This is a classic mistake, and we'll go into the reasons why shortly. But please do not make a judgement on your speakers performance by connecting them to an amplifier and sitting them on your coffee table! Even the best in-ceiling and in-wall speakers will be significantly compromised by this sort of testing.
A speaker drive unit is the component that actually compresses the air to create sound, but in reality it's only part of what makes a speaker's sound signature. Hi-Fi speaker cabinets may look like boring boxes simply there to hold the speaker drivers, but that's a long way from the truth. A significant amount of development goes into speaker cabinet design. This is because a speaker driver produces sound in two directions, from the front of the cone, but also from the back. As a speaker moves in and out it increases and decreases the air pressure in both directions. Speaker cabinets are specifically designed to utilise their air volume and the changing pressure to boost performance. This is done in various ways, and we aren't going to discuss the mechanics of speaker cabinet design here, but the most important thing to understand is that the air volume surrounding the back of any speaker is critical to its final performance.
The majority of in-ceiling and in-wall speakers are open-backed, meaning that the main driver is exposed at the rear and the speaker has no built-in enclosure. This is primarily due to the fact that a speaker with a 'cabinet' attached would be impossible to install into a ceiling or wall void in the majority of cases. A few models do have compact rear enclosures, but these can only be installed where void depth allows. Most integrated speakers are open-backed to aid installation in a range of constructions.
As discussed, speaker drivers perform at their best when enclosed by a specific volume of air. When installing a typical open-backed in-ceiling or in-wall speaker into a construction void, this void will act as an acoustic enclosure, and actually become the 'cabinet'.
Construction voids are usually either very open (such as pitched roof spaces, open floor voids, or suspended ceilings), or the exact opposite and crammed full of insulation. Open-backed speakers do not like either. An installation void which has too much air volume, or one which has too little, will both restrict a speaker's performance. In both cases the effect on the speaker is similar, and results in a reduction in bass performance, making the speaker sound light and thin.
To make the speaker perform as it was intended, the air volume needs to be 'just right', and this can be achieved by enclosing the back of the speaker in a couple of ways.
To provide the speaker with the right air volume for maximum performance, it is typically necessary to install some form of enclosure behind the speaker.
Solid sound enclosures made of steel, concrete or MDF can be used to create a physical solid cabinet within the ceiling void. While these provide the ideal volume of air, they can only be installed pre-construction, and must be fitted to roof timbers prior to the installation of a plasterboard ceiling.
For 95% of installations, either new build or retrofit, the best solution is to use fire & acoustic speaker hoods. Fire hoods are fabric bags which fit over the back of the speaker. They contain intumescent material designed to expand and seal a speaker hole in the event of a fire to stop its spread. Fire hoods are a building regulations requirement for any speakers fitted below habitable spaces or in areas of escape. But fire hoods also have other benefits. Acoustic models help to reduce sound transfer to adjacent rooms. They prevent debris falling onto the back of the speaker driver which can affect performance. And importantly, they create a semi-sealed volume of air around the speaker, which will help improve sound quality, especially in large open voids like roof spaces and lofts. Even if fire hoods are not required for building regulations, we highly recommend them for the majority of installations, purely for their acoustic benefits.
When it comes to locating your speakers, every installation is different and there's no specific right or wrong. However there are some guidelines you should follow. I'm going to concentrate on stereo music systems here. AV and surround sound systems have more specific requirements, and as such require a more detailed discussion. If you need any assistance with speaker layouts for such a system then please get in touch or take a look at the Dolby website for further information.
Firstly, it may sound simple, but place the speakers evenly in the space to be covered. If you have two in-ceiling speakers in a typical square room for example, then place them a sensible distance apart in the centre to create a good stereo soundstage. If you have a large kitchen/dining area and 4 speakers to cover a space this size, then install them as left/right pairs above each area. Ideally you want to be listening in between a stereo pair, so think more about how you use the space than being regimental with their layout.
Finally, don't worry if you can't install the speakers exactly in the perfect position. Floor and roof timbers, structural steels, skylights, downlights and extraction vents will all restrict potential locations. Fortunately, in-ceiling speakers have a wide dispersion, so they will be effective almost anywhere in the room. Just position them as best as possible to create good coverage.
The only area that it is recommended to avoid is a corner or wall. Like any speakers, architectural models are subject to the 'boundary effect' which can make them sound a little boomy if placed close to a large flat surface. Where possible install speakers at least 50cm from a side wall.
Top tip: If you have a Sonos Amp and your speaker positioning doesn't create the ideal environment for stereo left/right listening (ie. you have an open plan space with multiple speakers covering a large area that you move around in), then you may benefit from setting the Sonos Amp to Dual Mono Mode. This will sum the left and right channels and send the mono output to all speakers, thereby removing any stereo effects and evening out the sound across the space.
Most modern amplifiers, such as the Sonos Amp, are thankfully very easy to install and setup, but there are some important things to consider when installing your system which can have a huge impact on performance.
Firstly, let's consider the wiring. Connecting speakers to an amplifier is pretty straightforward. Typically either 1 or 2 speakers are wired to each amplifier channel (left and right) via 2-core speaker cable. The important thing to be aware of here is polarity. Just like a battery, speakers (and amplifiers) have positive and negative terminals, usually indicated by red for positive and black or white for negative. Cables are usually colour coded in a similar way. The critical thing is to ensure that the positive speaker terminal is connected to amplifier positive terminal, and likewise for negative.
The worst possible scenario for performance is accidentally wiring the left and right amplifier channels out of phase, ie. one channel is positive>positive & negative>negative, but the other channel is positive>negative & negative>positive. This might sound obvious, but it's an easy mistake to make. The result of out of phase channels is that one speaker works against the other. When one speaker driver is pushing out, the other is pulling in. The effect can be devastating on sound quality as the frequencies emitted from the speakers cancel each other out. This often results in a rather hollow sound, a bit like the sensation of noise cancelling headphones which work on the same principal.
Most amplifiers offer some sort of EQ (equaliser) or tone controls. For the purposes of this article we'll talk about the hugely popular Sonos Amp, but other amps may have similar settings.
Architectural speakers can provide fantastic sound quality if installed correctly, but smaller models and installation restrictions could mean your speakers need a bit of help when it comes to bass. Also, it's fair to say that modern music, as well as portable speaker and headphone design has favoured a bass heavy sound in recent years which is somewhat exaggerated from reference studio recordings. As a result, 'proper' speakers which accurately reproduce the frequency range may require some bass enhancement for those who like over-exaggerated bass. So if you do feel that your speakers need some help in this area then EQ could be the answer.
The Sonos Amp provides Bass, Treble and Loudness EQ controls. Bass and treble are self-explanatory, and adjust the level of the high and low frequencies up and down as required. Loudness on the other hand is an EQ preset which increases both the low and high frequencies to exaggerate them. The purpose of this setting is to improve performance at low volume levels. At low volume the human ear is less sensitive to extreme high and low frequencies, so Loudness compensates for this by boosting them to maintain a perceived flat frequency response. While this EQ trick is designed for low volumes, it can help speakers sound more punchy, so it's definitely a setting that's worth a try. However for better control, consider turning off loudness and boosting the high and low frequencies manually to get the perfect balance for your ears, environment and listening levels.
