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DCS8T Owner's Manual

Keith H

70V Commercial 8" Drop Ceiling Tile Speaker

The Rockville DCS8T is a great choice for any restaurant, office, school, retail store, or other commercial application. This speaker will sound great for all your PA announcements and background music.

Functions

  1. Full-Range Speaker
  2. Metal Grill
  3. Euroblock-Style Terminal
  4. 70V/100V Wattage Tap Setting Dial
  5. Safety Hook: Used to attach a safety strap to secure the speaker to the ceiling.

Black-and-white line-art diagram showing a cutaway front view of a square ceiling speaker tile with numbered callouts: * **1:** A line points to the internal speaker cone/driver located inside the housing behind the mesh faceplate. * **2:** A line points to the textured mesh grille covering the front, shown partially cut away diagonally from the bottom-left corner to the top-right corner to reveal the driver inside.

Black-and-white diagram showing close-up and full views of a square ceiling speaker tile's rear terminal box, with numbered callouts: * **3:** A line leads from the 4-pin Euroblock (Euro-style) terminal block located on the side of the rear enclosure down to its location on the full rear-view illustration. * **4:** A line leads from the rotary tap selector knob (positioned next to the Euroblock connector, with setting markings for wattage taps and 8-ohm operation) down to its location on the full rear-view illustration. * **5:** A callout number points to a side mounting/safety loop bracket extending from the edge of the rear metal back-can enclosure.

 

Choosing the Appropriate Tap

70-volt systems are the number one choice for any application where you want to install multiple speakers. With 70 volt there are a lot of advantages over 8-ohm systems. One of the main advantages is the simplicity of the wiring as well as how easy it is to match up the speakers with an amplifier. You always want your 70-volt amp to have at least 15 or 20% more power than the combined watts your speakers are tapped at. For example, if you have a 180-watt /70-volt amplifier, you can install ten 70-volt speakers that are tapped at 15 watts each or twenty-five 70-volt speakers that are tapped at 5 watts each as long as they total close to 150 watts. When we say the word tap, what we are referring to is the selector knob on the control panel of the DCS8T speakers. It allows you to set how many watts the built-in transformer will allow the speaker to get from the amplifier. The taps set at 1.5, 2.5, 5 and 10 watts for 70-volt input and 2.5, 5 and 10 watts for 100-volt input. This range of taps allows for full customization of the sound for the space in which the speakers are installed. In a restaurant, for example, you can tap your dining room speakers at 5 watts, the speakers in the outside seating area at 10 watts, the ones in the hallway at 2.5 watts and the speakers in the bathrooms at 5 watts. Another great feature of 70-volt speakers is that you can mix and match any type whether they are ceiling speakers (such as these), wall mounted speakers, subwoofers, etc. 

Another benefit of 70-volt speaker set-ups is the ability to run very long lines of speaker wire without signal loss. And, the wiring is very simple. You just connect all the positive terminals of the speakers to the positive 70-volt terminal(s) of the amplifier. The negative terminals on the speaker get connected to the negative (COM) terminal(s) of the amp. You do not have to worry about impedance as the power is constant.

Setup

70V/100V Speaker Configuration.

The total number of speakers multiplied by the tap value cannot exceed the output power (in watts) of your 70V/100V amplifier. The example on the facing page shows 4 total speakers. Using the 10W taps, you will need an amplifier with at least 40 watts (4 x 10 = 40W). A good rule of thumb is to select an amplifier with 15 to 20% greater power; in this case, an amplifier that delivers about 50W.

4 Speakers Connected in Parallel Using 10W Taps

Black-and-white wiring diagram illustrating a 70V/100V parallel speaker system connected to an amplifier: * **Amplifier Output:** The top-right shows an amplifier unit with two labeled output connections: "**COM (Negative)**" marked with a minus (-) symbol, and "**70V/100V**" marked with a plus (+) symbol. * **Speaker Array (Parallel Connection):** Four square lay-in ceiling speaker tiles with rear back-can enclosures are arranged horizontally below the amplifier. * The positive (**70V/100V**) line runs across the top, connecting to the positive (+) terminal of each speaker in parallel. * The negative (**COM**) line runs along the bottom, connecting to the negative (-) terminal of each speaker in parallel.

8-Ohm Speaker Configuration

2 Speakers Connected to an Amplifier With 8-Ohm Output

Black-and-white wiring diagram illustrating a 2-speaker, low-impedance (8-ohm) connection setup to an amplifier: * **Amplifier Unit:** Centered at the top of the diagram, an amplifier unit serves as the audio source with wire outputs leading to two speakers. * **Left Speaker Wiring:** * A wire labeled "**8 Ohm**" leads from the amplifier to the positive (+) terminal of the left square ceiling tile speaker. * A wire labeled "**COM (Negative)**" leads from the amplifier to the negative (-) terminal of the left speaker. * **Right Speaker Wiring:** * A wire labeled "**8 Ohm**" leads from the amplifier to the positive (+) terminal of the right square ceiling tile speaker. * A wire labeled "**COM (Negative)**" leads from the amplifier to the negative (-) terminal of the right speaker. * **Configuration Summary:** Two 8-ohm lay-in ceiling speaker tiles are connected directly to the amplifier in a low-impedance configuration.

