The revolutionary rise in videoconferencing has driven significant technological advances in ceiling microphone and speaker design. Among these improvements in mics are more directional sound pickup, background noise cancellation, and source-following arrays, while ceiling speakers have evolved to become sound steerable with some very innovative installation mechanics.
A key step forward in audio networking is demonstrated by the AMK DS82, a PoE Class D amplified speaker for Dante and AES67 networks. Its normal 5W output drops to 2W in standby, and its 8in. CX802 coaxial driver has 110-degree conical dispersion. The system’s frequency response is 50Hz to 20kHz (±3dB). A second, passive speaker can be directly connected on two-conductor speaker wire
The AtlasIED Strategy III Series ceiling speakers include the 3in. FAP33T, the 4.5in. FAP43T, and the 6.5in. FAP63T models. These have the patented Safety First Mounting System (SFMS) that prevents mounting tab damage from power drills. The range of speaker grilles includes white round, white square, black round, and black square options. The power tap selector is front-mounted. All models in the line are UL plenum-rated and meet UL1480 and UL2043 standards.
Clear and intelligible sound pickup at a distance in huddle rooms and conference spaces can be a real challenge, and the AudioTechnica ES954 hanging microphone array was designed to tackle that issue. Several can be used to cover a range of space sizes, and when they are connected to the ATDM-0604 Digital Smartmixer, the pickup patterns can be horizontally and vertically adjusted. The speaker’s two RJ45 terminals connect to the mixer’s input and LED control.
Only three inches in diameter and mounting flush with the surface, the Audix M70 condenser mic can disappear on a ceiling tile while delivering 60Hz10kHz frequency response over a cardioid polar pattern. This model is available with white or satin nickel finish and requires no external power adapter. It also rejects RF interference from cellphones and GSM devices. A three-pin terminal block connector is provided for solderless connection.
The lightweight Aurora SKR-22T ceiling tile speaker packs a heavy punch with is 180-degree sound field, 25W RMS speaker power, and 55Hz-20KHz (±6dB) frequency response. With both low impedance and 70/100V system capability, this unit fits a standard 2×2 drop ceiling grid space. It is constructed of UL94V-0 rated materials, features internal auto-resettable fuse protection, and handles a wide range of temperature and humidity.
Allowing presenters wide mobility through four 90-degree pickup zones, the 5.9in. diameter Biamp Parlé TCM-XEX surface mount ceiling microphone uses beam tracking technology to deliver clear voice response at a distance. Installation involves only a single cable connection on CAT5 UTP line. This enables a 33ft distance between the TCM-XEX and its DSP host device. The unit is available in black or white and includes an LED to indicate mute status.
Made by a company long known for designing audio gear for tough environments, the Bogen S810T725PG8U contains an 8in. cone speaker and a T725 4W transformer with 4, 2, 1, 1/2, 1/4, and 1/8W power taps. The enamel on the steel grille is off-white on the W versions and bright white on the U versions. Compatible with 70V and 25V amplifier outputs, the system is also equipped with a local volume control.
Three highly sensitive cardioid capsules spaced at 120 degrees enable the Clockaudio C303-RF hanging ceiling mic to pick up clear conference sound, and the distance is adjustable with the supplied 8ft. cable. It is terminated with a mini XLR connector, and the height adjustment is made through a ceiling enclosure with locking grommet. Available in Satin Black or a gloss white finish, the mic is built into a high-quality brass housing.
The plenum-rated Crestron SAROS IC4PW in-ceiling speaker uses a 2.83in. Balanced Mode Radiator (BMR) transducer to provide 170-degree coverage for speech and 140 degrees for music. Its two-position dogs can accommodate installation in surfaces up to 2.4 inches thick, and a tile bridge is included for extra support in a drop ceiling. The speaker has a 90Hz to 30kHz frequency range (±3dB) and 25W power handling capacity.
A supercardioid pickup pattern allows the DPA 4098 to be used as a tabletop or ceiling-mounted microphone for conferences and meetings, getting clear voice input at a distance. Its wide 110dB dynamic range prevents distortion from sudden sounds such as coughs and table thumps, while its RF rejection escapes interference from other equipment. This condenser mic has a 20-20kHz frequency response and runs on 48V phantom power.
