PSB CS AIC 860 6" Angled In-Ceiling Speaker (Each) at Vinyl Sound Toronto Canada

The CS AIC 860 is a premium 2-way angled in-ceiling loudspeaker from PSB Speakers (Pickering, Ontario, Canada), part of the PSB CustomSound architectural speaker series, available at Vinyl Sound in Toronto, Canada. Designed and voiced by PSB founder Paul Barton at Canada's National Research Council, the CS AIC 860 brings Imagine Series driver technology into a purpose-built angled in-ceiling format for high-performance home theatre and whole-home audio installations. It features a 6.5" carbon-filled polypropylene cone woofer with Imagine Series trickle-down technology, a 1" titanium dome tweeter with pivoting waveguide, and a frequency response of 48 Hz to 20,000 Hz (±3dB). Its 15-degree angled baffle and pivoting tweeter direct sound toward the primary listening position, minimizing the refraction artefacts that reveal speaker position in most angled ceiling designs. Individual level switches for the tweeter and woofer allow post-installation acoustic tuning to match room conditions. Sold individually.

Imagine Series Driver Technology and Refraction-Minimizing Angled Baffle

The 6.5" woofer in the CS AIC 860 is not an off-the-shelf architectural driver. It incorporates specific design techniques developed by PSB for its flagship Imagine T3 loudspeaker, including a carbon-filled polypropylene cone for high stiffness-to-mass ratio, a fibre-filled injection-moulded basket for structural rigidity, and a rubber surround for consistent excursion control at extended output levels. This combination delivers higher sensitivity, greater bass extension, and lower harmonic distortion at high playback levels than a standard polypropylene in-ceiling woofer. The 1" titanium dome tweeter is a proprietary PSB driver with ferrofluid cooling and a concentrically mounted waveguide, the same tweeter architecture used across the CustomSound series. The tweeter is mounted on a ball-joint pivot assembly with indexed positioning, allowing it to be physically aimed toward the listening area independent of the 15-degree woofer baffle angle. This dual-axis directional control means the high-frequency acoustic axis can be precisely optimised for any listening position relative to the ceiling installation point, addressing one of the most persistent challenges in angled in-ceiling speaker design. The precision crossover network ensures a smooth broadband response across the driver handoff point, and individual front-accessible EQ switches allow the tweeter and woofer output levels to be independently set at 0 dB or +3 dB after installation.

Open-Back Design, Optional Backcan, and Installation Engineering

The CS AIC 860 is an open-back in-ceiling speaker by default, allowing the ceiling cavity to act as an acoustic volume behind the driver. For installations where acoustic isolation from adjacent rooms or floors is required, an optional integrated acoustic backcan is available as a separate accessory, converting the installation to a controlled sealed acoustic environment. The mounting system uses heavy-duty steel dog-legs that clamp to ceiling material from the front without requiring above-ceiling access, and a cutting template is included for accurate rough-in. Pre-construction brackets are also available for new-build installations, allowing the rough-in frame to be positioned before drywall is applied. The circular cutout is 9.75" in diameter with a mounting depth of 5", and 5.25" when the optional backcan is fitted. Gold-plated spring-loaded binding posts on the back of the speaker accept bare wire up to 12AWG, pin connectors, and single banana plugs. Both round and square frameless magnetic grilles with perforated steel and white scrim are included in the package, providing design flexibility for different ceiling aesthetic preferences.

Key Features

• 6.5" Carbon-Filled Polypropylene Woofer with Imagine T3 Trickle-Down Technology: Fibre-filled injection-moulded basket and carbon-filled cone deliver higher sensitivity, extended bass output, and lower harmonic distortion at high playback levels compared to standard in-ceiling woofer designs.
• 1" Titanium Dome Tweeter with Ferrofluid and Pivoting Waveguide: Concentrically mounted tweeter on an indexed ball-joint pivot assembly allows independent aiming of the high-frequency acoustic axis toward any listening position, separate from the fixed woofer baffle angle.
• 15-Degree Angled Woofer Baffle: Fixed baffle angle directs the woofer toward the listening area, creating a wide and consistent soundfield that appears to emanate from the listening zone rather than the ceiling installation point.
• Refraction-Minimizing Design: PSB's angled baffle geometry controls sound directionality without the phase anomalies and refraction artefacts common to many competing angled in-ceiling designs that reveal the speaker's overhead position.
• Individual Tweeter and Woofer Level EQ Switches: Front-accessible switches allow independent level adjustment of both drivers at 0 dB or +3 dB after installation, enabling acoustic tuning to match ceiling height, room absorption, and listening position without signal processing.
• NRC Voicing by Paul Barton: Final acoustic tuning performed by PSB founder and chief designer Paul Barton at Canada's National Research Council, targeting the natural, listener-preferred tonal balance consistent across all PSB CustomSound products.
• Open-Back Design with Optional Acoustic Backcan: Standard open-back installation uses the ceiling cavity as an acoustic volume; the optional integrated backcan provides a controlled sealed environment for multi-story or acoustically sensitive installations.
• Gold-Plated Spring-Loaded Terminals: Accept bare wire up to 12AWG, pin connectors, and single banana plugs for flexible, code-compliant wiring connections.
• Both Round and Square Frameless Magnetic Grilles Included: Perforated steel grilles with white fabric scrim attach magnetically and can be painted to blend with any ceiling surface; square grille suits grid-ceiling installations.
• Pre-Construction Bracket and Backcan Compatible: Optional accessories support new-build rough-in and acoustic isolation requirements.

