Subwoofers and In-ceiling speakers

Summer is often a time when folks decide to install architectural speakers in their homes. In-Ceiling Speakers & In-Wall Speakers can give you the same sanctification of quality sound as bookshelf speaker without taking up space. People often ask if they need to install a subwoofer with their installed speakers.

As with many things in the audio world the answer is a resounding, maybe. It all depends on a few things:

• What type of music are you listening too?
• Is this a home theater setup?
• Is this background music or are you sitting and listening?
• How much do you like heavy bass in your listening?

Straight forward questions you likely know the answer too off the top of your head.

• If this is a home theater setup, yes, get a subwoofers
• If you're only using the speakers for background music, you likely don't need the sub
• Depending on the type of music you listen too it might not require deep bass to be satisfying
• And of course if you really like lots of bass, you already know the answer 
• Do you have room to put another box on the floor? (only you know this answer)

 Also don't worry so much about the 5.5 inch or 6 inch in-ceiling speakers being too small to deliver any reasonable bass. Properly installed speakers will deliver an amazing amount of bass for their size. This is due to the fact that they are installed in the structure of the home and can use it to help carry the bass in a similar way that bookshelf speakers do with their enclosure.

Proper installation is the key here however. Also consider closed back speakers for more accurate sound.

You can in most cases add the subwoofer later depending on the location of your amp. In either case if you purchase high quality speakers, you're sure to get years of enjoyment out of them.

Open vs Closed back In-Wall Speakers

Besides driver and crossover differences one consideration on in-wall and in-ceiling speakers is open-back vs enclosed speakers. Open back in-wall speakers leave the speaker drivers open to the wall cavity. In closed-back in-wall speakers the back is enclosed in either a metal or plastic enclosure. The closed back speaker is usually used in commercial environments but can have benefits in home installations as well.

Speakers off all types are greatly affected by the environment they are installed in. This is even truer with Architectural speakers.

Benefits of an enclosed back in-wall speaker

1. Helps keeps sound from leaking into the adjacent room.
2. Acts like a speaker cabinet and give the speaker designer more control over the sound

Disadvantages of enclosed back speakers

1. Expensive

3 ways to insure good sound from an in-wall or in-ceiling speaker

1. Place insulation around the edges of the opening of where the speaker will be installed. This helps improve the sound quality by reducing resonance throughout the wall cavity. (do this for enclosed & open back speakers)
2. Be sure the brackets that hold the speaker in place are tight and secure (but not too tight)
3. Make sure the grill is installed properly to avoid any rattling sounds.

See this pictorial on how easy it is to install in-wall speakers courtesy of The Speaker Company

Can you put In-Wall speakers on the ceiling?

An interesting question recently came up on whether you can use In-Ceiling speakers on a wall and In-wall speakers on a ceiling. The answer is YES! That said please consider the following before running off to cut perfect circles in your wall on either side of your news flat panel TV.

We make In-wall speakers rectangular because as humans we're used to seeing "square" and "rectangular" things on or against walls like windows, pictures and of course TV's.



In-ceiling speakers are round because we're used to seeing "round" objects on the ceiling, mostly light fixtures. It could also be that the Sun and the Moon being round might have something to do with it! .



In general like size ceiling and wall speakers of similar sizes form the same company will likely sound quite similar in most cases. You're more likely to get less weird looks with In-wall speakers in your ceiling than if you put In-ceiling speakers in your walls. But, "not that there's anything wrong with that!"

Installing In-Wall Speakers - A General Guideline

Cutting The Holes for In-Wall Speakers

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IMPORTANT NOTE! Not all In-Wall speakers install in the same way. These instructions are a general guideline. The Speaker Guys are NOT responsible for you messing up your walls or personal injury

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Architectural/Construction Issues

Although you can install In-wall speakers in plaster/lathe walls, most of you will encounter drywall (or “wallboard”) construction in which 5/8” sheets of drywall material are fastened to 2” x 4” vertical wood studs located at 16” intervals behind the wallboard. (Note that some local construction codes mandate metal studs. Check with your local government’s building authority.)

The following suggestions assume that you’re installing your In-Wall speakers in an existing home. If you’re building a new home, your contractor or architect should make all the provisions you’ll need for In-Wall or In-Ceiling speakers. Be aware, however, that it’s often difficult to determine proper speaker placement before you’re actually living in the space.

