The New Chane 700 Series

[Chane M&C]

We know that Chane's A series models are successful alternatives to Big Brand speaker sound in the ~$300 market. Special tech and careful design give the A models that extra clarity, power, and musicality that sets them apart.

Naturally we've been asked what a next-level series would look like: You're probably aware of our upcoming L series but what if we developed light professional-style models too.

It's an intriguing question and one we've been thinking about for years; the reason is that prosumer speakers can offer superb musicality and listenability, which is not the reputation prosound usually has.

If the question is what constitutes very effective value in prosumer speaker components, our answer is the new Chane 700 series of loudspeakers. 700 series models include select drivers with the unusual combination of prosumer output with very high fidelity. The 700 series then carries high performance value in components forward through high value, high performance Chane cabinetry and design.

Find the right parts and join them well to reach a new benchmark. The new Chane 700 series comprises at least six eventual models that bring together an unusual combination of large acoustical size, precision engineering, and audiophile sound signatures. It may not be an intuitive combination for some, but it works.

Instead of 5.25” woofers, the 700 series models start with 8” woofers for three models. They have exceptional quality and superb linearity, even from an audiophile standpoint. More on them later. Each 700 series model has a high quality aluminum horn and 1" compression driver, some of them imported from preeminent Italian prosound makers.

To these drivers we've added a unique and effective design plan and crossover type, and our usual heavy, high-end build quality. Finishes are either our economical black overlay or for the first time in some models, a satin black paint.

This series includes the following models (and rolls out with the promotional values listed at the end of this thread).

Model 752. Twin 8” two-way LCR speaker for main or center use. MTM driver array and standard A series black ash finish with bullnosed driver baffles. 1” compression driver and medium size constant-directivity aluminum horn.

Model 753. Triple 8” floor tower speaker. TMWWW driver array. Also standard A series finish with the molded front baffle. 6.5” midrange and 1” compression driver and constant-directivity aluminum horn to match the 752.

Model 740s is an onwall surround or effects channel speaker, limited to 70Hz. Premium quality 6.5" midwoofer and small aluminum treble horn with 1" compression driver.

The 752 can be used vertically or horizontally because it is a symmetrical speaker with a rotating treble system, just like our A2.x models. A typical use is as a center speaker for the 753 tower. It is a sealed speaker with bass extension to 45Hz for full-range use. A vertical pair makes superb sound in stereo.

Model 753 is the largest, the only floor model, and like the matching 752 is a full range, sealed speaker.

The Chane 700 series is our first to use a horn treble systems. The very capable planar tweeter in our A series has real advantages over most domes, but the compression horn is another step up, at least in terms of dynamics and sound pressure. I'll add that the musicality is exceptional, even leading-edge, which dispels the myth that horns can't sound good. Frankly, they can and sometimes they sound superb.

Think of it this way: The 752 is a much larger A2.x, and the 753 tower is basically an expanded, enlarged, powered-up Chane A5.x. Due to the added driven area, scale of sound and sheer acoustical output increases without an increase in average distortion. (Chane's Loudspeaker Basics section tells how to evaluate speakers not by price but by acoustical class. The 700 series are in our biggest class.)

The prosound compression drivers and constant directivity aluminum horns are a logical next step but they're also an important benchmark that inform the rest of each new design. They acoustically support and are supported by lots of driven cone area, which raises output and dynamic scale and ease way beyond the norm.

This is just about the only way to really expand a speaker without impractical, expensive, and difficult measures. This method keeps the design simple for maximum realism and life, and with no typical horn sound, it satisfies music lovers right along with film buffs.

The rest of each 700 series speaker expresses Chane's design style. The 8” drivers are proven Danish audiophile components with expected features like cast alloy frames, vented motor poles, optimized magnetics, linear suspensions, and low coloration. A matching 6.5" paper midrange completes the 753 floor speaker.

Cabinets are Chane's solid, braced enclosures built from 18mm and 25mm stock, and finishes are bumped to a fine pebbled front baffle. Overall quality from our factory is high throughout, from the CNC milling to the exteriors.

At its heart, each 700 series model also deploys a special Chane-engineered and hand-tuned crossover specifically designed to be a distinct level up and meet our standards for even “faster” and more spacious sound, natural musicality, low electronic signature, and good load behavior for just about any amplifier. This internal design pays special attention to all domains, and is what actually accounts for the 700 series' greater-than-the-sum-of-the-parts sound, the same unique element that so many times catapulted our A series models to the top of their respective size and price categories.

