Recent announcements on the release of new AV123/Onix speakers in their Reference line (the Ref 0.5 and Ref 1.8) make this a good time to bring together a segment on the series of changes to the AV123 lineup and where the company may be taking their speaker lines.
The company began with their Rocket line, eventually adding their Reference line targeted at two-channel enthusiasts and then their ELT (Extremely Luscious Theater) line - a home theater line with a lower price-point than the Rocket lineup. While each line has enjoyed sucess, recently there have been some announcements on new models replacing existing ones and some restructuring of the lineups.
The introduction of the X line of speakers (initially XLS monitors at $199 and a small X-subwoofer at $199) seems positioned to potentially take over the budget end of the spectrum. While currently only a two-channel line, there were statements about expanding the line at the recent AV123 GTG (Mark has just made mention of 6 SKUs for this line - my speculation would be monitor, floor-stander, center, two subs and on-wall surrounds).
Within the Rocket line, the long-time core of the line (RS750 and RS550) are being replaced by new models (RS760 and RS450) while the smallest of the lineup (RS150) has been retired. The extended sale on the RSC100 center may be an indication that it will be retired as well. A massive center channel with powered woofers (RSC500) is approaching release. There is also talk of potentially having an even larger flagship speaker for this line (RS2000). The discontinuation of the ebony finish leaves this line in only its traditional rosewood for the immediate future. This line appears to be giving up a bit of its low-end to focus on bigger and, hopefully, better items.
Within the Reference line, there seems to be growth in all directions. The release of the Ref3 seemed to be the top-end speaker of the lineup, but now there is mention of a potential Ref4 (and even a “Ref Ultra”). A cabinet for a larger center channel (Ref200) based on the Ref3 drivers has been shown. The big-brother turned middle child Ref2 has been retired and replaced with a pair of products: the Ref 1.5 and Ref 1.8 which appear to be better options for multichannel surround/rear speakers. Most recently, an interesting twist in this line has been announced, the Ref 0.5. Counter to the retiring of the bottom-end of the Rocket line, the Reference line seems to be expanding its bottom-end. The speaker itself seems to be an evolution of the RS150 and ELT LRS. The addition of a rosewood finish in the entire line appears to have caught on as a permanent option instead of a temporary special edition.
Here’s a picture of the X-sub, XLS, RS760 and Ref 1.5 at the AV123 CO GTG in August:
The ELT line appears to be poised for an entire fade-out, but there has not yet been an official announcement of this. With the X line upcoming and the ELT dwindling, it seems inevitable that the future budget lineup will be under the X name. This was reinforced by Mark Schifter’s statement that the planned ELT PMM product would be released under the X line.
Lastly, but not least, the Strata line seem ready to finally make its debut. After years of proposed products and renderings, the Strata Mini made a static display debut at the AV123 GTG and Mark Schifter has said it will be the focus of the AV123 RMAF presence (playing, not static display). There still isn’t any concrete word on the other proposed models in this line, but there have been hints that news will come soon.
Strata Mini at AV123 CO GTG 2005:
There have also been references made online to AV123 carrying completed versions of the new GR Research LS series of line arrays. This would be an interesting joint project as there would be both kit versions of the speakers sold via GR Research and complete versions sold via AV123.
So, that leaves us with bigger Rockets, more Refs, a currently unknown number of X speakers, the retirement of the ELT line, the beginnings of the Strata line and a bit of a wildcard with a GR Research line array series. And the electronics are a whole ‘nuther story….. 
