Klipsch CDT-5800-C II In-Ceiling Speaker
For those looking to upgrade their in-ceiling speakers to the next level, one company keeps getting brought up again and again. Klipsch has various ceiling and wall speakers for your home, covering every price point. On the upper end of the spectrum sits the Klipsch CDT-5800 C-II we will review today.
This is a big and bold speaker that has become extremely popular over the past few years. We will discuss the positive and negative aspects and compare them to see if they are worth the purchase.
Specifications
Frequency Response: 49Hz-23KHz ± 3dB Sensitivity 95dB @ 2.83V / 1m Nominal
Impedance: 8 ohms
Amplifier Power: 100 W
Tweeter: 1” (2.54cm) Titanium diaphragm compression driver
Woofer: Low Frequency Driver 8"
Enclosure: ABS
Dimensions: 9.8" - Mounting Depth: 5.4" - Weight: 7.4 lbs
Build Quality and Design
Well, the CDT-5800-C II screams Klipsch the minute you get them out of the box. Excellent build quality throughout, a well-structured component layout, and they couldn’t resist throwing a touch of that classic Klipsch colorway onto the drivers.
This is a ceiling speaker; as such, they are not housed in a box or case; the back end of the drivers is to be hidden in walls and ceilings with realistically only the driver or grill showing. The speakers are instead suspended in a high-quality ABS plastic mount. It feels secure and well-made, and I like how all coils and capacitors are neatly lined up next to the rim on the underside of the driver.
There is a unique banana clip-style mount for the cables. Instead of simply routing them through the connector and screwing them down, Klipsch wants you to use one of their adapters to terminate the wires. It’s a more elegant solution and more resistant to corrosion, but it adds an extra step to the installation process.
Getting along to the speakers, there is a large 8-inch cone that drives the midrange and lows, and the 1-inch tweeter is mounted in the center. What I like about the design is that Klipsch made both units able to articulate in multiple directions. If you want to “aim” your sound, these speakers give you lots of versatility because I could position the tweeter and woofer separately. Yes, both parts move individually, letting you dial in the performance.
Finally, the grills. Klipsch decided to leave the speaker grills free of branding, which is always the right choice. One of the reasons people buy ceiling speakers is discretion and plastering a company logo over the only visible surface is just wrong. They have a magnetic snap, so once the speakers are installed on the roof, you can quickly gain access to refine positioning. Of course, the speaker grills have a coating that allows you to paint them to match the environment.
Sound
By far, these are one of if not the best ceiling speakers I have heard to date. Yes, you will get more performance out of a true HiFi system using tower or bookshelf speakers but these sound outstanding for their placement.
The big 8-inch driver provides an authoritative boost to the speakers allowing them to be played very loud yet remaining low in distortion of the bass region. The sound is slight to the warm side with smooth and natural tones, especially in the midrange.
High notes are not the most extended; in fact, they are rolled off somewhat to avoid sibilance. Lovers of jazz may want to try out a similar set of Polk Audio speakers, which tend to push top notes more.
The midrange is the true strength of the CDT-5800-C II. It is smooth and natural, with good clarity that makes the imaging stand out. Stringed instruments have great resonance and detail that stands out from the cheaper competition, like Herdio I have tested in the past.
The pairing was simple enough. I had them hooked up to a Sony receiver. Driving them is easy, with only 8 ohms of impedance and a requirement of around 100mw per channel to reach potential.
The low end is where you will benefit most from a regular HiFi system by including a base unit. You can get ceiling-mounted sub-woofers, but in my experience, it doesn’t work well due to the bass being so directionally focussed when fired downwards. The bass on the Klipsch is good, and it extends down to produce good mid-bass and impactful lows below, but a dedicated subwoofer is needed to get real ethereal sub-bass.
This is the perfect ceiling speaker if you listen to a lot of EDM, pop, and rock. It’s lively and energetic with an overall fun and detail-rich sound.
Conclusion
The Klipsch CDT-5800-C II is a brilliant speaker that can be used throughout your home. The ability to dial in the proper direction effectively covers large areas or awkwardly shaped rooms. Nobody should ever pay the price demanded on the Klipsch website.
There are links in this review that show you can get them at significant discounts. If you are looking for one of the best ceiling speakers, this is up there for the price to performance, but if you want an actual audiophile experience, Tower and bookshelf speakers still can’t be beaten.
Official Website for the CDT-5800-C-II Speaker: www.Klipsch.com
