RC65i inwall speakers

disneyjoe7
disneyjoe7 Posts: 11,435
edited December 2006 in Speakers
Can these be used in ceiling?

Speakers
Carver Amazing Fronts
CS400i Center
RT800i's Rears
Sub Paradigm Servo 15

Electronics
Conrad Johnson PV-5 pre-amp
Parasound Halo A23
Pioneer 84TXSi AVR
Pioneer 79Avi DVD
Sony CX400 CD changer
Panasonic 42-PX60U Plasma
WMC Win7 32bit HD DVR


Post edited by disneyjoe7 on

Comments

  • DollarDave
    DollarDave Posts: 2,575
    edited November 2006
    I have with good results.
  • disneyjoe7
    disneyjoe7 Posts: 11,435
    edited November 2006
    Dave,

    Thanks, but now I have a new question.
    What did you do what the insulation in the attic around or over speaker? Mine is blown in type so I'm concerned about getting it into speaker.

    Speakers
    Carver Amazing Fronts
    CS400i Center
    RT800i's Rears
    Sub Paradigm Servo 15

    Electronics
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 pre-amp
    Parasound Halo A23
    Pioneer 84TXSi AVR
    Pioneer 79Avi DVD
    Sony CX400 CD changer
    Panasonic 42-PX60U Plasma
    WMC Win7 32bit HD DVR


  • DollarDave
    DollarDave Posts: 2,575
    edited November 2006
    disneyjoe7 wrote:
    Dave,

    Thanks, but now I have a new question.
    What did you do what the insulation in the attic around or over speaker? Mine is blown in type so I'm concerned about getting it into speaker.

    I actually just built boxes from the joists by putting two end-caps and a top on them. Used a bunch of liquid nails to seal off any leakage, then I stapled some batting in there. They sound far, far better than they did at Circuit City on the wall - really pretty decent bass from a surround speaker. I have used the RC series and the TC series and I currently have TC-615s as my rears and TC-265s as my front left and right (they are over-kill, I should have used TC-65s). They have aim-able tweeters and do sound much better than the RC series - I would recommend you step up a notch. If you are going new, Polk now has some new LCi series that have self-contained enclosures that would avoid building boxes.
  • disneyjoe7
    disneyjoe7 Posts: 11,435
    edited November 2006
    WOW, you built boxes for them! Sealed boxes like you said, and I wonder how this improves them if the box isn't the correct size the bass can't be off.

    BTW not looking to replace HT system just to add to house a whole house speaker system. So this will be added to my Living room. I still thinking about this to add these speakers in the wall or ceiling.

    Speakers
    Carver Amazing Fronts
    CS400i Center
    RT800i's Rears
    Sub Paradigm Servo 15

    Electronics
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 pre-amp
    Parasound Halo A23
    Pioneer 84TXSi AVR
    Pioneer 79Avi DVD
    Sony CX400 CD changer
    Panasonic 42-PX60U Plasma
    WMC Win7 32bit HD DVR


  • DollarDave
    DollarDave Posts: 2,575
    edited November 2006
    disneyjoe7 wrote:
    WOW, you built boxes for them! Sealed boxes like you said, and I wonder how this improves them if the box isn't the correct size the bass can't be off.

    BTW not looking to replace HT system just to add to house a whole house speaker system. So this will be added to my Living room. I still thinking about this to add these speakers in the wall or ceiling.

    The boxes ended up being about 21w x 21w x 11.5deep. I think that ends up being just under 3 cu ft and similar to the enclosures that polk sells. The bass is actually pretty tight. In my first house that I had the RC-65's in it was on the first floor of a two story. The joists were open with no insulation - maybe I should have used some, but the bass was sloppy in the open cavity. I may be off on the dimensions, but I made them to have the same cu in volume as the polk enclosures.
  • Squiggy33
    Squiggy33 Posts: 8
    edited December 2006
    This brings me to another question about in wall or in ceiling speakers. Theory is that if they needed a box Polk would include one like they are with the new series or suggest it in the manual with the specs. Just like they do when you buy raw drivers for automobile. Sealed drivers need to be in an enclosure and Infinite baffle, which you need to make sure that the seal from the frame to the wall is air tight. Next theory, I would think that the blown in insulation would actually help the speakers like you do when you stuff sub boxes, Bose does the same in their cubes, or used to anyway. The only concern with the insulation would be fire from shorts in the wiring of the speakers. Any thoughts. I am a car audio guru, just now learning home.
  • disneyjoe7
    disneyjoe7 Posts: 11,435
    edited December 2006
    Squiggy,

