Ceiling speakers, flush-mounted and pendant, remain the most reliable and least intrusive way to distribute sound by wire rather than relying on high output acoustic power from a few large units to fill a space. A properly adjusted ceiling speaker system can also provide more gain before feedback for live microphones used in the same environment. With the wide range of coverage and powering options available now, an installation plan requires careful and detailed planning.
The AMK Innovations DS84-B is a Dante addressable and self-amplified speaker with PoE+ for simplified installation of its 8in. coaxial driver. A single PoE+ amplified speaker can power up to four speakers including three additional passive units, with two speakers per audio zone. This model is especially well suited for saving installation time on large projects. There is a single RJ45 connection to the main active speaker and a two conductor terminal for each of the three passive speakers.
Equipped with the new AtlasIED Safety First Mounting System (SFMS), the FAP63T also has a 70V tap selector on the front with a transformer bypass setting for direct coupled operation. The press fit grille fits well into a variety of ceiling designs. The 6.5in. system includes a 1in. voice coil and high efficiency composite cone with polymer coated cloth surround along with its 20mm silk dome tweeter. It is designed for easy installation in drop tile or sheetrock ceilings using the C-Ring/V-Rail tile bridge.
The MPS1/MPS2 mini pendant speakers from Bogen can be used for both 70V and low impedance sound systems. Both have a 4.5in. woofer and the MPS2 adds a 3/4in. coaxial tweeter. Composed of injection molded ABS plastic with a powder coated perforated steel grille, the units have snap-lock input plug screw terminals and they are fitted with a top suspension attachment. They are can be purchased in textured black or white and an optional cable hanging kit is available.
Community Professional designed the CP6 6.5in. coaxial two-way pendant system for high intelligibility and uniform coverage with its built-in, full output autoformer and 8-ohm or 70V/100V operation selector switch. The integrated rear cover hides all wiring and hanging hardware while the black or white paintable ABS matte plastic housing blends with the décor. The front is finished with a dual-layer powdercoated steel grille. The operating range is 70Hz – 13.5 kHz and the unit has a capacity of 60W continuous power handling at 8 ohms.
The Crestron SAROS PD8T-B-TEACH 8in. two-way pendant speaker includes an 8-inch woofer and wide-dispersion, horn-loaded 1-inch dome tweeter. Operable in 70V or 100V distributed systems, the system has a built-in 60W multi-tap transformer. The program power handling capacity at 8 ohms is 150W and its frequency response is 50 Hz to 20 kHz (±3dB). The speaker is intended for installation in open ceiling environments and its weatherized construction allows it to be used in outdoor venues and swimming pool areas.
The EAW CIS400 two-way bass-reflex flush-mount loudspeaker can be used in typical ceiling plenum spaces with its HF waveguide design based on the Mackie HR824 studio monitors and this is paired with a 6.5in. LF driver. The system features a sealed zinc-coated steel backcan and cam-style installation clamps along with a recessed Euroblock input connector concealed behind a hinged metal cover plate. Power can be adjusted with a recessed rotary switch on the front bezel. A second recessed rotary switch is provided to engage a 16-ohm tap for use with low-impedance amplifiers, or a 150 Hz high-pass filter.
The Electro-Voice C4.2LP is a 2-way full-range ceiling speaker with a 4in. woofer and a 0.75in. HF driver. Its low-profile design offers a mounting depth of just 3.75in. – the shortest in its class and ideal for tighter spaces. The C4.2LP’s wiring runs from the side of the unit for additional ease of installation. It has the same diameter as the existing EVID 8in. ceiling speakers, ensuring consistent appearance across multi-model installations. Sold in pairs and available in white, it includes a 30W transformer with an 8-ohm bypass option, and is UL1480A and CSA 22.2 No. 205 certified for indoor use.
Pendant speakers are very flexible units that can fit in a variety of environments and the Extron SF 26PT two-way pendant loudspeaker typifies this. Available for purchase in black or white, the housing is paintable to fit anywhere. The included Extron-exclusive PendantConnect speaker cable combines the speaker wires and steel support cables within a single outer jacket for quick and easy installation into 70/100V and 8-ohm systems. For flush mount applications there is an optional ceiling surface mount kit.
The Studio 2 6IC premium in-ceiling loudspeaker from JBL has a 6.5in. PolyPlas cone woofer and JBL High Definition Imaging (HDI) waveguide. All of the JBL Studio 2 architectural series models feature a nearly invisible, paintable, zero-bezel profile for best aesthetic appearance. The included XL-2 bracket allows installation in any wall or ceiling up to 2in. thick while the 8-ohm unit provides a 38Hz-20kHz frequency response. The angle of the tweeter can be adjusted and the high frequency level control can be set to +, – or 0 to change the HF output level.
