The explosion in corporate conferencing has, among other things, sent some of the most sophisticated elements of the system away from the table and up to the ceiling. Beamforming microphones and steerable speaker output have been the primary enabling technologies allowing advances in this trend. The result has been a new era in voice clarity, presenter mobility, and operational ease. Here we see some of the actual hardware that illustrates this industry-wide movement.
Among the newer wave of Dante-capable speakers is the AMK Innovations DS81 with its own Class D amplifier. Dante and AES67 audio network addressable, this model is powered by a PoE+ network switch through an RJ45 connector and it is friendly with other Dante gear after setup with Dante Domain Manager. The coaxial 8in. polypropylene woofer works with a half-inch polyamide hard dome tweeter for 50Hz20kHz (+/- 3dB) frequency response.
The AtlasIED FC-8ST is an 8in. ceiling subwoofer made to fill out the response of an installation of IsoFlare FC ceiling speakers especially when used with the AtlasIED Atmosphere DSP platform. An 8in. weatherized multi-fiber paper pulp cone with a butyl rubber surround is mounted in a tuned, injection molded, front baffle of UV/weather resistant UL94V-0 ABS material. The 60W 70/100V transformer has an Easy Access Tap rotary selector switch.
For cable-free conference room voice pickup, the Audio-Technica ATND1061 beamforming ceiling array microphone can be used in multiples to cover larger spaces. Customization for the specific environment, including zone setup, is made through the Digital Microphone Manager software application and complex coverage plans are possible. The array has six individual output channels and they can be configured with up to 32 userdefined microphone pickup zones. The Dante-enabled version is the ATND1061DAN and the ATND1061LK is the Audio-Technica LINK model.
In high RF environments some extra interference protection may be needed and the Audix M3 tri-element hanging ceiling microphone provides 100% RF shielding and immunity. For clear voices, this mic has three phase-coherent hypercardioid capsules with frequency response tuned specifically for speech. At the same time, the directional pattern minimizes background noise. The internal low noise preamp circuitry gives the mic high output over the noise floor level.
Easy installation is a notable purchase point for the Aurora SKR-22T-XFR lightweight ceiling tile speaker which can be dropped right into a 2x2ft. suspended ceiling space. The 180-degree coverage enables one unit to cover a whole room. Dante functionality can be added through a 25W PoE+ amplifier, the Aurora DTX-AMP25-M. For analog environments, this amp also has a line-level input.
The Biamp DC220T is a drop ceiling speaker unit that emphasizes wide dispersion from its 6.5in. cone driver and a 130-degree conical spread angle. Quick and easy to fit into a 2x2ft. tile space, the product includes cross-T rails to use in fitting 2x4ft. ceiling tile spaces. The DC220T can be connected to low impedance or 70/100V sound systems and there are power taps from 10W down to 0.625W. The back can and face are black matte finished steel and the grille has a white powder-coated perforated steel finish.
Another good drop ceiling contender is the Bogen CSD1X2U-V2, a full-range treated paper cone driver with a 10oz. magnet. This model can operate as a low impedance, 8-ohm load or attached to a 25/70V sound system with power taps from 0.25W all the way up to 4W. Wire nut terminal connections assure a solid signal link. The device has a frequency response of 110Hz to 20kHz and a max SPL of 94dB.
Some of the most significant advancements in conference technology have been in beamforming microphone systems and the ClearOne BMA CT is a good example. Configured with Pro Console software, the unit has a built-in 2-channel 10W 8-ohm power amplifier. P-Link or PoE injector powered, the BMA CT can be daisy-chained with up to three units to cover larger spaces. The pickup can be configured in two patterns, each with 5 or 6 beams.
Great isolation of a single area is provided by the Clockaudio C 8SE-RF suspended mini shotgun microphone with its hypercardioid capsule. Constructed of quality brass, this mic is sturdy and it includes a fully flexible gooseneck shaft with knuckle joint. Available in standard satin black or white finish, the mic can also be specified in Nextel Suede coating finishes. The 50Hz-18KHz frequency response outputs full-bodied sound and it runs on 9-48V phantom power
The Crestron Saros IC8T is a two-way ceiling speaker that includes an 8in. polypropylene LF driver with cloth surround and steel basket while the highs are handled by a 0.98in. titanium dome, horn loaded tweeter. Capable of 8-ohm or 70/100V operation, the speaker has a frequency response of 50Hz to 20kHz (±3 dB) and it can handle up to 150W of program power in 8-ohm configuration.
