Hosa Technology Introduces Cue 5 Digital Monitoring System With Binary Drive

Hosa Technology is proud to announce the Cue 5, the first affordable, all-digital monitoring system designed specifically for the desktop recordist.

The Cue 5 system features Hosa Technology's revolutionary Binary Drive, which extends the user's all-digital signal path to include the onboard speaker amplification—delivering rich, pristine detail to the 5.25-inch LF transducer and 1.5-inch silk-dome tweeters with zero intermodulation distortion and a virtually non-existent noise floor. The Cue 5 system accepts 24-bit/96 kHz signals directly via optical or coaxial S/PDIF inputs. Bundled control software for Macintosh and PC enables users to tailor the unique sound stage of the Cue 5 system for critical listening in any environment. This lightweight, cool-running monitoring system is the ideal choice for desktop recordists, mobile DJs, and digital music enthusiasts.

At the heart of the Cue 5 system's pioneering design is Binary Drive, an all-digital signal path featuring integrated Class-D amplification. This technology enables a digital source signal to remain entirely in the digital domain from the input until it reaches the transducers. It also eliminates the preamp D/A converter as well as the electronic frequency crossover found in most biamplified designs. The result is a stunningly realistic sound stage free of artifacts and coloration. In essence, the transducers themselves serve as the system's D/A converter. Similarly, since it is unnecessary to separate the highs from the lows before the amplification stage, intermodulation distortion is non-existent. The result is music that leaps forth from a background of absolute silence, music that is absolutely true to the source, with life-like stereo imaging. This enables musicians and engineers alike to make informed decisions regarding their mix.

Binary Drive delivers 30w per channel to a pair of 2-way studio monitors, each coupling a 5.25-inch LF transducer with a 1.5-inch silk-dome tweeter in a bass reflex enclosure featuring an oblong rear port. This rear port is a critical element in the enclosure's design, as it reduces the turbulence and distortion commonly associated with poorly designed round ports. The system's frequency response ranges from 65 Hz - 20 kHz, enabling it to reproduce the full spectrum of one's music. In addition to both optical and coaxial digital inputs, the Cue 5 system offers balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA analog inputs, making them a "future-proof" investment for those whose studios are presently analog.

Jonathan Pusey, Hosa Technology's National Marketing Manager, commented on the new Cue 5 All-Digital Studio Monitoring System, "One of the greatest benefits of the Cue 5 system is the incredible efficiency of the Class-D amplification integrated into Binary Drive. The monitors stage each instrument exactly as intended by the mix engineer. This results in noise-free reproduction of music and program material that is absolutely true to the source."

The Cue 5 All-Digital Studio Monitoring System includes special control software for optimizing the monitors to the listening environment. Compatible with both PC/Windows and Mac OS, the Cue 5 system's control software includes 6-Band parametric equalization with one-click bypass, independent Volume, Bass, Treble, Mute, plus Left-Right Balance, and Programmable Auto-Fade In/Out among its many features. With eight user memory locations for storing configurations and provisions for system access via Ethernet or RS232, the Cue 5 system enables one to precisely match the monitors with the room, further ensuring that one's mixes translate correctly to a wide variety of playback mediums.

In addition to their remarkable sound quality, the Cue 5 system is lightweight. Heavy power transformers and heat sinks are unnecessary in the Binary Drive all-digital environment. Another benefit of the Binary Drive design is its cool-running operation. Most conventionally-powered studio monitors emit considerable heat.

The Cue 5 All-Digital Studio Monitoring System carries an MSRP of $899 per pair. The Cue 5 monitoring system is scheduled to ship summer 2007.