Thanks to a heads up from Mr. Widget, I couldn't be happier to announce the launch of the flaghsip Ultima2 Series by Revel. Here's the complete release:

Revel Launches Flagship Ultima2 Series Loudspeakers

– Revel’s new Ultima Salon2, Studio2, Gem2 and Voice2 are the much anticipated successors to the world-renowned Ultima Series loudspeakers, offering dramatically improved sound quality and aesthetics –

CEDIA EXPO, DENVER, CO, September 14, 2006 – Following closely on the heels of the announcement of its 10th anniversary, leading high-performance loudspeaker manufacturer Revel is announcing its next generation of Ultima loudspeakers. A direct result of an extensive R&D initiative employing the vast resources of parent company Harman International Industries (NYSE: HAR), the new Revel Ultima2 Series sets the new benchmark for high-performance loudspeakers. The Ultima2 Series comprises four new models: the Salon2 and Studio2 floorstanding loudspeakers, the Gem2 on-wall or stand-mounted loudspeaker, and the Voice2 center-channel loudspeaker. Each represents major advancements in both sound quality and design.

At the heart of the loudspeakers are new transducers that were specifically designed for Ultima2 from the ground up. They represent a major improvement in performance from the original Ultima Series with added sonic benefits. Featuring dual neodymium magnet motor systems with sophisticated distortion reduction mechanisms, titanium diaphragms and oversized voice coils with ribbon wire, the Ultima2 Series woofers and midranges represent the state-of-the-art in transducer design. The new 1-inch tweeter, common to all four Revel Ultima2 Series loudspeakers, sets the standard for transparency and low coloration with its pure beryllium dome and custom-designed waveguide. Each Revel Ultima2 Series loudspeaker is individually hand-tuned during manufacturing to match the original engineering reference to within a fraction of a decibel, thereby guaranteeing unsurpassed consistency from loudspeaker to loudspeaker.

From an aesthetic standpoint, the Ultima2 Series cabinets feature smooth rounded lines that blend with a wide variety of architectural styles. The elegant design extends to the magnetically attached grills eliminating the need for mounting hardware, while the acoustically optimized baffles and smooth surfaces of the transducer offer a visually arresting look when the loudspeakers are without their grills. The Ultima2 Series is available in a beautiful high-gloss mahogany wood veneer or a high-gloss black lacquer finish that complements any décor.

The Ultima Salon2 and Studio2 are floorstanding loudspeakers that offer unparalleled sound quality. The Salon2 is a 4-way system with three 8-inch woofers, a 6.5-inch mid-woofer, a 4-inch midrange and a 1-inch tweeter. The Studio2 is a 3-way system for applications requiring a smaller physical package, utilizing two 8-inch woofers, a 5.5-inch midrange and a 1-inch tweeter. An integrated access panel conceals the cast aluminum input panel and controls, hiding them from view, yet providing easy access to the controls and for wiring. The access panel is integrated with the shape of the loudspeaker giving it a finished look when viewed from any angle.

The Ultima Gem2 is a 3-way loudspeaker that can be used as a high-quality front loudspeaker, either on available stands, or wall-mounted using the included bracket, in stereo or multi-channel applications. Its low profile enables its use as a state-of-the-art flat panel display loudspeaker. Although the Gem2 loudspeaker is compact, its 3-way design utilizing an 8-inch woofer with a 2-inch voice coil wound with ribbon wire provides astonishing output with both low dynamic compression and distortion. The Gem2 is equally optimized for use as a surround loudspeaker offering ideal timbre matching with other Ultima2 Series loudspeakers.

The Ultima Voice2 loudspeaker is primarily intended for use as a center-channel loudspeaker, but is also designed for use as “three-across” (Left, Center, Right) front loudspeakers in applications in which its orientation and dimensions are more suitable (such as above or below a screen). The Voice2 loudspeaker utilizes two 8-inch woofers together with a 5.5-inch midrange, all with huge 2-inch flat-wire voice coils to reproduce an extraordinarily wide dynamic range with freedom from compression. The result is uniform sound quality, regardless of output level.

The new Revel Ultima2 Series Loudspeakers represent the pinnacle in performance and design standards, carrying on the Revel tradition of designing and building the world’s best speakers. In the new Ultima Salon2, Studio2, Gem2 and Voice2, audiophiles and home theater enthusiasts alike will revel in the ideal marriage of function and form.