10 Things You Need to Know About Ceiling Speakers Before You Install - Smart Home Sounds

Ceiling speakers - everything you lot need to know

Ceiling speakers are designed to exist a permanent sound solution that volition provide you with excellent, aesthetically-pleasing sound for many years to come.

That's why it's critical you've chosen the correct quality of speaker likewise as thought about how they will be installed.

Accept y'all read our guide about how much ceiling speaker projects cost withal? This will give y'all an idea of whether they're even correct for you.

To install ceiling speakers, you must be able to proceeds access behind the walls/ceilings to wire the speaker cable, and once everything is installed, we exercise not want there to be whatever unwanted surprises!

We have picked 10 things that every installer/customer should be enlightened of before they install the speaker into the ceiling.

We've also made a beginner's guide to ceiling speakers in the form of aYouTube video serial which covers everything you need to know about ceiling speakers in 3 easy-to-assimilate videos. And if you're ready to get started with your project, we do offer a gratis design service so nosotros can ensure your budget goes equally far equally possible. We've filmed a walkthrough of a real client's floor plans here

JUMP TO...

How many ceiling speakers do I need in a room?
Where should I position the ceiling speakers and how far apart?
Do ceiling speakers need mains power?
Do I need mono or single stereo ceiling speakers?
Which speaker cable practice I demand?
Do ceiling speakers need fire hoods?
Guidance for installing ceiling speakers in loftier-humidity rooms
Can ceiling speakers be painted?
How slim should the ceiling speakers be?
Tin can I voice command ceiling speakers?

1. How many ceiling speakers do I need in a room?

For the most part, ceiling speakers are sold in pairs, with a view to setting them upwardly as a left and right stereo pair. I of the most important things about audio is the consistency of sound.

For larger spaces, we feel to balance audio levels better, it is sensible to add 4 smaller speakers than ii larger speakers.

If you lot are going to be powering your ceiling speakers with Sonos, you'll need to apply the Sonos Amp . Each Sonos Amp can power up to 4 mono ceiling speakers (8 ohms impedance) or 6 Sonos in-ceiling speakers so many people choose to install 4 or 6 ceiling speakers in a square configuration whenever there is plenty of space to do this.

However, note that all ceiling speakers continued to the same Sonos Amp will play the same music at the aforementioned volume. If yous're looking for independent control between rooms, you will demand a Sonos Amp per room, so conduct this in mind when considering the number of Sonos Amps yous need.

Watch our full Sonos Amp overview below:

How does the Sonos ecosystem work? >>

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View Sonos Amp

2. Where should I position the ceiling speakers and how far apart?

It is all-time to position the ceiling speakers at equal altitude apart from each wall, forth the length of the room and at to the lowest degree 2 metres away from each other for the best stereo separation upshot.

If the speakers will be less than 2 metres away from each other, you may wish to consider a unmarried stereo ceiling speaker, positioned in the middle of the room'southward ceiling.

Nosotros understand some customers may take awkwardly shaped room layouts, which tin can make it hard to know where the best place to position them would exist.

In this scenario, it may exist worth choosing a ceiling speaker with an angleable tweeter to straight the audio to the rooms most habitable areas. We accept plenty of options with angleable tweeters if y'all need them.

For more information, please contact our squad of specialists who can study your floor plan and see what would be all-time, where.

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iii. Do ceiling speakers need mains power?

No, ceiling speakers are commonly passive speakers which mean they do not have congenital-in amplifiers, and instead receive their power via speaker cable that is run from an external amplifier. This is achieved past wiring each ceiling speaker up to the binding posts on the Amp.

Nosotros recommend using the Sonos Amp for the best user experience. Sonos allows the user to assign each Amp their respective room name and audio can be grouped or played individually wirelessly to any or all rooms using the easy-to-utilise Sonos app.

The Sonos Amp itself so requires a mains power connection and a consistent WiFi connexion.

If you lot do non have the facility to run speaker cablevision behind the ceiling, you can go ceiling speakers which but require mains power and are controlled via bluetooth. No amplifiers and no cables. Check out Lithe Audio ceiling speakers.

Or read our review of the Lithe Sound bluetooth ceiling speaker.

iv. Do I need mono or single stereo ceiling speakers?

Traditionally, ceiling speakers have been designed to work with amplifiers that understand a left or right channel only, and then you would always buy a pair of ceiling speakers, to set up equally a stereo pair.