Speaking of environment, it should also be noted that all speakers will sound slightly different depending on their location. For example, speakers installed in a kitchen which has lots of hard surfaces (worktops, hard floors etc.) will tend to sound brighter than a speaker installed in a lounge or bedroom which has carpets, soft furnishings and curtains. This is is due to soundwave reflections. Hard surfaces reflect soundwaves, whereas soft surfaces absorb them. Reflected soundwaves produce reverberations which fill the room and increase high frequency energy, which has the effect of making treble more pronounced. Therefore, in a kitchen it maybe necessary to reduce the treble slightly.
Sonos also has another trick up it's sleave, but it's not available to all. Trueplay™ tuning is available to those with a Sonos Amp plus Sonos in-ceiling or in-wall speakers, and an Apple iOS device. Trueplay provides room correction which automatically adjusts the EQ for best performance by playing test tones from the speakers to your Apple iPhone or tablet. If you qualify for Trueplay tuning then it's worth making use of it.
Please note: Boosting bass and treble will drive your speakers harder for the same volume setting. Don't expect nightclub levels of bass, and don't be tempted to push them too hard or use extreme frequency boosting. You'll only end up driving them into distortion which causes poor sound quality and risks damaging the speakers. If you really want to 'feel' the bass from your system, then consider adding a subwoofer (see below).
In addition to amplifier settings, you may have some EQ controls actually on the speakers themselves. Many speakers feature a high frequency boost/cut switch. Typically this provides +/- 3dB of treble boost/cut, and is designed to help tune the speakers to their environment. So as discussed above, a kitchen might benefit from a treble cut, and a bedroom might benefit from a treble boost. Just remember to select the same settings for every speaker in the room.
Of course all of this is down to personal preference and the unique properties of your room and installation, but before fitting the speaker grilles and resorting to amplifier EQ, it's worth taking the time to tune the speakers themselves with any built-in settings first. Remember, there are no right or wrong answers here. Simply adjust the settings to your personal preference.
Adding a subwoofer to your system will make a huge difference if you're looking for a very bass heavy sound or enjoy electronic music. Not only does adding a subwoofer significantly boost bass performance, but it will also allow your main speakers to perform at their best. By adding a subwoofer, your speakers will not be sent the very low frequencies which they find more difficult to produce. This frees them up to perform better in the midrange, and will typically go louder for less distortion as a result.
Most amplifiers will allow the connection of a subwoofer in one way or another. If you require any assistance with this then please get in touch. If you have a Sonos Amp then you can very easily add one of their wireless subwoofers to your existing system. The subwoofer can sit in the corner of a room and doesn't require a physical connection to the Amp.
If you like a bit of bass, or feel like your existing speakers sound to light, then adding a subwoofer is a great upgrade.
Your car might have a top speed of say 120mph, but you wouldn't drive it around all day at that speed would you? Even if it was legal! Prolonged high speed would inevitably cause components to fail. The same applies to any speaker system.
Amplifiers are not designed to be run at maximum volume. Just because a volume control has a scale from say 0-100, does not mean that 100 should ever be used. Let's take the Sonos Amp as an example. This has a power output of 125W per channel. This is very high for a typical stereo amplifier. Most Hi-Fi amps would not be more than 50-80W. Different speakers can handle different power levels, so don't assume that your speakers can take 125W, and many won't. Even if your speakers do have a power handling of 125W or more, most amplifiers will run into significant levels of distortion at their upper limit. Distortion is very high energy, and as a result it is incredibly bad for speakers and can easily damage a speaker drive unit or electronic crossover.
Speakers with built-in amplifiers such as portable Bluetooth speakers are designed with volume caps to avoid overpowering, so 100% is deliberately safe. When it comes to separate amplifiers and speakers there are no such caps, so it's important to be mindful that overpowering an amplifier like the Sonos Amp could easily blow your speakers.
Where possible we highly recommend setting a volume limit on your amplifier if one is available. This will prevent any deliberate or accidental attempts to drive the speakers too hard. The Sonos Amp has a volume limiter in the sound settings menu. Set this to an appropriate level for the maximum volume required. Once set, this level will become the new 100%, ensuring that your speakers are protected from damage.
Any speaker system, especially a high performance one, is only as good as the quality of the source. If you put rubbish in you'll get rubbish out!
Most music streaming services now offer CD quality or above, but more basic services and content like free internet radio stations still use fairly low bitrate formats. High performance audio systems tend to highlight the poor quality of low bitrate audio more so that cheaper systems, so it's important to use high quality streaming services or high bitrate music files to really maximise the performance of your system.
As odd as it may sound, all speakers need a period of running in to reach maximum performance. Just like a new pair of shoes, the flexible components that allow a speaker driver to move will be somewhat stiff straight out of the box. In the same way that it takes time for new shoes to soften up and feel comfortable, new speakers also need a bit of time to loosen up. When the components are brand new and stiff it can make the speaker sound a little harsh. Running in typically takes 20-30 hours of listening, and it is recommend not to drive them too hard during this period.
Follow the advice in this article and you'll maximise the performance of your audio system for many years of listening pleasure. The shift to digital music and hidden speaker systems was historically more about convenience than quality. But we believe that this doesn't have to be the case. And with a bit of knowhow you can have great quality invisible audio throughout you home thanks to the growing range of superb architectural speakers.
]]>Firstly, all speakers need some sort of cabling. Active speakers have built-in amplifiers but as a result require main power. Whereas traditional passive speakers (the subject of this article) must be powered from a separate amplifier via a 2-core (or in some cases 4-core) speaker cable of suitable gauge (thickness). For most applications we recommend 16 gauge speaker cable.
With any stereo amplifier, it's important that both channels (left and right) are connected to the same number of speakers, and that this load (impedance) is balanced. Running an amplifier with only one channel connected, or with two speakers on left and one on right for example, will eventually damage the amplifier.
Passive speakers are sold in three main categories...
Single Mono - Mono (single channel) speakers are sold individually and must be purchased in pairs for use with stereo amplifiers.
Stereo Pair - Some manufacturers (such as B&W) box their speakers in pairs. A stereo pair consists of two identical mono speakers.
Single Stereo - A single stereo is a special type of speaker that has two separate bass driver voice coils and two tweeters. This makes it possible to use this type of speaker individually on a stereo amplifier for smaller spaces such as bathrooms. PLEASE NOTE: Single stereo speakers must be treated like stereo pairs when cabling. Although one unit, they require separate left/right inputs and therefore need 4-core cable or 2x 2-core cables.
One Amp How Many Speakers? - Most amplifiers are designed to operate with a load of between 4-16 ohms. Modern speakers are typically 4-8 ohms. The maths for load matching multiple speakers is a little complicated (see here), but the effect of simply doubling up the number of speakers on the amplifier output terminals (2 into left +/- & 2 into right +/-) actually roughly halves the perceived load. One might expect the load to simply double, but wired like this in parallel the effect is the opposite.
