Klipsch CDT-5800-C II In-Ceiling Speaker at Vinyl Sound Toronto Canada

The CDT-5800-C II is a high-performance pivoting in-ceiling speaker from Klipsch (Indianapolis, Indiana, USA), available at Vinyl Sound in Toronto, Canada. Designed to address the fundamental limitation of fixed-position in-ceiling speakers, the CDT-5800-C II uses Klipsch's proprietary Controlled Dispersion Technology (CDT) to allow both drivers to be independently aimed toward the primary listening position from any ceiling installation point. The speaker pairs a 1" Titanium Compression Driver with a swiveling 100-degree Tractrix Horn and an 8" pivoting Cerametallic woofer that rotates 360 degrees and tilts 15 degrees, covering a frequency range of 49 Hz to 23 kHz (+/-3 dB) at 94 dB sensitivity. The updated SlimTrim magnetic grille, Linear Travel Suspension tweeter, and onboard treble and midbass attenuation switches make the CDT-5800-C II the benchmark in adjustable architectural audio for home theater and whole-home audio systems, available at Vinyl Sound in Toronto and across Canada.

Controlled Dispersion Technology: Independently Aiming Both Drivers

The defining capability of the CDT-5800-C II is its patent-pending Controlled Dispersion Technology (CDT) gimbal mechanism, which allows both the 1" titanium tweeter and the 8" Cerametallic woofer to be independently aimed toward the listening area regardless of where the speaker is installed in the ceiling. The tweeter swivels within its Tractrix Horn mount and can be directed toward any point in the room, while the woofer rotates a full 360 degrees and pivots up to 15 degrees in any direction. This combination means that midbass and high-frequency energy can both be concentrated at the seating position rather than dispersed randomly toward the floor, producing more lifelike impact, greater imaging precision, and better vocal clarity than conventional fixed in-ceiling designs. In home theater configurations, CDT gives installers in Toronto and across Canada the ability to position the CDT-5800-C II wherever the ceiling structure permits and then aim the sound precisely where it needs to go, overcoming the constraints of joist spacing, ductwork, and electrical wiring.

1" Titanium Compression Driver with Linear Travel Suspension and Tractrix Horn

The CDT-5800-C II uses a 1" titanium diaphragm compression driver mated to a swiveling 100-degree symmetrical round Tractrix Horn. The titanium diaphragm is a solid-formed, very lightweight component that provides high stiffness and accurate transient response up to 23 kHz. Klipsch's Linear Travel Suspension (LTS) is applied to the tweeter to further increase high-frequency detail and smoothness by allowing the titanium diaphragm to travel in a more linear path during operation, reducing distortion at higher frequencies compared to conventional suspension geometries. The Tractrix Horn controls the dispersion of high-frequency energy in a 100-degree pattern, directing it efficiently toward the listening area rather than scattering it across the ceiling. Because the horn-loaded compression driver format produces significantly higher acoustic output per watt than a conventional dome tweeter, the CDT-5800-C II achieves 94 dB sensitivity at 1W/1m while maintaining low distortion across the operating bandwidth.

8" Machine-Spun Cerametallic Woofer

The CDT-5800-C II's 8" woofer uses Klipsch's machine-spun Cerametallic cone, a solid aluminum diaphragm that has been hard-anodized to add stiffness and provide controlled damping. The anodized surface creates a rigid, resonance-resistant cone that delivers tight, defined bass down to 49 Hz and accurate midrange reproduction through the 2,230 Hz crossover point. A new integrated dust cap strengthens the cone structure and assists with voice coil ventilation for improved thermal durability during sustained high-output use. The woofer's 360-degree rotation and 15-degree pivot capability mean that its inherently more narrowly dispersed midbass frequencies can also be directed toward the listening position in coordination with the aimed tweeter, producing a coherent soundstage from a ceiling-mounted speaker that closely approximates the imaging and tonal balance of a well-positioned box speaker.