I'll develop the rest of the limited 700 series offering in my next posts. I invite you to subscribe to this thread.

[Chane M&C]

Let's get into more of the 700 series' specifics and show you just how unique this range is.

The 700 series involves an unusual combo of features: A premium, audiophile speaker engineered to Chane's high design and tuning standards yet with the high output and low distortion suited for dedicated home theater. We'll wrap it all in high value.

Audiophile and home theater don't usually go together. They should; they're the music and cinema in our name and the 700 series is Chane's first effort to take you distinctly to the prosumer class. If you haven't heard something like this one day you might want to.

If you're a Chane user wondering how the 700 series stacks up against the A series models, be assured that the 700 series is all-Chane, only in a larger class. We give up extreme treble extension to 32.5kHz but add back bass and power. The 700 series does not replace the A series; it extends it. The A series is highly effective in its own right and as we developed the L Series and the 700 Series, proved very hard to beat.

The technical advantages of the 700 series are these:

1. A pro-grade, 3.5-octave, true horn treble system for superbly low distortion and coloration
2. Much higher dynamic listening envelope than speakers with common direct radiating treble
3. An easy-to-drive, sensitive load
4. Bass sections with uniformly low group delay and fast sound
5. A high-sensitivity dedicated 80Hz+ surround and effects speaker
6. Excellent compatibility with home theater subwoofers
7. Very tight driver integration via a custom Chane-engineered, domain-optimized crossover for excellent frequency, polar, power, and transient responses
8. Low coloration, minimized treble wall splash, excellent musicality with high resolution, huge ambient sound stage, pinpoint image, and more powerful dynamics

Sonically I think the 700 series is going to reset the bar the A5, A2, and other Chane models set but this time for larger systems, rooms and scales.

I don't think this combination is common, if it's even available at all. Chane has blended very specific aspects of three types of speakers - audiophile stereo, home theater, and monitoring - and we're going to offer them as a limited range of models for a highly competitive cost.

In my next post I'll publish the specifications for each of the 700 series models. After that we'll roll them out in pictures and measured response data.

[Chane M&C]

Model specifications.

Model 752 2-way, large three driver left-center-right (LCR) speaker with MTM driver array

Acoustical type – double sealed 8” midbass
Treble system – 1” exit compression driver, 34mm titanium diaphragm with ellipsoidal suspension, edgewound aluminum coil on Nomex coil former, and proprietary phase plug. 60 x 40 degree constant coverage aluminum horn (rotates for horizontal or vertical use)
Acoustical alignment – shallow -12dB/octave attenuation below 50Hz for excellent in-room bass as well as good subwoofer integration
Frequency response – 50Hz – 22.5kHz +/- 3dB
Impedance – Nominal 8 ohms, 7 ohms min.
Sensitivity – 90 dB (2.83v/1w)
Power – 240w peak program
Peak output – 112dB
Group delay, bass – >10ms
Crossover – time-aligned, quasi zero phase
Dimensions – 250(w) x 375(d) x 710mm or approximately 10 x 14.75 x 28 inches


Model 753 3-way, large five driver main tower speaker

Configuration – triple sealed 8” bass, single 6.5” high-energy midrange
Treble system – 1” exit compression driver, 34mm titanium diaphragm with ellipsoidal suspension, edgewound aluminum coil on Nomex coil former, and proprietary phase plug. 60 x 40 degree constant coverage aluminum horn
Acoustical alignment – shallow -12dB/octave attenuation below 45Hz
Frequency response – 45Hz – 22.5kHz +/- 3dB
Impedance – Nominal 6 ohms, 5 ohms min.
Sensitivity – 92.5 dB (2.83v)
Sensitivity – 91 dB (1w)
Power – 260w peak program
Group delay, bass – >10ms
Crossover – time-aligned, linear phase
Dimensions – 250(w) x 375(d) x 1200mm or approximately 10 x 14.75 x 47.25 inches, not including base


Model 740s 2-way, two driver surround/effects, utility speaker and satellite with onwall provisions (arrives in second phase)

Configuration – single 6.5" bass, tuned port
Treble system – 1” exit compression driver, 37mm polyimide diaphragm and suspension, Nomex coil former, 4.75” round constant coverage aluminum horn
Frequency response – 80Hz – 20kHz +/- 3dB
Impedance – 4 ohms nominal.
Sensitivity – 92 dB (2.83v)
Power – 180w peak program
Group delay, bass – >4ms
Crossover – time-aligned, quasi zero phase
Dimensions – 205(w) x 190(d) x 330(h)mm or approximately 8.1 x 7.5 x 13 inches


(Second-phase stand monitor models 740XD, 750XD, and 760XD will be featured in another thread.)