Why is this important? Well... reducing the load (impedance) that the amplifier is connected to makes the output current flow more easily from positive to negative. This low impedance can easily make the amp overheat, especially at high volumes, causing thermal cut-out and potentially damaging the amplifier. As a result it is important to be aware of the total impedance... for example: 4x 8 ohm speakers would create (roughly) a 4 ohm load per channel... all good... but 4x 4 ohm speakers would create (roughly) a 2 ohm load per channel... bad! A solution to this problem is to use a speaker switch (see below)
Speaker Switches - When connecting more than 4 speakers to a stereo amplifier we recommend using a speaker switch. This will not only simplify the connections and provide on/off control of each speaker pair, but it will also ensure that the total speaker load (impedance) at any one time does not drop below the minimum 4 ohms. This is possible thanks to the way that speaker switches use a mixture a parallel and series switching connections to balance the load. PLEASE NOTE: Most speaker switches only provide on/off control and do not allow different volumes between different pairs. Additionally, when more speakers are switch on, the amplifier power is shared between all the speakers, therefore the relative volume of each pair will drop as speakers are switched on.
Amplifiers are normally rated at 4-16 ohms, and this is generally the recommended speaker impedance range per channel. Modern speakers are typically 4-8 ohms. The issue with impedance is when you start connecting more than one speaker to each amplifier channel. It is perfectly acceptable to connect more than one speaker per channel, but in this case it is very important to understand how this affects the total impedance, and ensure it doesn't drop below the minimum amplifier rating (usually 4 ohms).
So why is total impedance so important?... Running an amplifier with a very low total speaker impedance will allow more current to flow through the speakers from positive to negative. This high current flow forces the amplifier to generate more power, which in turn can result in overheating, thermal cut-out and ultimately damage to the amplifier electronics.
The easiest way to connect multiple speakers to an amplifier is to use a speaker switch, and this is the recommend option when more than two speakers are connected to each channel. However, if wiring multiple speakers manually, it's very important to understand how impedances are affected when adding more speakers.
Series or Parallel - Speakers can be wired together in two ways... in series or in parallel (or a combination of the two). The total impedance is very different in each case, with parallel wiring being the most dangerous as it actually reduces the total impedance as more speakers are added... something which is perhaps counterintuitive. Below are some examples.
Example - 3x 4 ohm speakers in series:
Rt = 4 + 4 + 4
Rt = 12 ohms
Example - 3x 8 ohm speakers in parallel:
1/Rt = 1/8 + 1/8 + 1/8
1/Rt = 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125
1/Rt = 0.375
Rt = 1/0.375
Rt = 2.66 ohms
So in conclusion, the series example totalled 12 ohms per channel so this would be fine on a typical amplifier. However, the parallel example totalled 2.66 ohms so this is not okay and could easily overdrive and damage the amplifier.
While it is possible to hard wire speakers in a combination of series and parallel, this does get quite complicated. If in doubt always wire in series as high impedances are less likely to cause amplifier damage than low impedances. However our professional advice is to always use a speaker switch when connecting more than 2 speakers per channel, or when using multiple low impedance speakers (eg. 4 ohms). This will make the connections straightforward and prevent an incompatible impedance damaging your amplifier.
]]>In-ceiling and in-wall speaker grilles are predominantly white, but it is possible to spray paint them to match your décor as required. You can even colour match an existing finish by getting spray paint mixed by a specialist paint supplier (www.yourspraypaints.com).
To ensure a high quality even paint finish it’s important to follow a few basic rules during preparation and application. DO NOT paint speaker grilles with a brush or roller! This will block up the holes in the grille which will drastically affect sound quality. Grilles should be sprayed with a number of light coats to avoid this. Taking your time to build up thin paint layers one after the other will pay dividends when it comes to the quality of the finish.
Ensure the paint you select is suitable for metal surfaces and always follow the manufacturer’s instructions. The satin finish of most speaker grilles is suitable for direct application, so a primer is not usually required.
Always use spray paint in a well ventilated area and wear a mask to avoid breathing in any fumes.
It is recommended to spray outside on a dry calm day. Overspray is inevitable and will coat nearby objects with a fine mist of paint, so don’t do it in the living room or kitchen!
If you have to spray in an enclosed area like a garage or workshop then you can use a large cardboard box on its side as a spray booth. This will help to contain the overspray, but it won’t eliminate it entirely. Always ensure the area is well ventilated and wear a mask.
Spray painting does require a little bit of knowhow to achieve a professional finish, but by following these steps, anyone can successfully change the colour of their speaker grilles. However if you do make a mistake, we can supply replacement grilles for all current models.
Fire & Acoustic Hoods are hollow fabric encasings that are placed over the top of ceiling speakers and fit snuggly around the speaker once they are installed in the ceiling. They are placed in the void where the speakers are going to be installed and are fixed down to the ceiling itself, either from the speakers dog leg fittings or pins.. The install is incredibly easy and provides many benefits.
When installing ceiling speakers, UK building regulations state that Fire & Acoustic hoods should be used when the ceiling speakers are being installed under liveable space, for example a room above. This is because when cutting a hole in your ceiling and installing a ceiling speaker, the consistency of fire burn time is compromised. Fire hoods are made of fire resistant material that will prolong the fire burn time and stop areas where fires can gust up into the rooms above.
Not only can Fire & Acoustic hoods help with the fire rating of a room, they can also provide acoustic benefits as well. Placing a hood over the back of the ceiling speaker prevents sound from leaking out the back of the speakers to rooms adjacent and above. Furthermore, Fire & Acoustic hoods can give the speaker a backbox to enhance and centralise the sound coming down into a room. They are a great way to improve the overall quality of your ceiling speakers.
The choices to be made with hoods are dependant on the size of your speakers. Here are some of our recommendations.
6 Inch Driver Speakers - Blucube Fire & Acoustic Hood
8 Inch Driver Speakers - Hoody 2 Fire & Acoustic Hood
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For those who adopted a home audio system early, the good news is that there are plenty of options available to bring your system up to speed. A lot has changed in the audio industry in the last decade. Gone are the days of CDs and iPods, with people preferring to stream audio wirelessly from their phones, tablets and laptops. Luckily there are ways of updating your existing audio systems and keep enjoying your favourite music.
]]>How can I bring my home audio system up to speed?
A lot has changed in the audio industry in the last decade. Gone are the days of CDs and iPods, with people now preferring to stream audio wirelessly from their phones, tablets and laptops. For those who adopted a home audio system early, the good news is that there are plenty of options available to bring your system up to speed.
Your amplifier is what drives your system, and if it’s an older model it most likely still has a CD player or you rely on an AUX cable, an input that iPhones infamously dropped in 2016. If you had your system installed 10 or more years ago, the likelihood is that it consists of sets of speakers (zones) wired to an amplifier via a speaker switch box, allowing you to manually select which zones are receiving the audio signal. Whilst this was (and still is) a reliable way of having audio in multiple rooms, technology has moved on.
Our customers want to control their home audio system from their handheld devices; selecting zones, setting volumes and streaming from apps like Spotify and Apple Music, and with the development of features like Airplay, wireless systems have become the norm.