Designed with a unique HF waveguide and 6.5in. LF driver, the EAW CIS400 is easily installed into ceiling plenum spaces after arriving fully assembled. The sealed zinc-coated steel backcan incorporates a recessed Euroblock input connector with detachable mating plug. Two steel T-Bar support channels aid suspended ceiling installation. The optimized 6.5in. woofer is paired with a 1in. neodymium dome tweeter for 89Hz-20kHz (-3dB) frequency response. For big sound power from above, the ElectroVoice EVID-PC8.2 8in. 2-way ceiling speaker handles 100W power with its high excursion woofer and 35mm compression driver producing a frequency range of 40Hz to 20kHz (-10dB). A wide coverage angle allows it to serve large spaces and compete with high background noise. Installation is easy with a 4-point clamp mechanism, detachable pass-thru Phoenix-style connector, and a tap selector with 8-ohm/70V/ 100V operation.
Designed without the backcan for fitting into tight ceiling areas, the Extron CS 26T Plus can perform in an 8-ohm role or as part of a larger 70/100V sound system. The 6.5in. longthrow woofer and 3/4in. Ferrofluid-cooled dome tweeter are tuned for paging and music content with a frequency range from 42Hz to 20kHz. This speaker system can cope with high noise areas, handling up to 120W continuous program power.
The JBL Control 24CT MicroPlus compact ceiling speaker is quickly installed, with each one including a support backing bracket and tile rails. Optional new construction brackets are also available. Its steel backcan allows it to be used in air handling spaces and for cabling; an attachment loop is included in the design. The 4.5in. LF driver works with a 1/2in. polycarbonate HF transducer. There are 70V and 100V power taps.
Dual 5.25in. Cerametallic woofers, a 1in. titanium HF driver, and a patented variable coverage horn enable the THX certified Klipsch THX-5002-L to produce unmatched multi-channel cinematic sound in rooms 3000 cubic feet or larger. These are all mounted in a bass reflex housing with a 1.6in. diameter port. The white paintable grille is attached by neodymium magnets for easy removal. The unit produces 45Hz-20 kHz (±3dB) frequency response with 100W continuous power handling.
Perfect for invisible operation in classrooms, the Legrand | AV Plenum-Rated 2×2 Drop In Ceiling Speaker (CG41508) is an 8-ohm unit with a dispersion pattern of 100 degrees for wide area coverage. The system handles 12W power with 15W as maximum, producing 102dB SPL with a frequency response of 65Hz-17kHz EIA 426A standard. There are 6in. wiring leads for system connection, and weight of each unit is 6.05lbs.
Another interesting ceiling tile speaker design is the Lowell Manufacturing LT-810-72-BB-VC with its cone driver and dual voltage (25V/70V) transformer. Along with the 1×2 fine perforation grille and sub-plate there is an adjustable volume control. The 8in. 15W dual cone driver has a 10oz. magnet and produces a 50Hz20kHz (±6.6dB) frequency response with conical dispersion of 95 degrees. The dual voltage transformer has power taps at wattage settings of .25, .5, 1, 2, and 5W.
The Martin Audio C4.8T flushmount loudspeaker is capable of functioning as a low impedance component or as part of a 70/100V Already proven in countless classrooms, conference facilities, and meeting spaces, the Sennheiser TeamConnect Ceiling 2 (TCC2) microphone system fits into the space of a ceiling tile with 28 electret condenser capsules coordinated through patented automatic dynamic beamforming. Equipped with Dante or analog output, it all runs on PoE and is certified for MS Teams, Zoom, DingTalk, and Tencent. After installation, priority and exclusion zones can be configured. system with wide 180-degree dispersion into the HF range. Mounted in the steel backcan, the bass driver is a 4in. UL94V-0 carbon fiber-loaded polypropylene cone with the 0.8in. dome tweeter right beside it. This arrangement enables a 100Hz-20kHz (±3dB) frequency response.
One of the more widely deployed 70V/8-ohm performers is the trimless design OSD Audio ACE800ST ceiling speaker that is made to operate in large groups with long cable runs. With a 120W power handling capacity, this model can spread high-volume sound over large areas by using low current to minimize power loss. The coaxially mounted 8in. polypropylene woofer and 1in. PEI dome tweeter output a 35Hz-20kHz frequency range with four power taps plus the 8-ohm setting.
Among the occasions in which pendant speakers are the best choice, the QSC NL-P4 Q-SYS network loudspeaker uses a 4in. full-range driver, optimized for open-ceiling installations and running on native PoE. In this system, Q-SYS audio data, power, and control all run on a single cable attached at an RJ45 connector. The whole unit is automatically monitored and managed through the Q-SYS Reflect platform. The IP34-rated housing has a powder-coated steel grille.
