In-Ceiling Speaker suggestions?

[Cyn]

Hey All,

I just bought a house, and I currently own a set of 5.1 Bose Acoustimass speakers. These are decent and all, but I want to keep my flat ceiling flat, without having five black speakers dangling around.

I plan to sell these speakers and all the mounts I have for them, and buy some in-ceiling replacements instead. My room is odd, and I can't use in-wall speakers and need to utilize directional in-ceiling instead (unless the in-wall would function fine as a 5.1 in-ceiling option as well?).

My budget is about $500, so I'm not going huge here or anything. I've run across a few Yamaha, Boston Acoustics sets that I figure might work. Please share your thoughts or other suggestions, as it is hard to find reviews on these things...

Thanks!

Boston Acoustics DSI285 - http://www.amazon.com/Boston-Acousti...9740827&sr=1-1

Klipsch KHC-6 - http://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-KHC-6-...740740&sr=1-26

 

[Corn]

I've got a set of B&W CCM 80's for my bedroom and they are far far far superior to anything that Yamaha, BA, or Speakercraft sells. New, they will definitely bust your budget (they are well worth it though), but you might be able to find a set on Ebay or Craigslist. They are "directional" in that you can aim the tweeter.

Are you planning on using ceiling mounted speakers for all of the 5 channels? Even though the tweeters on most in-ceiling speakers are aimable, you'll still perceive the sound coming from above so if at all possible I would try to find a way to use in-walls for the fronts and center speakers. What makes your room "odd" that in-walls won't work?

 

[Cyn]

Thanks for the reply, Corn.

What makes my setup weird is that I will be mounting the TV to the fireplace, and the couch for main viewing is off to the side. I have a wall mount that extends 31" so that my TV can swing 180 degrees from its normal position to face the couch. The TV retracted is inset/recessed and is viewable by the whole living room and kitchen, which is one big open 22' x 20' room. Here is a pic of the setup: http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac47/Deuce245/House.jpg

I can't wall mount the speakers (at least not the fronts - which I believe are most important) because they'd end up on the wall behind the TV, which is by the front door. It seems my only option is really mounting the L/C/R speakers in the ceiling...I suppose I could have the Bose poking down and could maybe mount the brackets higher into the ceiling since I have it open (no drywall/insulation) right now. Wouldn't be too hard to make a custom crossbar from a 2x4 in there so they don't stick down as much. I might consider it if no in-ceiling speakers will do the trick.

 

[Corn]

You weren't lying when you said your layout was odd. I'm a firm believer in not mounting TV's over fireplaces because I don't like looking up at my TV. What is stopping you from mounting the TV on the other walls opposite of the couch? If it is purely the desire to watch TV from the kitchen, I would recommend buying a smaller TV for the kitchen.

 

[Cyn]

Haha, that is certainly a thought. We may end up having to do that, but a recessed "picture frame" LCD over the fireplace sounded good. We aren't planning on a large mantle, as I don't like having to look up at my TV's either..

Added a shot of windows here too, which limit even further.. http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac47/Deuce245/House-1.jpg

 

[richardycc]

NHT has some in ceiling speaker with 3 tweeters built-in that might work in your situation. I think they are on sale too.

 

[rivethead]

I like Polk in-ceiling speakers. I've used them in two houses now. Good quality, good sound, good price.

 

[0roo0roo]

Thanks for the reply, Corn.

What makes my setup weird is that I will be mounting the TV to the fireplace, and the couch for main viewing is off to the side. I have a wall mount that extends 31" so that my TV can swing 180 degrees from its normal position to face the couch. The TV retracted is inset/recessed and is viewable by the whole living room and kitchen, which is one big open 22' x 20' room. Here is a pic of the setup: http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac47/Deuce245/House.jpg

I can't wall mount the speakers (at least not the fronts - which I believe are most important) because they'd end up on the wall behind the TV, which is by the front door. It seems my only option is really mounting the L/C/R speakers in the ceiling...I suppose I could have the Bose poking down and could maybe mount the brackets higher into the ceiling since I have it open (no drywall/insulation) right now. Wouldn't be too hard to make a custom crossbar from a 2x4 in there so they don't stick down as much. I might consider it if no in-ceiling speakers will do the trick.

It would have to swing and lower..because that height is too high...
the couch is better off away from the wall closer to the fireplace and perhaps the tv on the left side wall

 

[Cyn]

My couch is huge pretty sure it will only fit in that configuration. Otherwise it'd either block the door, or wouldn't make sense because it wouldn't open up towards the fireplace.

The wife isn't opposed to hanging the Bose, so maybe I'll just stick with that rather than sacrifice sound quality, hmm.

 

[0roo0roo]

Its hard to tell if your drawings are to scale.

But really the major mistake people make is that the couch is always against a wall, it doesn't need to be, and it generally doesn't look that great against the wall anyways. There has to be some config thwere the couch in a different orientation that allows you to use a wall for the tv and still have it somewhat open to the fireplace. atleast in your drawing the couch isn't so big that it would block the entire room if it were anywhere off the wall. ceiling speakers are just asking for trouble, you will locate your sound..coming from the ceiling. it will be like watching home theater in a department store over their store elevator music intercom system. its very important you have the front center and l/r speakers beside and close to the tv as possible for the center esp so the sound is attached to the picture, and doesn't feel disconnected from the actors. its why movie theater speakers are actually behind the screen.

another way would be to wall mount it in the corner where the couch used to be, and move the couch near the fireplace?

 

[electroju]

Instead of using ceiling speakers. Try searching speakers that look like picture frames. They will hide the speaker and make it look nice. Another way is being creative to make something that looks like art. You can go the commercial route or make your own.

