In-ceiling Speakers

Hidden Gems

In recent years, in-ceiling speakers have become a popular choice as they facilitate great audio experience without disrupting the visual aesthetics of the venue. In this guide, PALM Technology has covered some in-ceiling speakers launched in 2017-2018 with intent to provide readers with a quality guide that can help your sourcing needs.

Bose Edgemax

Bose Professional’s EdgeMax in-ceiling loudspeakers feature proprietary Bose PhaseGuide technology, which Bose says provides room-filling coverage while improving overall sound quality compared to the performance of conventional ceiling loudspeakers.

These in-ceiling premium loudspeakers are available with two different horizontal coverage patterns. EdgeMax EM90 models provide nominal 90-degree horizontal coverage and are intended for in-ceiling mounting near room corners. EdgeMax EM180 models provide nominal 180-degree horizontal coverage and are intended for in-ceiling mounting near wall boundaries centered along target coverage zones. Both models feature 75-degree asymmetrical vertical coverage, which is optimized for ceiling heights between eight feet and 20 feet..

Main Features include:

• PhaseGuide technology, which provides unique asymmetrical vertical coverage pattern designed for room-filling sound when mounted in-ceiling near wall boundaries
• 1.3-inch diaphragm compression driver for best-in-class audio quality with superior frequency response and coverage consistency versus typical dome tweeters
• Eight-inch woofer with wall-boundary loading, which provides extended bass impact
• Two-way passive crossover with 8-ohm or 70V/100V transformer taps
• New mounting-clamp system for fast, easy installs
• Magnetically attached grill for quick access to wiring and tap settings
• UL1480 listing for air-handling (plenum) space installation
• Easy installation, saving integrators time in the field.

Tech Specifications:

Single Module Performance
• Frequency Response (-3 dB): 50 - 18,000Hz
• Frequency Range (-10 dB): 45 - 20,000 Hz
• Nominal Coverage Pattern: 180° H x asym metrical 75° V (0° to 75° referenced to wall)

Bose extended-lifecycle test & AES transducer test

• Power Handling, long-term continuous: 125 W; 150 W
• Power Handling, peak: 500 W; 600 W
• Sensitivity (SPL/ 1W@1 m): 96 dB; 96 dB
• Calculated Maximum SPL @ 1 m: 117 dB; 118 dB
• Calculated Maximum SPL @ 1 m peak: 123 dB; 124 dB
• Crossover: 1.0 kHz (passive 2-way crossover with integrated 70/100V transformer)
• Loudspeaker EQ: Recommended but not required
• Recommended high-pass protection: 55 Hz with minimum 12-dB / octave filter
• Overload protection: Resistor-network power reduction with automatic reset
• Transformer taps: 70V: 2.5, 5, 10, 20, 40, 80 W, bypass / 100V: 5, 10, 20, 40, 80 W, bypass

Transducers

• Low Frequency: 1x 8-inch woofer (1.5-inch voice coil)
• High Frequency: 1x compression driver (1.3-inch voice coil)
• Nominal Impedance: 8 ohms (transformer bypass)
• Enclosure Material: Engineered-plastics front baffle with integrated steel formed enclosure
• Grille: Micro perforated steel, powder-coated finish, white: RAL 9010, paintable
• Environmental: Indoor only; UL-1480A listed, in compliance with UL2043 for plenum-space installation
• Connectors: Euro block 6-pin connector with loop-through, front-baffle mounted
• Suspension / mounting: Four (4) auto-hold, spring-loaded mounting arms plus four (4) M6 safety cable tabs
• Maximum ceiling thickness: 80 mm (3.2”)
• Dimensions (H x W x D): 339 x 339 x 249 mm (13.4” L x 13.4” W x 9.8” D) enclosure; 390 x 390 x 13 mm (15.4” L x 15.4” W x 0.5” D) grille flange, as mounted
• Ceiling cutout and clearance: 345 x 345mm (13.6” L x 13.6” W) with 236 mm (9.3”) mounting depth
• Net Weight: 10.1 kg (22.2 lbs) with grille
• Shipping Weight: 12.5 kg (29 lbs)
• Accessories: Adjustable Tile Bridge (Included), Black grille, rough-in pan for new construction

Harman Professional LCT 81C/T

LCT 81C/T is a full-range ceiling speaker designed to lay into a 2 ft x 2 ft US-style suspended grid ceiling, with no cutting of ceiling tiles required, making for an easy and cost-effective installation with a minimum of mess.

This loudspeaker is designed to provide excellent performance for paging and light-to-medium music in a wide variety of applications, including education classrooms, business music systems, retail stores, music/paging systems, airports, reception/waiting rooms, lounges, courtrooms, meeting rooms, and more.

Main Features include:

• High efficiency 200 mm (8 in) dual-cone driver.
• Easy lay-in installation into 2’ x 2’ US-style suspended grid ceilings. No cutting of ceiling tiles is necessary.
• Perforated metal grille included.
• Combined 70V/100V and low impedance direct operation.
• 20 Watts at 8Ω (low-impedance) direct setting.
• 10 Watt multi-tap at 70V/100V with taps at 10W, 5W, 2.5W (and 1.3W for 70V only)
• Very low-profile at just 103 mm (4.1 in) deep, to fit into ceilings that are shallow or that contain obstructions.
• Easy bare-wire connection in protected compartment. Wire entrance from either top or side via knock-out.
• Very high 96 dB sensitivity turns power from small amplifiers into maximum sound level for listeners.
• Designed for high speech intelligibility.
• 100° coverage pattern (conical).
• UL1480A and UL2043 certifications for use in ceiling plenum spaces.

