Best In Ceiling Speakers of the Year | ExtensivelyReviewed


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With the drastically increasing number of surround sound systems and home theaters on the market, it has become increasingly popular to install ceiling speakers – perfect for those searching for some high quality sound, without taking up too much space in the room.

There are a number of different kinds of in ceiling speakers available out there on the market. Some may come with paintable grill covers to help compliment the color of your room ceiling. These speakers are a great option for those who are looking for top-quality, clearly audible sound, without sacrificing the limited room space that is available.

What to Consider When Buying In Ceiling Speakers

One great aspect of ceiling speakers is that if they are installed correctly, there should be no visible wiring anywhere in the room. The ceiling speaker’s wires run from the sound unit, up the backside of the wall, which then meets and connects to the back of the speaker unit that resides mounted in the ceiling. They can turn a room in to a great musical haven – through the creation an amazing home theater environment, or turn an outdoor dining lawn area in to an open air party spot.

Sound Quality: One of the major differences generally seen between a high-quality floor standing speaker and an in- ceiling speaker is the bass that can be produced. A floor speaker works partly by generating sound that is produced by the casing (resonance) that surrounds the environments of the speakers – usually subwoofers are incorporated into floor-standing speakers. In the case of ceiling speakers, which are generally for midrange and high frequencies, the subwoofer is not usually included and is often its own stand-alone unit somewhere in the room.

Safety: Safety should be major concern when installing ceiling speakers. Buyers should consider purchasing specially made speaker wires that are designed to use inside the ceiling. UL rated speaker wire is what buyers should strive to purchase. These are intended to meet building and fire code regulations.

Size: The needed size of the ceiling speaker depends totally on the size of the room where the speakers need to be installed, and the frequency range you are after. Having the right sized speaker will increase its functionality and will produce the most effective, and best quality sound. For a surround sound system, many choose to opt for in-ceiling tweeters, and leave the mid range and centers somewhere near ear-level on the wall.

Swivel Tweeters: Tweeters regenerate high frequencies, which works with subwoofers, producing lower frequencies in turn. These tweeters are designed with the purpose of enabling the rotation, or swiveling, of the speaker – this allows you to aim the speaker in the direction of where the viewers will be located, rather than just directly pointing at the floor.

Sound Controls: You can adjust the sound and bass level using these controls to the point you are most comfortable with.

Some of the best ceiling speakers development companies include: Yamaha, Bose, SpeakerCraft and Energy. There are some fine differences that makes them clearly the best, compared to the average, or mediocre ceiling speakers:

Longevity: Due to the fact that technology is continuously evolving, resulting in frequent upgrades and updates, pick a product that is leading the market in terms of design in performance – no need to upgrade every few years with some proper planning.

Moisture Resistant: If you are installing ceiling speakers in where water splashes or high humidity are a common thing, such as in the kitchen or bathroom, opt for models that are moisture resistant. They will prove to last much longer in such environments.

Wattage: Wattage generally refers to the amplification of sound, in terms of speakers capability. The number of watts specify that how much power the pair of speakers are able to use, to amplify the sound level. The more expensive the speakers are, the more is their capability to amplify sound coming from a receiver. If the wattage between speakers and sound system is not compatible, it could result in distortion or less than satisfying sound quality.

Appearance: Design or appearance could be one of the factors that most fascinates the buyers. Some speakers are flashy, with a noticeable design, and may look prominent when installed in ceiling. Other ceiling speakers aim for the label, “invisible speakers”, and are after the “less is more” crowd in terms of design. They may look bland to the eye, but their sound quality remains top-notch.

The installation of in-ceiling speakers is most often seen in residential homes, because it saves quite a lot space as compared to floor speakers, which may take some time and skill to install. The other potential buyers of in-ceiling speakers could be the people who like to throw parties more often and prefer their personalized home surround sound system.

#1 Bose Virtually Invisible 791 In-Ceiling Speakers Review

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The Bose Virtually Invisible 791 in-ceiling speakers are some of the best ceiling speakers in the Bose product line. They produce that crystal-clear, rich, and highly detailed sound that Bose is well famous for – all without taking up any additional space in your room. The main feature of these speakers is the Bose Stereo Everywhere, which generates a balanced sound across a wide range – you aren’t restricted to a small sweet spot with these speakers, and they should sound just as great no matter where your seat is on the couch.