This is yet the case as this is how they will be wired to the Sonos Amp. However, in some cases, information technology'due south just not applied to install a pair of ceiling speakers for lack of ceiling space.

This is particularly common in bathrooms or other smaller sized rooms. To overcome this, the single stereo speaker was born to offer a left and right aqueduct out of a single speaker, preserving space and opening upwardly the options to have music in more rooms.

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A unmarried Sonos Amp is capable of powering either 4 mono ceiling speakers or two unmarried ceiling stereo speakers (or 3 pairs if using Sonos' ain in-ceiling)

To wire a single stereo speaker, you should wire 2 cables to it, not 1, unless you are using 4 core speaker cable (more than details below).

We commonly see the fault of installers installing a single cable for a single speaker, and this is unfortunately not right.

A diagram can exist seen below for how to wire your ceiling speakers.

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five. Which speaker cable should I utilise with my ceiling speakers?

For the majority of installs, we recommend 16 gauge 2 core speaker cable, being the industry standard and sufficient for near installs. Nosotros can supply this cable in reels of l metres with complimentary next solar day delivery if you demand it apace.

The merely fourth dimension yous may need to run better quality cable is if whatever single cablevision run is longer than approximately 35 metres.

The audio signal can degenerate if it travels too far affecting the sound quality. In this instance, we would propose upgrading to 14 gauge. Cable should be installed in a parallel configuration.

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View Speaker Cable

What is iv core speaker cablevision?

4 core speaker cable is four cores of speaker cable arranged in one outer sheath. This type of cable is particularly useful for unmarried stereo installs equally only 1 cable run is required instead of two.

6. Exercise ceiling speakers need burn down hoods?

A burn hood engulfs the dorsum of the speaker to prevent the spread of burn within the ceiling void.

This is a legal requirement for any ceiling speakers that are being installed where there is a habitable room in a higher place to preserve the integrity of your ceilings in the issue of a fire.

Another benefit of a speaker hood is that they provide a course of back box to enhance sound and forestall a sure amount of sound leakage. That means you tin keep your upstairs neighbours happier for longer if you turn the book upward!

Delight cheque with your builder/installer whether a burn hood is required for your ceiling speakers in your particular building. "Depression smoke / zip halogen" speaker cablevision may also be necessary.

Read our dedicated weblog about whether you need a fire hood >>

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View Speaker Hoods

vii. Can ceiling speakers be installed in loftier-humidity environments such as a kitchen or bathroom?

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Most of the ceiling speakers nosotros supply are steam and humidity resistant which means, every bit long as they do not get wet, are excellent in a bath and kitchen environment. Please check with your electrician if y'all are unsure.

Or, if you desire to have the peace of mind of having a fully waterproof ceiling speaker that tin can exist installed inside a shower enclosure or above the bath tub, the Monitor Audio AWC265-T2 is perfect in this environment.

Accept a look at our top picks for ceiling speakers in the bath .

8. Can ceiling speakers be painted to match my room?

All of the ceiling speakers on our website take white spray-paintable grilles, allowing you to match the speaker to your surroundings.

9. How slim should the ceiling speakers be?

If the amount of depth yous take in the ceiling void (backside the plasterboard) is very low, in that location are options bachelor for slim and ultra-slim ceiling speakers.

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The very to the lowest degree amount of mounting depth you'll need is 36mm otherwise ceiling speakers won't exist feasible in your property. Please use our filter on our website to find the about suitable speaker for yous.

View Ceiling Speakers

10. Can I voice control my ceiling speakers?

Yes, this is at present possible with the help of an Amazon Echo or Google Abode device. Simply plug in your device to your desired room y'all'd like the ability to phonation to command your system, help Alexa or Google Assistant to discover your Sonos devices in the Sonos app and follow the on-screen gear up up to become started.

Then try saying "Alexa, play my favourite Spotify playlist".

View our How to Become the Most out of Alexa on Sonos>> blog

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View Amazon Echo Dot

If yous're in the middle of a ceiling speaker project or because ane in the future, we'd love to assist!

We offer a completely free floor programme mark-up service so we can suggest the all-time positions for ceiling speakers, let you know how many would be required, recommended models and an indication of price.

Just phone us on 0800 677 1100, chat with united states using the widget at the bottom of the screen, or send your floor plan to info@smarthomesounds.co.uk and our specialists will be happy to help.