Does anyone have experience with in ceiling speakers? I am tinkering with the idea of in celings just for back surrounds; I would prefer to use Q's but the room may not support ceiling mounting. I've read a lot of negative feedback on performance of in ceiling speakers, but if anyone has anything to add or recommend please advise. Thanks.

In-ceiling speakers are better than nothing, for sure, but most of them present a significantly colored sound. QS4 or QS8s will give you a much more natural, un-boxy sound. When you say the room may not support ceiling mounting, what do you mean?

Thanks for the reply; I am thinking the same as something is better than nothing. I have french doors and the left door may swing into a ceiling mounted Q. My ceiling is just over 7 ft. so I'm concerned about how far down the speaker would be mounted. The back wall is almost 9 ft. behind the LP and I think that is too far?? I need to get exact measurements before anything is ruled out.

Hi pitbull24,

The QS8 surrounds are very adaptable and forgiving. They can be wall-mounted as high as 3 or 4 inches from the ceiling, leaving just enough room for the top-firing driver to reflect its output from the ceiling.

I really advise you not to use ceiling speakers. It's not how movies are mixed and played back, and our ears/brain are keyed to lateral-arriving sound and delays. Ceiling reflections certainly add to the wash of envelopment, but you do not want in-ceiling speakers to be the supplier of surround content.

Regards,
Alan

Do you have the option of going more to the side of the listening area as opposed to behind? I have my 8's more to the side and just slightly to the rear.

Thanks Alan, the top clearance was another concern.

Argon, I have a door on one side and a window on the other which prohibits side placement. My current 8's are wall mounted 100 degrees(slightly behind) to each side of LP, how much further back should rear surrounds be placed?

The rear surrounds can me moved back as far as you like. The distance you have would allow for direct radiators to be used, like the M2 or M22. They will throw the sound out more directed at the listening position but with that much distance a good deal of horizontal dispersion will be taking place. If you mounted them about 5-7 ft apart that would ideal as you say they are 7ft behind.

Thanks Jay, I did not think of using the M2's. If I go with back wall mounting you suggest direct radiant over a Q or just another option?

Brian

Direct radiating as you have enough room for some dispersion to take place. This is what the QS series mimics but with a near field listening position. If you were closer to the speakers by a few more feet I might then suggest some QS's. Now you may still prefer the QS series even with the extra distance, some people on the forum do, but I would start with the M2's and you could always exchange them if you are not happy.