Castle Harlech speakers

Rather than sacrifice the superb stereo imaging that result from a narrow cabinet, Castle has employed two small polypropylene coned mid/bass drive units in the Harlech -  on the top and one on the front face - instead of a larger mid/bass drive unit.

Each driver works with its own Quarter Wave pipe tuned to different frequencies but which join in a common vent at the speaker's base. The two drive units give exceptional bass extension and superior control but also radiate midrange energy into the room in a way that produces a large, spacious sound with very low distortion.

 

Quarter Wave

Competing speaker systems set themselves apart by the techniques with which bass extension is achieved. For the largest models in its range of floor-standing speakers Castle has adopted Quarter Wave loading. This technique can be traced back to the work of the legendary Paul Voigt inn the 1930s and has more in common with vibrating columns of air in organ pipes and folded horns that with alternative methods of bass extension like reflex or transmission line loading.

Designer Roger Loughton's execution of Quarter Wave techniques for Castle uses the latest measurement and optimisation techniques. The open, natural quality of attuned pipe has been retained in a tapered version that, with the drive unit at an optimum position along the pipe, reduces unwanted excitation at the fundamental frequency of the pipe and associated harmonics by natural acoustic filtering. Tapering the pipe also allows it to be folded inside the cabinet that not only brings it down to domestic size but enables the internal structure considerably to add to the rigidity of the enclosure.

The superiority of the Quarter Wave technique, correctly executed, over orthodox reflex loading with a cabinet of the same or bigger size is higher bass efficiency, maintained down to a lower frequency. Quarter Wave systems have the natural power and character of true, deep bass.

 

Specifications

Frequency Response:  40 Hz - 22,000 Hz

Nominal Impedance:  8 Ω

Sensitivity:  88 dB for 1 W at 1 m

Amplifier Requirements:  25 - 150 watts

System Type:  Quarter Wave

Bass Unit:  Twin 130 mm in a cast chassis with injection moulded cone

Treble Unit:  25 mm metal dome

Dimensions (W x H x D):  200 x 940 x 320 mm

Weight:  48 kg (packed)

 

Castle Howard S2 speakers

The Howard S2 is the largest member of the Castle Quarter Wave family. The narrow fronted cabinet coupled with a 25 mm metal dome tweeter guarantees stable stereo imagery with excellent presentation of depth and separation

The two 165 mm plasticised paper pulp drivers were developed especially for the Howard. They have massive high energy magnets, stiffer than usual suspensions and are built into substantial die-cast chassis.

These drive units excite the tapered and folded Quarter ave pipe inside the rigid cabinet. Exceptionally clean, extended bass with low distortion, high energy mid and sweet treble are the hallmarks of the Howard S2.

 

Our largest Quarter Wave system loudspeaker, the Castle Howard S2, is tuned to roll of below 35 Hz, making the system larger than the Harlech, and requiring an extra bass driver to load its longer horn and increased internal volume. Thanks to the high efficiency inherent in Quarter Wave systems, the increased cabinet volume also produces increased sound volume which remain slow in distortion and high in accuracy, the two key parameters for true high fidelity sound. Higher register are delicately handled by our proven 25 mm metal dome treble unit. As beautiful to look at as it is to listen to, the new Castle Howard S2 is engineered for a lifetime's enjoyment.

 

The room filling spaciousness in the Howard S2's sound is aided by careful positioning of the bass/mid drivers on both the front and top surfaces of the cabinet, so you can enjoy more of the music, in more locations within the room.

 

Specifications

Frequency Response:  35 Hz - 22,000 Hz

Nominal Impedance:  8 Ω

Sensitivity:  88 dB for 1 W at 1 m

Amplifier Requirements:  25 - 130 watts

System Type:  Quarter Wave

Bass Unit:  Twin 165 mm in a cast chassis with doped paper cone

Treble Unit:  25 mm metal dome

Dimensions (W x H x D):  230 x 1030 x 360 mm

Weight:  52 kg (packed)

 

Castle Kendal loudspeakers

The Kendal is Castle Acoustic latest loudspeakers. The most compact floor-standing design in the range, the Kendal, is at an advantage in smaller rooms. Because of its size a sealed box enclosure offers more appropriate loading for the mid/bass driver and permits the speaker to be used close to a wall.

The Kendal features a 130 mm coned version of the fabulous 170 mm woven carbon fibre drive unit developed for the Castle Avon. This drive unit - built into a precision die-cast chassis with a high temperature voice coil former and oversize magnet assembly - produces a highly detailed midrange with superbly controlled transient attack.

The Castle Acoustic 25 mm polyamide composite dome tweeter is an ideal match for this "fast" mid/bass driver.

 

Specifications

System Type:  Infinite baffle

Frequency Response:  50 Hz - 20,000 Hz

Nominal Impedance:  8 Ω

Sensitivity:  87 dB 1W/1m

Amplifier Requirements:  25 - 100 watts

Bass Unit:  130 mm in a cast chassis with a woven carbon fibre cone

Treble Unit:  25 mm composite soft dome

Dimensions (W x H x D):  170 x 730 x 195 mm

Weight:  22 kg (packed)

 

Castle Keep speaker

The Castle Keep answers the demand for a high quality, centre channel speaker designed for the modern, multi-channel home cinema system. Centre channel speakers are commonly designed down to a price. This can mean poor cosmetic design and often wore acoustic performance. The Keep is a notable exception.

