Audio T Verdict
The Bowers & Wilkins CCM362 is a practical way to bring good-quality music and home cinema sound into a room without introducing visible speaker cabinets.
Its 160mm polypropylene bass and midrange driver provides useful weight and clarity, while the centrally mounted soft-dome tweeter helps distribute high frequencies across a wider listening area.
The shallow 79mm installation depth makes it suitable for many ceiling spaces, while its moisture-resistant construction broadens the range of rooms in which it can be used. Careful planning and installation remain essential.
Bowers & Wilkins CCM362 In-Ceiling Speakers
The CCM362 is a discreet two-way in-ceiling loudspeaker from the Bowers & Wilkins Flexible Series.
Each speaker combines a 25mm soft-dome tweeter with a 160mm polypropylene cone bass and midrange driver in a shallow circular mounting assembly.
The speakers are supplied as a pair and can be used for background music, conventional stereo listening, multi-room audio or the overhead and surround channels of a home cinema system.
Wide-Angle Listening
The CCM362 uses a coaxial drive-unit arrangement, with the tweeter positioned centrally in front of the bass and midrange cone.
This helps distribute sound across a wide listening area, which is particularly useful when the speakers are mounted overhead rather than directly facing the listener.
The broad coverage makes the CCM362 suitable for rooms where people may listen from several different positions rather than from one fixed seat.
Soft-Dome Tweeter
A 25mm soft-dome tweeter reproduces the high frequencies.
Its lightweight diaphragm is designed to provide clear and smooth treble reproduction for music, television and film soundtracks.
The tweeter’s central position also helps create a consistent tonal balance across the speaker’s listening area.
Polypropylene Bass and Midrange Driver
A 160mm polypropylene cone driver handles the bass and midrange frequencies.
Polypropylene combines low mass with useful internal damping, helping the speaker reproduce voices, instruments and sound effects with a clear and balanced character.
The material is also well suited to installations where the atmosphere may be more humid than in a conventional living room.
Suitable for High-Humidity Environments
The CCM362 has been designed to cope with demanding indoor environments where excess humidity may make some conventional architectural speakers unsuitable.
This can make it appropriate for kitchens, bathrooms, shower rooms and indoor swimming-pool areas, subject to suitable positioning and compliance with the relevant installation requirements.
The speaker should not be treated as waterproof or installed where it will be exposed to direct water spray, immersion or unsuitable outdoor conditions.
Humidity Resistant Does Not Mean Waterproof
The CCM362 is designed for high-humidity indoor environments, but the installation position must still be chosen carefully.
Local electrical, building and fire-safety requirements should be checked before installing speakers in bathrooms, swimming-pool areas or other locations near water.
Discreet Minimal-Border Design
Once installed, the visible part of the CCM362 consists primarily of its low-profile magnetic grille.
The minimal-width border helps the speaker blend into the ceiling rather than drawing attention to the installation.
The supplied round grille can be painted to coordinate with the surrounding ceiling. A suitable paint mask should be used to protect the speaker during decorating.
Magnetically Attached Grille
The grille is held in place magnetically, allowing it to be fitted and removed without visible fixings.
This creates a clean finished appearance while retaining access to the speaker and its mounting screws when required.
An optional square grille may also be available for installations where that shape better suits the room or ceiling design.
Background and Multi-Room Audio
The CCM362 can be used as part of a discreet whole-home or multi-room audio system.
One or more pairs can provide music in kitchens, dining rooms, bedrooms, studies and other living spaces without occupying shelves or floor space.
The number of speakers, amplifier channels and required listening level should be established before cables are installed or holes are cut.
Stereo Music Systems
A pair of CCM362 speakers can reproduce a conventional left and right stereo signal.
For the most balanced result, both speakers should be positioned symmetrically in relation to the main listening area and installed within similar acoustic surroundings.
Ceiling speakers cannot create exactly the same forward-facing stereo image as conventional speakers placed in front of the listener, but thoughtful positioning can still provide an enjoyable and spacious musical presentation.
Home Cinema and Dolby Atmos
The CCM362 can be used for surround, rear or overhead effects within a compatible home cinema system.
Its wide dispersion is useful for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X installations, where ceiling-mounted speakers reproduce sound above the listening position.
The final number and position of the speakers will depend on the room, seating layout, AV receiver and required channel configuration.
Plan the Complete System First
Confirm the intended channel layout, seating position, cable routes and AV receiver capability before cutting the ceiling.
Changing the position of an architectural speaker after installation is considerably more involved than moving a conventional freestanding loudspeaker.
Ceiling Cut-Out and Clearance
Each CCM362 requires a circular ceiling aperture measuring 204mm in diameter.
A minimum clear depth of 79mm is required behind the finished ceiling surface. Additional space should be allowed for speaker cable, connections and the movement of the four mounting clamps.
The proposed positions should be checked for ceiling joists, pipework, electrical wiring, ventilation ducts and other obstructions before cutting begins.
Dog-Clamp Installation
The CCM362 is secured using four rotating dog clamps built into the speaker frame.
Once the speaker has been placed through the aperture, the clamps rotate outwards and tighten against the rear of the ceiling board.
The ceiling material must be sound enough to support the speakers securely. Loose, damaged or unsuitable surfaces may require reinforcement before installation.
Speaker Cable and Polarity
The CCM362 is a passive loudspeaker and must be connected to an amplifier or home cinema receiver using suitable speaker cable.
The positive amplifier terminal should connect to the positive speaker terminal, with the negative terminals connected in the same way. Maintaining the correct polarity across every speaker helps preserve bass response and a coherent soundstage.
Low-resistance installation cable is particularly important where the route between the amplifier and speaker is longer than five metres.
