By Michael Short, Senior Director of Residential and Hospitality Marketing, Crestron

One consistent request from clients when it comes to home integration projects has been the desire for tech to be as unobtrusive as possible. For decades, audio installers and manufacturers have struggled to find the right balance of performance and visibility when it came to speakers — generally, “smaller” didn’t equal “better.”

Couple that with a growing demand for “entertainment everywhere” — from small spaces like bathrooms to outdoor patios to marine applications — and the need for outstanding sound from a small reveal has never been greater.

Want to learn more about Crestron’s new speaker lines?

Crestron’s proud to offer a solution: The new 3” Ultimate In-Ceiling Speaker. Its diminutive footprint serves an audio experience that’s downright astonishing. To paraphrase the old saw: Great things do come in small packages.

The Ultimate IC3 is the latest offering from Crestron’s ongoing partnership with Origin Acoustics, a legendary speaker manufacturer that had the know-how to help us build the kind of products that could handle the higher audio resolution and robust power delivered by the Crestron DM NAX™ Audio-over-IP amplifiers.

What’s Behind the Grille

The magic’s in the box behind that three-inch opening: the fireproof aluminum enclosure holds a 6” carbon fiber woofer and a 2” wide-band ceramic-coated aluminum tweeter with a Neodymium transducer that combine to deliver sound to the listener with a 100-degree dispersion. These two speaker components (woofer and tweeter) work together seamlessly to create an incredibly satisfying full range output.

Power Handling and Frequency Response

The Ultimate IC3 is rated for continuous power handling of 75W (200W peak) at 8 ohms of impedance. The carbon fiber used for the woofers delivers a low-end frequency response that’s better than a great many larger audiophile-grade models at 44Hz, while the tweeter tops out at 20kHz. Those stats are a testament to the engineers at both Crestron and Origin Acoustics working in concert to create an unparalleled listening experience. The Crestron Ultimate IC3 is designed to work optimally with Crestron DM NAX™ amplifiers, and we’ve carefully crafted DSP Profiles built to maximize both the performance and protection of the speaker.

Looks and Durability

The dimensions of the Ultimate IC3 reveal — with round, square, and flush options available — are no accident. These speakers are designed to create a uniform aesthetic when they’re deployed in conjunction with Crestron’s LED light fixtures. The Ultimate IC3’s marine-grade rating means that these speakers can handle the elements, from outdoor installations in the toughest climates to yachts and saunas. Whether its surroundings are hot or cold, dry or damp, the Ultimate IC3 will perform perfectly in every environment.

The Latest in the Ultimate Line

The Ultimate IC3 speakers join the other outstanding speakers in the Ultimate line, including 6” and 8” in-ceiling models that are perfect for applications where a more “audio-forward” approach is needed — the “height channel” of a powerful immersive home theater application, for example. In-wall speakers and subs round out the Ultimate line, all built in partnership with Origin Acoustics. In fact, Origin also collaborated with Crestron to bring you the Reference series of speakers, offering premium performance for somewhat smaller budgets.

The Ultimate IC3 speaker is optimally suited for new construction, and installation is simple thanks to the component’s specially-made tool. As for the 6” and 8” models, grille openings are consistent across both lines, allowing for easy upgrades with Origin’s unique “click-and-turn” installation system — no tools needed.

Here’s a look at the other speakers offered by Crestron: in-ceiling, in-wall, subwoofers, outdoor, and more.

Learn about all the audio solutions offered with the Crestron Home® platform

End-to-End Audio Solutions with the Crestron Home® OS

Speakers are just one part of the terrific whole-home audio solutions offered by Crestron. From the entire range of Crestron DM NAX™ streaming amplifiers to Crestron’s Certified Audio Profiles and more, we optimize audio for every application, from gentle background sounds to the bombast of your favorite Hollywood blockbuster. It’s all easily controlled by the Crestron Home OS interface for the most intuitive user experience imaginable, and audio is just one part of what the Crestron Home platform can deliver.