[Chane M&C]

A note about treble and dispersion because whenever we talk about horns and treble we should consider if we're dispersing treble energy broadly and uniformly.

Too much emphasis is paid to technical treble dispersion and not enough to real treble sound. The first is the technical, specified, predicted, or theoretical dispersion usually based on some combination of figures, plotted speaker output, and the assumptions drawn from them.

The second, however, is the general sense the listener gets when actually listening to a speaker, regardless of what that specification may be. I know that's subjective, but from experience I also think that any multi-way speaker's sense of presence, brightness, dimension, and focus is much less influenced by what we think is treble directivity in space, and far more influenced by how the treble is acoustically integrated into the rest of the speaker.

For good tweeters the speaker's crossover network and filters count more than anything else. In fact, where overall speaker sound goes, the crossover is most of the story. This is the largely hidden aspect behind a good loudspeaker, not special drivers or apparent technology or even objective measured response.

Assuming the treble system isn't deficient, it's the speaker's other behaviors that tells the ear if we have adequate treble “dispersion”. And since speakers can suffer the parts-in-a-box sound syndrome, a speaker with solid engineering and good tuning deep in the design and upstream of the drivers has every opportunity, in the popular vernacular, to “blow it away.” As with the A Series, this feature sets the 700 Series sound.

Before we made any boxes we'd designed the 700 series's horn treble system; we knew how we were going to electro-acoustically integrate it to get the desired effect. The sense of focus and dimension in these models is the result of a deliberate design type and choice that produced the design and parts list. These speakers sound more enveloping and natural than some will expect from affordable speakers with horns in them.

But for reference, let's address those directivity patterns in the abstract anyway. These numbers still matter and I want readers to have a good perspective of them.

The technical treble dispersion window in these models is just about perfect for the typical mid-sized, mixed-use living space, and at least that good for the larger dedicated theater room. The 753 places the center of the treble horn 1125mm from the floor, not including the included attachable feet. This is about 44 inches, good for a seated listener in each of the two front rows of a home theater space.

Using the specs for our horn, we find that the usable vertical treble angle meets a standard low 8' ceiling at not quite twelve feet away, which is roughly overhead the main listening position in an average home listening space. If you have ears on the ceiling at 12 feet from the speaker, you're on the edge of this speaker's rated vertical treble dispersion window. That's not a very restricted treble window.

Since we don't have ears on the ceiling, even if we stand at 10' or more we're still in a useful treble window. Here a speaker's crossover functions can deviate its response as much or more than the horn will. Virtually any vertical, asymmetrical stack of drivers with a passive crossover will deviate from a flat response as we sweep through the vertical arc. While our horn has a tighter rated dispersion angle and window, it has a more constant behavior within them.

The horn treble system also controls the treble window down to a lower frequency where it better matches the midrange's narrowing dispersion. Like the midrange driver, horn treble systems engage fewer close room boundaries like side walls and ceilings. If you've ever heard a good horn and a good horn implementation, you've already witnessed this effect. Done well they image more naturally – more like headphones more than average, conventional speakers. A good horn can sound less congested, flavored, colored, or limited, while it may also sound more direct, connected, dynamic, and reference-like.

That's it on treble systems in the new Chane 700 series. They're pro-grade, they're well designed, their dispersion is excellent, and the overall effect they have is all for the better. They liberate the entire speaker's output while on average lowering its distortion. In the case of these models, only this caliber of treble system can do that job.

[Chane M&C]

If you're wondering how we named these models, here's a handy key.

The first digit is the product series: 700 series

The second digit is the woofer diameter, nominal, in inches: 5 means 8” and 4 means 6.5” and so forth

The last digit: number of bass drivers, excepting that a 0 means one bass driver.

Suffix, if any: e means extended main speaker (bass reflex), c means suitable for horizontal center channel use, and s means surround. For the 700 series there is no ported main speaker. The 752 is a multi-duty main and/or center speaker, so it bears no c suffix. The 740s is the onwall surround model.

