In-ceiling speaker installation (Houston: new house, buy, theater)

[cla]

I am finally getting ready to set up a home theater system after having built over 4 years ago. I recently ordered a 60" Panasonic at a great price, and a Yamaha receiver at an excellent price.

I am now looking at speakers (must be in-ceiling - I am not an audiophile, so don't hate me cuz I don't want speakers on my family room floor - it would be different if this were a media room). I have just about settled on some quality Speakercraft speakers for my 5.1 install, however. And I can buy them online for half what a big-box store would sell them for. The remaining speakers in the house can be much less expensive - they will just be for background music.

The house is already pre-wired. I just need to have the speakers installed (can't do it myself - I suffer from vertigo). I am sure most home theater installers want to be able to sell you the equipment, so I am not sure if they'll come out just for a speaker installation. I do have a co-worker who has offered to do the installation, but I really would prefer someone with experience, especially since the speakers are aimable with aimable tweeters as well.

Anyone have any advice for me?

Thanks in advance!

[d2mini]

My opinion in your case is that you got good deals on the other equipment, so I would go to the Home Theater Store or another high end reputable place and talk to them. They will sell you proper speakers for your particular space and do the install. With a warranty.

[cla]

Originally Posted by d2mini

My opinion in your case is that you got good deals on the other equipment, so I would go to the Home Theater Store or another high end reputable place and talk to them. They will sell you proper speakers for your particular space and do the install. With a warranty.

I still busted my budget on those two items - I opted for a slightly larger tv and though I was looking for a mid-range receiver, the price on the top-of-the-line flagship yamaha was so good that I couldn't pass it up, even though it was almost double what I was hoping to pay. My budget for speakers and a sub-woofer is dwindling.

But I did find a company in Houston that will just do the installation and has prices on their website. Anyone have any experience with them?

Prices and Services | Houston Custom Installers

[RVD26]

Originally Posted by cla

I still busted my budget on those two items - I opted for a slightly larger tv and though I was looking for a mid-range receiver, the price on the top-of-the-line flagship yamaha was so good that I couldn't pass it up, even though it was almost double what I was hoping to pay. My budget for speakers and a sub-woofer is dwindling.

But I did find a company in Houston that will just do the installation and has prices on their website. Anyone have any experience with them?

Prices and Services | Houston Custom Installers

If you're going to splurge on anything for a home theater setup, it should be the receiver...so no problems there.
In terms of the installation you may want to consider just hiring a handyman company to do it.
Some of these install companies are just rip-offs.
I just checked the website you linked and they charge $119 to just to program a Harmony Remote...wow.

[cla]

I think I will go with the diy route (rather have a friend dih). I'd rather put the money into better speakers for the tv than labor. Even if the setup isn't perfect, the aimable speakers/tweeters can be played with until it's just right.

Thanks

[piyf]

Installing them is a cake walk. I installed about 5 in my last home around the house to listen to music. You're not going to get good bass out of them but they will sound crisp. I bought some Yamaha ones that can be had at Worst Buy or Frys. They come with a template to cut the hole and all you need is a little hand saw for sheetrock. The hard part is getting in the attic and running the speaker wire. I did mine in the summer which wasn't fun.

I had some like these

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Yamaha+-...aker&cp=1&lp=3

[HoustonRonnie]

All ceiling speakers come with a template for the cutouts. All you have to do is get a keyhole saw and make sure you cut between the ceiling studs. EZ Pleazy.

Ronnie

[mikehtown]

My contractor installed mine as part of our remodel. I'm no audiophile so I bought klipsch for the front channels and cheaper jbl for surround and rear.

[Lije Baley]

I don't mean to sound like a snooty audiophile but I think ceiling-mounted speakers have got to be one of the worst places for a surround or stereo sound system, no matter what price point one is working with.

I know you said you weren't an audiophile but to me, this isn't a question of quality but rather a question of, well, it just won't work right because IMO that type of configuration is mostly just going to result in a glorified P.A. system, not an actual HT system. That's because the image (the TV) and the sound will be emanating from totally different locations - not good! Doesn't matter that the speakers are aimable either. Then I became more upset when I read the part about a top-of-the-line $X,XXX receiver being used with them, ooooh what a waste IMO!

BTW I strongly believe speakers make the most difference by far in any audio system, and while amplification (receiver in this case) and sources like CD players can also alter the sound, their contribution is much less noticeable IMO.

As a 80% solution for this (if that makes sense), if you possibly can, I would highly recommend using in-wall speakers or quality standalone models on brackets for the front three channels*, and arrange them around the TV in their proper places. And while having surround channels in the ceiling isn't optimum, at least voices and the majority of the soundtrack - but especially the voices! - will be properly matched up with the on-screen action.


* I don't know how large your room is or how loud you listen to music/movies, but generally speaking I don't recommend using any speaker, no matter how small the room is, that uses anything smaller than one 5.25" woofer or dual 4" woofers. Actually I feel better advising one 6.5" or dual 5.25" woofers for the average living room but know these days audio gear is supposed to be "heard and not seen" but the laws of physics are not into the latest fashions........

[d2mini]

Originally Posted by Lije Baley

As a 80% solution for this (if that makes sense), if you possibly can, I would highly recommend using in-wall speakers or quality standalone models on brackets for the front three channels*, and arrange them around the TV in their proper places. And while having surround channels in the ceiling isn't optimum, at least voices and the majority of the soundtrack - but especially the voices! - will be properly matched up with the on-screen action.

This is how my builder does it.
I thought the exact same thing about the ceiling position not being very good, but like you say, at least it's secondary for the rear.

Here's some in-walls you might want to consider.
Aperion Audio In-Wall, In-Ceiling & Outdoor Speakers
I have their bookshelf speakers and they are outstanding for the price.
They got great reviews by the audiophile community.
You even get a 30 day free trial with free shipping both ways, and a 10 year warranty.
I'm probably going to try out the in-walls in our new house.