7.1 in-ceiling recommendation

[rafaeldb]

Hello everyone, I'm not really well informed about in-ceiling speakers in general, but on the new house I am building I decided to have a setup on the living room, Best Buy had their recommendations, but I am wondering if I can do better or cheaper, maybe both? Can you guys give me recommendations?

Their recommendtation was:
SpeakerCraft - Profile AIM8 Three 8" In-Ceiling Speaker
SpeakerCraft - CRS Series Profile CRS3 3" In-Ceiling Speaker (Each)

I don' t remember how he had them placed, but I just the AIM8 costs 499 each.

Thanks!
raf

 

[lovinthehd]

I'd primarily recommend you never put speakers in the ceiling (except for Atmos effects). Maybe surrounds/rear surrounds if you absolutely must but not the left/center/right speakers. I can't really point you at specific brands but there are several out there...if you must. Sub maybe with the right ceiling.

(try this search https://duckduckgo.com/?q=ceiling+speaker+recommendations+site:audioholics.com&t=h_&atb=v60-5_a&ia=web )

 

[rafaeldb]

I'd primarily recommend you never put speakers in the ceiling (except for Atmos effects). Maybe surrounds/rear surrounds if you absolutely must but not the left/center/right speakers. I can't really point you at specific brands but there are several out there...if you must. Sub maybe with the right ceiling.

(try this search https://duckduckgo.com/?q=ceiling+speaker+recommendations+site:audioholics.com&t=h_&atb=v60-5_a&ia=web )

I am not entirely happy about the in-ceiling, its just on the main living room, so when the kids a running around they are not destroying what I really want, big standing speakers, but for now that plan is left for the loft in the future

Thanks for the link I'll check it out.

 

[lovinthehd]

Understand (sort of ). Ceiling speakers/subs from RBH might be a consideration.

 

[zieglj01]

Look at JBL Studio 2 in-ceiling
https://www.worldwidestereo.com/products/jbl-studio-2-8ic-8-premium-in-ceiling-loudspeaker-each-studio28ic?via=56017f1bf7430b7cef000127,561d8c211dfc827b5f000345,56017f1bf7430b7cef00013a

 

[2channel lover]

It largely depends on what you're trying to accomplish with these speakers...a good SQ sytem for a TV maybe? 7 speakers is a lot for a music system in one room but I assume music will be played.

I totally get it with the kids, some people (my wife) just want a clean look without boxes on the floor as well in the main living areas.

If music is a big part of this system...I would look at Noble Fidelity...all they do are in wall and in ceiling...the cost will be in the range on the Aim8 for 8", slightly less for 6"... I have the L85mkii in my house for whole house...incredible detail, imaging, surprising bass for in ceiling speakers. If nothing but for education purposes...I'd give Greg Ford a call.

If you can do in walls instead in ceiling for the LCR, I think the performance will be better for TV.

If you just want the clean look of in ceiling and SQ is not paramount...the Polk RC80ci I picked up for the master and atmos in my HT space. They can get pretty loud, nice speaker for the money...Amazon have them for roughly $150 a pair...I caught a promo price on them $140 a pr.

 

[rafaeldb]

It largely depends on what you're trying to accomplish with these speakers...a good SQ sytem for a TV maybe? 7 speakers is a lot for a music system in one room but I assume music will be played.

I totally get it with the kids, some people (my wife) just want a clean look without boxes on the floor as well in the main living areas.

If music is a big part of this system...I would look at Noble Fidelity...all they do are in wall and in ceiling...the cost will be in the range on the Aim8 for 8", slightly less for 6"... I have the L85mkii in my house for whole house...incredible detail, imaging, surprising bass for in ceiling speakers. If nothing but for education purposes...I'd give Greg Ford a call.

If you can do in walls instead in ceiling for the LCR, I think the performance will be better for TV.

If you just want the clean look of in ceiling and SQ is not paramount...the Polk RC80ci I picked up for the master and atmos in my HT space. They can get pretty loud, nice speaker for the money...Amazon have them for roughly $150 a pair...I caught a promo price on them $140 a pr.

The primary use will be movies and games, music is not something we do very often. I am considering doing the LRC in wall, i have to ask the builder, from what I could tell I wont have a lot of space between the brick wall and dry wall.

Thanks for those recommendations I'll check them out.

 

[Bryce_H]

You might even consider decent bookshelf speakers for the front LRC, in-ceiling for the surrounds, and a sub. Then you do not have the big towers, but will overall get much better sound and imaging then all in-ceiling. This is the mostly the setup I have in our living room and then in the theater have the big towers, big surrounds, and in-ceiling (atmos).

 

[2channel lover]

The primary use will be movies and games, music is not something we do very often. I am considering doing the LRC in wall, i have to ask the builder, from what I could tell I wont have a lot of space between the brick wall and dry wall.

Thanks for those recommendations I'll check them out.

Duly noted.

LCR...my cousin has a 5.1 system with inceiling speakers...builder prewired and put dummy plates in the locations. He came back in later and installed speakers. It's okay...but a bit awkward having TV sound coming from above you vs at you from the TV or TV wall.

Secondly...the side surrounds will be a lot better if they were in walls as well. Having 7 speakers over head in a 7.1 system is not going to offer much benefit over a 5.1 system imo.

