The Planetarium systems take an innovative, wholistic approach to optimizing the loudspeaker/room interaction. Two different types of main modules are tailored for different room situations, and a common four-piece subwoofer system gives smoother, more pitch-correct bass throughout the room than is possible with conventional low frequency systems.

The Alpha version of the Planetarium system uses a pair of controlled-pattern monopole main modules that cover the range from 70 Hz on up. The drivers are very high quality prosound types (95 dB, 8 ohms), which have negligible power compression at normal in-home levels. The radiation pattern is exceptionally consistent through the crossover region and on up. The Alpha system is optimized for situations where the main modules must be very placement-flexible.

The Beta version employs the controlled-pattern offset bipole configuration of the award-winning Dream Makers, but using the higher-efficiency main drivers and innovative bass system of the Alpha version. The 16-ohm, 96 dB Beta system is optimized for rooms where the main speakers can be placed out from the wall several feet, giving sufficient time delay to the energy from the rear-firing drivers to better approximate the sound fields we experience at a live performance.

The main obstacles to natural-sounding bass reproduction are the inevitable room interactions - which impose large peaks and dips on the bass response. By using multiple subs spread asymmetrically around the room, each sub will produce a unique peak-and-dip pattern at the listening position. The combined average of these unique peak-and-dip patterns is much smoother than any one of them would be, resulting in more natural-sounding bass with excellent pitch definition. The Planetarium bass system also avoids the subjective slowness of most subwoofer systems by taking room gain into account. Typical in-room extension is to 20 Hz, but the main advantage of this approach is bass quality, not quantity.

Planetarium Alpha and Beta modules available separately; bass system sold separately as "the Swarm".