Technical Specifications

Connections at a Glance

• Gold-plated spring-loaded binding posts: bare wire (up to 12AWG), pin connectors, single banana plugs
• Nominal impedance 6 Ohms (minimum 4 Ohms): compatible with AV receivers and multi-zone amplifiers rated for 6-ohm or 4-ohm loads
• Front-accessible tweeter and woofer level EQ switches (0 dB / +3 dB)
• Requires 9.75" circular ceiling cutout, 5" minimum mounting depth above ceiling (5.25" with optional backcan)
• Optional pre-construction bracket and integrated acoustic backcan sold separately

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the PSB CS AIC 860?

The PSB CS AIC 860 is a 2-way premium angled in-ceiling loudspeaker from PSB Speakers, part of the PSB CustomSound architectural series. It features a 6.5" carbon-filled polypropylene woofer with trickle-down technology from the PSB Imagine T3 flagship speaker, a 1" titanium dome tweeter on a pivoting waveguide ball-joint mount, and individual level switches for post-installation acoustic tuning. With a frequency response of 48 Hz to 20,000 Hz (±3dB) and a 15-degree angled baffle, it is designed for high-performance in-ceiling home theatre and whole-home audio installations. It is available at Vinyl Sound in Toronto, Canada, and is sold individually.

How does the PSB CS AIC 860 compare to the Klipsch CDT-5800-C II and Polk Audio 80-RT in-ceiling speakers?

The PSB CS AIC 860 differentiates itself from the Klipsch CDT-5800-C II and Polk Audio 80-RT through its dual-axis directional control: the 15-degree angled woofer baffle and independently pivoting tweeter allow both drivers to be aimed toward the listening position simultaneously, while the Klipsch CDT-5800-C II uses a horn-loaded swivelling tweeter without an angled woofer baffle, and the Polk 80-RT uses a flat coaxial driver with limited directional adjustment. The AIC 860's carbon-filled Imagine T3-derived woofer also represents a higher-grade driver specification than polypropylene cones found in competitors at a comparable price, and the dual front-accessible EQ switches for tweeter and woofer provide post-installation tuning flexibility not available on most consumer in-ceiling speakers.

What is the pivoting waveguide tweeter and why does it matter for in-ceiling installations?

The pivoting waveguide tweeter in the CS AIC 860 is a 1" titanium dome tweeter mounted on an indexed ball-joint assembly that allows the tweeter to be physically rotated and aimed toward the listening position independently of the fixed woofer baffle angle. In a ceiling installation, the relationship between the speaker location and the primary listening position changes depending on room layout and furniture placement. The ability to point the tweeter's acoustic axis directly at the listener, rather than relying solely on the fixed baffle angle, significantly improves high-frequency imaging precision, vocal clarity, and on-axis frequency response at the listening position.

Does the PSB CS AIC 860 need a backcan, and what does the optional backcan do?

The CS AIC 860 is an open-back speaker by default, meaning the ceiling cavity acts as an informal acoustic volume behind the drivers. This is acceptable in most single-story installations where the ceiling cavity is a continuous unobstructed space. An optional integrated acoustic backcan is available as a separate accessory for installations where acoustic isolation from an adjacent room above is required, or where the ceiling cavity contains insulation, ductwork, or structural elements that could affect the speaker's acoustic load. The backcan converts the installation to a sealed acoustic environment, providing more predictable and consistent bass behaviour regardless of ceiling cavity conditions, and reduces sound bleed into the floor above.

What do the tweeter and woofer level switches do on the CS AIC 860?

The CS AIC 860 includes two independent front-accessible EQ switches, one for the tweeter and one for the woofer, each switchable between 0 dB (flat) and +3 dB (boosted). These switches allow the installer or homeowner to increase the output of either driver by 3 dB after installation to compensate for room acoustic conditions such as high absorption, large ceiling height, or distant listening positions. Boosting the tweeter level is useful in rooms with heavy soft furnishings that absorb high frequencies, while boosting the woofer level can add midrange body in very large or acoustically dry rooms. This level of in-speaker tuning is not commonly available in consumer in-ceiling speakers and reduces the need for external EQ processing.

Is the PSB CS AIC 860 suitable for Dolby Atmos height channel applications?

Yes, the PSB CS AIC 860 is well suited for in-ceiling height channel use in Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and Auro-3D immersive audio systems. Its angled baffle and pivoting tweeter are particularly valuable in this application, as height channel speakers must deliver clear, precisely located overhead audio effects that integrate seamlessly with the ear-level speaker array. The CS AIC 860's 48 Hz to 20,000 Hz frequency response and 88 dB listening-room sensitivity make it capable of handling the full range of overhead audio content at meaningful output levels when driven by a compatible AV receiver. For multi-channel Atmos installations, PSB's CustomSound series also includes the C-LCR and C-SUR in-ceiling speakers for front LCR and surround positions.

Where can I buy the PSB CS AIC 860 in Toronto or Canada?

The PSB CS AIC 860 6" Angled In-Ceiling Speaker is available at Vinyl Sound in Toronto, Canada. Vinyl Sound is an authorized PSB dealer offering expert guidance on CustomSound series planning, room layout, installation requirements, optional backcan and pre-construction bracket accessories, and matched system builds combining the CS AIC 860 with other PSB CustomSound and Imagine Series speakers. Visit Vinyl Sound in Toronto or shop through the Vinyl Sound Canada online store.