ARETAI to unveil Contra 200C at Capital Audiofest 2026, alongside US premiere of flagship Contra 350F

November 12, 2026 · by Edgars Zvirgzdins

From Aretai · written by the company, not by Into The HiFi

ARETAI will introduce its new Contra 200C center-channel loudspeaker with a world premiere at Capital Audiofest 2026, November 13–15, in Rockville, Maryland. Expanding the Red Dot Design Award-winning Contra Collection into high-end multichannel audio, the Contra 200C brings the clarity, dynamics and natural musical character of ARETAI’s Northern Sound concept to immersive home cinema. The show will also mark the US premiere of the flagship Contra 350F floorstanding loudspeaker, presented in a separate two-channel system. ARETAI Contra 200C — Northern Sound for immersive home cinema Developed from the acclaimed Contra 200F floorstanding loudspeaker, the new Contra 200C brings the same revealing and musical character to the demanding role of a center-channel speaker. With much of a film’s dialogue and front-stage sound carried by the center channel, ARETAI has approached its design with the same attention to acoustic performance as its left and right loudspeakers. The Contra 200C features two 8-inch bass drivers, maintaining in-room bass linearity down to 25 Hz. Two 5-inch paper-composite and Kevlar midrange drivers, together with a 1-inch high-frequency compression driver, provide natural vocal reproduction, exceptional dialogue clarity and effortless dynamics. Custom-designed waveguides ensure wide, well-controlled horizontal and vertical dispersion, delivering consistent tonal balance and intelligibility throughout the listening area. Its distinctive, shallow enclosure allows seamless integration beneath a display, with wall-mounted and recessed installations also possible. Three Contra 200C loudspeakers can create a fully matched front-stage system, while a single Contra 200C can be paired with Contra 200F floorstanders for a seamless transition between high-resolution stereo listening and immersive multichannel cinema. The world premiere will take place in a high-end 5.0-channel ARETAI Contra system, presented together with Benchmark Media Systems at the Hilton Rockville, Suite 619. MSRP: $ 14 900 / single unit Contra 350F — US premiere of the flagship floorstander In a second demonstration, ARETAI will present the US premiere of its flagship Contra 350F floorstanding loudspeaker. Designed for exceptional dynamic headroom, deep and tactile bass, and a wide, precisely defined soundstage, the Contra 350F represents the Northern Sound concept on a grand scale. Its high-sensitivity 3.5-way architecture incorporates dual 12-inch bass drivers, combining effortless dynamics with low distortion and remarkable musical detail. The Contra 350F will be demonstrated in a dedicated two-channel system with A-Definition WE 300B tube amplification and a special guest Revox B77 MK III reel-to-reel tape recorder. Visitors can experience the system at the EVEN Hotel, FLEX Suite, directly across the street from the Hilton Rockville. MSRP: $ 69 900 / pair Design and craftsmanship The ARETAI Contra Collection has received the prestigious Red Dot Design Award for its distinctive, timeless design, bringing together acoustic engineering and pure form. Each loudspeaker is carefully finished with a choice of matte lacquer, piano lacquer and natural wood, with bespoke finishes and solid wood or metallic-coloured waveguides available on request.