MINNEAPOLIS (9/25/07) -- Canton has begun shipping its new Chrono series of high-value, high-performance loudspeakers for home theater and high-end audio reproduction. Based on technology developed for the company's high-end Ergo line, this new series delivers much of the same outstanding performance at reduced price points. The Chrono series consists of two floorstanding models, a compact two-way, a 2-1/2-way center channel, and a 150 Watt powered subwoofer.

"We are very proud to introduce the new Chrono line," remarked Canton USA President Paul Madsen. "It uses the same technology and basic design criteria as our classic Ergo series speakers, but thanks to more cost-efficient construction and finish options we've managed to reduce pricing by over 30%. It makes the bulk of the technological advances Canton has made over the past decade available to a wider range of home theater and music enthusiasts than ever before."

All of the full range models in the Chrono line employ an advanced evolution of the company's highly regarded ADT-25 aluminum-manganese dome tweeter. Thanks to Canton's recently developed flared "transmission" style front plate, the speakers deliver remarkable high frequency dispersion and off-axis linearity, leading to overall improvements in real-world performance throughout the listening room. The ADT-25 employs Canton's signature one-piece aluminum-manganese dome and voice coil former, providing superior high frequency performance and heat dissipation when compared to conventional two-piece designs. Additionally, the driver features an advanced surround design that leads to reduced distortion and less susceptibility to break-up modes, giving the tweeter an effective operating range all the way out to 40 kHz.

All of the bass and midrange drivers in the Chrono line include aluminum cones entirely designed and manufactured by Canton. These extremely stiff and lightweight drivers deliver outstanding transient response and dynamic range. The wave systems (cone, dust cap, and surround) of the drivers are the same as those developed for the company's flagship lines, including a sinusoidal surround and improved spider that provide a 30-40% increase in excursion, and 3 dB increase in output compared to previous designs.

Lastly, the two floorstanding models in the Chrono line, the 509 DC and 507 DC, each employ Canton's exclusive Displacement Control (DC) technology, which uses a proprietary high-pass filter to prevent signals below the audible frequency range from interfering with the bass driver. In conventional speakers, these signals can generate high levels of unwanted harmonic distortion in the audible lower bass range, causing a muffled or "blatty" tonal quality. DC technology allows the speakers to provide clear, linear bass reproduction at much lower frequencies than could otherwise be attained.
All of the models in the Chrono line are available in a silver or beech cabinet finish combined with a stunning high-gloss silver front baffle, or in black finish with black high-gloss baffle. All models will be available in October.

Chrono 509 DC Floorstanding Speaker
The Chrono 509 DC is a three-way bass reflex floorstanding model with an extremely broad and linear frequency response, making it ideal for use either as full-range speakers in a dedicated stereo system or as front speakers for home theater. It uses two 7-inch aluminum cone woofers for bass and a third 7-inch cone for midrange duties. It also features Canton's exclusive DC technology for extended linear bass response, and has a suggested retail price of $2000 per pair.

Chrono 507 DC Floorstanding Speaker
The Chrono 507 DC is a floorstanding speaker with an advanced 2-1/2-way crossover network. It features two 7-inch aluminum woofers that are both used for reproduction of deep bass frequencies (below 300Hz), while only the top driver is used for midrange duties. This gives the speaker an effective woofer area equivalent to a single 10-inch driver, but avoids the adverse interactions that can occur when dual drivers are used in upper bass and midrange frequencies. It functions extremely well as a stereo pair or as the front left/right pair in a medium sized theater room. It also features Canton's exclusive DC technology for extended linear bass response, and has a suggested retail price of $1,600 per pair.

Chrono 505 Center
This bass reflex compact loudspeaker features two 6-inch aluminum cone drivers flanking a single tweeter in a horizontal arrangement. It employs Canton's 2-1/2-way crossover circuit to prevent the poor dispersion characteristics that plague most horizontal dual woofer center speakers, and is magnetically shielded for use as the center channel in a home theater system. It has a suggested retail price of $650 each.

Chrono 502 Compact Speaker
The compact two-way Chrono 502 is a bass reflex speaker designed to be equally at home on a shelf or in conjunction with the optional Canton LS 600 or LS650 stand. It features a single 7-inch aluminum cone for bass reproduction, and the same 1-inch aluminum manganese cone tweeter used throughout the line. It has a suggested retail price of $1,000 per pair.

Chrono AS 525 SC Powered Subwoofer
The Chrono AS 525 SC subwoofer features a 9-inch high excursion aluminum cone driver in a precisely tuned bass reflex cabinet. It includes a powerful 150-watt internal amplifier module, and is an ideal match to the Chrono full range loudspeakers both tonally and aesthetically. It has a suggested retail price of $600 each.

Canton Electronics Corporation is the US distributor for Canton Elektronik GmbH., Weilrod, Germany. Canton is the largest manufacturer and best-selling brand of loudspeakers in Germany. It was founded in 1973 by a group of audio enthusiasts who defined their mission simply "to always develop the finest loudspeakers in their class." Since the late 1970s, Canton products have been available in the in the U.S., where they are popular with quality-focused specialty retailers and custom installers.

For more information about these and other fine Canton products, go to http://www.cantonusa.com or call 612-706-9250 for the name of your nearest Canton dealer.