Lithe Audio has launched the eight-inch Bluetooth Auracast Ceiling Speaker, designated BT8. The in-ceiling unit combines an eight-inch driver, Bluetooth 5.4 LE Audio, Auracast transmit-and-receive functions, and Class D amplification, so it does not require a separate power amplifier.
Auracast is Bluetooth's broadcast-audio mode, allowing one source to reach compatible receivers within range at the same time. The BT8 also supports Master Transmitter/Receiver grouping, enabling multiple compatible loudspeakers to operate as synchronised audio zones.
The Lithe Audio Setup App handles speaker naming, EQ, volume limits, and system configuration. Alongside Bluetooth streaming, a 3.5mm line input accepts sources such as televisions and media players. The enclosure has an IP44 rating and a paintable magnetic grille for kitchens, bathrooms, and commercial interiors.
Lithe Audio lists homes, transport hubs, gyms, libraries, conference centres, retail, hospitality, assisted living, and healthcare among the applications. Compatible hearing aids and personal receivers can join the same Auracast transmission as the fixed loudspeakers, giving designers another route for combining room audio with assistive listening.
The BT8's defining change is the integration of loudspeaker, amplifier, Bluetooth receiver, and Auracast transmitter/receiver in one ceiling unit. Instead of building every zone around a central amplifier and point-to-point signal wiring, an installation can broadcast to many compatible receivers while keeping its fixed BT8 loudspeakers synchronised.