Krix Blog

Krix Crow The Loudest

Peter — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

The Adelaide Football Club's $20 million dollar training and entertainment facility incorporates a wide range of Krix loudspeakers throughout various sections of the new complex.

The installation, carried out by Harvey Norman Commercial, saw a large number of Holographix and Atmospherix in-ceiling speakers used in the foyer, staff offices, and function rooms, with speakers from Krix's new Xtreme Cinema range being used in the 48 seat theatrette.

Krix fans can experience the best of what the Adelaide Crows have to offer, with tours kicking off in the theatrette and taking them through all aspects of the facility including the Museum, Replica Locker Room, Honour Room. For tour times please visit www.crowsfacility.com.au

Go Crows - Go Krix!

Krix Wins at Sound & Image Awards 2010

Peter — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 22:30:00 GMT

Last nights Sound & Image Awards held in Sydney saw Krix take home two Winners Gongs for the Harmonix and Seismix 3 mk5.

The Harmonix floorstander was awarded Stereo Loudspeaker of the Year up to $2,500 in what has always been a highly competitive category.

Judges Comments - “With the Harmonix, Krix has been able to offer true, three-way performance using extremely high-quality drivers, in an attractive floor-standing design finished in real timber veneer, at a price where most other manufacturers are struggling to incorporate just one of these advantages…and they sound fabulous.”

Our second award winner was for the recently released Seismix 3 mk5 which won Subwoofer of the Year under $1,000.

Judges comments were - "The Seismix 3 subwoofer continues to evolve, with each new generation delivering superior low-bass performance, yet Krix is continuing to be able to keep the price low, the cabinet small and the build quality up to what we expect from Australia’s leading loudspeaker manufacturer.”

The above two awards, combined with the Lifetime Achievement Award presented to Scott Krix for his services to the Home Entertainment Electronics Industry meant that the 21st Sound & Images Awards was a very successful and enjoyable night for Krix.

Lifetime Achievement Award for Scott Krix

Peter Lawson — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:30:00 GMT

His image greets you on the inside of the Krix loudspeaker catalogue, but Scott Krix is far more than just the face of Krix, he is the very foundation on which the company is built.

A labour of love that started when Scott was a teenager, he has spent the better part of 40 years designing and building a range of loudspeakers which can be found in more than 30 countries around the world.

For those of us who know Scott well, personal recognition is not what drives him. He is a quiet and unassuming character whose ambition is to produce loudspeakers that would (and have) competed with the best in the world.

As Krix enters its 36th year in business, Scott was recognised for his significant contributions to the Australian Loudspeaker industry with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the annual Sound & Image Awards held in Sydney last night.

Krix Loudspeakers is a fantastic Australian success story and to be recognised by your peers for what has been a lifelong dream is outstanding reward. On behalf of everyone at Krix and the many tens of thousands of Krix owners, I would like to congratulate Scott on his award. Well done mate!

New Seismix Activity Detected at Krix

Peter — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 11:45:00 GMT

Deep in the bowels of the earth's core, the Krix Research and Development team have been kept busy putting the final touches to the new Seismix 1 mk3 and Seismix 3 mk5 active subwoofers.

The Seismix 1 mk3 has changed considerably, as we have sought to significantly differentiate between the Seismix 1 mk3 and the Seismix 3 mk5. Bass drivers for both new models have been completely re-engineered, with magnet and pole piece geometry enhancements providing greater control at high excursion, resulting in higher power handling and greater low frequency output.

The S1 cabinet has changed from a 10" front firing subwoofer, to an 8" downward firing device, enabling Krix to do away with the need for a cloth grille as part of the cabinet design. Instead, Krix have designed and moulded four rubber feet to raise the cabinet (and driver) 35mm off the floor for optimum performance. The feet also have provision for accepting speaker spikes should the need arise. The cabinet is also slightly smaller to accommodate the correct tuning for the driver, making this new model Krix's most compact subwoofer to date.

The Seismix 3 mk5 has had little change to its cabinet, with the overall dimensions of the cabinet not changing at all. The bass driver however, has gone from a 10" to an 11" and front baffle location of the new driver and front firing vent have moved 180 degrees to accommodate the amplifier module on the rear panel. Overall weight of the unit has increased by 20% due to the re-designed Krix driver having a much larger motor structure to aid in controlling the doped paper cone at high output levels.

