NEAR® (New England Audio Resource) loudspeakers have always performed well in tests. But the real measure of any loudspeaker is how it sounds to you, not to a machine. We are confident that when you hear NEAR loudspeakers, you'll be impressed most of all with their musicality. A variety of speaker types are included for indoor and outdoor applications, high-ceiling atriums, and in extreme weather environments … while offering exceptional sound quality.

METAL DIAPHRAGM TECHNOLOGY (MDT)
Featherweight aluminum-alloy cones for speed, clarity, and musicality

NEAR Speakers feature MDT metal-alloy drivers for optimum sound quality that eliminates listener fatigue.

Speed: MDT is lighter, stiffer, faster
MDT is a proprietary metal-alloy diaphragm about as light as is physically possible—nearly the ideal massless piston. The gently curved shape provides additional rigidity and good phase response. Each cone is individually formed and inspected for uniformity. Anodizing transforms the metal surface into a ceramic compound, making the cone even more rigid and very well damped. The result is a strong and lightweight sandwich structure with extremely fast transient response.

Clarity: MDT delivers all the details, naturally
There's accuracy, and then there's clarity. It is not difficult to design an accurate loudspeaker. Making it sound great is another thing. MDT diaphragms reveal the hidden nuances in music. Light and rigid, the metal diaphragms are also characterized by "breakup" modes (inherent resonances) that are much higher in frequency and narrower in width. The "tweaking" necessary to deal with these modes requires far fewer compromises to the smoothness of the frequency response. Listeners enjoy a clarity of sound refreshingly devoid of stridency and sizzle.

Musicality: MDT improves the listening experience
"Musicality" is hard to define—yet you know it when you hear it. It may reveal itself in the delicate tones of a violin, or in the distinct imaging of an orchestra. But perhaps the best indication of musicality is when you feel refreshed after listening—even for hours. NEAR speakers are simply more musical.

Summary of MDT Benefits:
• High rigidity and low mass of metal versus the traditional papers and plastics
• Extremely stable cone structure over long periods of time
• Fast transmission of sound through the diaphragm means low energy storage
• Special anodizing process creates a ceramic coating for increased stiffness
• Efficient heat-sinking of voice coils under long-term, high-power conditions

MAGNETIC LIQUID SUSPENSION (MLS)
Unique non-mechanical suspension enhances performance

NEAR-patented Magnetic Liquid Suspension (MLS) is a superior method for guiding a speaker's voice coil assembly through the magnetic field. MLS eliminates the traditional mechanical "spider" and replaces it with a thick magnetic fluid that stays permanently suspended in the gap of the magnet, allowing the voice coil to remain centered and to operate with superior linearity. In fact, the louder it plays, the more accurate the centering forces become. The results are lower distortion, greater linearity, more consistent long-term performance, and longer cone excursions (allowing use of smaller diameter woofers without sacrificing bass extension). In addition, the fluid is a more efficient heat sink for the voice coil, preventing heat-related impedance shifts that roughen frequency response.

Summary of MLS Benefits

• Voice coil is constantly centered as it moves up and down, for lower distortion
• Voice coil is heat-sinked by fluid instead of air, preventing heat-related impedance shifts
• High linearity is accomplished because the mechanical spider is eliminated
• Constant lubrication of the gap prevents oxidation, even in outdoor uses
• Long-term operation is more consistent since fluid doesn't change characteristics
• Longer excursions are possible using smaller diameter woofers, without sacrificing bass extension

ABOUT NEAR

Since 1988, NEAR technology has been used to produce truly exceptional loudspeakers at affordable prices. Chief Engineer Bill Kieltyka could have played it safe by purchasing third-party speaker components and tweaking them into a good-sounding product. But rather than settle for another company's idea of high technology, Kieltyka decided NEAR deserved better.

“My experience with acoustics and speaker design has reinforced my belief that of all the materials available for creating a dynamic speaker, rigid (yet responsive) metal cones perform far better than paper, polypropylene, or composites. Now I see a small number of top-rated speaker companies also using metal cones, which I consider an affirmation of the superiority of the technology.”

Kieltyka believes that the most significant shortcoming of speakers is cone flex or “break-up” in the audible region of sound. These break-up modes are, in fact, the natural resonances of the cone material. Where in the frequency spectrum these resonances occur have a direct effect on the clarity, or “musicality,” of the speaker. The resonances of NEAR's Metal Diaphragm Technology™ (MDT) metal-alloy cones occur at much higher frequencies and are narrower in width than those of conventional materials, thus their sonic imprint can be effectively eliminated in the crossover circuitry. MDT cones are steadier, clearer, and more accurate than paper or plastic cones.

Yes, there are fancy spectrum-analysis measurements that bear this out, but you will not likely see them in a typical audio review. What you will learn, however, is that NEAR speakers are eminently more listenable and less fatiguing than other speakers that may measure equally well.

Complementing the superb MDT cone is an ingenious solution to voice coil guidance. Instead of centering the voice coil in the magnet using a mechanical “spider” - an age-old technique - NEAR uses something better: Magnetic Liquid Suspension™ (MLS). This proprietary technology prevents lateral-motion distortion for true, piston-like performance and greater cone excursion even under the most demanding conditions.

One listen and you'll hear why music lovers agree that NEAR speakers offer an ideal combination of performance and value. NEAR speakers are simply more musical.