Employing the same quality 130 mm cast chassis bass drivers developed for the award-winning Castle Harlech, the Keep is finished in the true Castle tradition with quality wood veneers. Treble - vital to the transparency and dynamics demanded of a centre channel speaker handling dialogue - is handled by the castle 25 mm short horn loaded polyamide tweeter. Bass reflex loading guarantees sensitivity equal to the dynamics of modern digital soundtrack while the use of the Castle tweeter gives a wide and even treble dispersion.

 

Bass drivers are fully shielded to avoid interference with TV monitors.

The Keep is, of course, AC-3 (Dolby Digital) compatible. With the Castle keep, home cinema need not be a sound quality compromise.

 

Specification

System Type:  twin port Reflex

Frequency Response:  65 Hz - 20,000 Hz

Nominal Impedance:  8 Ω

Sensitivity:  89 dB 1W/1m

Amplifier Requirements:  25 - 130 watts

Bass Unit:  Twin 130 mm in a cast chassis with injection moulded cone

Treble Unit:  25 mm composite soft dome

Dimensions (W x H x D):  170 x 47,5 x 280 mm

Weight:  10,5 (packed)

 

Castle Isis loudspeakers

In this digital, computer age loudspeakers are often seen as poor relations of the electronics in a hi-fi or home cinema system. As electro-acoustic devices they are often, incorrectly thought of, as "old" technology - one design indistinguishable from another. You couldn't be more wrong.

 

The Castle Isis sets new performance standards for a speaker of its compact dimensions thanks to the use of castle designed and developed advanced technology drive units. Smooth high frequency detail is delivered by our 25 mm polyamide dome tweeter. Its shallow horn loading ensures good treble dispersion on and off-axis for a wide listening area.

The 130 mm mid/bass driver is built into a strudy die-cast chassis with a lightweight injection moulded plastic cone. A high temperature Kapton voice coil former is used to allow the driver to produce high levels of clean, undistorted sound. A simple crossover, employing audiophile quality components, integrates these exceptional drivers without sacrificing transparency or "slam"

The Castle Isis cabinet is pleasingly proportionated with a front-facing reflex port that suits it equally to bookshelf or stand use.

 

Specifications

Frequency Response:  60 Hz - 20,000 Hz

Nominal Impedance: 8 Ω

Sensitivity:  87 dB for 1W at 1m

Amplifier requirements:  20 - 80 watts

System type:  Reflex

Drivr Unit

Bass :  130 mm in a cast chassis with injection moulded cone

Treble :  25 mm composite soft dome

Dimensions (W x H x D):  170 x 350 x 195 mm

Weight (Packed):  11,6 kg

 

Castle Tay loudspeakers

The Castle Tay has successfully taken over from the best-selling Castle Durham which it replaces. Optimally designed for stand or shelf applications in medium sized room, the Tay delivers a bass impact which belies its size.

Key to this performance is a specially developed version of the latest Castle 130 mm mid/bass driver. A high performance motor system was developed for the Tay by employing a higher power 1,2 Tesla magnet and a special long-throw voice coil wound on a high temperature Kapton former. Critically damped reflex loading with a radiused port ring gives low distortion bass performance of true power and scale.

High frequencies are handled by the highly praised Castle 25 mm soft dome tweeter crossed over through the easy amplifier load of a 2nd/3rd order network. The Tay delivers smooth and extended bass of considerable power and detail.

 

Specifications

Frequency Response:  50 Hz - 20,000 Hz

Nominal Impedance:  8 Ω

Sensitivity:  87 dB (1 W/1m)

Amplifiers Requirements:  25 - 110 watts

System Type:  Reflex

Bass Unit:  130 mm in a cast chassis with injection moulded cone

Treble Unit :  25 mm composite soft dome

Dimensions (H x W x D):  420 x 190 x 240 mm

Weight:  15,2 kg (packed)

 

Castle Eden loudspeakers

The innovative Eden is the largest Castle speaker for stand or shelf mounting. It takes the unique woven carbon fibre diaphragm technology, developed for the floor standing Castle Avon, and uses it to staggering effect in a compact enclosure.

Heart of the Eden's acoustic system is the latest in bass drive unit construction. Castle's new die-cast chassis 170 mm mid/bass drive unit uses a cone made from long woven, resin-set and baked carbon fibres. This material offers unprecedented rigidity coupled with low weight. The speed and accuracy of this large drive unit are phenomenal. Yet its extended midrange clarity permits a simple 2nd order crossover network at 3,3 kHz that is both transparent and easy for an amplifier to drive.

Treble is handled by the outstanding Castle 25 mm polyamide dome tweeter. The marriage of these two advanced drive units creates a sound quality that offers exceptional transparency, detail and astonishing dynamics. Stereo imagery too is solid and stable.

 

Specifications

Frequency Response:  45 Hz - 20,000 Hz

Nominal Impedance:  8 Ω

Sensitivity:  87 dB (1 W/1m)

Amplifiers Requirements:  25 - 120 watts

System Type:  Reflex

Bass Unit:  170 mm in a cast chassis with a woven carbon fibre cone

Treble Unit :  1,2 mm composite soft dome

Dimensions (H x W x D):  495 x 235 x 295 mm

Weight:  15,5 kg (packed)