Semi Acoustic
Ceiling Speakers – Polk Audio Vs. Boston Acoustics
Just for a little educational experiment, I want to go through an analysis and comparison of two very differently priced in ceiling speakers. The first one is the so-called budget friendly Boston Acoustics DSi255 and the second one is the Polk Audio LC80fx. The first can be had for around $100, while you’ll probably have to pay closer to $900 for the Polks.
For those of you who aren’t so well-versed in the subtle (but major) distinctions between different components and aspects of ceiling speakers, this should tell you a lot, and hopefully inform your purchase if that is what you want to do. I am not trying to pick a side, necessarily. I’m just trying to illustrate how there could be a price discrepancy of oh about 800% between the low-end and the high-end in this sub-sector of the ceiling-based audio field.
First let’s look at the Boston Acoustics offering. This one is rather cheap, I’d say. I mean who would think you could get anything from that stalwart of Boston, MA, sonic engineering for $99. Not me. I was surprised to see this deal when I first spotted it.
The BA DSi255 has a 5 ¼” woofer and a ¾” dome tweeter for your ears to hear sweet, sweet music through. Like many ceiling speakers they run flush to the rest of the ceiling, a feature I personally like. I prefer it over the ones that kind of stick out like an upside down semi-globe, but maybe that’s just me. Anyway.. These speakers are designed to disperse sound through as wide an area as possible. Most people who use them are using them in places like an office or a hallway. In other words, because they’re not ultra amazing sonically, people tend to relegate them to background music status. Now, the thing is, these speakers really aren’t bad at all. Like many things in life, don’t just assume they’re bad because the price is lower than some of their competitors. Remember: a lot of pricing is just based on what the company thinks they can get away with by making you think they’re so amazing through their advertising.
Now let’s have a look at our buddies on the other side of the spectrum. The Polk Audio LC80fx ceiling speakers are not just normal speakers. They are actually specifically built for surround sound, an entirely different animal. So that is why upon closer inspection in many of these cases, the prices seem so wildly divergent. But still, we ought to have a closer look at the actual quality of this offering from Polk.
Not only do these speakers serve up surround sound, they also have an advanced tweeter lodged in each one of them. These also have many if not all of the same features that our previous example had, as you would expect: things like the flat in-line with the ceiling, etc. But these high-end ceiling speakers also can be switched into two different modes: a diffused mode which basically spreads sound out over the whole room, or a pinpoint mode which will make different sounds come from much different places in your whole setup. Obviously you don’t want to get these if you’re not planning on implementing them in a bigger overall surround sound system galore.
In conclusion, I’d just say that much of the time you have to wade through some technical jargon to find out what’s really inside (and outside) of various ceiling speakers. You also must have a real clear vision of how you’re going to be setting these things up.
About the Author
Will writes about many different home electronics in his blog, and one of his favorites is
ceiling speakers
.
Ibanez Artcore Hollowbody and Semi Acoustic Guitars
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STAGG Jazz Style Electric Guitar-Semi Acoustic Model with Humbucker Pickups $319.95 |
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STAGG Black Standard Case for Semi-Acoustic/Jazz Guitar with PVC Handle $99.95 |
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STAGG Semi-Acoustic Model Tiger Stripe Jazz Style Electric Guitar Natural $349.95 |
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New 7 string Electric and Acoustic Guitar, semi hollow flamed maple body $248.00 |
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STAGG Left-Handed Tiger Stripe Jazz Electric Guitar Semi Acoustic Model natural $359.95 |
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STAGG Bronze Tweed Deluxe Hardshell Case Semi-Acoustic Jazz Guitar Hollowbody $114.95 |
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12 string Electric and Acoustic Guitar, semi hollow body, with case $255.00 |
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NOS Godin A-4 Semi- Acoustic Electric Bass + Deluxe Gigbag! $699.00 |
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Semi Hollow Body Arch Top Acoustic Electric Guitar Case Hardshell Black $110.00 |
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Seagull Maritime SWS Semi Gloss All Solid Wood acoustic guitar NEW $629.00 |
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On-Stage Stands Semi-Acoustic Case $69.99 |
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ESP Xtone PA-1 Paramount Series Semi-Acoustic Guitar Brown Sunburst 886830318108 $479.20 |
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Miniature Guitar SEMI-ACOUSTIC $23.66 |
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2009 GODIN A5 SEMI-ACOUSTIC FRETTED BASS SA W/BAG $1,095.00 |
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TAYLOR T5 C1 FLAME TOP DELUXE ACOUSTIC ELECTRIC GUITAR USA MADE SEMI HOLLOW BODY $825.00 |
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7 string Electric and Acoustic Guitar, semi hollow body $245.00 |