Installation

Tools needed: Drywall knife, wire strippers, tape measure, ladder

2ft x 2ft Drop Ceiling Tile

1. Remove the existing tile.

Single-panel line-art installation diagram labeled "1" in the top-left corner showing the first step in preparing a drop-ceiling grid: * **Ceiling Tile Removal:** A bold black arrow points straight upward from an open square section of a drop-ceiling T-bar grid frame, indicating the removal of a flat, square ceiling tile straight up and out of the ceiling frame.

2. Carefully drop in the DCS8T speaker, ensuring that it is properly seated on the ceiling grid.

Single-panel line-art installation diagram labeled "2" in the top-left corner showing step two of installing a square ceiling speaker tile: * **Speaker Tile Installation:** A bold black arrow points downward from a full square drop-in ceiling speaker tile assembly—featuring a rear back-can enclosure with a terminal block and tap dial—lowering it directly into an open square section of a drop-ceiling T-bar grid frame.

2ft x 4ft Drop Ceiling Tile

1. Remove the existing tile. Measure it, then cut it in half.

Single-panel line-art installation diagram labeled "1" in the top-left corner showing the initial step for installing a square ceiling speaker tile: * **Ceiling Tile Removal:** A bold black arrow points straight upward from an open square opening in a drop-ceiling T-bar grid frame, indicating the removal of an existing square ceiling tile up and out of the ceiling structure.

2. Insert a support rail (not included) in the center of the space.

Single-panel line-art installation diagram labeled "2" in the top-left corner showing the second step in ceiling grid preparation: * **T-Bar Cross-Runner Installation:** A narrow support rail (T-bar grid cross runner) with a vertical divider tab is being installed into the open ceiling grid space. A bold black arrow points straight downward, indicating to lower and snap the support rail into place across the frame to split the grid opening into smaller sections.

3. Place the cut half of the 2ft x 4ft ceiling tile on one side of the opening (fig. a) and the DCS8T speaker on the other half (fig. b). Make sure that both are properly seated on the ceiling grid.

Single-panel line-art installation diagram labeled "3" in the top-left corner showing the dual placement of a ceiling tile and a speaker tile into a divided grid: * **fig. a (Standard Tile Installation):** A bold black arrow labeled "**fig. a**" points downward from a cut-to-size plain ceiling tile into the left compartment of a divided drop-ceiling T-bar grid frame. * **fig. b (Speaker Tile Installation):** A bold black arrow labeled "**fig. b**" points downward from a half-size square drop-in ceiling speaker tile assembly—featuring a rear back-can enclosure—into the right compartment of the divided ceiling grid frame.

Wiring

Use a small flathead screwdriver to loosen the terminal screw (fig. a). Strip 0.50˝ of sheathing from the speaker wire. Insert the wire into the terminal (fig. b) and tighten the screw (fig. c).

Black-and-white close-up line-art diagram showing how to insert and wire a Euroblock (Euro-style) terminal connector: * **a (Adjusting Screws):** A small screwdriver is placed into the top screw slot of a 4-pin Euroblock terminal block. A curved double-headed arrow labeled "**a**" shows turning the screw to open or close the internal wire clamp. * **b (Inserting Wire):** A stripped speaker wire, indicated by an arrow labeled "**b**", is shown aligning to insert straight into the front opening beneath the loosened terminal screw.

Black-and-white close-up line-art diagram showing the step for securing a speaker wire in a Euroblock (Euro-style) terminal block: * **c (Tightening Screw):** A small screwdriver is positioned in the top screw slot of the leftmost terminal on a 4-pin Euroblock connector. A curved double-headed arrow labeled "**c**" indicates turning the screwdriver to tighten the terminal screw. * **Wire Insertion:** A single speaker wire is inserted into the front port directly below the terminal screw being tightened.

Dimensions

Dimensional line-art drawing showing front and side profile views with measurements for a square drop-in ceiling speaker tile: * **Front View (Left):** * Displays a square faceplate with a diagonal cutaway from the bottom-left corner to the top-right corner, revealing the internal speaker driver cone behind the perforated mesh grille. * **Width:** Labeled across the top horizontal dimension as **2ft**. * **Side Profile View (Right):** * Displays the slim side profile of the square tile faceplate with the rear metal enclosure (back-can) housing protruding from the center back, featuring the terminal block and control knob. * **Height:** Labeled along the vertical dimension as **2ft**. * **Total Depth:** Labeled across the top horizontal dimension as **3.9in** (measuring total thickness from the front tile face to the back of the terminal box).

Features/Specifications

  • Built-in 8˝ highly efficient speaker pre-mounted into a ceiling tile
  • Easy installation fits perfectly into 2ft x 2ft standard-sized US drop ceilings. Simply drop it in and
    connect the speaker wire
  • Metal Grill
  • Works for both 70 Volt and 100 Volt operation, as well as 8 Ohm
  • Wattage Tap Options:
    70V: 10W, 5W, 2.5W, 1.5W
    100V: 10W, 5W, 2.5W
    8 Ohm(Transformer Bypass)
  • 8 Ohm Power Handling: 30W RMS
  • Low profile mounting depth (3.9˝ )
  • Euroblock-Style Terminal 
  • Sensitivity: 91dB
  • Designed to sound great for speeches, announcements, music and chimes
  • 105° Dispersion Pattern
  • Extremely efficient paper cone
  • 1˝ Voice Coil
  • Aluminum Former
  • 10oz. Ferrite Magnet
  • High temperature copper voice coil windings
  • Frequency Response (-10dB): 170Hz – 17kHz
  • Dimensions in inches: 23.8" x 23.8" x 3.9"
  • Weight: 137Lbs

 

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