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Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: ians on 27 January 2009, 21:27:26

Title: Ceiling Speakers
Post by: ians on 27 January 2009, 21:27:26
I need to re-plasterboard our kitchen ceiling and as well as rearranging the lighting, I'm considering installing some flush ceiling mounted speakers :)

The idea would be to chase the cables into the wall and take them down to a connection plate/box at a convenient location  - I can imagine the kind of thing (bit like a tv aerial connector plate, but for speakers), but don't know if it exists...   :-/.  

Anyone done something similar?
Title: Re: Ceiling Speakers
Post by: doog on 27 January 2009, 21:34:56
yes
i have my rear effects speakers for my av system wired through the walls and they go to a surface mounted box with 2 pairs of banana plug sockets on them  and i just use short tails from the amp to the socket

if you understand what i mean
if not i can provide pictures

socket plate is something like this
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SPEAKER-WALL-OUTLET-CABLE-PLATE-4-x-BANANA-SOCKETS_W0QQitemZ350147057411QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Computing_CablesConnectors_RL?hash=item350147057411&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1683|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318

Doug
Title: Re: Ceiling Speakers
Post by: ians on 27 January 2009, 21:54:27
Thats just the kind of thing :y

Do you know anything about speakers as such - makes etc.  I'm not looking for hi-end hifi, just something decent and that looks discreet.

Cheers
Ian

Title: Re: Ceiling Speakers
Post by: Bumbazor on 27 January 2009, 22:07:40
I did this in my kitchen with two small tweeters and one large mid with two inputs. Sounds great, and the vibration of the ceiling adds a bit to the volume of the sound too!

I got all the bits from CPC: http://www.cpc.co.uk

Just make sure if you want to use an output from your hifi you don't get a 100v speaker as these are designed for 100v signals. Most ceiling speakers are for commercial premises which nearly always use 100v for their pa systems, and therefore the abundance of 100v speakers to match.

I might actually have a spare speaker I didn't use. It's in my loft I think. Do you want me to check? I can upload pics if you like too.
Title: Re: Ceiling Speakers
Post by: Pipsqueak on 27 January 2009, 22:39:33
I was looking at these earlier to day with the same idea as you.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=370109386581
Title: Re: Ceiling Speakers
Post by: ians on 27 January 2009, 23:02:49
yes that's what i was thinking of PiP

Bumbazor - would be interested to know what your setup is.   Looking at the cpc site it seems like you can pay from a tenner a speaker.   Would be useful to know what to pay for decent sound.

I was thinking of the round single speakers
eg http://cpc.farnell.com/dnh/b640/ceiling-speaker-8ohm/dp/LS01894
 - four of them towards the corners of the room. Does that make sense?
Title: Re: Ceiling Speakers
Post by: Bumbazor on 28 January 2009, 12:07:46
Like I said I've got two tweeters and one mid with two inputs (therefore keeping stereo).

They are amplified from a small wall mounted 30A kit from Maplin, which is fed by the usual 1v p-p line out from a pre-amp elsewhere in the house, with phono connections for left and right channels. It means I could plug something else with a line out into it if I wanted, like a TV or DVD player if I ever want one in the kitchen.

Title: Re: Ceiling Speakers
Post by: doog on 28 January 2009, 13:38:38
Quote
Thats just the kind of thing :y

Do you know anything about speakers as such - makes etc.  I'm not looking for hi-end hifi, just something decent and that looks discreet.

Cheers
Ian


I know Linn did a nice set of ceiling mounted speakers a few years back  dont know if they still do or not

Doug
Title: Re: Ceiling Speakers
Post by: Kevin Wood on 28 January 2009, 13:57:08
Quote
Quote
Thats just the kind of thing :y

Do you know anything about speakers as such - makes etc.  I'm not looking for hi-end hifi, just something decent and that looks discreet.

Cheers
Ian


I know Linn did a nice set of ceiling mounted speakers a few years back  dont know if they still do or not

Doug

A mate of mine used some speakers designed for a marine environment in a similar situation - in his bathroom.

Kevin
Title: Re: Ceiling Speakers
Post by: Richie London on 28 January 2009, 14:01:03
Quote
I need to re-plasterboard our kitchen ceiling and as well as rearranging the lighting, I'm considering installing some flush ceiling mounted speakers :)

The idea would be to chase the cables into the wall and take them down to a connection plate/box at a convenient location  - I can imagine the kind of thing (bit like a tv aerial connector plate, but for speakers), but don't know if it exists...   :-/.  

Anyone done something similar?
i was given about 12 ceiling speakers from a shop last yr but left them behind and some bstrd nicked them, they do look good and sound well in the ceiling. go for it m8  :y :y
Title: Re: Ceiling Speakers
Post by: Mr Skrunts on 28 January 2009, 14:42:25
http://shop.ebay.co.uk/items/__ceiling-speaker_W0QQQ5ftrkparmsZ66Q253A4Q257C65Q253A3Q257C39Q253A1QQ_sopZ2QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14?_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

Some interesting ones on offer, dont understand what the 100v system is about though.
Title: Re: Ceiling Speakers
Post by: STMO123 on 28 January 2009, 15:06:02
The ones in morrisons sound crap.
Title: Re: Ceiling Speakers
Post by: Gaffers on 28 January 2009, 15:12:30
I have put the rear speakers on my panasonic amp in a parallel curcuit and wired it into the kitchen.  I cant mount speakers in teh ceiling because I move house every 2 years.  I went to Radio Shack and made a nice volume control box with on/off that screws onto the wall (not flush mounted)  the result is the dogs 'dangle berries'.  So that when we are cooking we can put some music on and boogie away!

I had to put the control box in there so that when I play my games the kitchen doesnt sound like a war zone!  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Ceiling Speakers
Post by: Kevin Wood on 28 January 2009, 15:18:21
Quote
http://shop.ebay.co.uk/items/__ceiling-speaker_W0QQQ5ftrkparmsZ66Q253A4Q257C65Q253A3Q257C39Q253A1QQ_sopZ2QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14?_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

Some interesting ones on offer, dont understand what the 100v system is about though.

PA systems and building sound systems with large numbers of speakers of different power ratings distribute the signal at a higher voltage so that long lengths of wire do not result in as much loss. In addition, the voltage is standardised at 100v so that different sensitivities and power ratings of speaker can be mixed as required. For example, a 4 watt speaker such as might be used in a toilet cubicle will take 4 watts of power when fed with 100 volts. A 100w speaker positioned in a large hall will draw 100 watts when connected to exactly the same signal, etc.

Normally 100 volt speakers have a transformer on the back (have a careful look at some of the pictures on ebay) of them to convert the signal to an appropriate impedance and power level to match the speaker, so often you can ditch the transformer and use them, but best to buy a conventional speaker for domestic use.

Kevin
Title: Re: Ceiling Speakers
Post by: ians on 28 January 2009, 22:48:54
Quote
The ones in morrisons sound crap.

Yes they do, but that gave me an idea - maybe I should wire up a mike in the garage so I can tell mrs ians when to put a brew on.. :)

I know Linn do some impressive multiroom stuff, but that is a bit beyond the budget I had in mind ::)

Sounds like its worth giving this a go.  I rather fancy hooking it up to something like one of those neat Denon DAB/MP3 systems that Richer Sounds had a while back.