About The Paradigm CI Home H65-SM V2 Mono/Stereo In-Ceiling Speaker
The H65-SM V2 In-Ceiling speaker is part of Paradigm's CI Home Series but is unique among the range because it can be used as either a stereo or mono speaker which is great for indoor places where you don't need a stereo pair. The Paradigm CI HOME series address the important considerations when selecting custom installation speakers: truly good sound, easy installation and a bezel-free micro-perforated grille with an incredibly discreet aesthetic.
There are dozens if not hundreds of In-Wall and In-Ceiling speaker brands on the market. In fact, if you order enough, the Asian manufacturers will put any name you like on them! Don't laugh, because it is actually happening and boy are they cheap...but also nasty - real nasty! Please, don't be fooled by the look and conclude it is all one big con and that they're all basically the same.
The good news is that you can now buy In-Ceiling Speakers that are made with integrity, are fairly priced and actually deliver very good sound. Canadian Speaker giant Paradigm is proof - everything they put their name to is designed in house including their in-wall and in-ceiling products which although mostly unseen could be referred to as "buried treasures."
Perforated Phase-Aligning Tweeter Lens Technology: The V2 features Paradigm's exclusive Perforated Phase-Aligning (PPA™) Tweeter Lens technology. It acts as the Phase Plug, blocking out-of-phase frequencies for smoother, extended high frequencies with incredible detail and higher output, all while protecting the delicate dome tweeter. CI Home tweeters are Ferro-fluid damped and cooled to ensure smooth high-frequency performance with amazing clarity across a wide listening area.
Awesome Performance: By purchasing something like the Paradigm H65-SM V2's with their 165mm bass/mid-range driver from the outset, you will be better off and minimise any dramas with performance. It is easy and very affordable to step up to a superior high-frequency response, exceptional midrange clarity and definition with even better bass performance on the H65-SM V2's. Not to mention one of the most rigid high-strength chassis and mounting bracket systems on the market. But there's more!
Efficiency: With just a 85dB SPL they are not super easy to drive and are best used with amplifiers with around 80 Watts RMS output, although maximum input is just 50 Watts of 'clean' undistorted power. The reason for this recommendation is that you should never be driving your amplifier to the max as it will 'clip' and then 'cook' your speakers and when the efficiency is only 85dB you need an amp that delivers a good punchy performance especially at lower outputs! The H65-SM V2's are compatible with 8 Ohms and have a pretty impressive frequency response of between 70Hz and 20kHz. Speaker grilles are micro-perforated and attached or held in place by neodymium magnets rather than the old way of forcing them into a narrow bezel or slot. This makes the entire installation process very quick.
Bass/Mid Cones: The advanced polypropylene bass/mid cones have larger than normal computer-optimised ferrite magnets and high-power motor structures that promote natural and detailed sonic reproduction with better-than-average bass response. Mineral-filled polypropylene cones with surrounds, made in-house and overmolded directly onto each cone, achieve greater excursion for a 3dB gain in distortion-free output (50% greater) compared to drivers with standard surrounds. The high-strength ABS chassis design reduces the problems of vibrations and resonances.
Pure-Titanium Tweeter (PTD) Domes: Ferro-fluid damped and cooled to ensure smooth high-frequency performance with amazing clarity across a wide listening area.
Other Features: Rigid ABS clamps simplify and reduce installation time. Pocketed screw holes help to hold the drill steady, making installation a snap. Magnetically attached grilles: neodymium magnets hold grilles firmly in place. Easy-access binding posts: High-quality binding posts feature a larger wire access hole and connect via banana plug, pin or bare wire.
Research - Building Projects
If you are reading this material as part of research of a new building product, then you may be surprised to know that on average in the USA, 65% of all new homes built have multi-room sound in some description specified as a standard feature. Although we don't have the exact figures for Australia, we're fairly confident that it will be about the same or even more. Australian's love new technology.
But sadly, the big home builders have looked at this as a simply a profit opportunity and unless you organise otherwise will install what are known as "contractor series" speakers. If you guessed that these were bottom of the pile quality, you'd be right! A wrong decision here means you are stuck with bad sound and until the day you move or have them replaced.
Our Take
As mentioned above, the Paradigm H65-SM V2 is a stereo/mono input speaker. Yes, you can use it in any indoor application like rear speakers in a surround sound system, but that's not the real purpose of this design. The idea is really to allow you to connect a stereo output from either an A/V receiver or other stereo amplifier but to just one speaker. Some rooms in your home may not need or have space to install a pair of speakers but installing one is a a cinch. You will still get the full stereo material and in a small space will sound pretty darn good. Yes, you could install a H65-R in a bathroom or ensuite, but you would have to make sure it was located so that it was not affected by moisture. If that cannot be avoided, then choose a moisture resistant speaker system.
The other nice thing here is the outstanding quality of the three drivers. The bass/mid-range unit is 165mm or 6-1/2" in the old language and this will deliver very good bass in the typical environment that the H65-SM V2 is designed. It uses two of pure-titanium tweeter and these deliver amazingly good clarity and of course in stereo! Yes, the H65-SM V2 has some special features that need to be matched carefully to the rest of your system.
Main Features & Specifications
- Design: 3-Driver, 2-Way Switchable Stereo/Mono In-Ceiling Speaker
- Chassis: ABS chassis & mounting clamps
- Crossover: Two 2nd-order electro-acoustic at 3.0 kHz
- High Frequency Drivers:
- Two 19mm (3/4") Pure Titanium Dome Tweeters
- Bass/Midrange:
- 1 x 165mm (6.5") mineral-filled polypropylene cone,
- Dual voice-coil
- Low Frequency Extension: 52 Hz
- Frequency Response (On Axis): ±2 dB from 70 Hz - 20 kHz
- Frequency Response (30˚ Off Axis): ±2 dB from 70 Hz - 15 kHz
- Sensitivity-Room: 89 dB
- Sensitivity-Anechoic: 85 dB
- Suitable Amplifier Power Range: 15-80 Watts Mono, 15-40 Watts/Channel Stereo
- Maximum Input Power: 100 Watts Mono / 50 Watts Stereo
- Impedance: Compatible with 8 Ohms
- Finish: White, paintable grille
- Overall Diameter: 222mm
- Cutout Diameter: 197mm
- Depth: 92mm
- Minimum Mounting Depth: 76mm
- Nett Weight: 1.8 kg
- Manufacturer's Warranty: 5 Years
Note: Features & Specifications Subject To Change Without Notice. E&OE