Klipsch installed a custom designed tweeter bridge with “shark fin” and asymmetric dimples in the PRO-14RC to diminish standing waves and its SkyHook installation system eases installation jobs. Both round and square magnetic grilles are provided to best suit the specific installation environment. Features include an injection molded graphite (IMG) woofer, 1in. fixed aluminum dome FEA optimized tweeter and a magnetic paint shield. The system’s frequency range is 92Hz-23kHz(±3dB) and it has a 110-degree coverage angle.
For conference rooms, classrooms, hotels and restaurants, Kramer Electronics has the Galil 4−C closed-back compact ceiling speaker with a multi-tap transformer to accommodate 8-ohm and 70/100V sound systems. Its 4in. polypropylene cone and 1/2in. Mylar dome tweeter combine to produce a frequency response of 100Hz-20kHz(±3dB). Capable of handling 80W continuous program power, the system has a coverage angle of 90 degrees. The ABS bezel, aluminum grill and metal back can form a durable and versatile unit.
A painted steel back can with reversible mounting dogs enable the Lowell Manufacturing ES-62T speaker to be installed in a wide range of ceilings including drywall, wood and tile with thickness up to 2 1/8in. The system includes a press-fit grille with scrim and pulltool. The ported bass reflex enclosure provides a 64Hz-20kHz(±6dB) frequency response and the variety of transformer settings can work with 100/70/25V or low impedance systems. The sturdy enclosure is gray painted 20 gauge steel to protect its rubber surround polypropylene cone and PEI tweeter.
The C8.1T ceiling mounted two-way vented speaker enclosure from Martin Audio can meet the challenges involved in high ceiling installations where tight, intelligible coverage from a distance is required. Its 90-degree coverage angle delivers clear sound in reverberant environments and the 8in. UL94V-0 carbon fiber loaded polypropylene cone woofer handles up to 125W for 110dB maximum SPL. The coverage angle is conical up to 7kHz. The system has a tough steel back can and there is Polyswitch and thermal fuse protection.
Designed for use with Niles DS8HD, and DS8PR left/center/right loudspeakers, the Niles Audio DS8FX directed soundfield loudspeaker is perfect for rear/side surround sound in 5.1 and 7.1-channel home theater applications. Bass and midrange can be directly focused onto the listening area using the patent-pending fully pivoting woofer assembly. The 8in. aluminum ceramic woofer cone provides flat response while the dual 1in. NCAT (Nano Coated Ceramic, Aluminum & Titanium) dome tweeters fill out the high frequency response. Weather-resistant construction enables these speakers to be used in wet environments and outdoors.
Polk Audio mounted their Cassini oval woofer behind the main driver array for three-way performance in the 900-LS vanishing LS Series in-ceiling loudspeaker. Paintable to match the décor of the environment, the 900- LS features enhanced, reengineered ring radiator tweeters to extend top-end response. The vanishing reflective room compensation feature lowers the tweeter output level to compensate for reflective surfaces. Total response of the 8-ohm system is 28 Hz–33kHz and it is recommended for amplifiers with 10 to 150W per channel.
In spaces where music playback, public address and distributed audio require high output from a ceiling mounted loudspeaker, the QSC AD-C820 assembly includes CoEntrant transducers, a 70V/100V transformer and a crossover mounted on an ABS baffle. The 8in. treated paper cone is mounted on the steel frame and it is paired with a 1.4in. neodymium compression driver to produce a useable frequency range of 52Hz-18 kHz. This model measures 91dB sensitivity and at full continuous power it is capable of producing 114 dB SPL output.
RCF equipped their PL 60FD ceiling speaker with a thermal fuse, fire resistant cable, metal back cover, steel grille and ceramic termination blocks capable of withstanding 202 degrees Fahrenheit or more so that it can serve in alarm/evac applications. The 6in. dual cone design provides a sound pressure level of 105 dB/1m and the four-position power switch can set the unit to operate with a range of amplifiers. It covers an angle of 150 degrees with 150Hz-15kHz frequency response.