Given that this is not going to be a music system, I would definitely look to save some money and go with the lower end Polk in wall/ in ceiling speakers.

Inwall

https://www.amazon.com/Polk-Audio-RC85i-2-Way-Speakers/dp/B00006I5O6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1498568499&sr=8-1&keywords=polk+in+wall+speakers

In ceiling

https://www.amazon.com/Polk-Audio-RC80i-Ceiling-Speakers/dp/B00006BMQT/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1498568499&sr=8-6&keywords=polk+in+wall+speakers

Congrats on the new house...good luck with the project.

 

[BMXTRIX]

Going in-wall over in-ceiling is the way to go.

Start off with this: If there are ANY rooms over the family room, then you can't use the ceiling speakers. Audio bleeds upwards straight into adjoining rooms. Any surround sound or other audio will go right into bedrooms above the family room.

Follow that up with the reality that audio from overhead can often sound very strange if not done properly with angled speakers designed to push the audio towards viewers.

If you can go in-wall instead of in-ceiling, that's a good starting point. If you can go to bookshelves instead of in-wall, that's even better.

I have used a fair number of in-wall/in-ceiling speakers over the years, and the best sound I've heard has come from the Sonance 3-way in-ceiling speakers when I've HAD to go in-ceiling.

http://www.sonance.com/in-wall-in-ceiling/visual-performance/large-round-square

Unlike the long list of models which are 2-way with pivoting tweeter, these are built for performance and quality from a company that lives almost entirely in the in-wall/in-ceiling world. They also have about 100 different options for completely stealth installations. Your budget will largely determine your results with them, but they don't operate in the same world that others do. They are a cut above.

That said, for sound quality that is on the cheaper side but works well, I like the angled Monoprice speakers:
https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=4929

The angled drivers help to direct audio towards listeners instead of straight down into the room. The 8" driver gives a fuller sound to the audio.

For in-wall, on the cheap side, I almost always stick with Monoprice:
https://www.monoprice.com/product?c_id=109&cp_id=10837&cs_id=1083702&p_id=6816&seq=1&format=2

Once again, a 3-way design with an 8-inch woofer.

These don't disappear, but they are family friendly, and you can put a plant in front of the wall if you have to deal more with WAF than you do with quality. The in-walls won't bleed audio into other rooms or cause issues with sound coming from the wrong location.

But, on-wall or bookshelf models are a better choice overall. I'm a big fan of the Definitive Technology Mythos line of speakers for on-wall. If you can get there, that's a different discussion.

I will say, that I've done a set of the Martin Logan Stealth Edge speakers behind a AT theater screen once in a decent room and they sounded fantastic.
https://www.martinlogan.com/architectural/stealth/index.php

Pricey, but really, REALLY good sound. Not sure they are ever worth it in a so-so room.

 

[panteragstk]

Going in-wall over in-ceiling is the way to go.

Start off with this: If there are ANY rooms over the family room, then you can't use the ceiling speakers. Audio bleeds upwards straight into adjoining rooms. Any surround sound or other audio will go right into bedrooms above the family room.

Follow that up with the reality that audio from overhead can often sound very strange if not done properly with angled speakers designed to push the audio towards viewers.

If you can go in-wall instead of in-ceiling, that's a good starting point. If you can go to bookshelves instead of in-wall, that's even better.

I have used a fair number of in-wall/in-ceiling speakers over the years, and the best sound I've heard has come from the Sonance 3-way in-ceiling speakers when I've HAD to go in-ceiling.

http://www.sonance.com/in-wall-in-ceiling/visual-performance/large-round-square

Unlike the long list of models which are 2-way with pivoting tweeter, these are built for performance and quality from a company that lives almost entirely in the in-wall/in-ceiling world. They also have about 100 different options for completely stealth installations. Your budget will largely determine your results with them, but they don't operate in the same world that others do. They are a cut above.

That said, for sound quality that is on the cheaper side but works well, I like the angled Monoprice speakers:
https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=4929

The angled drivers help to direct audio towards listeners instead of straight down into the room. The 8" driver gives a fuller sound to the audio.

For in-wall, on the cheap side, I almost always stick with Monoprice:
https://www.monoprice.com/product?c_id=109&cp_id=10837&cs_id=1083702&p_id=6816&seq=1&format=2

Once again, a 3-way design with an 8-inch woofer.

These don't disappear, but they are family friendly, and you can put a plant in front of the wall if you have to deal more with WAF than you do with quality. The in-walls won't bleed audio into other rooms or cause issues with sound coming from the wrong location.

But, on-wall or bookshelf models are a better choice overall. I'm a big fan of the Definitive Technology Mythos line of speakers for on-wall. If you can get there, that's a different discussion.

I will say, that I've done a set of the Martin Logan Stealth Edge speakers behind a AT theater screen once in a decent room and they sounded fantastic.
https://www.martinlogan.com/architectural/stealth/index.php

Pricey, but really, REALLY good sound. Not sure they are ever worth it in a so-so room.

I had a pair of the ribbon in-walls from mono price for a demo and they were very nice for the price.

I recently purchased a lot of speakercraft in-ceiling for my living room and they are quite nice for the price. I haven't installed them yet, but initial impressions are very good. I've also got some in-wall cinema series from them that are waiting to be installed. Also good initial impressions.