support to the highest levels yet. After rigorous evaluation, a new premium high density wadding was selected for critical damping of standing waves.

The all-new curved front baffle not only adds to Aviano’s aesthetic, but it also helps improve rigidity and dispersion characteristics. And around the back, sculpted bullet terminals offer the user a range of easy connection options using banana plugs, spade terminals or bare cable.

Range synopsis

Aviano 1 (stand-mount) – A compact powerhouse consuming minimal living space while delivering entertainment by the bucket-load. Its potent 5•" driver communicates with incredible authority and integrates flawlessly with Mordaunt-Short’s highly detailed aluminium dome tweeter.

Aviano 2 (stand-mount) – features a larger 6•" driver enabling noticeably increased dynamic headroom. Oozing more presence than has ever before been possible from such compact cabinets, Aviano 2 features a damped 2nd order phase DVPC crossover and offers a fantastic combination of value and performance.

Aviano 6 (floorstander) – features two 6•" mid/bass drivers for explosive results from music and movies alike. Computer-modelled bracing design and driver supports reduce distortion and vibration to extremely low levels whilst adding significantly to cabinet rigidity.

Aviano 8 (premium floorstander) – takes the range to the zenith with an enhanced 3 x 6•” CPC driver configuration affording this flagship model rock-solid bass, a really clear soundstage packed with detail, rhythmic timing and a truly emotive midrange. Aviano 8 offers an extremely engaging listen and delivers jaw-dropping results across music and home theatre.

Aviano 5 (centre) – A dedicated centre in woofer-tweeter-woofer configuration designed and voiced to deal with the specific demands of dialogue in movies. Perfectly timbre matched with the rest of the Aviano range for excellent integration.

Aviano 7 (subwoofer) – dispatches the lowest notes with authority and dynamism while offering incredible value. Powerful and taught low frequencies are guaranteed thanks to a superbly controlled high-efficiency 10" aluminium driver and powerful (175 Watt) digital amplifier.

Aviano 9 (premium subwoofer) – For customers with a serious space to fill – maybe a dedicated home theatre – or simply a huge appetite for bass, there’s no substitute for something well, just a bit bigger. Enter Aviano 9, a sub on a mission to really rock the house! With a 300 watt digital amplifier and 12" aluminium bass driver, Aviano 9 has enough grunt for the most capacious home theatre. And with Mordaunt-Short’s Adjustable Notch Filter, unwanted room frequencies can be completely ‘tuned-out’ to enable placement almost anywhere.

From both the Aviano 7 and 9’s rear panels, simple adjustments can be made to ensure the subwoofer integrates perfectly into the rest of the system and ‘tune-out’ any unwanted effects from non-optimal room placement.

www.mordauntshort.com