Engineered for high-end commercial operation, the EAW CIS300 is a flush-mount, two-way design for installation in ceiling plenum spaces. The 4in. cone LF element and the 1in. cloth dome HF driver work together to produce 90Hz-22kHz response and a max SPL of 102dB. Operating at 16 ohms or 70/100V, the speaker has a recessed rotary power tap and a full-range/high-pass response adjustment switch. The housing is lightweight, UV/ weather resistant high-density polystyrene
On some installations a pendant speaker works best to close the acoustic distance and tighten the coverage area. The Electro-Voice EVID-P6.2 is a two-way pendant design with a coaxially mounted 6.5in. weatherized cone LF driver and a 1in. titanium dome tweeter. Capable of 8-ohm or 70/100V operation, the speaker has a protection circuit to guard the network, woofer, and tweeter drivers against excessive power levels.
The Extron SoundField XD model SF 26CT serves well in plenum rated ceiling environments with its 8in. deep composite back can that is fitted with a magnetically attached powder-coated steel grille and plastic bezel. At home with 70/100V systems, the SF 26CT has a power limiter with the 8-ohm direct input. Frequency response produced is 88Hz to 22kHz (+/−3dB) and its conical coverage angle is 111 degrees.
Delivering a powerful punch for a ceiling speaker, the JBL Control 16C/T uses a 6.5in. woofer and a 0.74in. soft-dome liquid cooled tweeter for 96Hz-15kHz response and its enclosure features a pre-attached zinc-plated steel back can to protect the whole system. Handling 100W continuous program power, this JBL Control model works in harsh and challenging environments. This includes secure hookup on its removable locking 4-pin connector with screw-down terminals.
Tight environments and short ceiling spaces are especially appropriate for the Klipsch SLM-5400-C. The mounted depth of it is barely two inches on the metal back box and a ported ABS baffle gets lows down to 90Hz. This model is designed for 50W amplifiers and it connects to an 8-ohm amp output. Power handling at peak level is 120W and the minimum bezel grille blends into the room.
Everything from residential to heavy-use commercial settings can benefit from the Lowell Manufacturing Model ES-82T designed for wide dispersion and tuned for extended low-frequency sound response. The 8in. coated paper cone woofer and silk dome tweeter can generate a maximum SPL of 110.8 dB and the system can operate on low impedance or at various 70/100V transformer power taps. The can is equipped with dog ears for simple installation.
The Martin Audio C6.8T 6.5in. passive fullrange ceiling speaker can handle up to 75W power and provide a 106dB continuous max SPL over a 150-degree conical coverage area up to 7kHz. Transformer or low impedance operation is fine while the steel backcan, Polyswitch, and thermal fuse all protect the works inside. The 0.8in. dome tweeter pushes frequency response up to near 20kHz. The 4-point Lowell ES82 mounting system keeps the enclosure secure and tight in its place.
Installers appreciate the 4-pole Euroblock connector for easy system wiring of the QSC AC-C6T 6.5in. two-way ceiling speaker system. Working with constant voltage or low-impedance configurations, the coaxial mounting of the silk dome tweeter and the 6.5in. polypropylene cone allows a continuous SPL of 104 dB, coverage angle of 110 degrees (-6dB), and a 65Hz to 20kHz effective frequency range.
Another ceiling speaker with dual frequency contour switches is the RBH Sound VM-815 but this one has an aluminum 8in. LF driver and a 1in. aluminum dome swivel tweeter. This allows the unit to provide extended bass response over a larger area while targeting the HF response with the direction of the tweeter. Available with a white or black stainless-steel grille, the VM-815 secures the grille with neo magnets. Its VA815 sister model uses a polygraphite cone woofer. Both models are 8-ohm designs
Always an interesting device is the Revolution Acoustics SSP6 Multiducer (multifunctional transducer) which uses bending wave physics to convert any solid flat surfaces into full-range audio speakers. The RevLoc mounting plate is adhered to the surface and then the SSP6 is simply screwed onto the RevLoc. The SSP6 is IP66-rated for extreme weather and marine applications, and it is UL2024 certified for use in plenum spaces.
