Klipsch ME-650-C Fire-Rated Speaker Enclosure for In-Ceiling Speakers at Vinyl Sound Toronto Canada

The ME-650-C is a fire-rated pre-construction in-ceiling speaker enclosure from Klipsch (Indianapolis, Indiana, USA), available at Vinyl Sound in Toronto, Canada. Manufactured from high-grade cold-rolled steel with an internal insulation layer, the ME-650-C exceeds one-hour fire-rating requirements and is designed to meet UL 2043 plenum-space installation requirements. It has additionally been tested to UL 263, ASTM E119-98, NFPA 251, UBC 7-1, and ULC CAN/ULC-S101-M89 standards, making it one of the most comprehensively rated enclosures available for residential and light commercial in-ceiling speaker installations. Compatible with all Klipsch Reference Series in-ceiling speakers with 6.5-inch woofers (excluding square models), the ME-650-C fits both 16-inch and 24-inch stud spans and includes all hardware needed for most installation applications.

Pre-Construction Back Box for Code Compliance and Acoustic Consistency

The ME-650-C is a pre-construction enclosure, meaning it is installed at the framing stage before drywall is hung. It mounts to ceiling joists at the planned speaker location and remains in position through drywall finishing, painting, and final trim. This sequence ensures the speaker's back cavity is fully enclosed from the moment of installation, eliminating the uncontrolled attic or ceiling-cavity volume that would otherwise affect bass response unpredictably. The optimized internal enclosure volume of the ME-650-C provides consistent acoustic performance regardless of construction variations between rooms or floors, ensuring every speaker in a multi-room system behaves identically from a bass-loading standpoint. The steel body includes pre-drilled holes to simplify attachment to framing members, and standard conduit connection provisions are included for clean cable management in new construction. The colour-coded mounting ring interior matches the corresponding Klipsch installation kit size code, enabling quick visual confirmation of compatibility during installation.

Fire Rating and Sound Isolation Performance

The ME-650-C's cold-rolled steel shell and internal insulation layer serve two distinct performance functions. For fire safety, the enclosure exceeds the one-hour fire-rating threshold and meets UL 2043 for plenum spaces, as well as the broader suite of fire standards including ASTM E119-98, NFPA 251, UBC 7-1, and the Canadian ULC CAN/ULC-S101-M89 standard, making it directly applicable to residential projects in Canada where the National Building Code and provincial fire codes impose these requirements. For acoustic performance, the same insulation layer reduces sound transmission from the speaker into adjacent rooms or floors above by at least 10dB, materially reducing the bleed of music, dialogue, or home theater audio into spaces where it is not intended. This dual function makes the ME-650-C a practical requirement in multi-storey residential construction where both fire compartmentalization and acoustic privacy are building code obligations.

Key Features

• Fire-Rated Steel Construction: Manufactured from high-grade cold-rolled steel with an internal insulation layer. Exceeds one-hour fire-rating requirements and meets UL 2043 for plenum spaces, as well as UL 263, ASTM E119-98, NFPA 251, UBC 7-1, and ULC CAN/ULC-S101-M89 standards.
• At Least 10dB Sound Transmission Reduction: The internal insulation layer reduces sound bleed into adjacent rooms and spaces above the ceiling by a minimum of 10dB, supporting acoustic privacy requirements in multi-room and multi-storey residential installations.
• Optimized Enclosure Volume: The internal cavity is sized to provide consistent acoustic loading for Klipsch Reference Series 6.5-inch in-ceiling speakers, delivering predictable bass performance regardless of construction variations between locations.
• Fits 16-Inch and 24-Inch Stud Spans: Compatible with both standard 16-inch on-centre and 24-inch on-centre residential ceiling framing, covering the two most common new-construction stud spacings in North America.
• Pre-Construction Design: Installed at the framing stage before drywall is hung. Pre-drilled holes simplify attachment to ceiling joists, and provisions for standard conduit connections support clean in-wall cable routing.
• Colour-Coded Mounting Ring: The inside edge of the mounting ring is colour coded to match the corresponding Klipsch installation kit size code, enabling quick visual compatibility confirmation during installation.
• All Hardware Included: Comes with all hardware needed for most standard installation applications. Sold as each (one enclosure per unit) to allow flexible ordering quantities for single-room or whole-home projects.
• Broad Reference Series Compatibility: Fits all Klipsch Reference Series in-ceiling speakers with 6.5-inch woofers including the CDT-5650-C II, CDT-3650-C II, CDT-2650-C II, R-2650-CSM II, R-2650-C II, RIC-65, PRO-16RC, DS-160CSM, DS-160CDT, DS-160C, CS-16CSM, and CS-16C II. Not compatible with square-format in-ceiling models.

