Herdio HCS418 - What You Need To Know!

Introduction

The Herdio HCS418 is the brand’s entry-level ceiling speaker. With a reputation for delivering price and performance, it’s something we have been seeing installed on several cost-sensitive projects this year. Having multi-room audio and the sound built into the ceiling doesn’t have to cost a small fortune anymore, and the more time I spend listening to them, the more I like them. This is an excellent speaker. However, there are some caveats to ensure adequate performance, so read the rest of this review to find out what we thought.

Herdio HCS418 Specifications

The most important specification when choosing a ceiling speaker is, of course, the dimensions. Will they fit your project physically, but how will they look aesthetically? The Herido HCS418 has a total Speaker Diameter of 6.4 Inches (the size of the hole you will need to cut in your ceiling) and a mounting depth of just 2.6 inches. Be sure that the area you cut does not have any cross beams behind it.

There is a very minimal bulge on the speaker grill itself, meaning it sits flush with the ceiling to which you are fixing it. They only come in one color (white), so if that stands out too much, the grills can be easily painted to match any room.

Internally the speakers are a standard conical design with a 4-inch diaphragm, Herdio does make two other sizes of this model, a 6-inch and 8-inch model, available at a higher price for those looking for a bit more punch.

The speakers have a max power output of 160 watts, but they are not active speakers meaning they will need to be connected to your home audio system to play music. The company also sells a well-connected amplifier to match the speaker, which includes lots of connectivity and can be mounted on your wall next to a light switch. Cabling obviously will have to be routed internally through your walls.

Build Quality and Design

There really isn’t much to discuss in this section. Ceiling speakers are meant to be as discreet as possible, and the HCS418 fits right into that mold. As mentioned above, they sit flush with the ceiling and have pretty standard grills that are easily painted.

Build quality we can discuss, and I have been really impressed when using these on-home audio installs over the past year. The base unit feels solid and secure, with the cage supporting the speaker's weight. Obviously, being located in the ceiling, it’s unlikely these speakers will be prone to knocks or dings, and there is no enclosure anyway.

There were two functions I really did like that elevated them from the similarly priced competition. Firstly the speaker grill is detachable via magnets; this saves time if you need to access them. It just pops off and is far easier than standing on that ladder trying to use a screwdriver when upside down.

The second feature is that the tweeter direct is adjustable. This made it easy to position the audio direction to where I wanted it to go instead of firing straight down.

Sound Quality of the Herdio HCS418

Given the price, I didn’t expect much from the 418. Budget sound is something we have to consider, as there are some genuinely awful-sounding speakers at this price. The Herdio though performs really well. They get loud without distortion up to around 80% and have good sonic characteristics.

The tuning is very flat on them, which I think was wise to do because the speaker's small size does not lend itself to power in the bass in the way a larger 6 or 8-inch model does. Instead of going for sub-bass, they have managed to keep things controlled in a way that I would call the bass punchy rather than impactful.

Positioning a room planning will be critical with these speakers to get the most out of their sound. One speaker may be enough for smaller rooms like a study and a bathroom, but to get optimum performance in larger living spaces, you will need to install multiple units to cover the environment evenly.

I liked the sound, as I say I don’t expect too much at this price, but these were great for utilizing multi-room audio. The most common setup we found them being used was where the installation was in multiple auxiliary rooms that weren’t considered primary listening spaces. Users would likely opt for a complete HiFi system in the living room or have the HCS418 as satellite speakers in the kitchen, dining room, and studies.

The other thing I would recommend is possibly using that setup but in your main listening space, upgrade the speakers to the 6 or 8-inch versions. You could even use them with another brand like Klipsch, which has fantastic-sounding models to mix and match the audio in spaces where it counts most for sound quality.

Review Conclusion

There is so much to like about the HCS418, but I think most of it comes down to the price. They just work so well and sound good for the money it’s tough to critique the performance. It’s a value-for-money trade-off and perfect for people who just want to listen to music throughout the house without having bulky speakers in the way. A lovely product that is the best we tested at this price.

Do we Recommended This Speaker? YES

Official Website: Herdiotech.com