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BRAND NEW SEALED AKG Acoustics K-240 Semi Open Studio Headphones $93.97 |
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Vintage rare 1971 72 Gibson ES325 ES 325 thinline semi acoustic guitar mint $2,924.30 |
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TKL Cases Premier Hardshell Wood Semi-Acoustic Guitar Case TKL-7855 $147.19 |
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Westfield Semi Acoustic Electric Guitar E7000 Tobacco Sunburst w/ Gold Hardware $393.59 |
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Godin A5 Semi Acoustic Synth Bass 5-String Used $650.00 |
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Tao Semi Acoustic Jazz Guitar. Amazing Guitar In Violin Amber Burst. NO RESERVE! $630.70 |
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Seagull Maritime SWS Acoustic-Electric Guitar with Quantum I, Semi-Gloss Natural $749.00 |
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Freshman FA1AN Folk Electro Semi Acoustic Guitar NEW $374.63 |
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Freshman FA1ABK Folk Electro Semi Acoustic Guitar Black $374.63 |
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Freshman Apollo 3 DC Electro Semi Acoustic Guitar NEW $749.25 |
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Freshman FA1AWR Folk Electro Semi Acoustic Guitar, Red $374.63 |
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2009 GODIN A6 ULTRA SEMI-ACOUSTIC COGNAC BURST W/GIGBAG $695.00 |
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TKL Premier Semi-Acoustic 335-Style Guitar Case – 7855 $129.00 |
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Spider Semi Acoustic Guitar Bag $23.69 |
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NEW Blue Rogue 6 String ACOUSTIC GUITAR Semi HARD Gator CASE/Gigbag Exc Cond $195.00 |
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Godin A5 Semi-Acoustic 5-String Fretless Bass Guitar with Synth Access Natural $1,199.99 |
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PLANTRONIC PLN-81961-01 PLANTRONICS – AUDIO646 DSP BEHIND THE HEAD – HEADSET – 81961-01 $30.00 .AUDIO 646 DSP .Audio .Audio 646 DSP Headset 1 Year Limited Digital signal processing provides enhanced sound quality in this comfortable, discreet stereo USB headset. A noise-canceling microphone and wideband acoustic echo cancellation capture a broader range of voice signals for calls that are clearer and more natural sounding. The acoustically tuned equalizer supplies rich, resonant stereo soun… |
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Low-Frequency Noise in Advanced MOS Devices (Analog Circuits and Signal Processing) $109.99 This is an introduction to noise, describing fundamental noise sources and basic circuit analysis, discussing characterization of low-frequency noise and offering practical advice that bridges concepts of noise theory and modelling, characterization, CMOS technology and circuits. The text offers the latest research, reviewing the most recent publications and conference presentations. The book conc… |
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Semiconductor Device-Based Sensors for Gas, Chemical, and Biomedical Applications $99.00 Sales of U.S. chemical sensors represent the largest segment of the multi-billion-dollar global sensor market, which includes instruments for chemical detection in gases and liquids, biosensors, and medical sensors. Although silicon-based devices have dominated the field, they are limited by their general inability to operate in harsh environments faced with factors such as high temperature and pr… |
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Cyber Acoustics AC-840 Internet Communication USB Mono Headset $19.99 Direct Noise Canceling Microphone TechnologyAmbidextrous design (wear on right or left side)180 degree microphoneAdjustable headbandAdjustable boom arm… |
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Tascam CDGT2 Guitar Trainer $199.00 The new CD-GT2, is the latest introduction in the portable CD trainer line. Like the wildly-popular original CD-GT1 guitar trainer, musicians have the ability to slow down the speed of a CD without changing the pitch – allowing artists, musicians, students, and music teachers to practice, learn and teach fast licks, rhythm parts and solos from their favorite guitar players. It features a comprehen… |
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Daisy Rock Retro-H De-Luxe (Sea Foam Green) $397.00 Electric Hollowbody Guitar. Made by Daisy Rock.Specifications: CONSTRUCTION: Bolt-On BODY: Basswood, Semi-Hollow NECK: Rock Maple FINGERBOARD: Rosewood FRET: 22 Medium SCALE: 24 3/4″ INLAY: Dots BRIDGE: Bigsby B-50 Vibrato w/Adjustable Roller Saddle Bridge TUNERS: Grover BINDING: Creme, Black on Ruby Sparkle HARDWARE: Chrome PICKUPS: Daisy Rock Vintage Mini Humbuckers ELECTRONICS: Dual Volume Knob… |
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The Gibson 335 $21.42 Gibson`s first “semi-acoustic” the ES-335, which was neither totally solid nor fully acoustic, is the guitar of choice used by many famous guitarists such as Andy Summers, Elvin Bishop, Lee Ritenour, Jay Graydon, Robben Ford, Freddie King, John McLaugh… |
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Jethro Tull – Live at Montreux 2003 (DVD) $13.85 This feature captures the British group Jethro Tull?s live concert at the 2003 Montreux Festival, where the band played the first half of the gig semi-acoustically before going fully electric for the remainder of the set. Ian Anderson and his band pe… |
