Bowers & Wilkins CCM663RD In-Ceiling Speaker

Bowers & Wilkins CCM663RD In-Ceiling Speaker

The Bowers & Wilkins CCM663RD is a two-way in-ceiling speaker from the Custom Installation range, designed for rooms where the ceiling void is too shallow for a standard architectural speaker. RD stands for Reduced Depth: at 92mm behind the mounting surface, it fits cavities that rule out the regular CCM663, while keeping the same 150mm aramid bass/midrange driver and pivoting aluminium tweeter. It suits discreet stereo music, multi-room audio and home theatre height or surround channels where visible speakers are not wanted.

Key features

• Reduced-depth design: only 92mm required behind the ceiling surface
• 150mm (6 in) blue Aramid Fibre cone bass/midrange driver
• 25mm (1 in) Nautilus swirl-loaded aluminium dome tweeter on a pivoting mount
• Three-position EQ switch for off-axis response adjustment
• Frequency range of 35Hz to 50kHz (-6dB)
• QuickDogs fixing system and 202mm cut-out for straightforward installation

Built for shallow ceiling voids

Depth is the constraint that decides most ceiling speaker projects. Renovated apartments, concrete-slab ceilings and rooms with services running through the void often leave well under 100mm of usable space. The CCM663RD answers that with a shallower cone profile and a redesigned QuickDogs frame, bringing the required depth down to 92mm while the speaker still protrudes just 7mm below the surface behind its grille. Measure the actual cavity, including room for cable and connectors, before committing: the 202mm cut-out and 240mm frame diameter are separate figures from the depth, and all three have to work in the same ceiling.

Drivers and sound

The bass/midrange unit uses Bowers & Wilkins’ blue Aramid Fibre cone in a 150mm format, a material picked for its combination of stiffness and controlled breakup, which keeps vocals clean and bass lines defined. Above it, the 25mm aluminium dome tweeter is Nautilus swirl-loaded to manage the energy behind the dome, and it pivots, so treble can be aimed toward the listening position even when the speaker itself has to sit off-axis for layout reasons. A frequency range extending from 35Hz to 50kHz at -6dB gives the speaker genuine low-end reach for a ceiling unit, though a subwoofer still helps for film soundtracks.

Tuning and placement

Ceiling speakers rarely fire straight at the listener, so the CCM663RD adds a three-position EQ switch to adjust the high-frequency balance for off-axis seating. Combined with the pivoting tweeter, it lets an installer even out coverage across a sofa or dining area instead of accepting one hot seat. Sensitivity is 86dB at 2.83V and 1m, and the nominal impedance is 8 ohms with a 4.8-ohm minimum, so it pairs comfortably with amplifiers and AV receivers rated between 25W and 100W per channel.

Installation notes

The QuickDogs system clamps the speaker into the cut-out without separate fixings, and the optional PMK C6 pre-mount kit marks positions accurately in new-build ceilings. Where a more controlled acoustic enclosure is needed, the BB6W or BB125C back boxes are the matched options. The grille is finished in white and sits nearly flush, keeping the installation visually quiet once the work is done.

For shallow ceilings that would otherwise force a compromise speaker, the CCM663RD keeps the driver set, tuning tools and build of the full-size CCM663 in a 92mm-deep package.