For the complete list of specifications visit our product pages: Seismix 1 http://www.krix.com/Product/Detail.aspx?p=44&id=71 & Seismix 3 http://www.krix.com/Product/Detail.aspx?p=44&id=72

Acoustix & Graphix - Now Available

Peter — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 05:30:00 GMT

Krix is releasing four new models this week. The Acoustix bookshelf speaker and Graphix matching centre channel are shipping now with new subwoofer versions of the Seismix 1 mk3 and Seismix 3 mk5 due around Friday 18th September.

So often of late, our customers have been seeking a front ported option of the KDX-M & KDX-C. Krix has made several custom products for these clients, but the KDX speakers were at the end of their 'life cycle' and so alternative options needed to be sought. Another major consideration as part of the upgrade path was that the KDX used an older model tweeter and as such Krix was losing some HF tonal balance especially when the KDX-C was used with the Apex or Phoenix.

The new Acoustix (mains) and Graphix (centre) solve this problem and more. The tweeter used in these two new models is the same as used in the Vortex. This tweeter is also identical to a number of other Krix products, namely the Equinox, Apex, Phoenix and Harmonix, only it is has a smaller mounting plate to enable Krix to use it in more compact designs.

The front ports are entirely Krix's design and are specially moulded to eliminate air turbulence via the port flaring at both ends and to reduce compression at high listening levels. Small and compact, the Acoustix and Graphix are the perfect choice for use in TV cabinets and custom joinery as the new front porting eliminates 'boomy' bass qualities found when using rear ported speakers in this type of application.

The Acoustix and Graphix pictured above are finished in the American Cherry real timber veneer and are also available in Black Ash, Atlantic Jarrah timber veneers as well as vinyl veneers of those same three colours. Information on the new Seismix 1 mk3 and Seismix 3 mk5 will be uploaded to the Krix web site later on this week, so stay tuned for all the details.

Front ported Neuphonix

Grant — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 07:30:00 GMT

Krix have made available a front-ported version of the very popular Neuphonix. We have received quite a few enquiries from clients who would like to position their loudspeakers closer to the rear wall in a smaller room, or alternatively build them in to custom joinery in the living area or dedicated theatre. This has been a trend that I suspect originated in the US where they have specifically constructed home theatres, often with a specific theme. Googling “themed home theatres” will provide a range of ideas that range from interesting to weird.

There is one particular designer in the US that specialises in upmarket installations and has an impressive portfolio, so if you are interested in the high-end themed home theatre have a look at Theo Kalomirakis’ site http://www.tktheaters.com

What the weird and wonderful both share however is the concealed loudspeaker system. Fitting a loudspeaker in to an enclosure can and will result in detrimental effects unless there is some care taken to get things just right. Sealed or front ported loudspeakers are a must for this environment as they have less impact when being utilised for this type of installation. This is where a competent specialist installer is invaluable.

Surprisingly few changes were required to finalise this project and satisfy our requirements so you won’t notice a huge difference between the two models under normal circumstances. If you have the space and are looking for something quite tuneable then the standard, rear ported version is still the one to take home. If you require a loudspeaker that will be positioned close to a wall (and have limited positioning options) or are planning on building another Star Trek themed theatre then the front ported Neuphonix will fit the bill. Of course you could also consider the Xtreme range if you want a real theatre at home…

The front ported Neuphonix will provide a further solution to our clients that want a high performance speaker that can integrate with their environment in a less obtrusive way.

Krix Xtreme Cinema at CEDIA 2009

Peter 'The Suit' — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 06:25:00 GMT

It makes perfect sense - if you're designing and building a high end home cinema, why not use speakers that 50% of Australian Cinemas use - KRIX.

It was an exciting week for Grant & me, the first time that Krix had exhibited at CEDIA in Australia. Krix had exhibited in the USA 4 years running a while back and after attending the show on the Gold Coast in 2008, we felt that there was a huge opportunity to release some new products this year under the Xtreme Cinema banner.

The main draw card was of course our high gloss Cherry Red Xtreme Cinema system which incorporated the THX approved KX-5920 3 way LCR screen system + 2 x KX-4010 subwoofers (active version). These speakers would normally be located in behind a perforated screen, so they would normally be finished in our standard black finish. But the opportunity to make a statement and show off the type of custom finishing that Krix can offer was too good an opportunity to pass up.