The Bose Virtually Invisible 791 in-ceiling speakers have two 1-inch angled tweeters, and a 7 inch woofer. This woofer ensures rich low end frequencies, whereas the tweeters are responsible to take care of the sparkling high-end frequencies. Its other features includes:

  • A warranty of 5 years.
  • They have a paintable white finish so that they can compliment ceilings of all colors.
  • Mounting depth of around 4 to 16 inches.
  • Installation process is quite easy and the special flash bound design mixes seamlessly in to the ceiling.

You will be content with these top-rated speakers, whether you are using them to watch movies in your home theater or listening to music. They are a bit expensive for some, but if you have the money and want the best of the best, Bose will not let you down.

#2 JBL SP8CII 2-Way, 8-Inch Round In-Ceiling Speaker With Swivel Mount Tweeter Review

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JBL SP8CII is a round-shaped two way speaker that produces powerful sound when deployed in rooms of small to medium sizes. Its space efficient 8-inch design is attractive, and eye catching – it nicely complements the interior of contemporary decor. Its woofer cone is made of titanium laminate, and delivers some hard-hitting bass. Its dual swivel tweeters produces dynamic sound within the high frequency range.

JBL SP8CII speakers have a snap together rough in the frames, and integrated dog ear brackets for a durable, sleek, and easy installation. The speakers have rubber covers to prevent distortion or buzzing sounds. Also, the grilles and face plates can be painted to match and complement the color of any ceiling or room. The JBL SP8CII speakers provide a great sound, potential volume is enough to work for just about any audiophile or movie buff. Overall, the sound remains clearly audible in all ranges – and sounds excellent. If you own an equalizer then you can set the sound to your desired level so it produces a right balance throughout all registers. The JBL SP8CII ceiling speakers are one of the best choices for consumers.

#3 Polk Audio RC80i 2-Way In-Ceiling Speakers Review

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The Polk Audio RC80i is another great alternate, or complement, to floor speakers. If you want excellent quality in the sound of your music and movies, these may be just what your home theater needs. Each speaker has a dynamic woofer of 8-inches, and a balance dome tweeter of an inch, that produces a smooth sound, with definite precision. Even though these are advertised as strictly being in-ceiling speakers, many users have reported much success being used as in-wall speakers.

The speakers are designed using moisture resistant materials, and therefore can be used in kitchens, saunas or bathrooms, without fear of damage due to humidity. They work pretty well in medium to large rooms. They are pretty easy to install if you have some basic knowledge – we did find the grill a bit difficult to remove.

They offer you a fair amount of bass, with a frequency response of 35 Hz to 20 KHz. If you are looking for excellent speakers, with lots of nice features, the Polk Audio RC80i ceiling speakers are an excellent choice.

#4 SpeakerCraft AIM8 One 8″ Aimable In Ceiling Speaker Review

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Dating back since SpeakerCraft designed their first in-ceiling speaker over around twenty years ago, AIM technology has continually remained one of the most advanced when it comes to loudspeakers. The ability to aim the direction with a swivel motion, allows for greater musical accuracy, focuses the sonic image, and enhances the overall quality of the sound. TheAIM8 have made the most of this technology in a larger format.

The 8-inch woofers produce greater volume and deliver more deep bass, as compared to other small speakers. These speakers would be perfect for large rooms. They are ideal for those who demand greater performance from their audio system. The SpeakerCraft AIM8 Aimable In Ceiling Speaker ensure an exciting experience – every minute detail is easily heard. Its other main features includes:

  • Rotating silk dome tweeter of 1 inch.
  • Rotating and pivoting Injection Molded Polypropylene Cone Woofer of 8 inch.
  • Impedance of around 8 ohms.
  • The power requirement ranges from 5 to 100 watts.
  • Cut out diameter of 248 mm.

