While not a new design that hasn’t been done before by other brands, the new Focal 300 ICA6 Angled In-Ceiling Loudspeaker completes the loop for the French manufacturer.
Most in-ceiling loudspeakers are aimed directly at the floor; that reality might be fine for situations where you are aiming for maximum coverage in a room and not as concerned with recreating the soundstage and hearing rather precise imaging — but that’s not the best way to do it.
If you’ve never listened to a discrete 5.1.2 or 7.1.2 surround setup with each driver pointed directly at your listening position — you’re had a very different and subpar experience.
You would be quite surprised how much music benefits from this type of design when using in-ceiling loudspeakers.
Focal is pushing hard in the home theater space; something we noticed during our visit to the the Focal Powered by Naim store in Houston and we suspected based on the design of the two home theater rooms that in-wall and in-ceiling were just around the corner.
The leading French brand has unveiled the 300 ICA6 angled in-ceiling loudspeaker at the ISE exhibition in Barcelona. Discrete and easy to install, this versatile loudspeaker joins Focal’s current 300 Series line. By supplementing its range with a product for hi-fi or Home Cinema setups, Focal can offer a completely reinvigorated listening experience at home and confirms its position as a benchmark in the integrated solutions market.
Focal Technologies
Inspired by the 1000 ICA6 loudspeaker from the high-end 1000 Series range, the 300 ICA6 joins the 300 Series incorporating all the features that made it so successful: meticulous French manufacturing in Focal’s workshops in Saint-Étienne with an Aluminum/Magnesium inverted dome tweeter and Flax cone, exclusive technologies for high quality precision and total sonic coherence with the brand’s classic loudspeaker lines Aria and Kanta.
In addition, the ready-to-paint magnetic grilles supplied with the product ensure a completely unobtrusive installation.
Angled In-ceiling Loudspeaker
The 300 ICA6 has a 61/2″ (16.5cm) speaker driver and is angled at 35° to counteract the “shower effect” experienced with other loudspeakers. The angle also means that it can be positioned in several ways in the ceiling, including in corners for fully discreet sound delivery.
Using the product in a Dolby Atmos®/ DTS:X loudspeaker greatly enhances 3D audio effects and the overall experience, making it the perfect complement for a 300 Series Home Cinema installation. The Easy Quick Install patented technology guarantees quick and tool-free installation, too.
Flexibility
When it comes to designing, developing and manufacturing its products, Focal considers all the ways in which they will be used and tries to design a product pathway of discovery for its clients.
Every Focal system can be added to and/or switched with the next range up within the universe of aesthetically and acoustically harmonious products it has created. As the 300 ICA6 has a similar design and is the exact same size as the 1000 Series products, you can easily grow and develop your system.
Pricing & Availability
Focal’s 300 ICA6 angled in-ceiling loudspeaker will be available September 2022 for $499.
For more information, visit: https://www.focal.com/en/custom-integration/in-wall-in-ceiling-loudspeakers/300-series/in-ceiling-speakers/300-ica6