The Continuum 2.5 Mk IV represents the next evolutionary step above the remarkable Continuum A.D. Being the third design to become a member of the Millennial Reference Series of world-class products, it extends the fundamental principles and technologies established for its smaller sibling to lower frequencies. In order to achieve its superior bass extension, it was necessary to construct it as a full floor-standing system. As such, it is the first in this class of product offering. The truth be told, the Continuum 2.5 is literally nothing more than the Continuum A.D. mounted to a lower module that serves to increase the summed total enclosure volume. It is a fundamental law of loudspeaker physics that, given all else being equal (i.e., drivers and such), to achieve a lower system bass extension, enclosure volume must be increased. There is a maximum limit though to the increase in enclosure volume that can be employed before a system non-linear frequency response results. In fact, there is only one “optimum” enclosure volume for a given compliment of drivers that yield what is termed a “maximally flat” response. When the lower module’s volume of the Continuum 2.5 is combined with that of the Continuum A.D., such optimization of the total system enclosure volume is realized. While it is true that the lower module of the Continuum 2.5 is nothing more than a rigidly built, yet essentially “empty” enclosure devoid of anything more than a bass-port tube and damping material, don’t let the simplicity of the combination deceive you. Bass performance is extended from the 32Hz performance of the Continuum A.D. alone, to 24Hz from its transformation into the Continuum 2.5. As any experienced listener knows, this ½ -octave extension is not a trivial improvement. One listen and any prior thoughts of possibly needing a sub-woofer will hastily exit from your mind. In fact, we feel it is important to make mention of the fact that all of our bass extension specifications are based on “anechoic” measurements. This essentially means that the quoted bass extension is taken to mean that it is the result of measuring the loudspeaker in a “free field” condition. Such a condition only exists where there are no nearby boundaries to reflect and amplify the sound coming from the speaker. Think of suspending the loudspeaker several hundred feet in the air and then measuring its output with a microphone from 1 meter away. That’s not actually how we do it of course, but our computerized measurement system emulates similar conditions. In light of the above, it is a basic law of physics that the floor, ceiling and walls of any room will reflect low frequencies such as to give the impression that they have been amplified. In engineering terms we call this effect “room gain.” This room gain can be quite significant at low frequencies and should always be considered when contemplating the purchase of a speaker system. Therefore, when one combines the anechoic response of the Continuum 2.5 with what is essentially an unavoidable amplification resulting from room gain, the final bass response is most often perceived as nothing short of tremendous. Please make note of the fact that many manufacturers will specify the bass extension of their product under the conditions of an “in room” response. While this method does give one an idea as to what that product will sound like in a typical room, it is also somewhat misleading. Rest assured, all products in the Millennial Reference Series have their bass extension specified from an anechoic standpoint, and will virtually always yield considerably greater performance than is implied by their specification under real-world conditions. One listen to the Continuum 2.5 in any average to quite large room will be all that is needed to convince you of this fact. In summery, the Continuum 2.5 Mk IV is endowed with all of the performance specifications that qualify it as a true world-class reference system for professional mastering use, yet going beyond that requirement, it provides a very realistic and natural musical presentation that must be heard to be believed. It embodies all of the performance advantages of its monitor-version counterpart, the Continuum A.D., while providing an additional level of bass extension that makes for a very powerful and authoritative foundation. Music and sound track literally seem to come alive and are almost unnerving in their ability to shake the foundations of your listening experience. Finally, its innovative interlocking mechanism helps to secure your investment for many years to come by making future upgrading to the flagship Revelation MR-2 possible at a later date. Regardless of your needs, you will find that it offers a rare combination of qualities that allow it to be equally at home in the most demanding studio, two-channel stereo and home A/V applications.

Specifications:

(2) 8-inch Aluminum-cone woofers in Hybrid Reflex enclosure & (1) Waveguide loaded, 1-inch fabric dome tweeter.

Standard Finish: Satin Paint. Premier Finishes w/ custom hardwood and/or veneer species and/or mirror-gloss finish available upon request.

Impedance 4-Ohms Sensitivity 88dB @ 1W/1M – 91dB @ 2.83V/1M.

Frequency Response (anechoic) 25Hz-22KHz +/- 2dB -3dB Points (anechoic) 24Hz & 24KHz.

Bass Alignment Proprietary 4th order Hybrid Reflex.

Power Handling (Long Term) 250 Watts (I.E.C. 268-5) Power Handling (Short Term) 600 Watts (I.E.C. 268-5).

Crossover Type 4th order L-R Acoustic @ 700Hz.

 Dimensions 53.75"H x 12.5"W x 15.75"D.

 Weight 163 lbs. Each.