Key Features

• Controlled Dispersion Technology (CDT) Gimbal Mechanism: A patent-pending gimbal system allows the 1" titanium tweeter to swivel independently and the 8" Cerametallic woofer to rotate 360 degrees and tilt 15 degrees in any direction. Both drivers can be independently aimed toward the main listening area, enabling precise sound localization from any ceiling installation point.
• 1" Titanium Compression Driver with Linear Travel Suspension and 100-degree Tractrix Horn: The solid-formed titanium diaphragm compression driver uses Klipsch's Linear Travel Suspension for improved high-frequency linearity and smoothness. The swiveling symmetrical 100-degree Tractrix Horn delivers horn-loaded efficiency with controlled, aimable dispersion to 23 kHz.
• 8" Machine-Spun Cerametallic Woofer: Hard-anodized solid aluminum cone delivers tightly controlled bass from 49 Hz with the added positioning flexibility of full 360-degree rotation and 15-degree tilt, allowing midbass frequencies to be directed toward the seating position.
• 94 dB Sensitivity, Horn-Loaded Technology: The compression driver and Tractrix Horn combination produces high acoustic output with low distortion, achieving 94 dB sensitivity at 1W/1m. This high efficiency allows the CDT-5800-C II to play loudly with modest amplifier power, handling 50W RMS and 200W peak.
• Treble and Midbass Attenuation Switches: Onboard attenuation switches allow independent reduction of high-frequency and midbass output levels, enabling adaptation to acoustically challenging environments such as highly reflective rooms, corner placement, or rooms with hard surfaces that emphasize certain frequency ranges.
• SlimTrim Low-Profile Magnetic Grille: The updated SlimTrim aluminum grille reduces the visible frame size by approximately 90% and grille depth by approximately 80% compared to the previous generation design, producing a near-bezel-free edge-to-edge appearance that blends into the ceiling more cleanly. The aluminum grille is paintable and attaches magnetically for tool-free removal.
• Premium High-Definition Crossover Network: A dedicated premium-grade crossover network is set at 2,230 Hz to ensure smooth frequency blending between the Cerametallic woofer and the Tractrix Horn compression driver, producing a balanced full-bandwidth response across the listening area.
• ABS Infinite Baffle Enclosure, Sure-Grip Mounting Dogs: The ABS infinite baffle enclosure keeps the installation profile flush with the ceiling, while Sure-Grip mounting dogs provide even clamping pressure against the drywall for long-term installation reliability without the risk of surface damage.
• Compatible with IK-800-C Install Kit and ME-800-C Fire-Rated Enclosure: The optional IK-800-C installation kit (sold separately) includes a mud ring, breakaway wire tie, color-coded brackets, and perforated metal wings for new construction rough-in. The optional ME-800-C fire-rated speaker enclosure (sold separately) is available for installations requiring building code compliance or sound isolation between rooms.

Technical Specifications

What's in the Box

• Klipsch CDT-5800-C II In-Ceiling Speaker (1 unit)
• SlimTrim Paintable Aluminum Magnetic Grille
• Note: Installation Kit IK-800-C sold separately
• Note: Fire-Rated Enclosure ME-800-C sold separately

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Klipsch CDT-5800-C II?

The Klipsch CDT-5800-C II is a high-performance 8" two-way in-ceiling speaker featuring Controlled Dispersion Technology (CDT), which allows a 1" Titanium Compression Driver with a swiveling 100-degree Tractrix Horn and an 8" pivoting Cerametallic woofer to be independently aimed toward the main listening area. It covers 49 Hz to 23 kHz (+/-3 dB), delivers 94 dB sensitivity, handles 50W RMS and 200W peak, and includes treble and midbass attenuation switches and a low-profile SlimTrim magnetic grille.

How does the Klipsch CDT-5800-C II differ from the Klipsch PRO-180RPC?

