Home Theater Ceiling Speaker Recommendations

[MrO]

Hi All,

I just moved into a new home with wired speaker ports in the ceiling (5 capped holes). I'd like to take advantage of these pre-wired pockets. I was looking at the Klipsch Jamo 360 S 25 HCS 5.0 Home Cinema System but... I think these speakers were meant for head level wall mounting or tabletop mounting, and the 5 pockets that I want to mount them in are in the ceiling... Any recommendations for the type of speakers that I should use for the best audio imaging? Any receiver recommendations? 5.1 surround is fine... Also, I take it that the 5th ceiling pocket is for the center channel - - - I thought center channel speakers rested near the bottom of the TV?

Thx!
Mark

 

[XEagleDriver]

MrO,

Welcome to the forum,
The Jamo speakers you referenced are NOT designed to be mounted in the holes in the ceiling (I believe you referred to them as "pre-wired pockets").
- You could mount the Jamo's on the ceiling surface hanging down, but with the pockets already cut into the ceiling, I would recommend you consider in-ceiling speakers instead, with one big caveat:

You will get a better front sound stage (LCR) from conventional bookshelf or tower speakers vice in-ceiling speakers. The pre-wired pockets may be, depending on placement in the room, suitable for Atmos, surround or rear surround duty.
- A room diagram with distances, screen and seating locations, and speaker locations would be very helpful to the forum members to provide better informed suggestions. A picture of one "pocket" would also be helpful.

Good HT or critical listening sound is difficult to obtain with in-ceiling speakers in many cases, especially if speaker locations were not made by a HT savvy designer (i.e. your typical home builder).

Cheers,
XEagleDriver

 

[shadyJ]

+1, ceiling speakers are just terrible for anything except for surrounds or maybe a PA system in an elementary school.