Rainbow Audio AE-C260 2-way 6.5 inch Component Set

Overview

The Rainbow Audio AE-C260 2-way 6.5 inch Component Set represents the pinnacle of Rainbow's 30-year journey in automotive audio excellence, featuring exclusive Anniversary Edition technologies that bring flagship performance to discerning audiophiles. This exceptional component system combines Rainbow's patented CM-XR Crystal Membrane technology with innovative coaxial point source design, delivering unparalleled phase coherence and seamless sound integration that has made Rainbow synonymous with musical reproduction beyond exceptional.

Anniversary Edition Excellence

Created to celebrate Rainbow's three decades of engineering supremacy, the AE-C260 combines cutting-edge technologies and premium materials from the prestigious Profi Line into an accessible package that delivers ultra-high-end Rainbow sound. The exclusive CM-XR (Crystal Membrane – Extended Range Technology) features cast aluminum diffusers with enhanced damping and rigidity, providing exceptional linearity, wide frequency response, and outstanding overload capacity that ensures pristine audio reproduction under all driving conditions.

Revolutionary Coaxial Point Source Design

The Rainbow Audio AE-C260 2-way 6.5 inch Component Set features innovative coaxial point source architecture that effortlessly harmonizes high-frequency and mid-frequency sounds to create a truly immersive listening experience. This advanced design approach ensures perfect time alignment and phase coherence, eliminating the acoustic compromises commonly found in traditional component systems while delivering the spacious soundstage and imaging precision that audiophiles demand.

German Engineering Heritage

Building upon Rainbow's legendary reputation for winning reviews, tests, and competitions across three decades, the AE-C260 showcases the Golden Rhombus technology based on the mathematical model of the Golden Section. This sophisticated approach to cone structure maximizes acoustic performance while maintaining the natural, detailed sound signature that has made Rainbow components the benchmark against which all others are measured in audiophile circles worldwide.

Specifications

Driver Configuration:

• 6.5″ (165mm) midwoofer with CM-XR Crystal Membrane technology
• 25mm natural silk dome tweeter with neodymium magnet
• 2-way component system with coaxial point source design

Performance Specifications:

• Peak Power: 150W maximum
• Power Rating: 80W RMS continuous
• Sensitivity: 87dB/W/m
• Frequency Response: 50Hz – 22,000Hz
• Impedance: 3.6 Ohm
• Part Number: 280111

Advanced Technology:

• CM-XR (Crystal Membrane Extended Range Technology)
• Golden Rhombus mathematical modeling
• Cast aluminum diffuser construction
• Low-resonance die-cast aluminum basket
• Progressive profile centering washer

Physical Construction:

• Midwoofer: AE-MW165 with crystal cone structure
• Tweeter: SL-T25PRO with polished aluminum housing
• Mounting Depth: 13mm tweeter allows factory mounting locations
• Basket Material: Die-cast aluminum with thermal vents
• Suspension: Butyl rubber surround with progressive profile

Crossover Network:

• 2-way crossover with 12dB/octave slopes
• High-quality components for seamless integration
• Optimized for coaxial point source design
• Phase-coherent frequency division

Features

CM-XR Crystal Membrane Technology

The exclusive CM-XR (Crystal Membrane – Extended Range Technology) represents the culmination of Rainbow's three decades of research and development. This patented technology features cast aluminum diffusers with precisely controlled crystal patterns following the Golden Ratio (0.618:1), resulting in enhanced damping characteristics, increased structural rigidity, and exceptional dynamic range that eliminates resonances while maintaining natural tonal balance.

Golden Rhombus Mathematical Modeling

The revolutionary Golden Rhombus technology applies the mathematical principles of the Golden Section to speaker cone design, creating optimal acoustic proportions that enhance frequency response linearity and reduce distortion. This sophisticated approach ensures that every musical detail is reproduced with mathematical precision, delivering the transparent, natural sound performance that has made Rainbow legendary among audiophiles.

Coaxial Point Source Architecture

Unlike traditional component systems that suffer from time alignment issues, the AE-C260's innovative coaxial point source design positions the high-frequency and mid-frequency drivers on the same acoustic axis. This breakthrough engineering ensures that sound waves are emitted from exactly the same point, providing constant directivity characteristics and uncompromised transparent sound performance with perfect phase coherence.

Advanced Thermal Management System

The AE-MW165 midwoofer features a sophisticated thermal management design with strategic side vents in the die-cast aluminum basket that efficiently dissipate heat from the voice coil. Combined with the wide butyl rubber surround and progressive profile centering washer, this system maintains stable linear movement even at elevated reproduction levels, ensuring consistent performance during dynamic musical passages.

Premium Silk Dome Tweeter Design

The SL-T25PRO tweeter incorporates a hand-selected 25mm natural silk dome with neodymium magnet assembly, housed in a precision-machined polished aluminum enclosure. The minimal 13mm mounting depth allows installation in factory locations, while the advanced magnetic structure delivers airy, detailed high-frequency reproduction with exceptional off-axis response for optimal stereo imaging.

Anniversary Edition Aesthetic Excellence

Celebrating Rainbow's 30-year heritage, the AE-C260 features distinctive Anniversary Edition styling with premium finishes and attention to detail that reflects the component's flagship performance capabilities. The sophisticated design elements not only enhance visual appeal but also contribute to acoustic performance through optimized airflow patterns and resonance control.