Here are some frequently asked questions and answers related to the Micca M-8S.
How Much and Where can I buy one?The Micca M-8S is available from the
MiccaStore.com, where you can get the best deal on these awesome in-wall speakers with free shipping!
Are there any other sizes available?There is really no reason to use a smaller speaker than 8" for in-wall installations. Traditional speakers are offered in different sizes because smaller woofers typically resulted in much smaller and less expensive enclosures. In-wall speakers do not have this issue as there is no enclosure, and even the most closely spaced 16-inch on-center studs can easily accommodate an 8" in-wall speaker. A 6.5" in-wall speaker would therefore save very little money, suffer from poorer bass response, lower efficiency, and offer no benefit in return. After all, a 6.5" in-wall speaker takes up nearly the same amount of wall space and is not any eaiser to install than an 8" speaker.
For home theater installations, it is ideal to have identical speakers for all channels. This provides the best timbre matching and the most seamless integration. Horizontally oriented center speakers are a design compromise because it's impractical to have a normal vertical center channel speaker. The M-T-M design utilized by center channel speakers is a classic D'Appolito configuration that is well known to have inferior dispersion characteristics when oriented horizontally. Here too, in-wall speakers do not have this problem as the in-wall installation do not interfere with the placement of furniture or AV equipment.
We do have plans for an 8" ceiling speaker that is well matched to the M-8S in tonal characteristics. These would be idea for installations where the location does not have any vertical walls to allow using the M-8S as rear surrounds. The ETA for the ceiling speakers is first quarter 2010.
What kind of amplifier is needed for the M-8S?The M-8S presents an 8-Ohm load and can be powered by just about all consumer grade amplifiers and receivers. For the simplest stereo installation, we recommend an inexpensive stereo or multi-channel receiver with at least 50 watts of power per channel. For more advanced multi-channel installations where three or more of the M-8S speakers are used in a home theater installation, we recommend a multi-channel receiver with at least 70 watts of power per channel in order to achieve output levels suitable for dynamic movie sound tracks.
We do not specify a fixed upper limit for amplifier power because the maximum power handling capacity of the M-8S vary greatly depending on program content and crossover settings. As a conservative estimate, amplifiers with up to 150-200 watts of power per channel can be used safely with the M-8S. Simply exercise common sense and do not increase the volume beyond the on-set of audible stress such as poping or crackling noises.
The M-8S can also be used with pro-sound amplifiers, but as these types of amplifiers can easily reach several hundred watts per channel, users are urged to use extra caution to prevent speaker damage.
How to install the M-8SThe user's manual supplied with the M-8S contains detailed instructions on how to install the M-8S either in-wall or in-ceiling. Drywall cut-out templates and paint shields are supplied with the M-8S to assist owners in the installation process. The user's manual is also available for download at the following URL:
Download the M-8S User's ManualCan the M-8S be used outdoors?While the M-8S is not designed as outdoor speakers, its materials and construction is naturally tolerant of moisture and temperature swings. The M-8S should be installed such that it is protected from direct exposure to rain and sun, such as on the back wall of a covered porch or sunroom. Note that while temperature extremes will not damage the M-8S, they will affect its sound characteristics, the same with all speakers, even those designed specifically for outdoor use.
Why is this speaker with an 8" woofer rated only down to 40Hz when there are 6.5" speakers rated lower?The audio world is filled with exaggerated claims of awesome performance and unfortunately, many vendors choose to greatly overstate the specification of their products. As you move away from these types of products and look at the specs of well respected brands such as B&W, NHT, and others, you'll see that the capabilities of even a well implemented speaker system can be quite limited in terms of low bass response, and 40Hz or lower from a 6.5" in infinite baffle is extremely difficult to achieve. For example, here's a 6.5" in-wall speaker from NHT, with a lower output limit spec'd at 53Hz:
http://store.nhthifi.com/iW3?sc=12&category=1212NHT also has an 8" in-ceiling speaker at the above site with a lower output limit specification of 40Hz. This is not mere coincidence, these are about what you can expect from well implemented speakers at these sizes. Unlike normal speakers with ported enclosure, where the enclosure resonance contributes greatly to the total bass produced by the speaker, wall-mounted speakers cannot rely on this effect. This is why it is strongly recommended that in-wall speakers have as large a woofer as possible. Through our research and design, we found that 8" woofers offered the best combination of mid-range performance and low bass output.
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