High end home cinema is not something new, I'm sure that we've all seen weird and wacky systems and themed rooms that the rich and famous showcase. But for Krix, it's the point of difference we can bring to the table - use the speakers cinemas use and you don't need to have a 10 screen complex and parking for 3000 and more importantly we're Australian Made!

It's not just this system that will form part of the Krix Xtreme Cinema range. There are a number of screen & surround combinations, but we are also completing a diverse range of in-wall and on-wall products that will mean there is something for everyone.

There are in-wall versions of the Neuphonix and Epicentrix, plus the new Acoustix and Graphix which will replace the KDX-M and KDX-C as well a the high powered on-wall called the KX-QueOne. All Krix in-wall / in-ceiling speakers come complete with rear enclosures to ensure that they will always offer the same high level of performance.

Neuphonix In-wall and Acoustix In-Wall complete with back box.

Vortex - Buy Me Now & Take Me Home

Peter Lawson — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 02:30:00 GMT

The much discussed and anticipated Vortex centre channel speaker is now available. There are a already a few units on display, Ipswich Hi-Fi (QLD), Sound Advice (WA) and The Hi-Fi Trader (NSW) with many more expected to 'wing' their way from their Adelaide nest to adoring homes around the country.

The specifications and product details are now listed under the Home Entertainment section, so be one of the first to hear and buy the Vortex. Let us know what you think by adding your comments to this post, or alternatively you can write and submit your own product review on this or any Krix product for all to read.

They call me Vortex

Peter Lawson — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Krix Vortex

After literally hundreds of requests.....(well....at least 23), Krix has released it's second new model in consecutive months.

The Vortex, as it shall be called is the matching centre channel loudspeaker to compliment the November 2008 release of the Harmonix. The Vortex uses the same tweeter, midrange and bass drivers used in the Harmonix, offering a more cost effective LCR solution to the ever popular Neuphonix & Epicentrix combination.

It is worth noting that the new Vortex will also match very nicely with the Phoenix and Apex fronts given the use of the same tweeter. The Vortex is fully shielded and can therefore be used with CRT TV's (unlike the Epicentrix) and is heavily braced to allow the placement of a TV directly on top of the cabinet.

Exact details and specifications will be listed in the Krix Product Pages when the Vortex is officially released - which is expected to be the 19th of January 2009. Initial handy tidbits though for all you out there in consumer land:

Dimensions - 725mm wide x 230mm high x 376mm deep (including grille)

Weight - 23 kilos

Finish - Lacquered timber veneer or vinyl veneer

Price - $1200.00 in real timber veneer & $1100.00 in vinyl

Harmonix - On Sale Now

Peter Lawson — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 06:30:00 GMT

There's no need to wait any longer - the Harmonix are now availble. Please click on the Home Entertainment heading and follow the drop down menu to Harmonix where you will be able to read all the technical specifications.

We hope you enjoy listening to the Harmonix in the weeks, months and years ahead, I'm sure they'll find plenty of new homes.

Sneak Peek - New Krix Harmonix Floorstanders

Peter Lawson — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 23:30:00 GMT

Krix Harmonix

Krix heralds the release of their new 3 way floorstander, the Harmonix.

The Harmonix will relace the Symphonix which were created in 2002 and rapidly commanded a cult following, especially for those people who enjoy listening to music in the traditional stereo setup. Therefore replacing this product was going to require something special.

The Harmonix are just a fraction larger than the Symphonix they replace, with dimensions of 1060mm high x 220mm wide x 355mm deep, providing a total internal volume of 38 litres.

Controlling the standing waves inside any loudspeaker enclosure is crucial for lean, defined and tonally correct mid-bass that can make or break the reproduction of acoustic music, particularly with stringed instruments. The Harmonix cabinetry builds on the legacy left by the Symphonix, with internal bracing being dramatically improved. Two large braces criss-cross the low to mid section of the cabinet, providing side-to-side and front-to-back bracing, with a third angled brace making up the midrange enclosure at the top of the box. This wedge shaped cavity creates a sealed 6 litre enclosure for the midrange driver and tweeter, effectively isolating them from the remaining drivers in the enclosure.

The choice of transducers draws on many of the benefits the larger Neuphonix loudspeakers have delivered to listeners. The Harmonix use the same midrange driver as in the Neuphonix, which has very low harmonic distortion as a result of the large magnet, copper shorting ring, and high sensitivity (due to the short voice coil). Combined with a flat mid-band frequency response (1-3 kHz where the ear is most sensitive) this midrange driver delivers lucid and detailed vocals while remaining unfatiguing. It is worth noting that this midrange is not a mid-woofer masquerading as a midrange driver which can be the case in many loudspeakers.