The good news is that there are ways to bring an old system up to speed without replacing it entirely. Amplifiers like The SONOS Amp (our best selling solution), HEOS Amp and Drive and the Bluesound Powernode 2 have provided a way for old systems to incorporate wireless streaming using home networks. These products are popular because of their user-friendliness, reliability and ability to be hidden away, and the Sonos Amp has become the market leader.
Through dedicated apps, these amplifiers can be controlled independently or synchronised with other zones to allow for a whole-house audio system. The SONOS, HEOS and Bluesound systems can also be extended without further installation through freestanding products like the SONOS ONE, HEOS 1 HS2 and Bluesound Pulse Flex.
If you are after a more direct way of connecting wirelessly to your sound system, Bluetooth Amplifiers and Speakers are also available.
One of the biggest developments in the AV industry has been voice control, with the likes of Google’s ‘Home’ and Amazon’s Echo and Alexa becoming household names over the past few years. Many SONOS, HEOS, Bluesound and Lithe Audio products are capable of integrating with certain voice control systems, meaning you don’t even have to use your phone if you don’t want to.
As it is still an emerging feature of wireless audio systems and installed speakers, please get in touch to find out more about voice control compatibility for the products we sell.
With the release of Lithe Audio’s active WiFi and Bluetooth ceiling speakers, installed wireless audio systems are possible without ever needing to purchase an amplifier. If you were thinking of updating your old ceiling speakers, you may consider these as options. The WiFi speakers, controlled through a dedicated app, can provide music in up to 30 zones whilst the Bluetooth version provides a more direct solution for single zones, as well as being compatible with certain voice control systems.
As a side note, Lithe has just released a really interesting infographic on the history of home audio which is well worth checking out here.
If you bought your installed speakers more than 10 years ago, you may also consider updating your speaker model. Updated models like the Monitor Audio C165 now have magnetic trim-less grilles, making the speaker even more invisible. They also incorporate newer driver and tweeter technologies, allowing for improved bass response and sound dispersion.
The release of ultra-slim models like the KEF Ci160TR allows for installation in places that could not previously accept speakers, whilst, as mentioned previously, WiFi and Bluetooth speakers allow for installation where speaker cable previously could not reach.
Upgrading your audio system to incorporate wireless technology is not only possible, but it’s also really not that hard to do. As always, we are more than happy to help you with any questions you have about upgrading, changing or buying an audio system. You can submit a contact form here, email us at sales@ceiling-speakers.co.uk or just give us a ring on 03456 803 802
So you want ceiling speakers in your home but you don’t know where to begin? Ceiling speakers are designed to be a long-lasting audio solution and as such it’s important to think about not only what level of audio quality you desire but also how you want to control your system. This is our simple and easy guide to home audio featuring the top 12 things you need to know to get you started.
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So you want ceiling speakers in your home but you don’t know where to begin. Unlike many other ‘freestanding’ speaker products, ceiling speakers are designed to be a long-lasting audio solution and as such it’s important to think about not only what level of audio quality you desire but also how you want to control your system. This is our simple and easy guide to installing home audio featuring the top 12 things you need to know about ceiling speakers to get you started.
Typically, ceiling speakers come in pairs with one playing the left channel of audio and one playing the right channel, resulting in true stereo sound. As a rough guide, we generally recommend that for rooms that are larger than 3 metres x 3 metres you use one pair of ceiling speakers, and for rooms bigger than 5 metres x 5 metres two pairs of ceiling speakers will offer a more balanced sound.
We always recommend using pairs of standard mono ceiling speakers for rooms bigger than 3 metres x 3 metres, but for some solutions such as bathrooms and small bedrooms where space is limited a single stereo speaker is an ideal option.
Single stereo ceiling speakers have two tweeters rather than one (as shown in the diagram above), allowing for true stereo sound from a single unit. The only difference is that they require two runs of speaker cable, one each for the left and right audio channels.
You can read more about in our blog post about Single Stereo Ceiling Speakers.
If you are installing a single stereo speaker you should aim to place it in the centre of the ceiling (if possible) for the best distribution of sound. If you are installing two or more speakers then the optimal placement is at an equal distance apart from each wall in the room and at least 2 metres away from each other.
For unconventional room layouts, you can buy speakers with angled or pivoting tweeters, and you are welcome to send your floor plans to our team of experts who can work out an ideal layout for you.
The slimmest ceiling speaker on the market requires a mounting depth of just 36mm and a cutout diameter of 196mm, however depths of up to 160mm and cut-outs of up to 250mm are also common. Our website has a unique, custom-built filtering system to help you to find a speaker that fits your size requirements.
There are two options available when asking how ceiling speakers are powered and controlled. ‘Active’ speakers provide more of a ‘plug and play’ solution, such as Lithe Audio’s range. These contain a built-in amplifier and simply require a mains connection directly to the speaker. You can control these speakers via Bluetooth or WiFi (depending on the model) directly from your device.
‘Passive’ speakers are much more common and require an external amplifier to power them via speaker cable. The Sonos Amp (pictured above) is the current market leader although plenty of alternatives are available. This allows you to control your ceiling speakers using WiFi through the Sonos App on your device - you can even group speakers into ‘zones’ if you have multiple amplifiers.
16/2 (16 gauge, 2 core) speaker cable is the industry standard and will be perfectly suited to most installations. If a speaker requires over 25 metres of cable to connect it (because it is far away from the amplifier for example) then you may consider a thicker cable as audio quality can deteriorate over this distance.
We also have weather resistant speaker cable available for speakers in high moisture or outdoor zones and 16/4 (16 gauge, 4 core) speaker cable which is recommended for single stereo speakers.
A fire hood is an enclosure for a ceiling speaker which goes over the top of the speaker and maintains the integrity of your ceiling, and in most cases also provides some soundproofing for rooms above the speaker.
If a contractor is doing your installation then they are legally required to install fire hoods. If you are doing the installation yourself, whilst not a legal requirement, we highly recommend fire hoods for the safety they provide as well as the issues you may run into with insurers should you be unfortunate enough to have a house fire. We have a range of fire hoods available for a range of ceiling speaker sizes, almost all of which also provide some level of soundproofing.
Browse our ceiling speakers fire and acoustics hoods.
Whilst most of the ceiling speakers we sell will be fine in a kitchen we also have IP (Ingress Protected) ceiling speakers which provide protection against dust and moisture. These are a great solution for when you want to install audio in zones that may have a high humidity level such as bathrooms and saunas. For more information read our blog post about The Best Ceiling Speakers For The Bathroom.
The grilles that come with all of our ceiling speakers are white and can be spray painted to whatever colour you desire, although it is important to note that you should NEVER spray the grilles whilst they are on the speaker!
For a more detailed guide, check out article on how to paint speaker grilles.
Whilst outdoor speakers have been popular for some time, these usually take the form of wall-mounted cabinet speakers and those disguised as rocks which are hidden among plant pots or within borders. However, you can now install ceiling speakers into outdoor areas with the advent of dedicated models designed to resist the elements. Whilst these are not designed to be fully exposed to driving rain or snow, if installed into suitable locations such as soffits or other protected areas these can give great results and a much more discrete installation.
