Features
- Edgeless design for seamless aesthetic integration
- 8″ (203mm) Polypropylene cone woofer
- 1″ (25mm) swiveling silk dome Neodymium tweeter
- Bumped back basket for higher speaker excursion
- Wide Butyl rubber surround
- 12dB/Octave filter network crossover
- Polyswitch tweeter protection
- Custom compact spring-loaded terminals
- Easy-to-use Turn-N-Lock installation mechanism
- Paintable rust-resistant grille
- Rough-in ready with the RK-C8
- Round and square grilles are available
- Available in 8″ dual VC, 6.5″, and 6.5″ dual VC models
Specifications
- Power Handling: 200 Watts MAX
- Frequency Response: 45Hz–20kHz
- Sensitivity: 92dB @1W/1M
- Impedance (Ohms): 8
- Voice Coil: Single
- Grille Finish: White/Paintable
- Frame Diameter: 10.5″ (267mm)
- Grille Diameter: 10.62″ (270mm)
- Cutout Hole Diameter: 9.5″ (240mm)
- Mounting Depth: 4.56″ (116mm)
- Magnet Diameter: 3.38″ (86mm)
- Weight: 3 lb (1.36 kg)
In The Box
- (2) R800 in-wall speakes
- (2) Speaker grille
- (1) Cutout template
- (1) Product manual
Applications
- Dedicated home theater or surround sound
- Compatible with overhead Dolby Atmos channels
- Multi-room/zone or whole-house audio
- Light commercial uses for background music in bars, restaurants, hotels, etc.
Aesthetics and Integration: The Edgeless Advantage
The R800 was engineered with a clear focus on blending high-fidelity audio reproduction but with minimal visual impact. Arguably, the R800’s most prominent visual feature is that it is edgeless, providing a frameless appearance once installed. The intention is to allow the speaker grille to sit nearly flush with the surface, creating a seamless, high-end appearance that avoids the thicker bezels common on older or more budget-oriented in-ceiling models. This addresses the aesthetic goals of modern home theater design, where minimizing visual distractions is essential for immersion and enhancing decor. The speaker should be heard, not seen.
Further enhancing this visual integration is the paintable, rust-resistant, magnetically attached grille. The ability to paint the grille allows users to perfectly match the surface color, rendering the speaker exceptionally discreet. Magnetic attachment simplifies both the final installation step and any future need for removal (e.g., for cleaning or troubleshooting), eliminating the often-fiddly process of prying off friction-fit grilles. The rust-resistant nature adds durability, particularly in slightly more humid environments, although it is primarily designed for standard indoor use. When aesthetics are weighted heavily, the R800 provides a clean, integrated look alongside excellent audio performance.
Core Audio Components: The Engine Within
At the heart of the R800’s impressive sound reproduction are its thoughtfully chosen driver components. The speaker features an 8-inch (203mm) polypropylene cone woofer, known for its excellent stiffness, low weight, and internal damping, which enhance durability and minimize distortion, essential for clear dialogue and immersive sound effects in home theater settings.
For high frequencies, a 1-inch (25mm) silk dome tweeter, powered by Neodymium (NEO) magnets, ensures smooth and natural treble reproduction, making long listening sessions enjoyable. The tweeter’s swivel feature allows users to direct high frequencies for tailored sound quality.
To further enhance low frequency performance from the relatively compact 8-inch driver, Earthquake incorporated other design elements such as a wider surround with Piston-Max™ and a bumped back basket. Piston-Max™ is a proprietary technology that moves the surround to the outer edge of the cone body, resulting in a 20% increase in surface area. This translates into more sound and higher efficiency. A wider surround profile also allows for greater cone movement. A bumped back basket provides more physical clearance for the magnet and voice coil assembly to move further backward. Together, these features enable higher speaker excursion, which directly translates to the ability to move more air, resulting in a deeper bass response.
Ensuring Audio Integrity and Durability
Internally, the R800 employs a 12dB/Octave filter network crossover to ensure each driver operates within its optimal frequency range. A 12dB/Octave slope provides a reasonably sharp cutoff between drivers, a common and effective design choice for balancing performance and component cost. Further safeguarding the speaker is a thermal tweeter protection circuit or polyswitch. Because tweeters are more susceptible to damage from excessive power or distorted signals, a polyswitch intervenes to prevent burnout, significantly enhancing the speaker’s long-term reliability.