CMS 3.0 represents the third generation of Tannoy’s Ceiling Monitor System dual-concentric in-ceiling loudspeaker system, claiming ‘a milestone’ development of the company’s Dual Concentric transducer technology.
Introduced in the early 1990s, the CMS line brought dual concentric loudspeakers to the commercial audio market, delivering consistent and practical high-quality audio reproduction from an in-ceiling device for the first time. Now, promising higher intelligibility, more consistent broadband directivity, and a brighter, more accurate soundstage, CMS 3.0 introduces mechanical and aesthetic features to benefit both systems designer and contractor.
The new line of Dual Concentric equipped CMS comprises five models (CMS 403DCe, CMS 503DC, CMS 603DC and CMS 803DC) each designed to replace previous equivalent iterations – plus an all-new CMS 803DCQ 8-inch high-Q model, designed for high-ceiling/longer throw applications. At the heart of each device is the next-generation Dual Concentric transducer, providing improved performance by virtue of a fundamentally new design.
Arguably the most significant evolution in the Dual Concentric design for more than 20 years, the new driver features Omnimagnet technology and Torus Ogive Waveguide assembly to deliver more consistent and controlled directivity, with improvement in high frequency ranges, in comparison to previous generations. The new design also delivers improved time alignment and greater coherence between LF and HF, resulting in an even wider sweet spot and brighter, more defined and precise sound – for appreciably enhanced performance both on and off-axis.
‘Having enjoyed huge success with CMS Series over a long period, we had a good feel for the market in terms of how we could develop the product further,’ says Tannoy Director of Engineering, Philippe Robineau. ‘We listened closely to the consultant community and our key contracting customers and identified the areas where we needed to focus, in order to make a great loudspeaker even better.’
‘We believe we have achieved just that, and we’re confident that CMS 3.0 represents the new benchmark in the premium in-ceiling audio space. We can only make that assertion, given that we had ourselves to beat.’
In addition to new driver technology, CMS 3.0 also benefits from new magnetically adhering grilles, easy to fit or remove (for hassle-free custom painting) and available in either Classic (traditional, inset within the bezel) or new Arco style – designed to conceal the entire unit including the bezel beneath a sleek architectural grille, for applications where mitigating any aesthetic impact is a driving factor.
A new moulded baffle design contributes further to the loudspeaker performance, providing extension to the waveguide effect of the driver itself. Around the back, there’s an all-new clamp design, which offers greater extension (for thicker ceiling panels) and a locking design that prevents over-screwing that could lead to clamps falling out during installation. Each model (except CMS 401DCe) is available in both PI (pre-install) and BM (blind-mount) variants, as with previous CMS Series iterations. All models are 16Ω for use in low-impedance systems, such as in conjunction with Lab.gruppen Lucia amplifiers, while additionally featuring an integrated low insertion loss line transformer for 70V/100V distributed applications.
More: www.tannoypro.com
