“R” Is for Reference

Definitive Technology’s UIW RCS II represents a serious attempt to build an ultra high-performance in-ceiling speaker whose sound appears to come from in front of the listener—not from above. If you think that’s an impossibly tall order to fill, you aren’t alone, but hearing these babies in action may make a believer of you. Think of the RCS IIs as jaw-droppingly good home theater speakers that just happen to live in the ceiling.

FEATURES

The RCS II is an elaborate two-way design with a 1-inch dome tweeter, two 5.25-inch woofers, and two 6.5-inch passive radiators. Drive units are mounted in a sealed Medite enclosure whose square housing is designed to fit perfectly between traditional 16-inch on-center ceiling joists. Metal dogleg clamps pull the speaker assembly tight against the ceiling, but the bulk of the speaker’s weight is borne by four beefy mounting screws that secure everything to the joists. The bottom of the RCS II enclosure has a recessed, partially foam-lined pocket that holds the drivers, which are angled to fire outward toward the listener—not downward toward the floor. A specially-contoured, ribbed waveguide between the tweeter and woofers helps improve dispersion and create the illusion that sounds originate from the front of the room.

PERFORMANCE

After giving the RCS IIs some obligatory initial run-in time, I sat down to listen and within minutes realized these speakers were destined to shift every paradigm there is regarding ceiling speakers. These things not only invite but demand comparison to conventional home-theater speakers, which is saying a mouthful.
 

In addition to covering most of the audio spectrum smoothly and evenly, without obvious coloration, the RCS IIs are responsive, articulate, and ready for all kinds of music and soundtracks. Even so, deep bass is limited, meaning you should use them with a top-flight subwoofer (we used the JL Audio f112 subwoofer reviewed in TPV 75). These speakers deliver the elusive combination of dynamic delicacy and clout. They capture the evanescent beauty of wind rustling through bamboo tree leaves in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, yet do full justice to violent battle sounds from Saving Private Ryan. Finally, the RCS IIs offer plenty of subtlety—the kind that effortlessly reveals the dark, smoky timbre of Patricia Barber’s voice on Nightclub [Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab, SACD]. The only minor flaws I observed were occasional hints of treble hardness or edginess, though that may be nit-picking on my part.

What sets the Definitives apart is their striking ability to produce focused images and wide, deep soundstages much like those you would hear from conventional speakers. When I played the Fiedler/Boston Pops recording of Gershwin’s “Variations On ‘I Got Rhythm’” [RCA Living Stereo, SACD], the Definitives presented individual orchestra sections spread from left to right and front to back upon the stage, seemingly at ear level. That’s downright spooky, given that the speakers were actually up in the ceiling. The only area where the Definitives revealed their location involved a layer of high-frequency sounds that seemed to float slightly above the main soundstage and “cling” to the speakers to a degree. But the good news is that this characteristic also gave the RCS-IIs a welcome touch of image height.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Definitive Technology’s $1300/pair UIW RCS IIs are an excellent solution for anyone who wants serious sound from speakers that are essentially hidden from view. Just add a good subwoofer, and perhaps Definitive’s matching surround speakers (the UIW RSS IIs) and prepare to enjoy in-ceiling sound that communicates on your level.

Conclusion

Definitive Technology’s $1300/pair UIW RCS IIs are an excellent solution for anyone who wants serious sound from speakers that are essentially hidden from view. Just add a good subwoofer, and perhaps Definitive’s matching surround speakers (the UIW RSS IIs) and prepare to enjoy in-ceiling sound that communicates on your level.