What are the best in-ceiling home speakers for the money?

Question

I am building a house and the contractor has suggested Sonance Symphony speakers for the in-ceiling home audio system. Sonance apparently only deals through installers and all of their products available from online vendors are not covered by their warranty. I am still considering Sonance as they appear to be very high end speakers (although expensive). I would like to know the best in-ceiling audio speakers and tuner for a budget of $2000-$3000 (not including installation). I will need to cover 3 rooms and a back porch.

Answer 1

Get the contractor to pre-wire for 7.1 and monitor and mark the locations (so you can find them when it is finished), or better yet, have them wire and install speaker connection plates for a finished look > for regular floor standing speakers (they will always sound better , and you can up-grade them easier, and take them with you when you move).  And if you sell the house it is a cleaner look to simply have connector boxes in the walls > at outlet height! (it looks finished).

All in-wall speakers have trade-offs as they are dependent on the space in the wall that is the ENCLOSURE (your contractor is much less scientific at getting GREAT sounding enclosures than say Yamaha or JBL!, rattles and buzzs can be impossible to fix, and your walls have a hole in them that can not be easily removed if the location either changes or is not optimal in the first place. And a poorly placed nail > to hang a picture can disable or even short out electronics, and be difficult to repair!

After installers (an electrician can do the pre-wire) are gone, get Yamaha, Klipsch, JBL, Sonnance (yes they are expensive, are they worth it?), or any reputable brand.

Go to some installers showrooms and demo them, and make a choice there, but install after they are done.

Get an Receiver that is capable of multi-zone speaker support and place it where it can receive the Remote Controls IR Signal from any area you will most likely use it.  You can Distribute the sound to other rooms from that second zone output.

In each room it is wise to have an in-wall volume control for that area, to get the right level for that area (balancing the whole house for listening/partying), for when the phone rings and the remote either does not reach or is in the other room!.

It is also important to be able to turn down/off the porch speakers so you do not wake the neighbors during a late night Blast!

If you must have in-ceiling, or in-wall type speakers, request they use factory baffle enclosures (same as manufacturer of speakers for best sound, as it makes the speaker enclosure what the manufacturer recommends for proper acoustics and makes them a matched size, [and keeps dust and dirt out of inside of the coil area> especially important for ceilings]).

I used to work for an installation company, and as a musician, they usually have NO CLUE at what makes best placement or a great sounding room.

So not building them in, is always the best choice as I can up-grade if I'm not happy with my first choice or specifications change (which they will), & I can fine-tune their placement, 'cause furniture size and placement may change, or that screen may get a lot bigger real soon (projector) and those built-in speakers are then in the viewing area!

Newegg.com has purchasers feedback on many of the current brands, models, and options available, so check out what real buyers are saying about the different things you may consider before buying!

It has saved me from making a bad purchase or two, and many times you find that while a product may be good, if their support sucks you would buy another brand!

Also in-ceiling speakers are not optimal for Home Theatre set-ups, though they work well in other areas, like kitchens, baths, etc.

And at last, Home Theatre speakers need to be pointed at the listening area at ear level,(ie: directional, and line of sight) to get the most accurate imaging (in-wall >Mediocre to OK, but in-ceiling > NO!!!!!)

You do not want to look at the ceiling every time a loud passage that originates at the screen happens!

Check out the AUDIOHOLICS.com web-site for many tips on placement, best product ratings, and tips to help you spend money on the best products that will enhance the experience, NOT just drain your wallet > like Monster Cables will.

Happy Viewing & Listening!!!

[e-mail]

Answer 2

I installed several JBL sp6c coaxial (with aim-able tweeter) speakers in a ceiling as both surround (one pair) and a second pair as music speakers. The sound is excellent, installation was a breeze and the speakers are very unobtrusive in appearance. I used a 12guage high strand oxygen free speaker wire even though the runs aren't  all that long (under 50'). The efficiency of the speakers was pretty high considering they're JBL's. The receiver/ tuner is a highly subjective choice as aesthetics, power,  sound type (music you'll be playing through the system), whether you want an hd tuner built in to the unit etc. all go into the formula. I am a Yamaha fan, but Pioneer and Sony make some great products, as well.

Answer 3

I always recommend Klipsch speakers for any requirement. For the money, I don't think there's a better speaker manufacturer on the market. I have the Klipsch Quintet surround speakers and SW-12 powered subwoofer. And, they're sweeeet!

You can get a pair of Klipsch ceiling speakers for less than $400 from factory-authorized dealers on eBay. Something like this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Klipsch-Speakers-RCR...

Answer 4

I just bought a pair of Yamaha Model: NS-IW280C   speakers at radio shack last night. on sale reg 130 for 90.  I like that the coils are in-cased in clear type of plastic "dust" cover.  I have not installed yet.  They will be for rear left / right channels I have Bose for front center and sub. good luck on your house.