Since BOSE is crap, go with any ceiling speakers. Any ceiling speakers that you buy will show how bad BOSE is. There are plenty of speakers out there that have high quality and fit any decor.

Swinging the TV out that far will cause a lot of stress on the mount. The screws will hold, but the mount will not. When it is swing out like that the TV will seem that one edge is tilted downward. It will not be safe and over time it could break. I suggest put the TV on a table with wheels and set it up to have the fewest connections.

You might be better off selecting a different room for a theater setup. Then the room right now could be just for style and who cares that you do not like to look up to watch TV. For theater room, you can do whatever you want like putting the TV at eye level when sitting down and using better speakers. If this no extra room for a theater room, suggest divide up the room in two. Rotate the L couch so that it is facing the left wall and put the TV there. Next add a two seat couch and chair in the section that has the fireplace. If the L couch can be disconnected, put one part in front of the fireplace. This will give you more more.

 

[0roo0roo]

did you look at his setup? theres no walls for the picture frames...

and no, ceiling speakers will not sound better than his bose, if only for the poor location of the speakers. will sound like the actors are shouting from inside the attic

 

[Cyn]

The issue of a corner mount would be I have two windows where it should need to go, otherwise it would work. Some sort of mechanical raising/lowering system would be ideal, hah (yeah right..).

I'm also not particularly worried about the mount. My TV weighs all of 70 lbs, and the mount is a dual arm (not a single arm) rated for 200 lb plasmas.

And yeah, scale is hard to draw and convey. My couch is actually very large. It certainly doesn't need to be against the wall, but for the sake of openness, it will likely end up there. Un-drawn on the south end of the room is the entire kitchen, with an island of granite, and the whole 22' x 20' room is open (we removed two entire load bearing walls and installed a 400 lb beam to replace it) all to open the room up to a big sliding glass door in the back yard and our pool. Would be a shame to kill the openness just to mount the TV optimally.

Unfortunately selecting a different room isn't possible. This certainly isn't a dedicated theater room, I'm just trying to make the best of what my options are.

Thanks for all the comments RooRoo.

 

[Destiny]

When its cold and you have the fire place on, wouldn't the flickering fire distract you while you're watching movies? I have media players/PS3 and sometimes the blinking lights bother me...

 

[electroju]

did you look at his setup? theres no walls for the picture frames...

and no, ceiling speakers will not sound better than his bose, if only for the poor location of the speakers. will sound like the actors are shouting from inside the attic

I did see the picture. I am just providing options.

I have BOSE speakers and they sound like crap. There are a lot better speakers from other brands for the same price. BOSE is all about engineering and no sound quality.

its very important you have the front center and l/r speakers beside and close to the tv as possible for the center esp so the sound is attached to the picture, and doesn't feel disconnected from the actors. its why movie theater speakers are actually behind the screen.

This is wrong. The center channel is sometimes behind the screen, but not the left and right channels. For the best sound stage for the center channel, it should be placed on the same height at the middle of the full range speaker or the zero axis of the loudspeaker. The space between the left and right channel should be wide enough to suit the desire listening distance. If the speakers are too close, you will not hear any effects happening on the left and right channels. If the left and right channels are spaced out about six feet, the listening distance is three feet. If the listening distance is further, you have to space out the speakers further. The rule of the thumb of speaker placement is dividing up the room in thirds, sixth, and ninths.

I'm also not particularly worried about the mount. My TV weighs all of 70 lbs, and the mount is a dual arm (not a single arm) rated for 200 lb plasmas.

And yeah, scale is hard to draw and convey. My couch is actually very large. It certainly doesn't need to be against the wall, but for the sake of openness, it will likely end up there. Un-drawn on the south end of the room is the entire kitchen, with an island of granite, and the whole 22' x 20' room is open (we removed two entire load bearing walls and installed a 400 lb beam to replace it) all to open the room up to a big sliding glass door in the back yard and our pool. Would be a shame to kill the openness just to mount the TV optimally.

For what you are using the mount, it just wrong. Try holding something while your arm is fully extended, over time it will get heavier. Also I doubt the mount is designed to hold 200 pounds when it is fully extended. I am warning you do not do it because there are other ways.

To me openness means that there are no walls to divide up the room. This gives more room to work with, but it does have issues. Your room is still tailor to two rooms. Using it as one big room does not work artistically.

It is easy to show scale. Use graphing paper or create your own graphing paper using a spreadsheet program. Then measure the size of the room and furniture. Next come up with a ratio like for every foot it will be a quarter of an inch. Though there are web based programs that could be used.

 

[0roo0roo]

lol why wouldn't it be rated for 200lb extended? that makes no sense at all. of course theres a levering effect extended, but that should have been factored into the rating already.

 

[Cyn]

Destiny - Flicking fire shouldn't be too much of an issue. I live in SoCal, so more or less it will only be on for ambiance at parties, etc, not really ever for actual heating purposes.

Elect - I stated the mount has a 200lb capacity because my TV only weighs 70 lbs. Although the mount may not be rated to hold a 200 lb TV extended for all eternity, I'm going to go ahead and put my trust in it to hold a 70 lb TV for 3 hours at night when I'm watching TV shows, and then push it back into place over the fireplace when I go to bed.

I share a different opinion than you regarding openness, so artistically I'm glad I'm in charge of my room design. =)

Also, I should have stated "it is hard to show scale when drawing free hand with a mouse in Microsoft Paint." It conveys what I need it to to the people I'm interested in receiving advice and information from.