Definitive Plans Near-Invisible Custom Speakers

BALTIMORE — Definitive Technology is developing its first line of custom installed architectural speakers promoted as being "near-invisible" speakers.

The "Disappearing In-Wall" series will consist of six round in-ceiling speakers, two square in-wall models and one rectangular bipolar surround, all said to offer near-invisibility because of small trim rings, hidden flanges, and low-profile micro-perf grilles.

Unlike some speakers promoted as being nearly invisible, the Definitive models "are as easy to install as traditional flanged flush-mount speakers and do not require custom sheetrock/spackle skills," a spokesman said. "They do not need the highly skilled and time-consuming sheetrock labor of the 'mud-in' totally flush in-walls that started popping up on the market last year," he continued. "Yet it closely approaches the near invisibility of the flush no-flange designs."

A flange is the portion of a speaker's baffle that overlaps and grabs the front side of the sheetrock, and it's typically 5/8-inch wide on custom-install speakers, the spokesman said. In Definitive's series, the flange is hidden under the grille, and the visible trim ring around the grille is only 0.09-inch wide and 0.14-inch high. The grille is perfed all the way to the trim ring, and a cloth scrum under the perf obscures the flange and drivers.

"While not totally flush, these speakers protrude no more than, and typically less than, conventional flange in-walls," he said.

The speakers will appear at the CEDIA Expo and will ship in the first quarter at expected prices of $179 to $379 each.