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
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| 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!