Technical Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Klipsch ME-650-C Speaker Enclosure?

The Klipsch ME-650-C is a pre-construction fire-rated back box enclosure made from high-grade cold-rolled steel with an internal insulation layer. It is designed to be installed in ceiling framing before drywall is applied, at the location of each Klipsch Reference Series in-ceiling speaker with a 6.5-inch round woofer. It exceeds one-hour fire-rating requirements, meets UL 2043 for plenum spaces, and reduces sound transmission to adjacent rooms by at least 10dB.

Which Klipsch in-ceiling speakers is the ME-650-C compatible with?

The ME-650-C fits all Klipsch Reference Series in-ceiling speakers with round 6.5-inch woofers, including the CDT-5650-C II, CDT-3650-C II, CDT-2650-C II, R-2650-CSM II, R-2650-C II, RIC-65, PRO-16RC, DS-160CSM, DS-160CDT, DS-160C, CS-16CSM, and CS-16C II. It is not compatible with square-format in-ceiling speaker models, regardless of woofer size.

Does the ME-650-C meet Canadian building code fire standards?

Yes. The ME-650-C has been tested to ULC CAN/ULC-S101-M89, the Canadian standard for fire resistance of building construction and materials, in addition to US standards including UL 263, ASTM E119-98, NFPA 251, and UBC 7-1. It also meets UL 2043 for plenum-rated air-handling spaces. This makes it directly applicable to residential construction in Canada where provincial fire codes and the National Building Code require fire-rated speaker enclosures in specific ceiling assemblies.

Does the ME-650-C reduce sound bleed between floors or rooms?

Yes. The internal insulation layer in the ME-650-C reduces sound transmission from the speaker into adjacent rooms or the space above the ceiling by a minimum of 10dB. This is a meaningful reduction that materially limits the audibility of music, speech, and home theater audio in adjacent spaces, addressing the acoustic privacy requirements that are common in multi-storey residential construction and multi-room custom audio installations.

Is the ME-650-C suitable for both 16-inch and 24-inch on-centre framing?

Yes. The ME-650-C is designed to fit ceiling framing with both 16-inch and 24-inch on-centre stud spacing, the two most common residential construction standards in Canada and the United States. The enclosure also includes provisions for standard conduit connections, supporting clean cable routing in new-construction projects.

Where can I buy the Klipsch ME-650-C in Toronto or Canada?

The Klipsch ME-650-C Speaker Enclosure is available at Vinyl Sound, an authorised Klipsch dealer in Toronto, Canada. Vinyl Sound carries the full range of Klipsch architectural speaker accessories and can advise on enclosure quantities and compatibility for both single-room and whole-home in-ceiling audio installations. Customers across Canada can also order through Vinyl Sound's online store with national shipping available.

Can the ME-650-C be installed as a retrofit after drywall is already in place?

No. The ME-650-C is a pre-construction enclosure designed to be mounted to ceiling joists before drywall is applied. It cannot be installed as a retrofit in a finished ceiling, as the enclosure body must be secured to the framing structure and enclosed by the drywall installation. Installers working in already-finished ceilings should consult Klipsch for alternative installation guidance or plan for enclosure installation during any upcoming renovation that exposes ceiling framing.