    I've decided to not build a box in the attic / ceiling if I put these in the ceiling. What I'll do is add batt insulation over speaker then place blown in stuff over it. I agree with you assessment of Infinite baffle, so this is why I'll do it that way.

    Speakers
    Carver Amazing Fronts
    CS400i Center
    RT800i's Rears
    Sub Paradigm Servo 15

    Electronics
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 pre-amp
    Parasound Halo A23
    Pioneer 84TXSi AVR
    Pioneer 79Avi DVD
    Sony CX400 CD changer
    Panasonic 42-PX60U Plasma
    WMC Win7 32bit HD DVR


  • reeltrouble1
    reeltrouble1 Posts: 9,312
    edited December 2006
    errrrrrrrrr...........ok there DJ, glad to hear your attic time will limited!!!!!! Still you should wear a kevlar vest for safety and one of those plastic helmets as well.

    Why not use a speaker designed to go into the ceiling, I mean would that not be a novel idea?? Maybe one that can be aimed????

    RT1
  • disneyjoe7
    disneyjoe7 Posts: 11,435
    edited December 2006
    Ok Ted,

    Why are ceiling speakers round, where in-wall speakers are rectangle? I don't like coax speakers so that is why I own RC65i speakers and asked about these for ceiling speakers.

    Speakers
    Carver Amazing Fronts
    CS400i Center
    RT800i's Rears
    Sub Paradigm Servo 15

    Electronics
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 pre-amp
    Parasound Halo A23
    Pioneer 84TXSi AVR
    Pioneer 79Avi DVD
    Sony CX400 CD changer
    Panasonic 42-PX60U Plasma
    WMC Win7 32bit HD DVR


  • DollarDave
    DollarDave Posts: 2,575
    edited December 2006
    They are the same speakers only one is round and one is rectangle. In the South, they place the HVAC in the ceilings so I chose rectangle to match the shape of the air diffusers. When I lived in the North, I chose round to match other ceiling fixtures.

    They both have aim-able tweeters.

    Polk does sell enclosures for these speakers - I built boxes for mine to closely approximate the volume of air that these house. Stuffed with batting and properly sealed, I find the speakers sound better than they did before. They exhibit much more bass and have a better sounding midrange.
  • disneyjoe7
    disneyjoe7 Posts: 11,435
    edited December 2006
    Dave,

    So just for cosmetics?

    BTW never found an enclosure for RC65i got a link?

    Speakers
    Carver Amazing Fronts
    CS400i Center
    RT800i's Rears
    Sub Paradigm Servo 15

    Electronics
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 pre-amp
    Parasound Halo A23
    Pioneer 84TXSi AVR
    Pioneer 79Avi DVD
    Sony CX400 CD changer
    Panasonic 42-PX60U Plasma
    WMC Win7 32bit HD DVR


  • DollarDave
    DollarDave Posts: 2,575
    edited December 2006
    Right, they just look different.

    http://www.polkaudio.com/homeaudio/products/hidden/inwall/?helpid=36


    The performance enclosures are on the right-hand side of the product page -

    http://www.polkaudio.com/education/tech_article.php?id=29

    If I remember right, I just made an enclosure that was roughly equivalent in cu inches to these.
  • disneyjoe7
    disneyjoe7 Posts: 11,435
    edited December 2006
    The enclosure links seemed to be only for the High end snobby Lci enclosures, not for the working class ceiling / wall speakers.

