In Wall Ceiling Speakers: Three Tips For Getting Whole-House Music Right

In Wall Ceiling Speakers: Three Tips For Getting Whole-House Music Right

Using in wall in ceiling speakers for whole-house music

Looking for a way to get high-end sound in any room of your house?  In-wall ceiling speakers may be the answer!

Whole-house music is something a lot of us yearn for - it can be as practical as wanting to listen to the radio while making lunches in the kitchen, or as decadent as wanting the music to follow you no matter where you are during a party. Regardless, few of us have the space (or the inclination) to put full-blown bookshelf or floor standing speakers in every room of the house.

But, let's be candid . . . the sound that comes out of the tin cans in the ceiling at your dentist's office is not exactly the effect you were hoping for in your quest for audio nirvana.  So how can you ensure that the sound in your kitchen is as good as the sound in your den?

T3 In-Ceiling Speakers

  1. Opt for ceiling speakers that have fully enclosed backs.  If the speakers you are choosing are open at the back, the sound has not been fully engineered.  The cavity in the ceiling - the amount of insulation - the amount of room before the next wall or other obstruction - will all effect the sound. If you choose a speaker with a fully enclosed back, on the other hand, you know that the designer has finely-tuned the  speaker to sound its best no matter where it is installed.  The bass and treble output has a known quality, regardless of whether the speaker is being sunk into acoustic tile or an all-wood ceiling.
  2. Think about placement.  The same rules of separation apply when you are installing in-ceiling speakers as when you are installing traditional stand-alone speakers.  Picture a triangle.  If you are standing mainly at the sink when listening to in wall ceiling speakers - doing dinner prep or whatever - ensure that the distance between the speakers is at least half of the distance to the listening position.  If you are standing 12 feet from where your speakers are, that means the distance between the left and right speaker should be a maximum of 12 feet and a minimum of 6 feet.
  3. Watch out for reflections.  In wall ceiling speakers are often a nearly-invisible option for living rooms where stereo listening is key.  If you place the speakers too close to a fireplace or large window, you may hear reflections from the hard surface muddying up the sound.  Also make sure your speakers aren't too close to corners of the room - those corners will exaggerate bass response.

Oh, and by the way, we know that most people think 'round' when they think in wall ceiling speakers . . . but as our customer's beautiful installation, pictured above, shows, it's hip to be square, too!



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