We're borrowing this key from our 600 series of Dana models, way back in 2010. Now you can see how we're structuring the nomenclature. "L" has taken over what had been the 600 series.

Next up: Some pictures of the 700 series. Here you'll be able to put a face to a name, so to speak, and the whole story will fall into place.

[Chane M&C]

The new Chane 752 8" MTM LCR speaker. Use either horizontally as a center speaker or vertically as large main monitors. Horn rotates depending on which use the user specifies and comes ready to use.

[Chane M&C]

The new Chane 753 floor speaker.

[Chane M&C]

[Reserved 8]

[Chane M&C]

The 700 series takes Chane to a larger class of speakers. Chane performance and value are undiminished. The result is an unusual combo of musical rightness, high resolution, exceptional dynamic envelope, and pinpoint stereophonic effects.

A word about value, using the 753 as an example. You can actually get them for no more than you can try to build a copy yourself, a copy lacking many of their most important features and functions.

This is the bill of materials for a cruder DIY version of the 753. These are the current street prices for all the parts, as best as we can determine them using typical retail pricing:

• Three premium 8” Danish woofers - $255
• 1” professional imported prosound compression driver with titanium diaphragm - $100
• Matching cast aluminum horn with modified elliptical expansion and constant coverage - $80
• ~75 pound 3/4” MDF cabinet, CNC (computer) milled, extensively braced, 1” low diffraction, low reflectance, molded front and back boards with sim. black ash case – Estimated at at least $200 each
• Simplified three-way DIY crossover, hand-wired, audiophile components - $90
• Machined aluminum outrigger feet and chrome and stainless hardware - $150 and up
• Miscellaneous parts, hardware, acoustical damping, finishing, assembly, testing and tuning (if any), value of time spent, shipping, and logistics - $250 and up

Total estimated cost for a DIY copy of the highly developed, packaged, and guaranteed Chane Model 753 -assuming a DIYer can get the custom parts - is $1125 or $2250 a pair. Subtract the time spent, tools, finishing, assembly, testing, and tuning, and approximate out-of-pocket costs and an attempted clone comes to $875 or $1750 a pair.

Our limited Group Buy will offer the Model 753 for a comparable figure, which isn't too bad for a premium quality, large format, audio-videophile design with value just as compelling as our $2000+ class A5.5.

Granted, these are my estimates for matching (or similar) parts on the street market and someone could conceivably put together a triple 8” large tower with a nondescript treble system for, let's say, six hundred dollars, but we get what we pay for. I'm not sure what the benefit would be when for much less cost (less shipping) we can hear the real article with a return policy and a 5-year warranty.

This could be your next well engineered, great-sounding, large format loudspeaker series.

Fine print. Grille covers included for 752, 753, and 740s. A modified 30 Day Satisfaction Guarantee is included but during Group Buy period deduct a 20% restocking fee for any returns. Shipping costs are partly covered by Chane but are not completely included, either outbound or return. We contract for best corporate rates. FOB Milwaukee Wisconsin. Shipping options will appear in webstore checkout. 5 year guarantee, parts and labor only. Unless covered here, purchase is subject to all other Terms and Conditions appearing elsewhere on the Chane site.

[Chane M&C]

[Reserved 10]

[blogreader]

Reserverd for first non-Chane reply.

[powerlifter405]

Its wonderful to see this coming to fruition.
You and BufordTJustice always watch your 6.

The world is a crazy place sometimes.

[cgramer]

Very intrigued by the 752 and 753, depending on price...

[Spidacat]

I assume the 700 series might be high sensitivity? 94-95 dB or so? What can you tell us about the design/sound/placement intent difference between these and the L series? 753 vs. L7 for example. 700 series more home theater, L series a little more for the home?

[Chane M&C]

I assume the 700 series might be high sensitivity? 94-95 dB or so? What can you tell us about the design/sound/placement intent difference between these and the L series? 753 vs. L7 for example. 700 series more home theater, L series a little more for the home?

The 700s are generally approximately a notch larger than the Ls, which translates into higher sensitivity. However they're not industrial prosound-loud, meaning they'll range between 90 and 94db, nominally, with power ratings up to mid 200's (peak program). You're correct that the Ls are a mixed use lifestyle line and the large 700s are the black box HT choice (with truly excellent musical performance).

I'll post another installment at the end of this week, and plan to have them completely explained when they stock.