    Speakers
    Carver Amazing Fronts
    CS400i Center
    RT800i's Rears
    Sub Paradigm Servo 15

    Electronics
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 pre-amp
    Parasound Halo A23
    Pioneer 84TXSi AVR
    Pioneer 79Avi DVD
    Sony CX400 CD changer
    Panasonic 42-PX60U Plasma
    WMC Win7 32bit HD DVR


  • DollarDave
    DollarDave Posts: 2,575
    edited December 2006
    It is the same link as the ones from the TC-615 and the RC-65 pages - the cut-outs are the same, so they would work for any of these.

    http://www.polkaudio.com/homeaudio/products/rc65i/

    http://www.polkaudio.com/homeaudio/products/tc615i/
  • disneyjoe7
    disneyjoe7 Posts: 11,435
    edited December 2006
    Jesus that look serious. Did you use them or did you build your own boxes?

    Speakers
    Carver Amazing Fronts
    CS400i Center
    RT800i's Rears
    Sub Paradigm Servo 15

    Electronics
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 pre-amp
    Parasound Halo A23
    Pioneer 84TXSi AVR
    Pioneer 79Avi DVD
    Sony CX400 CD changer
    Panasonic 42-PX60U Plasma
    WMC Win7 32bit HD DVR


  • DollarDave
    DollarDave Posts: 2,575
    edited December 2006
    I built my own, but it wasn't that hard. Three sides are already there - the two joists and the mounting side of sheet rock. Just added a left and a right and a cap. Sealed it all up and stapled a good amount of batting in there. For my TC-265's, I did frame the cut-outs with some strips of 1 x 3 and some liquid nails to fortify the sheetrock side and maybe reduce some vibration. The 265's have two drivers so they are heavier.
  • SCompRacer
    SCompRacer Posts: 8,513
    edited December 2006
    When I installed LC inwall/ceiling speakers, I used Polk's LC Cutsheet (page 4) to build exact volume enclosures. I don't know if they have one for RC's, or if you could just use the same dimensions. The ideal volume cavity by stud width is based on 16" centers, so if one had a truss roof with 24" centers, they would have to do the math. One of my ceiling enclosures.
    Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS * Roon * Gustard R26 DAC / Singxer SU-6 DDC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 *
  • reeltrouble1
    reeltrouble1 Posts: 9,312
    edited December 2006
    Everything I read about ceiling speakers says the better ones extend down beneath the ceiling. I dont believe any of the in walls do this but are flush mounted. I suppose as this is background sound for you having good sound is not much of a consideration, but circles trump squares in ceilings.

    RT1
  • disneyjoe7
    disneyjoe7 Posts: 11,435
    edited December 2006
    Future in-wall or ceiling are just that background sound. Same for the porch by pool Atrium 55, just fill in sound.

    Speakers
    Carver Amazing Fronts
    CS400i Center
    RT800i's Rears
    Sub Paradigm Servo 15

    Electronics
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 pre-amp
    Parasound Halo A23
    Pioneer 84TXSi AVR
    Pioneer 79Avi DVD
    Sony CX400 CD changer
    Panasonic 42-PX60U Plasma
    WMC Win7 32bit HD DVR


  • disneyjoe7
    disneyjoe7 Posts: 11,435
    edited December 2006
    Other then that I heard in wall speakers that indeed impressed me, feeling that great sound is possible using this option.

    Speakers
    Carver Amazing Fronts
    CS400i Center
    RT800i's Rears
    Sub Paradigm Servo 15

    Electronics
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 pre-amp
    Parasound Halo A23
    Pioneer 84TXSi AVR
    Pioneer 79Avi DVD
    Sony CX400 CD changer
    Panasonic 42-PX60U Plasma
    WMC Win7 32bit HD DVR


  • reeltrouble1
    reeltrouble1 Posts: 9,312
    edited December 2006
    Rock on, just dont forget the helmet.

    RT1
  • disneyjoe7
    disneyjoe7 Posts: 11,435
    edited December 2006
    Have a hard head it's the other parts I worry about :eek:

    Speakers
    Carver Amazing Fronts
    CS400i Center
    RT800i's Rears
    Sub Paradigm Servo 15

    Electronics
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 pre-amp
    Parasound Halo A23
    Pioneer 84TXSi AVR
    Pioneer 79Avi DVD
    Sony CX400 CD changer
    Panasonic 42-PX60U Plasma
    WMC Win7 32bit HD DVR