ArtSound SMART PACK/HPRO525

A compact amplifier and a pair of splash‑resistant in‑ceiling speakers: this bundle brings together everything you need to stream music in a room, with no visible cables and no complex installation. The Smart Hyde drives the two HPRO525 speakers from the Happi series, designed to work just as well in a living room as in a kitchen or bathroom. The system is controlled from a smartphone and has direct access to major streaming platforms.

The Smart Hyde amplifier at the heart of the system

The Smart Hyde concentrates amplification, streaming and network connectivity into a 146 × 158 × 40 mm housing. Its Class D power stage delivers 2 × 50 W into 4 Ω with distortion kept to 0.03% — more than enough to power the HPRO525 pair in medium‑sized rooms. Connection to the home network is via Wi‑Fi (802.11 b/g/n) or the 10/100 Mbit Ethernet port, an attractive option for ensuring a stable link close to the router.

In terms of sources, the amplifier supports Spotify Connect, AirPlay 2, Tidal, Qobuz, Deezer, Amazon Music and Internet radio (TuneIn, vTuner). It also includes Bluetooth 5.0 for quickly streaming content from a phone or tablet. An optical input, a stereo RCA input and a USB port allow you to connect a TV, a CD player or a USB stick containing audio files. The RCA subwoofer output lets you add a subwoofer to reinforce the low frequencies.

The 4Stream app (iOS and Android) centralizes configuration, source selection, volume control and bass/treble EQ. It also allows you to create multiroom groups if other devices from the Smart range are present in the home, with each zone able to play the same track in sync or different content.

HPRO525 speakers: discreet and versatile

The Happi series — whose name refers to the Finnish happi, “oxygen” — stands out with an ultra‑thin frame and a magnetically attached aluminum grille. Once recessed in a drop ceiling, the HPRO525 only reveals a ring barely 1 mm wide: the grille is flush with the surface, with no visible screws or clips. It can be painted to match the ceiling color, and a black version is available as an option.

The two‑way coaxial acoustic system places the tweeter at the center of the woofer, promoting even sound dispersion throughout the room. The 13.3 cm (5.25”) woofer uses an aluminum cone and rubber surround to reproduce mids and lows down to 60 Hz. The 19 mm aluminum‑dome tweeter with neodymium magnet is adjustable: you can direct the treble towards the main listening area — for example a sofa or countertop — without moving the speaker itself.

The drivers, grille and surface treatments are designed to withstand water splashes. This protection makes the HPRO525 suitable for humid environments — kitchen, bathroom, covered patio, spa — where conventional speakers would eventually deteriorate. The built‑in passive crossover balances the frequencies sent to the woofer and tweeter, correcting the nasal tendency often criticized in water‑resistant speakers.

Installation and fine‑tuning

The 180 mm circular cutout matches a common size for recessed spotlights, which simplifies integration into an existing ceiling. The patented screw‑clamp mounting system allows for quick installation with no special tools: insert the speaker into the opening and tighten a few screws to clamp the frame against the ceiling. The 80 mm mounting depth requires a plenum or drop ceiling at least this deep.

The hydrophobic MDF acoustic back box (KITRO4), available as an accessory, creates an enclosed volume behind the speaker. It isolates the sound from the ceiling cavity, improves low‑frequency response and reduces unwanted resonances. Its use is recommended when the space above the ceiling is not insulated or communicates with other rooms.

The nominal impedance of 8 Ω and sensitivity of 88 dB make the HPRO525 compatible with most amplifiers on the market, including low‑power models. The Smart Hyde, delivering 50 W per channel into 4 Ω (around 30 W into 8 Ω), drives them comfortably in standard‑sized rooms.

Integration into a multiroom ecosystem

The bundle works as a stand‑alone system, but it can also be the first building block of a larger setup. Each Smart Hyde represents an audio zone; by adding other amplifiers from the range (Smart Hyde, Smart Evo, Smart Zone 4 Amp), the 4Stream app groups them on the same network. AirPlay 2 synchronization also allows pairing with Apple HomePod speakers or compatible devices from other manufacturers.

The Smart Hyde includes an alarm and sleep timer, handy for scheduling music playback in the morning or automatically muting the sound after you fall asleep. The EQ settings remain basic (bass and treble), but are sufficient to adapt the sound to the room’s acoustics.

Technical specifications

HPRO525

Audio system

• System: 2-way coaxial
• Woofer: 13.3 cm, aluminum cone, rubber surround
• Tweeter: 1.9 cm, aluminum neodymium dome
• Recommended amplification: 10 - 100 W
• Sensitivity: 88 dB
• Impedance: 8 Ω
• Frequency range: 60 Hz - 20 kHz

Physical characteristics

• Coverage: under 50 m²
• Cutout diameter: 180 mm
• Dimensions: 200 x 80 mm (diameter x depth)
• Weight per unit: 1.10 kg
• Composition: ABS, aluminum grille
• Color: white

Properties and options

• Properties: paintable grille, splash-resistant
• Available options: acoustic kit (KITRO4), black grille (GRILLHPRO525B)

SMART HYDE

Audio performance

• Type: multi-zone amplifier
• Output power: class D, 2 x 50 W RMS (4 Ω)
• Impedance: 4 - 8 Ω
• Total harmonic distortion: 0.03% / 1 kHz 1 W

Connectivity

• Network: LAN 10 / 100 Mbit, WiFi 802.11 b / g / n
• Bluetooth: 5.0
• Audio inputs: stereo RCA, optical, micro USB (DAC), USB (mass storage)
• Audio outputs: stereo RCA + subwoofer

Streaming services

• Streaming protocols: Spotify Connect, AirPlay 2, DLNA, UPnP, Qplay
• Online music: Internet radio, Spotify, Qobuz, Napster, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, vTuner, SoundMachine, RadioParadise, Calm Radio, QQ Music, QQ FM
• Local music: mobile devices, NAS storage, files on USB drive
• Multi-room function: AirPlay

Control and functions

• Tone control: volume, treble, bass
• Functions: alarm, sleep timer
• Control: 4STREAM app (iOS + Android)

Physical characteristics

• Power supply: 110 V - 240 V
• Dimensions: 40 x 146 x 158 mm (h x w x d)
• Weight: 0.54 kg