I wanted to install some speakers in the kids upstairs “playroom”, because until now any music they wanted to listen to was from their ipods and portable stereos. Having written about our in-ceiling speakers a few times, I knew it was time I had some installed. As they were being installed, I thought that I’d just insert myself into the process and take some photos so you can see how it’s done.
When the speaker came out of the box, it had a few little things in it, including what looked to me like a stretched out paperclip. This was a small metal hook which allowed the speaker grill to be removed carefully.
Beneath the grill, you can see the speaker tweeter and cone. This particular model (XD6204) also allows for bass & treble controls, which give me another level of control which is quite handy.
Within the box is a perforated circle of cardboard, which is used as a guide and allows your installer to give you a visual idea where your speaker will be located. My installer measured in from both walls, and then did the same on the other side of the room, so the speakers were symmetrical. Taking that little extra time to measure will give you a much more aesthetically pleasing result. Especially knowing that I had selected in ceiling speakers to be discreet, I didn’t want them to catch my eye as being uneven.
My installer then cut a circular hole using the pencil mark traced from the cardboard guide with a plaster saw. He ran a length of speaker cable from my receiver, which is located in the cupboard under my stairs up into the roof cavity. (I’m really glad it was him and not me up in the roof) As you can see, the cable was then accessible through the hole.
TIP: Avoid damaging the 4 black clips that will be used to secure the mount in the ceiling by loosening them off with your screwdriver while you are preparing the speaker. Unwind until they are able to move freely.
Then the speaker cables need to be connected. Stripping back 8-10 mm of cable sheath, insert the positive into the positive connector and the negative into the negative connector.
Then the speaker can be neatly inserted into the ceiling. The tweeter can be adjusted to direct toward the desired listening position, so we have set ours to project toward the centre of the room. When you have positioned the speaker in the ceiling, screw them into place, which will tighten the clips you loosened previously, giving you a firm and secure fit.
My new speakers look and sound great. Oh, and the kids think they’re cool too!
To speak with a Selby Tech about installing speakers in your ceiling, please call 1800 69 2225