A true "revelation" awaits you as a new zenith in performance has taken form in the Aether Audio Revelation MR-2 Mk IV monitoring/mastering system. As an evolutionary step forward from the Continuum 2.5 Mk IV, it too reveals the innermost details of your recordings and playback system -- and does so with bass authority seldom, if ever experienced. Building upon the foundation laid by its predecessors, it advances into regions of bass performance where few other designs dare to tread. The reproduction of recorded sound is presented with a majestic sense of bass authority and dynamics that simply must be experienced to be believed. The subtlest of nuances and micro-dynamics are brought into breathtaking focus, yet they are never masked by the extreme dynamics all Millennial Reference Series products are renowned for. The Revelation MR-2 represents the very most mature development of the technologies comprising the Millennial Reference Series product line. From inception this model was designed with the highest resolution and bass extension needed for professional Mastering Reference (“MR”) use, while still offering the refined qualities demanded by the devout enthusiast. It offers the deepest and most powerful bass possible from its driver compliment, and an even more authoritative presentation than the Continuum 2.5. After your first listen you will agree that the Revelation MR-2 Mk IV easily commands the title of "The New Reference for the New Millennium." In the quest for excellence, the course of Natural Law directed the ultimate form of the Revelation MR-2. Its proprietary and vastly superior Transmission-Line loading is the byproduct of a thorough re-evaluation of former TL design techniques. Its designer, Bob Smith, took a long hard look at existing TL theory and had to scratch his head. “The darn things look like little more than a simple bass-reflex design with a really long tapered port” was his thinking. Further investigation confirmed his suspicions. Bob then determined that the basic laws of wave propagation were being ignored in the existing theory and then set about to correct it. In a moment of “inspired clarity” he envisioned the correct solution, and the end result has now become the present flagship model of Aether Audio… the unequaled Revelation MR-2 Mk IV. Theory is one thing though and the “proof is in the pudding,” so to speak. Nevertheless, the first analyzer sweep that passed through the prototype design, and Bob was finding himself in need of personal relief! Every subsequent customer has had virtually the same reaction upon hearing the unprecedented bass response delivered by the Revelations for the first time. A literal “wave” of bass energy rolling past you is not something most of us have ever experienced, let alone expected to hear emanating from a domestic loudspeaker. Yet that is the very effect that the Revelations are well known for. In fact, in the recent past the Revelations were found to actually out-perform (4) 18-inch “XXX” (3 letters in the name) professional bass enclosures that were being used to augment a system in Denmark. The system owner was using them in tandem with a pair of very expensive “M-D” speakers (famous for their use of ceramic drivers). Granted, the Revelations could not achieve the total sound pressure level that the “XXX” bass enclosures were capable of, but the owner claimed that their speed, extension, articulation, damping, natural rendering of acoustic instruments and virtually every other performance parameter was superior. Certainly this is a level of performance that no one would ever expect from a system boasting only a total of four 8-inch woofers! Nevertheless this is a witnessed fact and it would not have been possible if Bob hadn’t had his “revelation” when he set about to build a better TL loudspeaker. As a result there are many that have heard them and claim that they will never be satisfied with anything less in their system. One very experienced reviewer that has been writing for a Danish magazine and has also been a devout audiophile for over 30 years had his say. After hearing them for the first time he exclaimed that the closest he had ever heard was a system costing approximately $500K… and the Revelations were “just a little better.” While we must admit that the Revelations bass performance is their most dramatic and “exciting” feature, we would be remiss if we failed to remind the reader that they reproduce the rest of the audio spectrum by utilizing the exact same upper module that comprises the Continuum A.D. and the Continuum 2.5. Never even having heard the Revelations, many experienced listeners claim that they (whichever of the smaller models that they have heard) reproduced the best rendering of a live performance they’ve ever experienced from a loudspeaker. When being told that they have yet to hear the “top-of-the-line” Revelations… they typically just shake their heads in amazement. Even though it can easily be said of all the other Millennial Reference Series models, the fact that one simply must hear the Revelation MR-2 Mk IVs to believe such performance is possible… cannot be over stated. If you are ever in the market for a truly world-class reference loudspeaker - that represents unprecedented and unparalleled performance for the most discriminating music lover - you would do yourself a great service to seek out an opportunity to audition them. Once you do, you will likely agree with those that claim... "Nothing less will ever do!"

Specifications:

(2) 8-inch Aluminum-cone woofers in Transmission-Line enclosure & (1) Waveguide loaded, 1-inch fabric dome tweeter.

Standard Finish: Satin Paint. Premier Finishes w/ custom hardwood and/or veneer species and/or mirror-gloss finish available upon request.

Impedance 4-Ohms Sensitivity 88dB @ 1W/1M – 91dB @ 2.83V/1M.

 Frequency Response (anechoic) 25Hz-22KHz +/- 2dB -3dB Points (anechoic) 24Hz & 24KHz Bass Alignment Proprietary 2nd order Optimized Transmission-Line.

Power Handling (Long Term) 250 Watts (I.E.C. 268-5) Power Handling (Short Term) 600 Watts (I.E.C. 268-5).

Crossover Type 4th order L-R Acoustic @ 700Hz.

 Dimensions 66.75"H x 12.5"W x 21"D.

Weight 200 lbs. Each.