Ceiling Speaker Recommendation

[sog4321]

Hello there, I'm a newbie looking for great speaker recommendation and placement. My room has windows on both side walls so it would be hard for me to put speakers there and I will also have a couch along one wall. My main focus is on movies but would also love to have great sound for music. Also, my wife doesn't really want me to hang bookshelf speakers from the ceiling, but would consider it if it were my only option. I also would like to use a 7.1 design but would consider a 5.1. Would installing the in-wall speakers in the ceiling provide me with great surround sound? Thanks for any help and recommendations....

[Pete_Hsu]

Hi Sog,

Installing in-wall speakers in the ceiling is just fine for a nice surround sound system. That said, for the front left/right/center speaker, it is ideal if you can have those speakers directed towards the listening position. So if possible, try to install the front speakers on some portion of the front wall, or somewhere where they can be directed a bit towards the listening position.

Sincerely,

[sog4321]

Hi Pete,

Thank you very much for the response. I'll definitely try to install in-wall speakers where they would be facing/pointed towards the front. Right now, my ceiling is pre-wired for 6 speakers (Front L/R, Middle L/R, Rear L/R) for a 7.1 system. On either side of my TV there will be windows, but there is one section of framing towards the TV where I should be able to install the front L/R speakers. I had hoped I could get a good suround with hidden speakers in the ceiling but it sounds like I might be cheating myself out of a really good suround sound. Any thoughts of what it would sound like with an all in-ceiling speaker configuration?

Here's a little more info on my living room. It's 14' wide X 17' long and I have laminate wood flooring.

Thanks a bunch,
Joe

[Pete_Hsu]

Hi Joe,

For side and back surround speakers, having in-ceiling speakers pointing directly downward should work just fine. For front speakers in-ceiling, the biggest problem is that the voices from the front center channel will be pointed directly downwards, so dialogue intelligibility may be significantly compromised. I suppose one could use a traditional center channel up front (mounted directly above or below the video display) with two in-ceiling speakers for front left/right channels (perhaps this is what you were planning on doing?). This would be much better vs having a front center speaker in ceiling. It is still ideal to have all front speakers facing forward towards the listening position, but you can certainly try in-ceiling with reasonably good if the room aesthetics require it.

Sincerely,

[sog4321]

Hi Pete,

Yes, that was what I had thought/hoped might work was mounting a regular center channel directly below the TV (since TV is mounted high). Then had hoped that the remaining speakers could be mounted in-ceiling. I think I'll try your recommendation regarding the front speakers facing towards the listener. I'll see how that comes out. I also have the sub pre-wired to the front left side of the room. I'm looking at getting a decent afordable sub mainly for movies. I still don't have a system to drive it but my friend (who has HSU speakers) said that just about any mid-range system would work. I had my eyes on a Onkyo receiver.

Also, what are your thoughts regarding me just going with the VT-12 plus an extra speaker instead? Better sound or should I stick with HIW-1's?

Thanks,
Joe

[Pete_Hsu]

Hi Joe,

I'd just stick with the horn speakers all around. The Onkyo receiver should work great with our speakers/subwoofers!

Sincerely,

[sog4321]

Great!! Thanks!! I'll definitely do that. Really appreciate your support. I'll be purchasing a few speakers really soon. I'll need a bunch for both the living room and master bedroom. I'll probably be visiting the showroom soon as well.

Thanks again,
Joe

[Pete_Hsu]

Excellent, my pleasure to help Joe!

Sincerely,

[fitzwaddle]

Hi Pete,
Here's a little more info on my living room. It's 14' wide X 17' long and I have laminate wood flooring.


Hopefully you have a good portion covered with an area rug - otherwise you could be fighting some slap echo (especially with ceiling mounted speakers).

[sog4321]

I'll be putting an area rug in the middle so hopefully that will help. Not sure how much it will cover because I haven't got one yet. I'm building a new place and it will be finished the end of Nov. I'm trying to do my research up front so I can get the best system I can get. :)

So would the laminate wood flooring hinder or help the sound? And would the Onkyo Audyssey auto calibration help with the surround effect for home theater with speaker placement and laminate flooring?

[sog4321]

Hey Pete,

I took some measurements on my room, locations and furniture. I found this really neat program on the web that allowed me to do this. So here's my layout of the 7.1 system. The fronts will be on stands but the middle and rear surrounds are going to be ceiling mounted speakers. So do you think it will still sound good for a home theater surround system? Thanks for you time and input.

Regards,
Joe

[Pete_Hsu]

Hi Joe,

Thanks for the great diagram, yes, I'm sure everything will sound really nice with that configuration!

Sincerely,

[sog4321]

Thanks Pete!!!! I'm also thinking of using the Onkyo TX-NR1008 9.2-Channel Network A/V Receiver where I'll be able to utilize my front ceiling speakers with my front HB-1's on stands. I heard that it will give the perception of height. Hope it's not too much of an overkill though. :D

[Mak_Scouby]

Im looking for a ceiling fan for my kitchen. From the fan box to the can lights that surround the fan box is 28 inches to each can light. The ceiling is a normal 8ft ceiling. I tryed a fan in there already and it caused a strobe light effect from the can lights. The fan was a 52" Hunter should have known better that hung down 10" to the bottom of the fan. Its an attractive fan though so I used it in my bedroom

I want a low profile fan for in there because they are inconspicuous. What diameter fan can I get away with and not cause the strobing affect. Ive found 42" and 30" fans that only hang down 8". Nice looking fans. Could I get away with the 42"?

[DruTheFu]

Is there an update to the installation of the traditional center channel with the two fronts installed in the ceiling? I'm facing this exact same dilemma, and have concern of the two fronts facing downwards affecting the sound.