Tech Specifications:

• Transducer: High-efficiency 200 mm (8 inch) dual-cone driver with 25 mm (1 in) diameter voice coil, Kapton coil former, and high-temperature voice coil wire.
• Frequency Range (-10 dB): 100 Hz – 16 kHz
• Nominal Sensitivity: 96 dB
• Nominal Coverage Angle: 100° conical coverage (ave. 1 kHz - 4 kHz)
• Rated Maximum SPL: 108 dB @ 1 m (3.3 ft) average, 108 dB peak (at 8Ω setting)
• Nominal Impedance: 8 ohms (in Direct/Thru 8Ω setting)
• Transformer Taps: 10 W, 5 W, 2.5 W @ 70V or 100V (plus 1.3 W @ 70V only)
• Recommended Protective High Pass: 90 Hz high-pass (24 dB/oct) for 8Ω direct or any 70V or 100V tap setting
• Power Capacity (at low-Z): 40 Watts Continuous Program Power 20 Watts Continuous Pink Noise
• Input Connector: Bare wire inside protected in touch-proof wiring compartment.
• Tap Selector: Rotary switch accessible from side of backcan
• Materials: Steel rear enclosure, front baffle, and perforated grille
• Grille Color: White
• Dimensions: 607 x 607 x 103 mm (23.9 x 23.9 x 4.1 in)
• Net Weight: 7.1 kg (15.7 lbs)
• Shipping Weight: 8.3kg ea; 16.5 kg per pair-pack (18.3 lbs ea; 36.4 lbs per pair-pack)
• Ceiling Cutout Size: No cutout required. Speaker drops into ceiling grid
• Suspension / Safety-Seismic Attachment Points: Two tabs on back baffle, plus 4 holes in corners

Meyer Sound Ashby Series

The Ashby Series comprises two flush-mount models: the Ashby-5C with a 5-inch low-mid cone driver and the Ashby-8C with an 8-inch low-mid driver. Both employ a concentric 0.75” metal dome tweeter and are housed in integral, quick-mount metal backcans with Phoenix connectors for fast, simple installation in new or retrofit systems. The innovative dual-driver concentric design provides a uniform 100-degree dispersion pattern, allowing use of fewer speakers to cover a wide listening area.

Main Features include:

• Self-powered ° Easy to install
• Extremely wide and consistent coverage
• Very low distortion ° Exceptional SPL to size ratio
• Supports long cable runs with light-gauge cables
• Distributed systems for music and paging where high-quality and intelligibility are a must
• Constellation acoustic systems.

Technical Specifications of Ashby-8C:

Acoustical Ashby-8c

• Operating Frequency Range: 70 Hz – 18KHz
• Frequency Response: 80 Hz – 16 kHz ±4 dB
• Coverage: 100°

Transducers

• High Frequency: 0.75” metal dome tweeter
• Low Frequency: 8” cone driver

Audio/Power Connector

• Connector: (2) Phoenix 5-pin male (two pins for DC power, three pins for balanced audio)
• Power Wiring: Pin 1: DC Power + | Pin 2: DC Power –
• Audio Wiring Pin 3: Chassis/earth | Pin 4: Signal – | Pin 5: Signal +
• Voltage Requirement: 48V DC from Meyer Sound power supply

QSC AC-C2T 4

The QSC AcousticCoverage Series AC-C4T is a ceiling mounted 4” full-range loudspeaker with 70/100V transformer, suitable for a wide variety of audio/video conferencing reinforcement, voice paging and background music applications.

A high quality 4 inch polypropylene cone transducer with butyl rubber surround offers pristine clarity through the critical vocal range for increased speech intelligibility. With 140 degrees of conical coverage, the AC-C4T reduces the number of loudspeakers required for even coverage in low ceiling applications..

Main features include:

• High quality 2.75” full-range transducer provides a natural rise in high frequency extension.
• Ported baffle for increased low frequency extension down to 70 Hz.
• Low saturation 70/100V transformers with 8 ohm bypass.
• 4 pole Euroblock connector eases system wiring.
• Advanced voicing filter sets using QSC Intrinsic Correction available through either Q-SYS processing or CXD amplifier platforms.
• White (RAL 9010) with UV inhibitors to match complimenting QSC product families.
• Complete EASE, CAD & BIM information available online.

Tech Specifications:

• Effective Frequency Range: 70 – 16 kHz
• Rated Noise Power / Voltage: 16 watts / 11.3 volts (rms)
• Broad-Band Sensitivity: 89 dB SPL
• Coverage Angle (-6 dB): 140° (500 Hz - 5 kHz)
• Maximum Continuous SPL: 101 dB
• Maximum Peak SPL: 107 dB
• Rated Bypass Impedance 8 ohms
• Transformer Taps: 70V: 16, 8, 4, 2, 1 watts and 8 ohm bypass; 100V: 16, 8, 4, 2, watts and 8 ohm bypass
• Transducer: 4” Polypropylene cone with butyl rubber surround
• Input Connector Type: Euroblock connector with parallel output terminals
• Baffle Material: Painted ABS polymer
• Grille Material: Powder coated stee
• Backcan Material: Galvanized steel
• Testing: Listed UL1480, UL2043 safe for use in air handling space
• Included Accessories: Rails & C-ring for ceiling tile installation
• Cut-Out Dimensions (Dia): 7.31” (185.67 mm)
• Ceiling Capture Thickness: 0.25” - 1.5” (6.35 - 38.1 mm)
• Dimensions (Dia x D): 8.4” (214 mm) x 7.9” (201 mm)
• Shipping Dimensions: 10.75” (273.1 mm) x 24” (609.6 mm) x 10.5” (266.7 mm)
• Net Weight: 4.9 lbs (2.22 kg)
• Shipping Weight (Pair): 15.1 lbs (6.86 kg)