Allow Spare Cable at Each Aperture
Leave enough speaker cable at each ceiling opening to make connection and future servicing straightforward.
Avoid leaving an excessive loose length that could rest against the speaker or ceiling and create buzzing or rattling.
Amplifier Matching
The CCM362 has a sensitivity of 89dB, a nominal impedance of 8 ohms and a minimum impedance of 5 ohms.
Its published power handling is 80 watts. This is not a requirement to use an 80-watt amplifier, nor should it be treated as a guarantee against damage from clipping or excessive volume.
A suitable stereo amplifier, streaming amplifier, multi-room amplifier or AV receiver should be selected according to the number of speakers, required volume, room size and cable length.
Where several pairs are being connected to one amplifier or distribution system, the resulting electrical load and zoning arrangement must be checked carefully.
Optional Pre-Mount Kit and Back Box
The optional PMK C6 pre-mount kit can be used during new construction or refurbishment to define the speaker position before the ceiling surface is fitted.
The optional BB 6C back box provides a controlled enclosure behind the speaker and can help manage installation requirements, sound transfer and performance consistency.
These accessories are sold separately and should be specified before building work begins.
Installation Considerations
A successful architectural-speaker installation depends on more than the loudspeaker itself.
Before work starts, consider:
- The intended listening positions
- The required stereo or home cinema layout
- Ceiling joist positions and available mounting depth
- Pipework, electrical cables and ventilation ducts
- Speaker cable type, length and routing
- Amplifier channels and impedance loading
- Sound transfer into rooms above or beside the installation
- Access for future servicing
- Relevant building and fire-safety requirements
- Whether pre-mount kits, back boxes or speaker hoods are required
Where there is any uncertainty, installation should be completed by a suitably competent professional.
Finish
The CCM362 is supplied with a white round magnetic grille and minimal-width border.
The grille can be painted to coordinate with the surrounding ceiling, provided its perforations are not blocked by excessive paint.
Any painting should be completed with the grille removed from the speaker and the supplied paint mask protecting the drive units.
Key Features
- Two-way passive in-ceiling loudspeaker
- Supplied as a pair
- Wide-angle coaxial drive-unit arrangement
- 25mm soft-dome tweeter
- 160mm polypropylene bass and midrange driver
- Suitable for high-humidity indoor environments
- Minimal-width visible border
- Low-profile magnetic grille
- Paintable white finish
- Optional square grille available
- Shallow 79mm minimum installation depth
- 204mm circular ceiling cut-out
- Four dog-clamp mounting system
- 50Hz–30kHz published frequency range
- 89dB sensitivity
- 8-ohm nominal impedance
- 5-ohm minimum impedance
- 80-watt power handling
- Optional PMK C6 pre-mount kit
- Optional BB 6C back box
- Suitable for music, multi-room and home cinema systems
- Five-year limited manufacturer’s warranty
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the Bowers & Wilkins CCM362 speakers supplied as a pair?
Yes. The CCM362 is supplied and priced as a pair of passive in-ceiling speakers.
Do the CCM362 speakers contain an amplifier?
No. They must be connected to a suitable stereo amplifier, streaming amplifier, multi-room amplifier or home cinema receiver.
Can the CCM362 be used for Dolby Atmos?
Yes. It can be used for overhead channels within a compatible Dolby Atmos or DTS:X home cinema system.
Can the CCM362 be used for stereo music?
Yes. A pair can reproduce conventional left and right stereo channels when positioned appropriately in relation to the listening area.
Can the CCM362 be used in a bathroom?
It is designed to cope with high-humidity indoor environments. However, it is not waterproof and must be positioned and installed in accordance with the relevant requirements for rooms containing water.
Can it be installed above a shower?
The speaker should not be exposed to direct water spray. The proposed position must comply with the relevant electrical, building and safety requirements.
What size hole is required?
Each speaker requires a circular cut-out measuring 204mm in diameter.
How much ceiling depth is required?
A minimum clear depth of 79mm is required behind the finished ceiling surface, with additional room for the cable and mounting clamps.
How is the speaker fixed into the ceiling?
Four rotating dog clamps tighten against the rear of the ceiling board to secure the speaker in position.
Can the grille be painted?
Yes. The white magnetic grille can be painted, provided the perforations are not blocked and the speaker is protected using the supplied paint mask.
Is a square grille available?
An optional square grille may be available separately. Confirm current availability with your local Audio T store before ordering.
What amplifier power is required?
The CCM362 has 80-watt power handling, 89dB sensitivity and an 8-ohm nominal impedance. The appropriate amplifier will depend on the room, required volume, number of speakers and cable length.
Can several pairs be connected to one amplifier?
Potentially, but the combined impedance and amplifier loading must be calculated correctly. A multi-zone or multi-channel amplifier may be the better solution for larger installations.
What is the PMK C6?
It is an optional pre-mount kit used to establish the speaker position during new construction before the ceiling surface is installed.
What is the BB 6C?
It is an optional back box designed for compatible 6-inch Bowers & Wilkins custom-installation speakers.
What warranty is included?
Bowers & Wilkins provides a five-year limited warranty for passive loudspeakers, subject to its warranty terms and conditions.
Related Bowers & Wilkins Products and Audio T Guides
Why Buy From Audio T?
- Bowers & Wilkins custom-installation advice
- Speaker positioning and system-planning guidance
- Stereo, multi-room and home cinema system design
- Amplifier and AV receiver matching
- Speaker cable and cable-routing advice
- Guidance on cut-outs, clearances and accessories
- Pre-mount kit and back-box advice
- Installation and setup support, subject to location
- Ongoing after-sales support
Contact your local Audio T store to discuss a Bowers & Wilkins CCM362 installation.