CEDIA 2016

An in-ceiling speaker from Triad Speakers uses a rotating angled baffle and aimable tweeter on a flexible arm to deliver height-channel effects with even coverage and proper imaging despite less-than-optimum mounting locations, the company announced at CEDIA 2016.

A built-in laser powered by a 9-volt battery guides tweeter alignment to provide optimum tweeter imaging.

The square $800-each two-way InCeiling Silver/9 RotaSat, available in October, features 6.5-inch woofer in a baffle that rotates 180 degrees and faces down at a 45-degree angle. A 1-inch tweeter is suspended from the baffle on a flexible arm that delivers more range of motion than other in-ceiling speakers with aimable tweeters, said North American sales director Bruce Franklin.

When used as a ceiling height speaker to play back Dolby Atmos, Auro 3D and DTS:X soundtracks, training specialist Steve Colburn added, the speaker “provides the highest level of overhead realism for common multi-row seating.”

“In most cases where the seating area is stretched in length with multiple rows or seating areas, angled-baffle speakers provide more even coverage for more listeners than straight down-firing models,” Colburn explained. In addition, the rotating baffle and separately aimable tweeter “provide excellent coverage from less-than-ideal locations.” Installers might have to choose less-than-optimum locations because of the location of ceiling lights and vents or because of a desire to align speakers with ceiling lights.

The speaker is also designed to deliver optimum coverage and imaging in stereo music applications, Colburn said.

The RotaSat fits in a 13.5-inch-square cutout and features baffle and back box made of wood.