in-ceiling speakers

gwade

hi all. i am a new guy and am in the middle of a complete reno of my older home. due to space constraints we are going to do a sonos integrated home with polk in-ceiling speakers and in-wall for the surround system. i am wondering about how i should be installing the speakers to ensure the best performance and minimize the "bleed thru" from the inceilings.

i have read about back boxes and am wondering what product people here would recommend? building 8-10 units myself would be quite time consuming. any suggestions for the best fit/solution would be helpful.

g.

cr136124

Hi G!

Welcome the Polk family!!!!

I am using the Polk RC80i and RC85i in my HT room (basement) and I'm really happy on how they sound. To give you a reference these speakers are used as surround speakers and they are capable to keep up with my RTi A9's (front speakers).

I didn't use any special enclosure, the way these speakers are designed reduce the need of specific enclosure. So, that reduce cost and time for an easy installation.

Do you have a specific model in mind?

gwade

Thanks CR!!!

I am doing RC60i's in the ceiling on the main floor and RC65i/RC60i/AM1055 in-wall in the HT. Everything that I have read has indicated that for performance and sound isolation backer boxes should be used. Glad to hear that your experience is to the contrary!!!

Any other feedback would be appreciated as quite soon i will be past the point of no return, as dry wall will start going up!!!!

Thanks all.

bookshelf^love

The only problem with the in-walls's is the cutting of the wall it self. Have you considered some gently used bookshelfs to be used as surrounds?

cr136124

gwade wrote: »

Thanks CR!!!

I am doing RC60i's in the ceiling on the main floor and RC65i/RC60i/AM1055 in-wall in the HT. Everything that I have read has indicated that for performance and sound isolation backer boxes should be used. Glad to hear that your experience is to the contrary!!!

Any other feedback would be appreciated as quite soon i will be past the point of no return, as dry wall will start going up!!!!

Thanks all.

From Polk's website on the RCXXi speakers:

"With infinite baffle tuning, RCi speakers utilize the “virtual enclosure” of your in-wall and in-ceiling space to enhance their bass response and smooth low frequency blending with the midrange."

Now, only thing to consider is that my room is on a basement. So, right above the in-ceiling speakers is my first floor's hardwood floor. And, right behind the in-wall speaker is the house's foundation (concrete wall). So, that might help my speaker.

If your speakers are going to be installed on a wide empty area (such as an attic), then that might be the only thing to consider. In other words you might be loosing some bass due to that space behind the driver. So, enclosure might help a lot!

Have a look on how my speakers look already installed (not the best picture of the world, but it might help you to have a better idea of the installation).

As mentioned above, behind or on top of the in-ceiling speakers is my hardwood floor (first level of the house) and behind the in-wall speakers a concrete wall. Of course, on the sides of the speakers you will find the regular wood studs. So, that is the closest to an enclosure that I have on my room.

If you have more questions just ask.

Cheers!

cr136124

bookshelf^love wrote: »

The only problem with the in-walls's is the cutting of the wall it self. Have you considered some gently used bookshelfs to be used as surrounds?

Yes, you have to be committed with the fact that you going to have holes in your walls. And these are really good size speakers.

But, on the other hand, you will not need a shelf, pedestal or brackets to install bookshelf speakers. They virtually blends with your walls, if you decide to paint the grills / frames, and they are non-intrusive once installed.......helps a lot with WAF.

My two cents!

gwade

Thanks booker!! I have no walls to cut holes in as the house is a complete reno. Space and my bride's desire to not look at any sound equipt has me looking at in-ceiling/wall. I am also going to put speakers in LR/DR/Fam/Kit on main, master/ensuite on 2nd and HT in basement. No chance of getting my lady to agree to all of that. I feel 'i have done pretty well on the negotiations so far!!