We are building a new house and our builder suggested speakers in the ceiling that cost $200 each?

Question

That just seems like a lot of money to listen to the radio/tv in a few different rooms. Should we let him install these or should we get something ourselves?

Answer 1

Go buy a box of 16/2 speaker cable and the speakers, try to do it yourself, fail, call him - apologize and then see if you can get him back out to do the same that he was going to do in the first place.  You can get a company that specializes in a/v equipment and setups to survey and quote you for probably next to nothing if that.  Some electricians and contractors I have come across in this work actually have a good idea of what they are doing when it comes to that - some don't.  It just depends on what kind of sound you want and where you want it.  If the house hasn't been drywalled yet it is the best time to get some a/v prewire done.  If you just want to listen to the radio on them don't get anything fancy, keep it simple.  I wouldn't recommend it for tv.  One or two speakers for a tv application wouldn't do that well.

Answer 2

There are plenty of alternatives to $200 ceiling speakers out there.  They actually can sound pretty good if you get decent speakers.

Here are two great websites with alternatives:

http://www.outdoorspeakerdepot.com/in-ce...

http://www.home-technology-store.com/Aud...

If you buy the speakers, maybe the builder would install them?

Answer 3

Having regular speakers around your room does not look that ugly/bad. 200 dollars for each speaker is just a rip off. Although in ceiling speakers are nice, 200 dollars for 5 speakers is just too much.

Answer 4

ceiling speakers are horrible, dont waste your money.

Answer 5

Depends on what brand of speakers he is installing for you.  I assume that they are cheap since he is only offering because if you accept he will be making money.  Builders do not offer you deals, they are always trying to make money.  If you like the idea but don't want to be sold c**p, either buy a set of ceiling speakers yourself (i suggest definitive technology.  I have a set of the BPZ/A speakers in my ceiling and they are marvelous!) and have him install them or just have him pre-wire the ceiling for the speakers so if you ever decide to install them in the future all you have to do is cut a hole where the wires are placed and then install your speaker without having to worry about snaking wires through the walls and ceilings.

When I build my house I am pre-wiring for surround sound, internet, intercom, etc etc. because it is a lot easier to pre-wire before the drywall goes up than to have to tear everything up after the fact.  Wiring isn't necessarily "cheap" though, especially if you never use any of it.