Product Categories

Brand Categories

In-Ceiling

IN-CEILING SPEAKERS

In-Ceiling speaker systems are designed to be a permanent audio solution that will provide you with excellent, aesthetically-pleasing sound for many years to come.

That’s why it’s critical you’ve chosen the right quality of speaker as well as thought about how they will be installed.

To install built-in speakers, you must be able to gain access behind the walls/ceilings to wire the speaker cable, and once everything is installed, we do not want there to be any unwanted surprises!

We have picked 11 things that every installer/customer should be aware of before they install the speaker into the ceiling.

JUMP TO…

  1. How many ceiling speakers do I need in a room?
  2. Where should I position the ceiling speakers and how far apart?
  3. Do ceiling speakers need mains power?
  4. Do I need mono or single stereo ceiling speakers?
  5. Which speaker cable do I need?
  6. Do ceiling speakers need fire hoods?
  7. Guidance for installing ceiling speakers in high-humidity rooms
  8. Can ceiling speakers be painted?
  9. How slim should the ceiling speakers be?
  10. How do I set up my ceiling speakers in a 7.1 or 5.1 surround sound system?

1. HOW MANY CEILING SPEAKERS DO I NEED IN A ROOM?

For the most part, ceiling speakers are sold in pairs, with a view to setting them up as a left and right stereo pair. One of the most important things about audio is the consistency of sound.

For larger spaces, we feel to balance audio levels better, it is sensible to add 4 smaller speakers rather than 2 larger speakers.

2. WHERE SHOULD I POSITION THE CEILING SPEAKERS AND HOW FAR APART?

It is best to position the ceiling speakers at equal distance apart from each wall, along the length of the room and at least 2 metres away from each other for the best stereo separation effect.

If the speakers will be less than 2 metres away from each other, you may wish to consider a single stereo ceiling speaker, positioned in the middle of the room’s ceiling.

We understand some customers may have awkwardly shaped room layouts, which can make it hard to know where the best place to position them would be.

In this scenario, it may be worth choosing a ceiling speaker with an angleable tweeter to direct the sound to the room’s most habitable areas. We have plenty of options with angleable tweeters, and these can be adjusted to perfectly match your room acoustics.

monitor-audio-home-cinema

3. DO CEILING SPEAKERS NEED MAINS POWER?

No, ceiling speakers are usually passive speakers which mean they do not have built-in amplifiers, and instead receive their power via speaker cable that is run from an external amplifier. This is achieved by wiring each ceiling speaker up to the binding posts on the Amp.

4. DO I NEED MONO OR SINGLE STEREO CEILING SPEAKERS?

Traditionally, house speaker systems have been designed to work with amplifiers that process left and right channels only, so you would need to purchase a pair of ceiling speakers to set up as a stereo pair.

This is still the case for most amplifiers available today. However, in some cases, it’s just not practical to install a pair of ceiling speakers for lack of ceiling space.

This is particularly common in bathrooms or other smaller sized rooms. To overcome this, the single stereo speaker was designed to offer a left and right channel out of a single speaker, preserving space and opening up the options to have music in more rooms.

sonos-amp-ceiling-speakers

 

5. WHICH SPEAKER CABLE SHOULD I USE WITH MY CEILING SPEAKERS?

For the majority of installs, we recommend 16 gauge 2 core speaker cable, being the industry standard. We can supply this cable in reels of 25 or 50 metres with free next day delivery if you need it quickly.

The only time you may need to run better quality cable is if any single cable run is longer than approximately 35 metres.

The audio signal can be degraded if it travels too far affecting the sound quality. In this case, we would suggest upgrading to 14 gauge cable. Cable should be installed in a parallel configuration.

What is 4 core speaker cable?

Four cores of speaker cable are bundled in one outer sheath. This type of cable is particularly useful for single stereo installations as only one cable run is required instead of two.

6. DO CEILING SPEAKERS NEED FIRE HOODS?

A fire hood engulfs the back of the speaker to prevent the spread of fire within the ceiling void.

This is a legal requirement for any ceiling speakers that are being installed where there is a habitable room above to preserve the integrity of your ceilings in the event of a fire.

Another benefit of a speaker hood is that they provide a form of back box to enhance sound and prevent a certain amount of sound leakage. That means you can keep your upstairs neighbours happier for longer if you turn the volume up!

Please check with your builder/installer whether a fire hood is required for your ceiling speakers in your particular building. “Low smoke / zero halogen” speaker cable may also be necessary.

7. CAN IN-CEILING SPEAKERS BE INSTALLED IN HIGH-HUMIDITY ENVIRONMENTS SUCH AS A KITCHEN OR BATHROOM?

Ceiling Speakers Bathroom Installation

Most of the speakers we supply are steam and humidity resistant which means, as long as they do not get wet, they are excellent in a bathroom and kitchen environment. When buying Ceiling Speakers, it’s always best to check with your supplier or electrician on points like this if you are unsure.

Or, if you want to have the peace of mind of having a fully waterproof ceiling speaker that can be installed inside a shower enclosure or above the bath tub.

8. CAN IN-CEILING SPEAKERS BE PAINTED?

Yes, the grille on your speaker can be removed and spray-painted with good quality paint in most instances. It’s important to spray thin layers of the paint so that you don’t clog the perforated holes in the speaker grille.

spray painted ceiling speaker

9. HOW MUCH SPACE DO I NEED IN THE CEILING VOID?

The very least amount of mounting depth you’ll need is 36mm, though the average ceiling speaker is 100mm.

If the amount of depth you have in the ceiling void (behind the plasterboard) is very low, there are options available for slim and ultra-slim ceiling speakers. Please use our filter on our Ceiling Speaker Homepage to find the most suitable speaker for you.

10. HOW DO I SET UP MY CEILING SPEAKERS IN A 7.1 OR 5.1 SURROUND SOUND SYSTEM?

If you’re looking to set up a home theater system and want to incorporate in-ceiling speakers, you’ll just need to think about positioning and the amplifier you’re using to power the speakers.

For 5.1 speaker placement, you’ll need a pair of speakers to offer rear surround channels. This would be two left and right speakers behind or just above your listening position. From here you’ll just need a left and right front speaker either side of your TV and another center channel speaker directly between the two (ideally where the screen is positioned to project dialogue more accurately) to finish the 5.1 system. For a 7.1 system, add two additional surround speakers directly between the front and rear surrounds, to form a left and right pair of mid-surrounds.

Where should I position my subwoofer?

In terms of subwoofer placement, low-frequency sounds are non-directional meaning you can position your subwoofer anywhere. It makes sense in a lot of installations to have the subwoofer placed directly in front of your seating position, but don’t stress too much and position the subwoofer to best suit your room.

uce sound that is richer and more powerful than bookshelf speakers.

Why choose Distinction Audio to buy your in-ceiling speaker?

Adding a pair of high-quality in-ceiling speakers to your home AV system may instantly improve sound quality. However, you’ll still need to make an informed decision and choose the best in-ceiling speakers for your budget and room size. Regardless of how much money you’re willing to spend, we’re certain that you’ll be able to find the perfect speakers at Distinction Audio. We also offer bookshelf speakers and power amplifiers you may be interested in.

We deliver cutting-edge smart home automation technology to people and businesses all around the globe with our top quality products, affordable prices and our team of international designers, who can construct a specific solution anywhere.

Most popular brands for in-ceiling speakers

  • Bowers & Wilkins
  • Cambridge Audio
  • Wharfedale
  • Speakercraft
  • Dali