The Klipsch CDT-5800-C II and PRO-180RPC are both premium 8" in-ceiling speakers, but they use fundamentally different approaches to directing sound toward the listener. The CDT-5800-C II uses a fully adjustable gimbal mechanism that allows the tweeter and woofer to be independently aimed in any direction after installation, making it ideal for off-center ceiling positions or rooms where the speaker cannot be placed directly above the listening area. The PRO-180RPC fires straight downward from a fixed position and is designed for standard whole-home audio and home theater surround use where the speaker is placed reasonably close to overhead. The CDT-5800-C II also includes onboard treble and midbass attenuation switches and a Linear Travel Suspension tweeter not found on the PRO-180RPC. The PRO-180RPC is part of the Reference Premiere Architectural series and shares its driver materials with the full Reference Premiere box speaker line, while the CDT-5800-C II prioritizes aiming flexibility and adjustability as its primary design advantage.

Can the Klipsch CDT-5800-C II be used for Dolby Atmos height channels?

Yes, the Klipsch CDT-5800-C II is well suited for Dolby Atmos overhead height channels, and its Controlled Dispersion Technology gimbal mechanism is a significant advantage in this application. Because Dolby Atmos height speaker placement guidelines often require ceiling positions that are not directly overhead of the main listening position, the CDT-5800-C II's ability to tilt the woofer and swivel the tweeter toward the seated listener from an off-center ceiling location makes it far more acoustically effective than a fixed downward-firing speaker placed in a suboptimal position. The speaker's 49 Hz to 23 kHz frequency range and 94 dB sensitivity also provide adequate output for height channel use in both small and large home theater rooms.

What are the treble and midbass attenuation switches on the CDT-5800-C II used for?

The treble and midbass attenuation switches on the Klipsch CDT-5800-C II are onboard controls that allow independent reduction of high-frequency and midbass output levels without any external EQ or processor. They are particularly useful in acoustically challenging installations such as rooms with hard reflective surfaces like tile or glass, spaces with corner speaker placement where boundary bass reinforcement increases low-frequency output, or rooms where the aimed driver positioning produces excess energy in one frequency range relative to another. The switches enable installers and homeowners in Toronto and across Canada to achieve a more balanced in-room frequency response without specialized audio calibration equipment.

How does the Klipsch CDT-5800-C II compare to the Polk Audio 90-RT or Sonance VP88R in-ceiling speakers?

The Klipsch CDT-5800-C II offers a more advanced driver-aiming system than either the Polk Audio 90-RT or Sonance VP88R. The Polk Audio 90-RT uses a steerable tweeter only, leaving the woofer in a fixed downward-firing position. The Sonance VP88R is a fixed-position speaker with no driver aiming capability. The CDT-5800-C II's ability to independently aim both the tweeter and the 8" Cerametallic woofer provides meaningfully more accurate sound localization, particularly for midbass and midrange frequencies that the tweeter-only steering of the Polk Audio 90-RT cannot address. The CDT-5800-C II's 94 dB sensitivity and titanium compression driver also deliver higher efficiency and lower distortion than the conventional dome tweeters used in the Polk Audio and Sonance alternatives.

What is Linear Travel Suspension and why does it improve the CDT-5800-C II tweeter?

Linear Travel Suspension (LTS) is a Klipsch-proprietary tweeter suspension geometry that allows the titanium diaphragm to travel in a more linear motion path during operation compared to a conventional curved suspension. A more linear travel path reduces the non-linear distortion components that appear at the top of the audio band when a conventional tweeter diaphragm is pushed to higher excursion levels, producing smoother, more detailed high-frequency reproduction. In the CDT-5800-C II, LTS works in conjunction with the titanium diaphragm and Tractrix Horn to extend clean high-frequency output to 23 kHz with less audible harshness or fatigue, which is particularly important in a speaker that will be listened to for extended periods in a whole-home audio system.

Where can I buy the Klipsch CDT-5800-C II in Toronto or Canada?

The Klipsch CDT-5800-C II is available at Vinyl Sound, an authorized Klipsch dealer in Toronto, Canada. Vinyl Sound carries the full Klipsch in-ceiling speaker lineup and can assist with speaker selection, driver aiming guidance, system design, and professional installation for home theater and whole-home audio projects throughout the Greater Toronto Area and across Canada.