The large 28mm soft dome tweeter brings the Harmonix into the family of other Krix products recently released using this same tweeter (Equinox, Apex, Phoenix) providing better all round consistency and acoustic matching for home theatre applications.

Needless to say, this tweeter has been chosen because it presents smooth top end performance with an absence of gritty stored energy problems. Placing the tweeter below the midrange driver minimises diffraction related interaction with the edges of the cabinet, and also bring the loudspeaker’s output close to ear level when seated.

The two 6½ inch polypropylene cone bass drivers boast a nominal 1½ inch voice coil, flux stabilization ring and strong cast aluminium basket. The Harmonix use an extended bass shelf alignment which is well known for producing deep, tight, clean bass.

The larger a speaker becomes, the more focus is placed on how it will be located in the listening room. In order to make the new Harmonix “room friendly” a decision was made to offer the product in a front ported format. Additionally the use of a 75mm double flared vent system alleviates vortice shedding or chuffing that could otherwise mar the listening experience at medium to high volume levels.

Krix will begin shipping the Harmonix in November 2008 and they will be available in Vinyl finishes: Black Woodgrain / Atlantic Jarrah / American Cherry - $2300.00 per pair or Real Timber Veneer finishes: Black Ash / Atlantic Jarrah / American Cherry - $2500.00 per pair.

Retired Models & Brochure

Peter Lawson — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 07:45:00 GMT

Our good friends at Fusion www.fusion.com.au (superior design agency and web developers extraordinaire) have been busy implementing a few new updates on the Krix site which rate a mention.

There is now a new sub heading listed under Home Entertainment - Products, for our Retired Models. These products are no longer for sale, but those weird and wonderful names that end in 'X' which had served us well which have been sent out to pasture are now back.....if only for their specifications. We hope to be able to include a lot more of our older models in this section as time permits, so stay tuned.

The other new inclusion on the site is the way you can view our brochure and user guides. Instead of downloading the PDF, you click on the view icon (which looks like an eye) and this opens the document via a funky new platform called Issuu. It allows you to flick through the pages on screen just like having the booklet in front of you and makes reading the document far easier.

Please take a moment to have a look and let us know what you think of the update.

PS: Just between you and me, there's a new model about to be released, (it's the Harmonix) but can't say too much just yet. It will be available in November, so keep an eye out on the blog, more info and pics to follow soon.

Reviews, Awards & More….

Peter Lawson — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 05:00:00 GMT

I can’t believe it’s been so many months since our last news posting. So much has happened in this time, however it has been genuinely difficult to find time to put finger to keyboard.

Since the launch of the new Krix web site back in May 2007, the web traffic has increased from 2,000 visits per month pre-launch to averaging 25,000 visits per month in the ‘07/’08 fiscal year. So on behalf of everyone at Krix I would like to thank all of our retailers and customers for their massive support.

There are 4 recent reviews listed in their entirety within the reviews category, covering the new on-wall sensations, the Tryptix as well as the Equinox mk2. Please take a moment to have a quick read, and of course if you already own a pair of these, or any other Krix products, we would be happy to hear your thoughts and post these against the appropriate product in the form of an owner review. The Tryptix and Phoenix were also recently Best Buy Award Winners with Audio & Video Lifestyle Magazine.

The latest Krix release, the Tropix outdoor speakers have been available now for a few months and selling quite well. It’s probably fair to say that the cooler (I mean freezing) weather is keeping most of us indoors (unless you live in Darwin!) but that’s no excuse not to start planning for those Summer BBQ’s. So grab a pair of Tropix or the smaller Aquatix and get them installed now.

Speaker Selection

Grant — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 03:30:00 GMT

There was a test done many years ago that was famous in the industry at that time. I think it may have been a Canadian speaker manufacturer that came up with the idea.

It was pretty simple: all they wanted to do was test to see if colour had any effect on the way people felt about a speaker, and if it effected their perception of the sound. The idea was to conduct a listening test using members of the public, but using exactly the same loudspeaker with a different colour grille for each session. The testers were told that the different colours represented different speakers and were asked to record their thoughts on each model. You can probably guess the outcome here. The results were mostly uniform across the range, so people had similar perceptions about the sound of the speaker with a specific grille. For instance (if I remember correctly) when fitted with the red grille most people described the sound as more "lively".