#5 Yamaha NS-IW280CWH 6.5″ 3-Way In-Ceiling Speaker System Review

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If you are looking for some in-the-ceiling speakers that provide you with greater flexibility in directing sound, then Yamaha NS-IW280CWH 6.5″ 3-Way In-Ceiling Speaker System are worth considering. These Yamaha NS-IW280CWH speaker systems are diverse in nature. The woofer is  located on a tilted mount, allows you to direct the sound in whichever direction you prefer. They also include a swiveling tweeter, which provides for great sound dispersion, and produces crystal-clear frequencies up to 28 Hz.

These speakers produce crisp, yet whispy sound, and continue to sound great even at high volume. With their polypropylene mica 6.5 inch cone woofers, they are an awesome sounding set of in-ceiling speakers. Like many other fashionable speakers, they have a white, slightly textured grill, which allows you to customize with your desired color – this feature is ideal in order to compliment with the ceiling. With some simple knowledge, you won’t require any sort of professional help as far as installation goes – we found these to be pretty straightforward. The overall quality of sound is exceptional and provides for an amazing theatrical experience, when watching a movie or listening to songs.

#6 Pyle PDIC60 In-Wall / In-Ceiling Dual 6.5-Inch Speaker System Review

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If you are shopping for some ear-catching, stylish speakers, to complement your room, then Pyle’s PDIC60  Dual 6.5-Inch Speaker System is worth your attention. Its innovative design mounts flush and seamlessly on the ceiling. This 2 way 200 watts speaker is  water resistant, is sturdy enough to withstand any moist environment. It comes with a built-in crossover network, which works for a range of frequencies.

Like other high quality speakers, The PDIC60’s are designed  with high temperature, 1-inch voice coils, and a titanium dome 1-inch tweeter, which can be rotated to direct the sound towards many directions – though we do have to mention that they have restricted range, as compared to the other movable/rotating speakers reviewed above. The sound these quality speakers produce is rich, and crystal clear, and powered by up to 200 watts. They are relatively cheap, but are comparable to many of the more expensive models we tested. These speakers can get very loud without distortion – it is easy to lose track with turning up the volume, just be careful not to blow your neighbors out of their house across the street.

#7 Bic America BICHT8C 8-Inch Acoustech Series In-Ceiling Speaker Review

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The Bic America BICHT8C 8-Inch Acoustech Series In-Ceiling Speakers are each designed with magnetically protected three-way in ceiling speakers, with a poly/graphite 8-inch woofer, poly 2.5-inch mid range speakers, along with a 1-inch dome tweeter. The speakers can handle up to 175 watts per channel, with a dynamic peak of around 375 watts.

The Bic America BICHT8C series is quite durable, very easy to install, and has thermal cut offs that are self resetting to protect and cover the system from thermal overload. The speakers come with metal mounting brackets that are user-friendly.

The white frames and grilles are paintable, which allows you to match the color of your ceiling. The woofers enable the speakers to deliver louder and lower bass output sound, that one would expect from a highly-rated in-ceiling speaker. These budget speakers are an excellent choice for those who are passionate about music or movie sound quality.

#8 OSD Audio MK840 8-inch Polypropylene 175-Watt In-Ceiling Speaker Review

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You can build a killer budget home theater with the OSD Audio MK840 8-inch Polypropylene 175-Watt In-Ceiling Speaker. These speakers consist of a propylene 8-inch cone woofer, with a pivoting and rotating 1-inch titanium tweeter. The contour switches allow for the setting of sound, to match your surround sound music preferences. The product features of the OSD Audio MK840 8-inch Polypropylene 175-Watt In-Ceiling Speaker includes:

  • Frequency response ranging from 32 Hz to 22 KHz, along with a sensitivity level up to 92 dB.
  • Contour switches having ± 3 Treble and ± 3 Bass.
  • Power handling capability of 175 watts.
  • Impedance of approximately 8 ohms.
  • They sound quite great and provides rich and clear bass and sound quality.
  • It provides a good range of motion for the tweeter.

These speakers easily compete with many of the more popular products on the market, as far as sound quality goes. They happen to be fairly affordable for the quality that these speakers deliver – if you planning to buy a pair of in ceiling speakers on a budget, these would be a great choice for sure. These speakers can make your movie room come alive for a fraction of the expense of other products on the market.

Last update on 2021-03-02 at 19:26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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