You can play your TV audio through ceiling speakers, although you can’t connect them directly to one another as TVs do not have any dedicated speaker outputs. What you will need to do is to take the audio from the TV via either an optical digital audio output or via HDMI using ARC (Audio Return Channel, available through most recent TVs) to an amplifier with the appropriate input - something the new Sonos Amp can do. This, in turn, would power passive ceiling speakers via standard speaker cable.
Exceptions to this rule are some models of bathroom TV, which do have an amplified audio output suitable for connection to ceiling speakers. This isn’t true of all models but we can usually help with determining whether or not this would be possible.
A selection of our amplifiers are able to be controlled using one of Amazon’s ‘Echo’ devices by simply locating one in the desired room and setting it up to control the amplifier. Please do get in touch to find out which of our products are capable of this method of control.
As always, we are more than happy to help you with any questions you have about any of our products or planning a home audio system. You can submit a contact form here, email us at sales@ceiling-speakers.co.uk or just give us a ring on 03456 803 802.
We recently asked our customer to send in photos of their installations so we could show those of you thinking about ceiling speakers just how great they can look. This submission was so good we just had to share it, take a look for yourself...
]]>Our customer contacted us a couple of months ago about waterproof ceiling speakers for their shower/steam room and we recommended a pair of the Q Acoustics QI 50CW to deal with the demanding environment and exposure to moisture, along with a QED WM14 In-Wall Volume Control to allow them to easily control the volume.
You can read more about it in our 'Best Ceiling Speakers For The Bathroom' blog post.
We won’t claim too much of the credit though, after designing the project in AutoCAD, our customer used a laser cutter on a black acrylic ceiling panel to get the cutouts for the speakers perfect.
They even pre-assembled the speakers, lights and the plumbing for the twin shower head prior to installation due to a lack of vertical clearance above the shower. Check out the assembly below.
The result is a stunning shower/steam room which would not look out of place in a high-end spa.
The speaker grilles have been painted black to match the ceiling, demonstrating just how unobtrusive installed speakers can be.
Along with the steam room, our customer also installed speakers on either side of the skylight which we think looks fantastic.
The prize for the winner of this competition included a £50 Amazon Voucher which the customer was happy to redeem.
Send us a few pictures and a brief description clicking on the link below.
As always, we are more than happy to help you with any questions you have about any of our products or planning a home audio system. You can submit a contact form here, email us at sales@ceiling-speakers.co.uk or just give us a ring on 03456 803 802.
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Essentially a multi-channel amplifier will reproduce the same audio source distributed at the same volume over multiple speakers, typically up to 12.*
This is often ideal for commercial applications such as restaurants and retail units but usually not for residential audio systems where a much greater degree of control is typically required. For example, different volume levels in different rooms, turning rooms on and off remotely and allowing different audio sources to be played in different rooms simultaneously.
This is when a multi-zone (or multi-room) amplifier is what is required.
For multi-zone amplification, each area (zone) requires its own independent control.
A single multi-room amplifier is typically designed to run a single zone and it can be wirelessly synchronised with multiple other amplifiers of the same kind in order to cover multiple zones.
So for instance, if you were looking to install speakers in different rooms such as kitchen, bathroom and bedroom, with the possibility of playing and controlling music for each room independently, you need to use a single zone amplifier (such as the Sonos Amp) for each room.
In doing so you will be able to control the amplifiers over wifi or a wired ethernet connection, and control the volume of each zone individually (or multiple zones together) through an App on your phone or via the controls on the amplifier itself.
We are often asked to supply a single amplifier capable of running an entire home audio system and the truth is that there is usually no single unit that is capable of doing this.
The only exception is an amplifier from Denon’s HEOS multi-room audio system called the HEOS Drive HS2. This will allow connection of four pairs of speakers and independent control of four zones. Again, any or all of these zones can be turned on and off or grouped together using the HEOS control app.
The main reason why you are likely to need multiple single-zone amplifiers rather than a single “multi-zone” amplifier that deals with all the zones in your home is because, to cover every possible eventuality, the amplifier manufacturer would need to offer a single-zone amplifier, a two-zone amplifier, a three-zone amplifier and so on in order to have one available for every potential project.
For example, an eight-zone amplifier wouldn’t be useful if you require ten zones of amplification and someone wanting a six-zone model would not want to buy an eight-zone amplifier as they would resent paying for the additional two zones of amplification they didn't require.
This approach obviously wouldn’t be efficient to the manufacturers, and the structure to date has been to manufacture smaller and more versatile single-zone amplifiers with the HEOS Drive HS2 being the exception to this rule.This modular approach allows the user or installer to specify precisely the right number of amplifiers for any given project without overspending on unnecessary zones as well as allowing additional amplifiers to be added in the future.
These zone amplifiers are typically very compact (20cm x 20cm) and can be located either centrally to the project or more locally to the speakers they are connected to if this makes installation easier. Wall brackets are also often available, and as they are controlled over the Wi-Fi network they do not need to be on display.
To shop for full systems with Sonos Amp and Ceiling Speakers visit our Sonos Speaker Systems collection.
We hope this is of help and clears up some of the mystery surrounding this subject, if you would like any further info or to discuss any project then please do get in touch.
*Whilst it is often the case that multiple audio sources can be connected to a single multi-channel amplifier, allowing it to then supply different audio to different zones, this is usually an unnecessarily complex solution and often not cost-effective. This often requires a greater degree of technical knowledge than is worth any cost-saving so we do not recommend this approach unless you are very technically proficient. We are happy to discuss this with you as an option though.
As always, we are more than happy to help you with any questions you have about buying an audio system and can even look over your floor plans to help specify your perfect audio solution. You can submit a contact form here, email us at sales@ceiling-speakers.co.uk or just give us a ring on 03456 803 802.
]]>At the heart of any good quality home cinema system is the amplifier, and setting up (or calibrating) this correctly will ensure that you are getting the most out of your speaker system. This blog post aims to guide you through this setup so that you get the best sound from your home cinema system.
Home cinema amplifiers, also known as an AV receiver (a receiver is simply an amplifier with an integrated radio tuner), AVR, or a surround sound amplifier, have evolved greatly from the early Dolby Pro-Logic models of the 1980s and most now feature a multitude of surround sound formats as well as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity and compatibility with voice control systems such as Amazon Alexa and Google Home.
1. Auto Setup On The AV Receiver
2. Manual Fine Tuning On The AV Receiver
3. Configuring The AV Receiver To Your Speaker Setup
4. HDMI Switching On AV Receivers
Almost all models are now are supplied with a microphone and feature an auto-setup routine. This involves connecting the microphone to the amplifier, initiating the setup routine and letting the microphone register the tones sent out. This tells the amplifier where each speaker is in relation to one another and their relative sizes. Better-equipped models use advanced systems that also take into account room acoustics and audio reflections from walls, floors and ceilings.
Whilst auto-setups typically give good results, sometimes errors can creep in, and on top of this every AV system can benefit from some fine-tuning. By following the manual setup procedure using an SPL (Sound Pressure Level) meter you can personally adjust the volume level of each channel. We have found that in many cases double-checking the channel levels set by the receiver yourself will result in a more accurate balance between the speakers, and also offers the opportunity to adjust levels to suit a listening preference, for example turning up the centre speaker to reinforce the dialogue. An SPL meter can be purchased inexpensively online and we believe this to be a good investment considering the cost of an AVR.