Another issue that will effect your perception of a loudspeakers performance is the loudness of the speaker as tests have proven that people will pick the loudest speaker as having better sound quality. This is a nasty trap when auditioning as it can catch people out. If you simply switch between one speaker and another without adjusting the volume its likely that you will simply choose the more sensitive speaker. The most accurate method to combat this is to take an SPL meter with you and measure both speakers output on a test signal to determine where the volume control should be when listening to each speaker system. Then simply adjust the level appropriately when you listen to each loudspeaker so you know the level is the same. This will allow a much more accurate comparison between speakers. It will also prevent the salesperson from "guiding" you - not that anyone that sells Krix would do that! Which is why we deal with a select dealer network rather than giving the product to just anyone.Until next time, happy listening!

Analogue Rules

Grant — Tue, 13 May 2008 05:40:00 GMT

Wow. I know it’s been a long time between drinks but we have been excessively busy here at the factory with business still booming - thanks to all you Krix lovers. There’s been the travel, lunches and parties… ok, the last two are wishful thinking but there has been a lot of travel. Given that we haven’t put finger to keyboard for some time I thought I would talk about something that is close to my heart and, like everything these days, controversial: the turntable.

Those of you from gen Y will know the turntable from a DJ’s perspective, but long ago this was a viable means of high quality playback, and the source that really started the quest for high quality sound. Those that still worship at the vinyl alter will argue that since the LP record things have gone backwards. First there was the magnetic storage device (audio cassette) then that digital thing (CD), and now we have (gasp) MP3. But is vinyl really dead? A quick search on the ‘net reveals that there are plenty of specialist resellers offering pre-loved vinyl and a truck load of new vinyl available, many titles carefully remastered from the original tapes and cut to high quality, heavy-weight virgin-vinyl (not recycled vinyl, hence less impurities). Sure there is a lot more to vinyl playback than buying a player, a set of decent cables and pressing the “open” button but the rewards are there too and because vinyl playback is now mostly relegated to enthusiasts you can guarantee that the majority of new recordings available have been mastered with sound quality in mind. Why else would we be bothered with phono preamps, matching cartridges to tonearms, isolation tables, cleaning and storing, and adjusting tracking force, VTA, azimuth etc etc. There really is only one reason: it sounds good. It doesn’t hurt that you can often pick up decent vinyl for next to nothing, and mostly all it needs is a proper clean, preferably with a dedicated cleaning machine. If this all sounds too hard then you have the reason why more people aren’t using it, however I suspect enthusiasts will be listening to vinyl long after the CD has been replaced.

Speaking of bargains, I found a handful of gems in one of our local record dealers (Big Star) at Marion. Although I am hesitant to reveal what I purchased I have been encouraged to do so, which means I have to confess to picking up Spandau Ballets “True” album, Big Pig’s “Bonk” although I think I managed to redeem myself shortly after with some Sonny Terry and Brownie McGee “Live in London”, and Jeff Healey’s “Hell to Pay” album. All are in excellent condition, and for the outrageous sum of $4 each. I still can’t believe I admitted to the first two…

If you do wish to dip your toe in analogue waters you may want to have a look at good old eBay and see if you can pick up a bargain second hand ‘table. Allow for a service, new belt and decent cartridge and you should be well on your way to conversion. If you want to get a little more serious there are plenty of quality new turntables on the market from manufacturers like Project, ClearAudio, Thorens, and my personal favourite, Rega. In fact the Rega P3 and its variations have long been considered by many an industry benchmark in performance-for the-dollar decks. The new model, the P3/24, has been so popular that the local importer is out of stock. Naturally there are better models but in my opinion certainly not near the Rega’s price.

Of course if you drive a Bugatti Veyron, and wear a Vacheron Constantin watch then you best have a look at the range of turntables from SME, VPI, and a high-end Australian manufacturer Continuum. If you do happen to buy a Continuum please let me know, but expect me around in the near future (possibly to stay.)

As far as vinyl is concerned you may want to have a look at websites by Acoustic Sounds, Elusive Disc, Vinyl Solution, Quality Records, Audiophile USA, Music Direct or any one of the other vinyl suppliers. Yep, there are plenty more.

As always, thanks for reading, happy listening - and give us your thoughts!