SpeakerCraft Profile In-ceiling Speakers Preview

The odds are good that most Audioholics readers have never actually seen a SpeakerCraft Profile speaker. Of course, this isn't because the line is new, but simply a function of the fact that the Profile offerings are designed to sound good while remaining invisible. For those unfamiliar with SpeakerCraft, they were founded in 1976 and are headquartered in Riverside, CA; SpeakerCraft is a subsidiary of Nortek, which also owns familiar brands like Sunfire, Niles, Furman, and Panamax. The speakers in question being previewed today are SpeakerCraft's newest additions to the Profile line—namely the A6 in ceiling speaker, the Cinema Sub10 in wall subwoofer, and the AIM8 DT Three, an in ceiling model that claims to perform the neat trick of creating stereo sound from a single speaker.

Profile A6 In Ceiling Speaker

Spearheading SpeakerCraft's expansion to the Profile lineup is the new A6 in ceiling speaker. Available as a five pack for $799, the A6 sports a 6.5" polypropylene woofer mated to a 1" silk dome tweeter. The woofer is fixed at a 15 degree angle while the tweeter can be rotated up to 30 degrees to ensure proper dispersion of sound towards the listening position. SpeakerCraft rates A6's frequency response as 40Hz-20kHz (though no tolerances are given), and the sensitivity is rated at 92dB with 1W at 1 meter. In layman's terms, we'd expect the A6 to blend reasonably with a subwoofer at the typical 80Hz crossover point without any big holes in response like some very small satellites might suffer from; the rated sensitivity coupled with a power handling of 100 watts indicates the A6 ought to get reasonably loud for most people's tastes without requiring a big separate amplifier. In addition, given that the A6 is a flangeless in ceiling speaker (as are the rest of the speakers being looked at here), there will be little evidence of its presence in a room aside from the sound. For $160 a pop, it definitely has the potential to be a good value in the segment.

The SpeakerCraft Profile A6 In Ceiling Loudspeaker

Profile Cinema Sub10 In Wall Subwoofer

To round out the Profile A6 speakers as a complete home theater package, SpeakerCraft is fielding their new Cinema Sub10. As the name suggests, the Sub10 sports a 10" treated paper cone with dual voice coils rated for a total input of up to 250 watts. SpeakerCraft lists a frequency response of 30Hz up to 800Hz, again with no tolerance listed. Given these specifications, we'll make an educated guess that the Sub10 probably isn't going to qualify for the Bassaholic Extreme title; realistically we would expect the Sub10's output capabilities to align with a room rating of "Small". In spite of that, and taking into account the the obvious handicap of being an in wall subwoofer as well as the relatively modest price of $499 (not including amplification), we'd expect it should add a useful, if not earth shattering bottom end to the A6's for a completely invisible SpeakerCraft home theater. Of course, if you have space, odds are you can find better performance for the dollar with a conventional small sealed subwoofer that can still be hidden with relative ease.

The SpeakerCraft Profile Cinema Sub10 Subwoofer

Profile AIM8 DT Three In Ceiling Speaker

Last but not least in SpeakerCraft's line expansion is the AIM8 DT Three, an in ceiling speaker sporting an 8" aluminum cone woofer with dual voice coils mated to a pair of aluminum dome tweeters which claim higher power handling and sensitivity as well as deeper bass response versus the original SpeakerCraft AIM8 DT One. As one might expect, the orientation of the tweeters can be adjusted independently of the woofer, which is also adjustable. One other interesting point is that the AIM8 DT Three also features built in EQ switches, allowing for a customized sound for individual spaces. And of course for those interested in the numbers, SpeakerCraft rates the AIM8 DT Three to have the same overall frequency response and sensitivity as the A6, i.e. 40Hz-20kHz (no tolerances provided) and 92dB with 1W at 1 meter.

With the above in mind, what makes the Aim8 DT Three somewhat interesting is that it's designed to produce stereo sound from what is packaged as a single speaker. While on the face of it, the idea of a single in ceiling speaker acting as a stereo source doesn't sound like a divine gift for audiophiles, SpeakerCraft suggests the AIM8 DT Three is made to fit in tight areas, presumably where a pair of loudspeakers (in ceiling or otherwise) may not fit (think bathroom or hallway). At $399 per speaker, it is more costly than a pair of A6's (at least as priced in the five pack); however, if you can't fit a pair of A6's, say in a narrow hallway, but still want the illusion of stereo sound, the AIM8 DT Three might be a good option for you to consider.

The SpeakerCraft Profile AIM8 DT Three In Ceiling Single Point Stereo Loudspeaker

Conclusion

SpeakerCraft is by no means a newcomer to the world of in ceiling & in wall speakers and subwoofers. Having been in business for more than three decades, we'd suspect they know a thing or two about how to squeeze performance out of their architectural speakers, in spite of their inherent handicaps. Further, the price isn't overly objectionable: a 5.1 set of invisible loudspeakers can be yours for a shade under $1,300, and the single point stereo AIM8 DT Three can be had for a hair under $400. If you believe speakers are made to be heard, not seen, we'd expect these to be worth your while to audition.

Unless otherwise indicated, this is a preview article for the featured product. A formal review may or may not follow in the future.