Setting up a subwoofer is little bit trickier as the lower frequencies don’t provide as constant an output and further fine-tuning is likely to improve results. We have a blog post coming soon to explain this in further detail.
The AVR may also need configuring to accommodate your specific speaker setup. Most models above a basic level offer seven channels of amplification, allowing you to choose a 7.1 set-up, or a 5.1.2 Dolby Atmos configuration. If you aren’t using either of these the ‘spare’ channels of amplification can often be used to run a further pair of speakers in another area as an independent second audio zone.
HDMI switching is another very useful benefit, allowing multiple AV sources (e.g. BluRay/ DVD player, Sky/ cable box, streaming devices) to be connected and the AVR used to switch both the audio sent to the speakers and the video sent to the screen at the same time. The audio from the TV can often also be sent back down the same HDMI cable to the AVR using the ARC (Audio Return Channel) function of the TV. This means easier wiring (and less of it too) as well as a simpler and more intuitive system control.
The once simple amplifier has taken on many more roles and fulfils more requirements than ever before, and all of these add greatly to the watching and listening experience as well as offering advanced fine tuning to achieve the perfect sound. Despite the multitude of new features, we believe home entertainment systems are easier than ever to set up and use.
As always, we are more than happy to help you with any questions you have about buying an audio system and can even look over your floor plans to help you spec your perfect audio solution. You can submit a contact form here, email us at sales@ceiling-speakers.co.uk or just give us a ring on 03456 803 802.
The kitchen, and often a connected dining/living room, is the most popular location for installing ceiling speakers due to the fact that people tend to spend a lot of time at home there. Our customers want to be able to listen to the radio whilst they drink their morning coffee or play their favourite playlist when they cook dinner and ceiling speakers offer a great way of filling the kitchen with high quality audio without taking up any physical space. If you are thinking of installing ceiling speakers for your home, this guide will help you to decide whether you are looking for an active or passive solution, how many speakers you need and which speakers are going to work best for you.
]]>The kitchen, and often a connected dining/living room, is the most popular location for installing ceiling speakers due to the fact that people tend to spend a lot of time at home there. Our customers want to be able to listen to the radio whilst they drink their morning coffee or play their favourite playlist when they cook dinner and ceiling speakers offer a great way of filling the kitchen with high-quality audio without taking up any physical space. If you are thinking of installing ceiling speakers for your home, this guide will help you to decide whether you are looking for an active or passive solution, how many speakers you need and which speakers are going to work best for you.
The first question to ask yourself is whether you need active or passive speakers.
If you plan on having ceiling speakers throughout the whole house then a passive solution is often the best choice. Passive speakers require an amplifier to power them via speaker cable but through amplifiers from brands such as Sonos and Bluesound you can synchronise all the speakers throughout your home, giving you the ability to choose which zones are playing audio right from your phone. Many audiophiles will also agree that speakers powered by a proper amplifier will give you great quality audio too which is something to consider.
If you just want ceiling speakers in your kitchen with minimal hassle then active speakers may be the way to go. Active speakers have the amplifier built-in, meaning all they require is a connection to the mains power to operate. They typically offer WiFi or Bluetooth connectivity so you can connect to and control them directly from your phone, with the limitations of Bluetooth models being that they are generally restricted to one zone.
The next thing to decide is how many speakers you need, and this depends on the size of your kitchen.
As a general rule, for rooms up to 3 metres x 3 metres we recommend going for a single stereo speaker, which you can read more about here. Single stereo speakers have two tweeters which allow them to produce true stereo sound from a single speaker and are a great solution for smaller zones of this size.
For kitchens up to 5 metres x 5 metres, we believe a pair of speakers works best to fill the area with sound.
For rooms up to 8 metres x 8 metres such as a kitchen/living room or kitchen/dining room combination we generally recommend four speakers to sufficiently fill the area with sound.
If you are after passive ceiling speakers, we have selected a few of our favourite speakers for kitchens based on projects we have done in the past. We have put in a few different price points so you can work with your budget and, although there is definitely an increase in audio quality the more you pay, even our lower-end speakers will provide great quality audio for your home:
Wharfedale WCM-80 - Wharfedale’s WCM-80 model is relatively cheap for an 8-inch model, making it an excellent choice for audio quality on a budget. Through its polypropylene driver and pivoting titanium dome tweeter, this speaker delivers a big sound that will fill your kitchen.
Monitor Audio CS180R - The Monitor Audio CS180R represents a step up in audio quality from more entry-level speakers. The 8-inch bass driver delivers a powerful bass response with a pivoting C-CAM tweeter handling the high-level frequencies. An excellent choice for great sound in your kitchen.
You’ll need an amp to drive your passive ceiling speakers so we have selected here our two most popular solutions, based on whether you require just one zone being powered or whether the kitchen will be part of a wider whole-house audio system:
Sonos Amp -The Sonos Amp is one of our best-selling products. An ideal choice for a whole-house audio system, each amplifier outputs an impressive 125 watts per channel, getting the most out of your speakers and allowing you to link them up as zones and pick and choose where your audio plays via WiFi.
If you have decided to go for active ceiling speakers we have some great products from Lithe Audio, the leading manufacturer for speakers with built-in amplifiers:
Lithe Audio WF-650 WiFi Speakers - The WiFi pair both include a 6.5-inch bass driver and a 25mm tweeter, with the master model featuring the built-in amplifier with WiFi connectivity, capable of driving the slave speaker and providing great stereo sound for your kitchen. Multiple pairs can be synchronised across different areas.
Lithe Audio Bluetooth Speakers - The Bluetooth speakers both feature a 6.5-inch bass driver and a 25mm tweeter, with the master model featuring the built-in amplifier with Bluetooth connectivity which is able to drive the passive slave speaker. They will fill your kitchen with great stereo sound.
As always, we are more than happy to help you with any questions you have about buying an audio system and can even look over your floor plans to help you spec your perfect audio solution. You can submit a contact form here, email us at sales@ceiling-speakers.co.uk or just give us a ring on 03456 803 802.
Ceiling speakers are an excellent solution for having audio in the bathroom as it’s not typically a room where you would place a standard speaker. Whether you want to listen to your favourite radio station whilst brushing your teeth in the morning or relax with a podcast in the bath, this guide will help you work out what is going to work best for you and find the perfect bathroom audio solution
]]>Ceiling speakers are an excellent solution for having audio in the bathroom as it’s not typically a room where you can place a conventional box-type speaker. Whether you want to listen to your favourite radio station whilst brushing your teeth in the morning or relax with a podcast in the bath, this guide will help you work out what would best meet your needs.
There are two types of ceiling speakers available - active or passive.
Active speakers have an amplifier built-in and work great as a single zone solution, they just need to be connected to a mains power supply and can be controlled from your device using either WiFi or Bluetooth. If you are only looking to install ceiling speakers in your bathroom then these are a great, cost-effective option.