Tools Required

• Stud Finder
• Drywall saw
• Screwdriver
• Pencil
• Common Sense (hire a professional if you're not handy!)
  

Safety First when cutting holes for In-Wall speakers

When you’re selecting final placement for your In-Wall Speakers, first determine where the studs are. Don’t “bet the farm” on always finding them on 16” intervals. Use a stud-finder and mark the location of all studs near your preferred speaker placement position in light pencil.

Make sure you won’t be cutting into or through electrical wires, plumbing, or ductwork when you cut the holes for your speakers. First, cut a small test hole and use a flashlight to check for any obstructions.

• Leave at least 1” of space between the edges of the hole you intend to cut for the speakers and any stud. This leaves room for the cam locks that MAY be used to attach the speaker to the drywall material.

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IMPORTANT NOTE! Not all In-Wall speakers install in the same way. These instructions are a general guideline. The Speaker Guys are NOT responsible for you messing up your walls or personal injury.

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After you’ve picked out your speaker locations, use the template/paint shield that came with your In-Wall speakers to mark that location.

• Place the template carefully so that it outlines the exact spot the speaker will occupy after installation.
• Do not “eyeball” the template location. Use a measuring tape and level to carefully line up the template.
• Once you’ve located the template precisely, you can use short lengths of tape to hold it in position.
  
• Using a soft pencil, carefully draw a line around the inner edge of the template. This will mark the cutout you will make in the drywall.

Once the hole is marked:

• Place a tarp or drop cloth under the location before you start cutting.
• Use a drywall saw to carefully cut along the lines you’ve just drawn.
• You can either “punch through” the drywall material with the saw or drill a small hole at one corner of the cutout to place the blade accurately.
• When you’ve finished, remove the cut-out rectangle.
• With lengths of 1” wide masking tape, seal the exposed edges of the drywall material so that the tape overlaps the front and rear sides of the hole you’ve just made.

Now that you’ve made the hole check your manual for installing the In-Wall speaker in the hole. Some speakers require a bracket while some will simply be placed in the wall and secured in place with screws from the front of the speaker which cause a bracket to tighten against the inside of the wallboard.

In-Wall Speaker Placement

With In-Wall/In-Ceiling speakers, placement is a doubly important consideration. Here are three guidelines to follow:

• You should install your new In-Wall speakers where they’ll deliver the best sound to the area you’ve chosen.
• You should install In-Wall speakers where they’ll have minimum impact on your décor.
• You must install In-Wall speakers where they won’t impinge on existing wiring, plumbing, or HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) ducts. If you’re not sure, Find out!

If you’re concerned that you might not be able to select a good location and install the speakers to your satisfaction, call a carpenter or someone with drywall experience to help. However, if you’re handy and aren’t intimidated by drywall or what may be behind it, you’ll need just ordinary coordination and a few tools to do the job well.

In-wall speaker placement

Sound Issues

Acoustically, In-wall speakers are similar to bookshelf or floor-standing speakers. They’re subject to the same conditions rooms impose on all speakers. With that in mind, here are some suggestions.

Main Speakers: Try to put the main speakers (Left and Right for stereo; Left, Center, and Right for home theater) in the same wall of your listening/viewing room. If you can place your speakers in the long wall, so much the better.

Use the “Rule of Thirds” whenever possible. This suggests that the best placement for your Left speaker is approximately 1/3 of the way along the wall in which you’re going to mount the speakers. Similarly, the best place for the Right speaker is usually 2/3 of the way across the same wall.

Make sure that the speaker-to-listening/viewing position distance is the same for each speaker.

Remember that the “Rule of Thirds” is a guideline only. Some professionals recommend placing the main (Left and Right) speakers so that they form an equilateral triangle with the prime listening/viewing position

and from each speaker to listening/viewing position.

Caption: Speaker rule of thirds

If your room won’t allow this, don’t be overly concerned.

Just place your speakers as close to this ideal as possible and enjoy the sound.

Reflections from side walls have a major impact on your sound so try not to place your main speakers close to them. Remember that the “Rule of Thirds” is a guideline only. Try not to place your main speakers so they’re exactly the same distance from the closest side wall. A bit of asymmetry here is actually preferable.

When you take the time to place your Main speakers, you’ll enjoy better “imaging” (the apparent placement of individual instruments or voices), and more depth.

Also, remember that the tweeters in your In-wall speakers can usually (check your manual) be positioned so that they aim directly at your listening/viewing position.