Atlantic Technology’s H-PAS technology, which was first demonstrated last year with a larger floor-standing speaker, produces much higher levels of deep, low distortion bass than is possible with conventional speakers of the same size. The production version of that speaker, the AT-1, is now available. The company is also in the process of licensing H-PAS technology to a range of loudspeaker and consumer electronics manufacturers.

The prototype of the new Atlantic Technology AT–2 is less than 40cm tall yet it delivers full, rich bass response down to 39Hz at -3dB. This is exceptional bass performance for such a small speaker.

“The H-PAS algorithm has proven remarkably versatile as we scale it up and down,” says Atlantic Technology’s president, Peter Tribeman.

“These new little bookshelf speakers are going to turn quite a few heads. We’ve been working both with our H-PAS licensees and our own engineers to produce a wide range of systems, from large high-end speakers to desktop models. The AT2s will demonstrate to all what is possible in a smaller cabinet.”

H-PAS technology is the result of a collaborative effort between Atlantic Technology and Phil Clements of Solus/Clements Loudspeakers, who first recognised that there were ways to beat the old “Iron Law” of acoustics, which for over 50 years has established a fixed relationship between the cabinet size and bass response of loudspeakers. Working jointly with Clements, an engineering team at Atlantic was able to mathematically model Clements’ discoveries and make it possible to apply H-PAS design parameters to a wide range of speaker designs.

The characteristic performance of H-PAS allows exceptionally deep bass response with very low distortion relative to speaker size. The H-PAS low frequency reproduction is notable for its power, clarity and impact, with none of the often muddy, indistinct mid and lower bass anomalies that characterise many other designs.

The prototype version of Atlantic Technology’s upcoming AT-2 bookshelf loudspeaker has a crossover frequency of 2,100 Hz, which is much lower than most conventional two-way speakers, affording much wider horizontal midrange dispersion.

Atlantic Technology expects to begin production early in 2011 with pricing to be confirmed.