Passive speakers require an external amplifier to power them over speaker cable. This is the best option as part of a whole-house audio system, and amplifiers from brands like Sonos, Denon HEOS and Bluesound allow you to choose which rooms are playing audio straight from your device. Passive speakers are also often able to offer a better level of performance.
If you’ve chosen whether you want active or passive speakers, the next thing to decide is how many speakers you are going to need in your bathroom.
Given that bathrooms are generally some of the smaller rooms in a house the most common recommendation we make is that you install a single stereo ceiling speaker (you can read more about them here).
For bigger bathrooms up to 5 metres x 5 metres, we generally recommend having a pair of speakers, giving you true stereo sound and better filling the room with audio.
If passive speakers would provide the best solution, below we have selected some of our most popular passive bathroom ceiling speakers at a number of price points, one of which will hopefully fit your budget. Our entry-level speakers provide a great sound but you will notice a higher quality of audio as you move through the range. Due to the nature of a bathroom environment, these speakers are all resistant to these higher levels of moisture and humidity:
Monitor Audio C165-T2 - £145 Each - Monitor Audio's C165-T2 features a 6.5-inch bass driver and two pivoting 25mm C-CAM tweeters, meaning it not only provides great-sounding stereo audio from a single speaker but also the option for directional sound. It will fill a small bathroom with good quality sound.
SpeakerCraft Profile AIM7 DT THREE – £249 Each - This speaker represents a step up in quality. The 7-inch bass driver delivers an impressive bass response and along with the dual pivoting aluminium 25mm tweeters will fill your bathroom with high-quality audio, along with the bonus of a lifetime warranty.
BluCube BCK-65 - £299 Per Pair - The BluCube BCK-65 is an excellent choice for medium-sized bathrooms. Featuring 6.5 inch woven Kevlar bass drivers and pivoting 25mm titanium dome tweeters they deliver excellent stereo sound and excellent directionality.
As we mentioned earlier, passive ceiling speakers require an amplifier to power them through speaker cable and so we have selected some great amplifiers you could use. Some are best for driving a single zone whilst others are able to be integrated into a whole-house audio system:
Systemline E50 Bluetooth Amplifier (White) - £220 - Featuring a touch screen and gesture control, this is a great amp for a single zone bathroom solution. Simply connect to and control it via Bluetooth from your device. *Note - only the white version is suitable for bathrooms as it does not feature an AUX jack.
Sonos Amp - £599 - The Sonos Amp is one of our best-selling products. An ideal choice for a whole-house audio system, each amplifier outputs an impressive 125 watts per channel, getting the most out of your speakers and allowing you to link them up as zones and pick and choose where your audio plays via WiFi.
If you’ve decided to buy active speaker models for your bathroom we stock some great options from Lithe Audio:
Lithe Audio WF-650 WiFi IP44 Speakers - £429 Per Pair - The WiFi pair both include a 6.5-inch bass driver and a 25mm tweeter, with the master model featuring the built-in amplifier with WiFi connectivity, capable of driving the slave speaker and providing great stereo sound for your bathroom. Both speakers are IP44 rated meaning they are resistant to dust and moisture.
Lithe Audio Bluetooth IP44 Speakers - £299 Per Pair - The Bluetooth speakers both feature a 6.5-inch bass driver and a 25mm tweeter, with the master model featuring the built-in amplifier with Bluetooth connectivity which is able to drive the passive slave speaker. They will fill your bathroom with great stereo sound. Both speakers are IP44 rated meaning they are resistant to dust and moisture.
As always, we are more than happy to help you with any questions you have about buying an audio system and can even look over your floor plans to help you spec your perfect audio solution. You can submit a contact form here, email us at sales@ceiling-speakers.co.uk or just give us a ring on 03456 803 802.
As always, we are more than happy to help you with any questions you have about upgrading, changing or buying an audio system. You can submit a contact form here, email us at sales@ceiling-speakers.co.uk or just give us a ring on 03456 803 802.
]]>Our customers are always asking us what the best ceiling speakers are, and it's often a difficult question to answer that depends on what they want from their audio system. We have put together this video to show off some of our favourite speakers and help you see the physical difference between ceiling speakers in different price points.
As always, we are more than happy to help you with any questions you have about upgrading, changing or buying an audio system. You can submit a contact form here, email us at sales@ceiling-speakers.co.uk or just give us a ring on 03456 803 802.
]]>Lithe Audio's 'plug and play' range of active speakers are a great solution for easy installed audio in your home. We wanted to show you just how simple it is to set up their WiFi and Bluetooth ceiling speakers with an iPhone or Android phone, as well as how to connect a passive speaker for a stereo pair. Check our our video guiding you through the set up below:
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Lithe Audio's 'plug and play' range of active speakers are a great solution for easy installed audio in your home. We wanted to show you just how simple it is to set up their WiFi and Bluetooth ceiling speakers with an iPhone or Android phone, as well as how to connect a passive speaker for a stereo pair. Check our our video guiding you through the set up below:
As always, we are more than happy to help you with any questions you have about upgrading, changing or buying an audio system. You can submit a contact form here, email us at sales@ceiling-speakers.co.uk or just give us a ring on 03456 803 802.
Lithe Audio have really impressed us with their innovative approach to installed home audio. By building amplifiers into their products they have provided a more direct WiFi and Bluetooth ceiling speaker solution, along with a selection of great passive speakers. Check our our video exploring their exciting range of products below:
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As always, we are more than happy to help you with any questions you have about upgrading, changing or buying an audio system. You can submit a contact form here, email us at sales@ceiling-speakers.co.uk or just give us a ring on 03456 803 802.
A Single Stereo Ceiling Speaker is capable of providing full stereo sound from a single speaker unit and can be especially useful for installations in smaller rooms.
In a typical ceiling speaker set up two speakers are used, one which receives the left channel of audio and one which receives the right, resulting in stereo sound when both speakers play together. A single stereo speaker is able to receive both the left and right audio channels and play stereo sound from one speaker.
A single stereo speaker is usually able to produce stereo sound because it has two tweeters (the speaker component responsible for handling higher frequencies), whilst a typical speaker only has one. This means one tweeter can handle the left channel of audio and one can handle the right while the bass driver handles the non-directional lower frequencies for both audio channels, meaning you can have full stereo sound whilst only having to install a single speaker in the ceiling. Whilst there are advantages of having separate tweeters for left and right channels such as stereo separation, stereo sound can still be achieved through one tweeter, an example being Lithe Audio's range of active speakers.
If the single stereo speaker is passive (requires an amplifier to power it, like most models) it will require either two runs of standard ‘two-core’ speaker cable to feed both audio channels from the amplifier to the speaker or one run of a specific type of speaker cable called ‘four-core’, which is essentially two runs of 'two core' in a single outer jacket.
Single stereo speakers are ideal for installations where only one speaker is able to fit in the ceiling. If you are looking for audio in a smaller room such as a bedroom or bathroom where space is limited, a single stereo speaker can ensure that you will still be able to listen to your favourite playlists or podcast in true stereo sound, as it was meant to be experienced.
