Friday, March 29, 2013

OSD Audio MK Ceiling Speakers: New Heights for Home Audio


by Mary Ann Giorgio
It was not that long ago when ceiling speakers were typically equated with the phrase, “Clean up on isle six!” You’ll see, and unfortunately hear, ceiling speakers in almost every grocery store and  they do the job they were designed to do. However, don’t confuse these products with home ceiling speakers. They’re both round but there’s where the similarities end.

Many of today’s in-ceiling speakers match the high expectations of even persnickety audiophiles who claim to hear fish breathe 70 leagues beneath the sea. So if you’re shopping for ceiling speakers for a whole house audio system, home theater, or media room, you do not have to settle for “good enough for background music.” Even if you’re on a tight, “owe the IRS”, “kid needs braces budget,” OSD in-ceiling speakers will take your audio experience to new heights.


MK Kevlar Series: It Goes to Eleven

OSD Audio's price-friendly, featured -loaded
 MK850 ceiling speaker with Kevlar woofer

One of OSD Audio’s most popular ceiling speakers is the MK Spitfire Series. Even the top-of-the-line model in the series, the 8” trimless, is priced below $200; yet, these speakers are loaded with components that audio aficionados love to brag about. Premium technologies used in the MK line include Kevlar woofers and  aluminum dome tweeters that provide deep bass and exceptional top-end frequency response. Kevlar is a miracle material designed by mad scientists; the kind that can stop a speeding bullet yet is a light as a cotton ball. Okay, we’re exaggerating but it’s it super strong and super light.
The high strength-to-weight ratio of Kevlar responds really well to sound waves, which makes Kevlar the ideal material for woofers. Although we don’t condone or recommend such behavior, customers tell us that they crank up their MK Kevlar speakers to ear-splitting levels and hear no distortion or coloration in sound.
Kevlar woofers certainly take center stage but the MKs also include a chorus of components that work together to provide stellar sound. This includes butyl rubber surrounds and an advanced crossover network that routes low, mid and high frequencies like an overzealous traffic cop. Both the MK850 and MK650 have front-mounted contour switches that allow customers to tailor frequency response to their room arrangement as well as to compensate for hard and soft surfaces like wood floors, marble and carpet. A speaker should be flexible enough to sound great in any room, right?
In the Kevlar Family
There are three ceiling speakers in the MK Kevlar family. The MK850 ($199.95 pr.) is an 8" 2-way ceiling speaker. It’s a beast with a large woofer that’s perfect for big rooms or rooms with high, vaulted ceilings. Its smaller, but still tough, little Kevlar brother is the MK650 ($129.95 pr.). This is a 6.5", 2-way speaker that can be used to fill  medium to large spaces. We’ll stand both the 8” and 6.5” MKs with Kevlar up to other brands that cost three times more—they are that good!
There’s an Angle
As in family, one sibling marches to the beat of a different drum. Meet the MK670 Angled LCR ($89.50 sold as a single speaker). This left, center, right speaker is typically installed for the front stage of a home theater and is angled 15 degrees. We designed this speaker for rooms where installation is a challenge. Perhaps something is blocking the way like a giant beam and the only place you can fit your speaker is close the wall where reflections can be an issue. Or perhaps you need to install rear speakers far back from the listening area or “sweet spot.” Because the tweeter and woofer are angled, the MK670 can be placed closer to the wall without sacrificing sound quality.   

Meet Cousin Poly Propylene
Okay, you get it, the MK Kevlar ceiling speakers are excellent, but you still owe money to the IRS and your kid still has an overbite. Or maybe you want speakers in every nook and cranny of your house, including the commode and garage, and are worried about going over budget. For those whole house audio warriors, we offer next best thing with the MK840 and 8” 2-way ($119.95 pr). This speaker shares many of the features of the MK850 but is priced lower because it includes a polypropylene cone and titanium tweeter as opposed to Kevlar and aluminum. The more affordable MK840 has slightly lower power handling (175W) compared to the MK850 (200W), but it consistently exceeds customer expectations for the price.

Great Choices for Every Room in the House
So there you have the OSD Audio MK ceiling speaker series. OSD customers love these speakers for whole house audio and home theater applications. The Kevlar woofers are an excellent choice for dedicated home theaters due to their high end components but you can also use them on other rooms in the house if you’re striving for more than “background” music. The MK840 with polypropylene woofer is no slouch either and delivers excellent sound quality at a lower price. Folks often choose this speaker for whole house applications where a lot of speakers are being installed. And finally our unique angled MK670 LCR is often used for the front stage or rear surround sound of a home theater room where placement is not ideal. No matter what model you choose in the MK series, we promise you’ll be spoiled by the audio quality. So much so, you may never walk into a grocery store again!