When designers are considering a multi-room sound system they often turn to the Russound IC-610 6.5in. all-purpose listening speaker. The LF driver is fitted with an inverted parabolic surround and the 0.75in. silk dome tweeter can be pivoted up to 15 degrees for customized coverage and response. This 8-ohm model handles from 5 to 90W and the paintable edgeless grille is attached with powerful neodymium grille magnets.
In late January, the new Shure IntelliMix Room Kits were announced for spring availability. These complete Microsoft Teams Room systems are designed for deployment in small to large meeting rooms, up to 33 x 18 ft (10 x 5.5 m). Precise audio supports a comfortable and equitable user experience and allows Microsoft 365 Copilot to capture detailed and accurate transcriptions. DSP comes pre-installed with automatic connection to Shure’s MXA902 ceiling array microphone and loudspeaker. AIpowered Huddly video cameras feature Huddly Director and Group Framing. The kits are available in four curated combinations based on room size.
In addition to the patented BroadBeam waveguide technology, a popular feature among installers of the SoundTube CM600i is its blindmount, fixed-wing mounting mechanism with constant-tension design. This fixes it to ceilings from 0.25 to 1.69 inches in thickness. The tool-free magnetic grille and bezel assembly with integrated safety cable also aid installation. A 6.5in. polypropylene woofer and 1in. convex aluminum tweeter are housed in a back can that has a cover plate to protect the Euroblock connector.
The Stealth Acoustics LR3G is a rectangular three-way unit that installs into a standard insulated 2x4ft. ceiling frame. Then it can be finished in latex paint, light wallpaper, fabrics and selected texture coats. This model handles 200W RMS power and when properly installed, bass response extends below 45Hz. A separate protection circuit in each of its three drivers automatically resets after excessive amp power is reduced.
Pendant speakers are often called upon to save the day, particularly in the case of high ceilings and asymmetric coverage areas, and the powerful Tannoy OCV 6-WH answers the call with a 240W solution. The semi matte white cylindrical enclosure is equipped with a mild steel powder coated grille and its IP64 rating makes it fine for outdoor areas. A 6in. polypropylene mid bass driver is paired with a 0.75in. ferrofluid cooled soft dome neodymium tweeter to get 80Hz-20kHz frequency response.
A great example of the advances in voice tracking technology, the TOA AM-1BMK2 steerable array microphone system lets presenters range freely about the room with perfect voice pickup for conferences. The detection sensor captures a voice from nearly ten feet away and uses a narrow 50-degree beam to minimize acoustic feedback. The control unit supplies 24VDC while users have a mute switch and mic status indicator lights
The Vaddio EasyIP CeilingMIC D Microphone takes Dante networking capability overhead where its three-element array delivers 360-degree coverage. There is a builtin DSP processor in the top unit which can reach the mic on a cable of custom length for the room. For larger spaces, more of the mics can be used. The number of microphones is only limited by the availability of network switch ports. System configuration is handled through free Dante Controller software.
The Sennheiser TeamConnect Ceiling 2 beamforming microphone fades into invisibility by occupying the very same space where a standard ceiling tile was before. Featuring automatic dynamic beamforming and TruVoicelift, the assembly houses 28 electret condenser capsules and sends their output to Dante or analog output. With Sennheiser Control Cockpit, it can be configured with exclusion zones, Priority Zone, and even camera control to follow a presenter while being powered from a PoE switch.
The crowning answer to cable clutter and wiring is the Yamaha RM-CG ceiling array microphone as a central part of the ADECIA comprehensive conferencing solution. It features standard Dante network audio support and skips wiring clutter by using only a single PoE+ network cable. The structure can be mounted in a choice of three ways to suit ceiling particulars and there is automatic detection and configuration with Remote Conference Processor RM-CR.
