Daniel J SaitTheory Audio Design has previewed its new p9 pendant loudspeaker at CEDIA Expo 2026, ahead of its planned launch in early 2027.
Two years in development, the p9 is designed to combine wide bandwidth, high output and refined acoustic performance within a compact, slender enclosure suitable for premium residential and commercial environments.
At the heart of the p9 is a 9in coaxial driver featuring a proprietary carbon fibre sandwich low-frequency diaphragm and Theory’s Theorem High Frequency Waveguide profile. The design is claimed to deliver smooth, wide high-frequency dispersion alongside low-frequency output extending down to 45Hz, allowing the p9 to be used for foreground music applications without a subwoofer.
The loudspeaker offers 120° dispersion, designed to provide a large coverage area and consistent wide-band sound, including in spaces with relatively low ceilings. Theory says its flat and extended frequency response also allows the p9 to retain clarity and detail at low listening levels, making it suitable for background music applications.
Paul Hales, CEO of Theory Audio Design, says, “Those who are amazed by our current in-ceiling, pendant and bollard loudspeakers will be absolutely floored when they experience the p9. The sound quality we get from the p9 – a surprisingly slender pendant loudspeaker – rivals the sound of some large, expensive high-end floor-standing speakers in resolution, accuracy and even bandwidth. You have to hear it to believe it.”
The p9 features a black anodised aluminium enclosure and a bezel-less coaxial driver that provides the radiating area of a 9in driver while fitting within the diameter of a typical 8in design. The approach is intended to maximise performance while keeping the physical footprint to a minimum.
Theory is targeting the loudspeaker at applications including high-end residences, restaurants, hotels and spas where audio performance needs to be combined with a discreet aesthetic.
The p9 is scheduled to become available in Q1 2027 in both passive 16-ohm/70V and PoE versions.
Visitors to CEDIA Expo 2026 can see the p9 at Theory Audio Design’s Booth 1300 and hear it in High-Performance Audio Room 202 (MR 202), where demonstrations are taking place every hour, except at 12pm, throughout the show.