To bring out the bottom end on ceiling speaker installations SnapAV has the Episode 650 Commercial Series 70-Volt in-ceiling subwoofer with its mica-filled polypropylene woofer and oversized 1.5in. copper voice coil. A tile bridge consisting of a steel C-shaped ring and two removable arms is included. For power and impedance adjustment there are front-mounted 10w, 20w, 40w, 80w taps, plus an option for 8-ohm bypass. The assembly requires a cutout depth of 9.7in. and cutout diameter of 12.2in. The RMS power handling capacity of the system is 100W and the frequency response is 50Hz-120kHz.
Soundsphere’s Model Q-12A omnidirectional loudspeaker can cut through high level background noise in gymnasiums, arenas, factories and other loud environments. Its hemispherical coverage pattern and high SPL capability are produced through its patent-pending Poly-exponential Incidence Reflector. The paintable enclosure is fiberglass with a gelcoat finish and rust-resistant hardware. The 12in. coaxial unit has a 360 degree horizontal coverage area and it works with 70/100V sound systems. Optional accessories include hanging kit (HKL), mounting bracket (MBL), universal beam clamp (BCL) and driver protection screen. The weatherproof configuration (Q-12AWR) for outdoor use features a protective screen over the holes and driver.
This Dante-addressable coaxial in-ceiling speaker incorporates one 6.5 inch (165 mm) polypropylene woofer with rubber surround and one 1.0 inch (25.4 mm) silk dome tweeter. BroadBeam Ring technology and a tuned port on the baffle for smooth off-axis performance, mid-range clarity and bass response to 60 Hz (-10 dB). Low latency digital audio, power, and control are delivered to the speaker via standard category cable; connection is made on the other end to the STNet-Switch or other PoE / PoE+ switch. May also be powered via a 24V DC barrel connector for non-PoE installations. Configuration and zoning of the speaker are accomplished via software. Mounting hardware is included and features SoundTube’s SpeedWing constant-tension fixed-wing mounting system, which accommodates material thicknesses ranging from 0.035 in (0.9 mm) to2.38 in (60.4mm). UL 60065 and 2043 listed. Included accessories: Color-coded (green) tile bridge, UL listed conduit clamp and paint shield.
The idea behind the Speco Technologies Multi-Application Series is to have as much of the installation done as possible when the speaker comes out of the box. The black housing variant SP5MATB is pre-assembled with its back can and transformer in place and a convenient power setting selector on the front. The system also features flame-retardant ABS construction and insulated wiring. The MA Series consists of 5.25in. models in black or off-white and 6.5in. models in the same color selection.
Stealth Acoustics developed the LRX-85 as a premium, 3-way, two panel system that is as invisible as if it weren’t installed. The system uses separate flat front panels for mid-high and bass reproduction and these can be mounted as far as 1 meter apart. Aligned in Stealth’s Quad-Balanced Midrange Drive configuration, the mid-high panel has four 25W neodymium midrange motors and one 25W neodymium high-frequency motor. It also features an LRX85 crossover that contains three independent self-resetting protection circuits. When properly tuned, the separate dual 8in. high-power cone woofer backstage panel provides extended bass response down to 35Hz.
Using a special self-aligning 4 way clamp system and a new proprietary 6in. ICT (Inductive Coupling Technology) point source driver, the Tannoy CMS 603ICT LS is finished in semi matt white and designed for use with Lab Gruppen Lucia amplifiers, which accommodate up to 8 CMS Series loudspeakers per channel. There are multiple transformer taps for 70V and 100V line systems or 16-ohm direct input. The CMS 603ICT LS is UL 1480 UUMW certified for life safety applications and UL 2043 certified for air-handling spaces. The magnetic grille is removable for custom painting.
The PC-580RU and PC-580RVU from TOA Electronics are primarily intended for paging and notification systems as a low cost, dependable solution for large deployments and they meet UL requirements for speakers used in emergency signaling/notification applications. The PC-580RVU version provides a center-grille volume adjustment potentiometer. These 8in. units feature 25V and 70V transformer taps up to 5W. The optional ULrated HY-BC580 AM stackable back-can is available for use in ceiling plenums. The low-cost speakers are sold in quantities of ten.
The Yamaha VXC8 and VXC8W speakers have both ceiling and surface mount options and the VXC line is available in three woofer sizes with paintable grilles. Each one has an internal transformer and a baffle mounted power/impedance selector switch. The antidrop tab allows them to be mounted temporarily in the ceiling to keep hands free and there is also an attached, flexible carrying band allowing several units to be carried at once. The VA versions are constructed with flame-retardant materials for the cabinet and baffle, ceramics for the speaker terminal support, and clamping covers on the rear panels to meet EN54-24 standard heat and moisture resistance requirements.
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