6" or 8" ceiling speakers?

[jayfremont]

Which will sound better, high end 6" or 8" ceiling speakers, assuming I use a subwoofer either way?

An "expert" at one high end audio shop emphatically answers 8", while another "expert" at a different shop emphatically says 6". I don't know who to believe. Unfortunately, I can't find any shops that have both sizes installed from a single brand for comparison, and the owners understandably don't want me to test install them at home.

The two arguments are essentially

- The 8" guy, "Bigger woofers offer better mid range, even if you have a sub woofer"

- The 6" guy, "the 6" woofer doesn't have to move as much air so it produces cleaner mid range"

Does anyone have an opinion?

 

[mtrycrafts]

Which will sound better, high end 6" or 8" ceiling speakers, assuming I use a subwoofer either way?

An "expert" at one high end audio shop emphatically answers 8", while another "expert" at a different shop emphatically says 6". I don't know who to believe. Unfortunately, I can't find any shops that have both sizes installed from a single brand for comparison, and the owners understandably don't want me to test install them at home.

The two arguments are essentially

- The 8" guy, "Bigger woofers offer better mid range, even if you have a sub woofer"

- The 6" guy, "the 6" woofer doesn't have to move as much air so it produces cleaner mid range"

Does anyone have an opinion?

Yes, The 6" guy is off the mark. Depending on the frequency and energy of the signal air movement is needed. A 6" might need to work harder to do it properly, longer throw, just like a sub trying to reproduce a signal below its limits.

Why do you have to use ceiling speakers? And, what is your goal with them, what are you playing on it? May not be the best way unless that is your only option.

 

[BMXTRIX]

Spot on! The best answer to this is ALWAYS: Don't use ceiling speakers! Find a way to avoid ceiling speakers at all costs. If it is a family room... okay, I get it. But, if it is ANY other room of the house, especially a theater/media room, then why bother with ceiling speakers? Don't you HAVE a theater just so you can actually have a place with good sound?

If you MUST go with ceiling/in-wall speakers than I have most recently been recommending 8" models from Sonance that are a 3 way design. It includes an 8", 4", and 3/4" (1"?) tweeter. It adds an extra speaker to improve the dynamic range of the in-ceiling model and is what I would call a 'minimum requirement for adequate sound' in a room where good sound is wanted.

Bottom line is that in-wall/ceiling speakers will almost always deliver less quality at the same price tag, when compared to stand alone speakers. If you have a good deal of money to spend, then there are in-wall options that can be very good, but they will, once again, cost a good deal more than their stand alone speaker counterparts.

 

[billnchristy]

I would think the kitchen would be a good place for them, anywhere else...nah.

 

[jayfremont]

What do you think of B&W CCM80s?

By the way, I wrote to technical support at B&W. The engineer there said that B&W's 8" ceiling speaker would sound better than the 6.5" version with or without a sub.