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Speakers

A speaker turns an amplifier signal into sound, and the right type depends on whether it plays background music, carries announcements or fills a venue. The range includes 100V line ceiling, wall, pendant and column speakers for shops and offices, EN54-24 voice alarm speakers, active and passive PA cabinets and wedge monitors, subwoofers, portable PA units, IP network speakers, and replacement drivers and crossovers.

Choosing Speakers

Match the speaker to the room, the signal it carries and the amplifier that drives it.

Background music and paging

Shops, offices and schools usually run 100V line speakers, so many can share one amplifier. The Adastra 952.168UK quick-fit metal ceiling speaker is tapped at 1.5W, 3W and 6W, BC Series cabinets such as the 952.714UK mount on walls, and the TOA TZ-50-EB column speaker is rated 50W and IP55. PS Series pendants such as the Adastra 952.429UK are made for high ceilings, with a 4.5m cable and hook.

Voice alarm

Where the PA carries evacuation messages, look for EN54-24 certification, as on the Adastra 952.205UK fire dome ceiling speaker, the Adastra F40V 952.244UK outdoor column and the Penton RCS4FT/ENC ceiling speaker.

Live sound and events

A PA cabinet is active, with its amplifier built in, or passive, driven by a separate amplifier. The Citronic CASA 178.112UK is a 12in active cabinet rated 280W RMS with Bluetooth and USB/SD, the passive 178.113UK is rated 300W, and the CM-series 178.692UK is a 12in active wedge monitor. For larger events, the Citronic C-208 171.208UK line array cabinet is rated 600W RMS and 128 dB.

Network speakers

IP speakers such as the Axis 02323-001 ceiling speaker and the Dahua DH-VCS-SPOE20 take power and audio over a PoE network cable.

TypeExampleRating
100V ceiling speakerAdastra 952.282UK8in, 40W
100V background wall speakerAdastra 952.887UK4in, 60W
EN54-24 ceiling speakerPenton RCS4FT/ENC4in, 4W
Active PA cabinetCitronic 178.115UK15in, 350W RMS
Passive PA cabinetQTX QR15 178.213UK15in, 250W, 8 ohms
Home in-ceiling speakerVanco IC8-BSC8in woven cone, 80W
Replacement driverQTX 902.512UK15in, 350W RMS

Brands we stock in Speakers

Adastra, AV:Link, Axis Communications, Bosch, Bose Professional, CIE Group, Citronic, Clever Acoustics, Dahua Technology, Hanwha Vision, Hikvision, Honeywell Commercial Security, JBL Professional, Netgenium, Penton, QTX, Signet, TOA, Vanco and Zenith.

Adastra supplies the largest number of speakers here, followed by Citronic and QTX.

Related categories

Browse the wider audio visual range for amplifiers and mixers, AV adapters for connecting sources, and ceiling speakers or outdoor speakers by location. See also Horn Speakers, Citronic Drivers and TOA Speakers.

Frequently asked questions

What are small surface mount speakers?

Small surface mount speakers are compact cabinets that fix directly onto a wall or ceiling with a bracket, so no cut-out is needed. They suit shops, offices, bars and meeting rooms where in-ceiling speakers are not practical. Check whether a model runs on a 100V line or at low impedance, and match it to the amplifier. The range here includes Bose Professional surface-mount satellites.

What are low profile speakers?

Low profile speakers are slim designs that sit close to the wall or ceiling surface for a discreet finish. In ceilings they often use a thin, flush grille, and some slimline models fit with quick spring clamps. They suit offices, shops and homes where a speaker should blend into the decor. The range here includes low profile and slimline ceiling speakers.

What are commercial speakers?

Commercial speakers are built for installed sound in shops, offices, schools, restaurants and public buildings, rather than home hi-fi. Many run on a 100V line, which lets one amplifier drive a long chain of speakers over lengthy cable runs. Types include ceiling, wall, pendant, column and horn speakers, and some carry EN 54-24 approval for voice alarm use.

What is a speaker?

A speaker is a device that turns an electrical audio signal into sound, using a driver whose cone moves air as the signal changes. A passive speaker needs a separate amplifier, while an active speaker has one built in. Larger cabinets often combine a woofer for bass with a tweeter or horn for treble, joined by a crossover.

  • Established 1975
  • Birmingham trade counter
  • UK-only supply

Written by the West Midlands Electrics technical team

Updated

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