The in-wall speaker industry, and I do mean industry, has exploded over the last 20 years. It seems like only yesterday that a group of young entrepreneurs, working out of the back room of their garage operations, launched what today has become the highest volume-selling loudspeaker category in an industry previously dominated by huge box enclosures. In my waning years as a manufacturers' rep, I remember manufacturers begging me to place their new line of floor- standing speakers anywhere I could among the few remaining audio specialist stores as in-walls began to devastate sales of box enclosures.

Most loudspeaker manufacturers reached across the oceans to select from catalogs of imitation, plastic-injected in-wall speakers to fill out their product mix. Like the subwoofers they were selling, all manufacturers hurried to market as competition heated up. Like any product category, there are leaders and followers. Most in-wall speakers were birthed as background, elevator music fillers for distributed audio manufacturers. A volume control and a pair of in-wall speakers in every room constituted a "custom install". Everyone was an installer - they became known as the infamous trunk slammers.

Unique Features
Things have changed, and like all categories, the pros rise to the top. Enter coNEXTion Systems. The principles of this company, with over 100 years of collective experience (working and designing behind the scenes for the big boys) launched a company of their own with a mission. The design team of acoustic consultant, Vance Dickason, and coNEXTion's president, Doug Wright, brought their award-winning design concepts to coNEXTion Systems, starting with a clean slate. Other manufacturers have taken existing distributed audio speakers and applied them to theater application; not coNEXTion Systems. Two factors seem to be prominent with these guys: first, the installation problem needed to be addressed if they were to capture the attention of installation specialists already set in their ways; next, the imaging problem created by high, ceiling-mounted speakers needed to be solved.

Installation/Setup/Ease of Use
The first problem was addressed with their patent-pending Z-Tool and SnapLok installation design, or "no tools", as they like to say. The SnapLok baffle was truly tool-free and made the entire process as simple as I have ever experienced. The solution to the second problem of lowering the image is achieved by designing their frames to not only allow the tweeter to pivot 50 degrees, but the woofer is able to angle up to 20 degrees as well. Using their patent-pending Direct Axis Extending Assembly, the tweeter and midrange actually extend slightly lower than the ceiling, giving the listener amazing imagery.

The two models used in our theater for testing were the z600c as our three front mains and the z200c as the two surround speakers. The z600cs are a three-way system incorporating eight-inch carbon fiber woofers with 1.5-inch voice coils, a 1.5-inch cloth dome midrange and a one-inch aluminum tweeter, with its 50-degree no-diffraction Direct Axis Extending Assembly. The two rears, z200cs, consisted of a dual voice coil 6.5-inch poly woofer with a concentric, mounted assembly housing two one-inch silk dome 20-degree no-diffraction angling tweeters.

With our system easily installed, it was time to put the theory to the test. This is a secondary theater/entertainment and game room. The room is spacious, with nine-foot ceilings and a few different angled walls. Double doors open to the pool table room, so acoustics are great. I am currently using a M&K MX150 subwoofer, an Onkyo DVCP 702 player, a Yamaha RX457 receiver, and the V, Inc. Vizio P42HD 42-inch plasma, nothing outrageous, but all good. Interconnects used are Revelation Cables and Monster Cable. I gave the system about 20 hours of burn-in time to give the speakers time to relax before driving them a little crazy.

My first test was a few standards to start the adventure. Music is my real test, and my Holly Cole Dark Dear Heart is standard. I am an old-school audiophile with a collection of demo material dating back before in-wall speakers were introduced. The Fairfield Four Standing in the Safety Zone was next, followed by Super Tramp Brother, Where You Bound and Diane Schuur Pure Schuur. I immediately noticed the image as being centered and lower than expected. It wasn't long before I forgot I was listening to ceiling-mounted speakers. Another attribute was the smooth transition between drivers. The crossover points were seamless. The ridged mounting system seemed to confirm my expectation of tight mid-bass and rattle-free performance. The center vocal was sharp without irritation or sibilance. Many aluminum tweeters have that brilliant bite, not here!

It was movie time, and selections from Seabiscuit, The Incredibles and Gladiator were the test. I also used The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, Top Gun (I told you I was old school) and Van Helsing. Each time through, I was drawn into the experience with little disappointment. My levels were not extreme, but I never felt I was holding back for the sake of the speakers. Front to rear was balanced, and voicing between models seemed accurate.

Final Take
I haven't been motivated to review very many items that pass through this office. As a matter of fact, this would have been my last choice, because of the demand of installing it in my home and knowing the consequence if I wasn't thrilled. I became intrigued by the sheer quality of design, the attention to detail and the passion expressed by this company to enter into an already crowded field of big competitors. Oh yeah, need became a motivator also. But they remind me of our company. It had been a while since my installation days, and I couldn't have picked a better product to jump in on a do-it-yourself installation. If there is one thing about choosing an in-wall speaker for your home installation, it is the inability to really hear it in your environment before selecting the right one. If I could be so bold as to recommend this product and feel it will impress even the most discriminating listener, then take that to the bank. CoNEXTion Systems is concerned about the quality of their distribution, and their model is expressed on their web site. Deal with a certified home theater installation company for best results.

There are other, higher-priced solutions that have addressed some of the issues discussed, but you will spend an inordinate amount of money to surpass the pleasure of this product. Make a decision based on a budget balanced with the rest of your investment. At $3,000 for five speakers, you might have to spend twice as much to hear a difference.

Congratulations to coNEXTion Systems for a product that innovates and delivers an enjoyable experience at an attainable price point. Anything below this is just in-wall product doing an imitation of home theater.

coNEXTion Systems z600c and z200c

z600c Fronts
Three-way Design with 8" Carbon Fiber Woofer
1.5" Voice Coil
1.5" Cloth Dome Midrange
1" Aluminum Tweeter on a 50-degree No-Diffraction Direct Axis Extending Assembly
MSRP:$750 each

z200c Rears
Dual Voice Coil
6.5" Poly Drivers
Dual 1" Silk Dome, 20-degree
No-Diffraction Angling Tweeters
FlexSpeak design for single point stereo, mono or for use for surround speaker applications as a D2 direct
Diffuser-direct Radiation Woofer with Diffuse Radiation Tweeters
MSRP: $375 each