The question of which single stereo speaker is right for you depends on a few things, such as the environment in which you wish to place the speaker, whether you are looking for an active or passive speaker and what level of sound quality you would like. Whilst we believe that all of the products we sell guarantee a good level of audio quality there are always higher-end products for those looking for an even better quality audio experience.
The first thing to consider is whether you want a passive or an active single stereo speaker. Most are passive, meaning they require an amplifier to power them, and are usually the right choice when the speaker will be part of a larger multi-room audio system. Active speakers, which can be plugged straight into the mains, fall into two categories with either Bluetooth or WiFi compatibility. Bluetooth speakers such as the Lithe Audio Bluetooth Speaker offer a single zone solution as they cannot be grouped or synchronised with each other while WiFi models such as the Lithe Audio WF-650SST can be grouped together using control apps for your devices.
The next thing to consider is the environment the speaker will be placed in. A standard single stereo speaker is fine for typical rooms like a bedroom, small kitchen or a bathroom, but if you wanted to install one in a sauna, wet room or on a boat we would recommend that you buy an IP rated single stereo speaker, which provides increased protection against moisture. If you wish to install the speaker outdoors we also have garden speaker system options available such as the AWC range from Monitor Audio.
The last thing to consider is what sort of audio quality you desire. All of our single stereo speakers can guarantee an impressive level of audio quality, starting with great-sounding models from Monitor Audio and Q Acoustics, but higher-end speakers such as the SpeakerCraft Profile AIM8 283 DT THREE Series 2 (shown below) are available for those who want to experience the highest audio quality available.
As always, we are more than happy to help you with any questions you have about any of our products or planning a home audio system. You can submit a contact form here, email us at sales@ceiling-speakers.co.uk or just give us a ring on 03456 803 802.
In-Ceiling vs. In-Wall Speakers. We are often asked what the difference between an in-ceiling speaker and an in-wall speaker is, and the answer really is quite simple. Not a great deal!
There is no real difference between in-wall and in-ceiling speakers, with a few rare exceptions (an example being niche products for home cinema use). The speaker drivers are identical between comparable models such as the W165 and C165 (shown below), with the only difference being that the tweeters are not mounted in front of the bass drivers with wall speakers. This means the circular speaker can be narrower and that the rectangular speaker can be shallower, with these attributes benefitting their respective installations.
They even share the most common installation method - dog-leg fixings - which clamp the speaker to the plasterboard wall or ceiling. This means that installation into a solid wall or concrete ceiling can be onerous unless a stud wall or false ceiling can be created to house the speakers, however anything is possible in most cases.
Generally, in-ceiling speakers are perfectly capable of being installed in a wall and vice versa, they will sound identical.
The reason for separating in-ceiling and in-wall speakers into two categories is simply that a square or rectangular outline is preferable when installing speakers into walls, usually to achieve aesthetic parity with other wall furniture such as TVs, windows and pictures. In-wall speakers are often shallower, because of the bigger chassis size which allows the technology to be spread out.
Circular speakers are usually preferred for in-ceiling installations, mainly because in the UK people tend to have circular light fixtures. However, if you have square light fixtures then a square outline may be preferable, and if the speakers are to be installed either side of a roof lantern or Velux window a rectangular chassis may well look more natural.
As always, we are more than happy to help you with any questions you have about any of our products, or planning an audio system in general. You can submit a contact form here, email us at sales@ceiling-speakers.co.uk or just give us a ring on 03456 803 802
Sonos have made their first leap into the architectural speaker world with the release of their In-Ceiling and In-Wall models. The speakers - made in collaboration with Sonance - feature a 6 inch bass driver and 25mm tweeter and boast the ability to utilise Trueplay technology when combined with the new Sonos Amp!
Check out our video review of the new speakers below to see us set up and test Trueplay and give our opinion on the speakers.
As always, we are more than happy to help you with any questions you have about upgrading, changing or buying an audio system. You can submit a contact form here, email us at sales@ceiling-speakers.co.uk or just give us a ring on 03456 803 802.
The Sonos Amp is the successor to one of our best selling products, the Connect:AMP, and so understandably we were excited to get our hands on it. We show off new features like Airplay 2 and the new HDMI port, as well as pushing the increased channel power of the Amp to its limits...
Renowned for their product design, ease of set up and simplicity, Sonos have really impressed us with their new offering. Watch the video below to take a look at the new Sonos Amp!
As always, we are more than happy to help you with any questions you have about upgrading, changing or buying an audio system. You can submit a contact form here, email us at sales@ceiling-speakers.co.uk or just give us a ring on 03456 803 802.
A common question to ask yourself when considering ceiling speakers is what size do I need? Hi-fi enthusiasts will generally argue that only speakers with big cabinets are capable of reproducing a listening experience that is true to an original recording. This applies if you are looking to create a dedicated listening room, but what if you have more modest requirements? Our experience has shown that most of our customer's requirements fall somewhere between just wanting something to sing along to in the shower through to having decent music and/or movie performance in a main living area.
So what size ceiling speakers do you need?
Most domestic speakers (whether they are traditional box speakers or the latest ceiling speaker design) are made up of two drivers; a treble driver (tweeter) for producing high frequencies and a bass driver (woofer) for producing bass frequencies. The size of the bass driver will dictate how much bass will be produced. Larger bass drivers are less rigid due to their larger surface area so they are better able to flex and reproduce lower frequencies. Smaller speakers will be more rigid and will struggle to produce lower frequencies. In addition, larger speakers will be able to disperse sound over a wider area due to their ability to push larger sound waves through the air, which makes them ideal for larger rooms.
For rooms where sound quality is important, you need to ensure that enough bass will be produced, otherwise, there is a risk that the speakers will sound ‘tinny’. Smaller speakers can offer a perfectly acceptable sound quality in small or medium-sized rooms where sound quality is less important and where music tends to be listened to in the background. A bathroom, short hallway or lobby area are good examples. Alternatively, you could consider a single stereo speaker. These speakers incorporate full-sized bass drivers so you benefit from greater bass, but only one of them needs to be installed in order to produce stereo sound as they incorporate the components of two speakers in one ceiling speaker enclosure.
Where small speakers are the only option due to the physical or aesthetic limitations dictated by your project, you can improve the bass performance by introducing a subwoofer to your system. These very large bass drivers are designed to only produce bass, and come in the form of a ceiling speaker (often called bass augmentation speakers) such as the SpeakerCraft 8.2BAS, or free-standing units such as the Monitor Audio Radius 380 that can sit in the corner of the room, or in a fully integrated option that gets built into the wall such as the SpeakerCraft Cinema Sub 10. The big benefit of introducing a dedicated subwoofer is that the balance of high and low frequencies can be adjusted easily to create a perfect balance.
In addition to considering the purpose of the system and the size of the room, there are other practicalities to keep in mind. If you are planning to install ceiling speakers or in-wall speakers, you will need to carefully measure the space available behind your ceiling or wall and the width between your joists or studs. Larger diameter speakers will often require deeper depths due to the cone of the larger bass driver extending further back. These all affect what size of ceiling speakers you will need.
Try our search wizard to help find the right ceiling speakers or contact us by phone (03456 803 802) or email (sales@ceiling-speakers.co.uk) for expert advice.