Going far beyond paging and background noise-covering quality is the RBH Sound SI-815/R 2-way in-ceiling speaker, delivering top-level home theater response with an 8in. silver aluminum woofer and AMT tweeter. The 45Hz-40kHz (±3dB) response is made for high fidelity multi-channel sound, and it is handled at 50 to 200W on the amp output. The tweeter is protected by a self-resetting poly-switch, and the system operates at 8 ohms.
Toolless pushbutton installation technology called Swiftlock by Swarm technology is a primary feature of the Russound IC-630, along with its 1in. pivoting titanium tweeter and 6.5in. injection-molded polypropylene cone LF driver. For matching the unit to specific room acoustics, there is a ±3dB tweeter adjustment switch. Neodymium magnets attach the edgeless, paintable grille, and the 8-ohm speaker has a 45Hz25kHz frequency response
Already proven in countless classrooms, conference facilities, and meeting spaces, the Sennheiser TeamConnect Ceiling 2 (TCC2) microphone system fits into the space of a ceiling tile with 28 electret condenser capsules coordinated through patented automatic dynamic beamforming. Equipped with Dante or analog output, it all runs on PoE and is certified for MS Teams, Zoom, DingTalk, and Tencent. After installation, priority and exclusion zones can be configured.
The Shure MXA901 ceiling array microphone is housed in a 13.5in. round paintable enclosure available with black, white, or aluminum finish. Without needing configuration, it captures every voice in a 20ft. by 20ft. area using IntelliMix DSP with automatic level control, echo cancellation, and noise reduction. There are on-ceiling, in-ceiling, and suspended mounting options. The MXA901 can also be seamlessly integrated with a variety of thirdparty camera and room control systems.
It only requires a plenum depth of 3.5in. to install the SoundTube CM42-EZs-II coaxial speaker and its 25/70.7/100-volt transformer, on which the bypass position allows 16-ohm operation. This model features a 4in. treated fiber woofer with cloth surround and a 0.75in. silk dome tweeter. The ceramic input terminals can accept 10-gauge plenum-rated signal wire, and a thermal fuse provides the speaker’s protection. The -3dB frequency response is 160Hz-20kHz.
One of the most attractive strong points of the Speco Technologies SP5MAT 25/70V speaker is its versatility to accommodate system changes and upgrades. It offers a wide range of power taps to suit the addition of new amplifiers or additional speakers. The SP5MAT has 30W RMS power handling, while its big brother, the SP6MAT handles 40W. Both can connect at 8 ohms as well. The SP5MAT is equipped with a 5.25in. polypropylene woofer and a 1in. Mylar tweeter. The metal grille fits onto a fire-resistant ABS backcan.
Invisible speakers are an innovative concept for wall and ceiling-mounted units, and the Stealth Acoustics LineaRadiance 324 (LR 324) demonstrates the room-filling ability of flat radiating diaphragm speakers. These are recommended for installation in walls or ceilings constructed of wood or steel framing with 1/2in. or thicker gypsum wallboard. They handle 160W RMS power, and for protection, they incorporate three independent self-resetting circuits. Each unit uses an 8in. cone woofer, 30mm direct coupled neo-magnet mid-range driver, and a direct coupled 25mm neomagnet HF driver.
The Tannoy CMS-503DC-BM is a 5in. Dual Concentric point-source driver with Omnimagnet technology, which has the HF and LF driver units using a single shared magnet for improved time alignment and coherence. A Torus Ogive Waveguide allows wider HF dispersion, and the mounting system accommodates thicker ceilings and uses mounting screws that prevent damage during installation. Rated power at 16 ohms is 120W with 107dB SPL.
At home mounted in a ceiling well, podium, or conference table, the TOA EM-600 boundary microphone has a diameter of only 1.1in and is barely noticed above conference participants. It runs on 9-52V phantom power, produces an omnidirectional pickup pattern, and it has a wide frequency response of 30Hz to 20kHz. To reduce only HVAC noise or room boom, the mic is also equipped with a 50Hz low-cut filter.
The Yamaha RM-CG conference mic is proven in the field, appearing above the table quite like a ceiling tile. Its multi-beam tracking zeroes in on the presenter’s voice and instantly tracks voice sources in conversation. This minimizes cabling by powering on PoE+. During installation, it is automatically detected and configured with the Remote Conference Processor RM-CR unit. The RM-CG can be flush-mounted on the ceiling, hung by wire at the corners, or attached to a VESA mount.
