The Best Ceiling Speakers of 2024
Good ceiling speakers should be easy to install
Erika Rawes has written for Digital Trends, USA Today, and Cheatsheet.com, and tested dozens of consumer technology products for multiple technology websites. " tabindex="0" data-inline-tooltip="true"> Erica Laves Erica LavesErika Rawes has written for Digital Trends, USA Today, and Cheatsheet.com, and tested dozens of consumer technology products for multiple technology websites.
lifewire's Editorial Guidelines updated on February 23, 2024 Rich Sher
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Moisture proof
appear in pairs
Adjustable tweeter
Connection clamp instead of cylinder
Non-magnetic grille
Made from moisture-resistant, durable materials, the Polk Audio RC80i can be used indoors or in a sauna or porch area (although not suitable for outdoor use). We chose them as our top picks because they offer design and sound quality advantages but cost significantly less than high-end speakers.
Our product tester Erika found the RC80i to have excellent sound quality that rivals speakers costing twice as much. They produce warm, room-filling sound and are adjustable on a 15-degree swivel stand, so it's easy to hit the sound exactly where you want it. Their white color helps them blend in, making them barely noticeable on a white ceiling, but if it's a different color you can paint the grilles to match the ceiling (although the grilles are not magnetic) . They also come in pairs.
Channels : L and R | Bluetooth : No | Physical Connection : Push-Down Spring Clamp | Paintable/Magnetic Grill : Paintable | Waterproof : Moisture Resistant
Paintable grille
Good mids and bass
Easy to install
More expensive than some other Polk options
Dubbed the 'Disappearing Series', the Polk Audio 70-RT is a single speaker with an ultra-thin grille that magnetically holds the speaker together while protruding just 7mm from the ceiling. This makes the speaker virtually unnoticeable from a distance.
Despite its small diameter, it sounds good overall, with a strong sound profile.
Channels : L and R | Bluetooth : No | Physical Connection : Spring Loaded Cylinder | Paintable/Magnetic Grill : Paintable and Magnetic | Waterproof : None
Very affordable
The sound is pretty good
Easy to install
Non-magnetic grille
Designed for wall or ceiling mounting, the Pyle PDIC60 speakers are as affordable as possible while still getting a decent ceiling speaker. They come with a pair of 6.5-inch speakers, and while you don't get upgrades like magnetic grilles, and the sound isn't as powerful as more expensive speakers, they still serve as an upgrade over most regular TV speakers. They are also a good choice for the kitchen or other areas of the home. However, we wouldn't recommend these products to those who want premium home theater speakers.
The bass from the Pyle is decent, but it does distort slightly when you turn the volume up to maximum, so if you want full bass, you're better off getting a separate, affordable subwoofer.
Channels : L and R | Bluetooth : No | Physical connection : Push-down spring clip | Paintable/Magnetic grill : Paintable | Waterproof : None
extraordinary sound
Gorgeous design
Quality build
Doesn't pair well with non-Klipsch speakers
This Klipsch series is a favorite of our reviewers because the speakers sound so good. The CDT-5650-ii is expensive and is only a speaker.
Audio is crisp and accurate, with highlights being the mids and bass. There's also surprising bass, which is unexpected for a ceiling speaker.
Keep in mind that you'll need to buy at least two stereos, as they won't sound as good paired with non-Klipsch speakers.
Channels : L and R | Bluetooth : No | Physical Connection : Spring Clamp | Paintable/Magnetic Grill : Paintable and Magnetic | Waterproof : None
set of five
Low Profile Paintable Grille
value for money
Push down clamp connection
The Acoustic Audio CS-IC83 is a nice set of five solid entry-level home theater ceiling speakers.
As with most ceiling speakers, if you like big bass, you'll want to add a separate subwoofer.
Paintable frames and grilles are easy to install and provide the flexibility to change the appearance to match your home's paint color.
Channels : L and R | Bluetooth : No | Physical connection : Push-down spring clip | Paintable/Magnetic grill : Paintable | Waterproof : None
appear in pairs
Perfectly integrated with the ceiling
Magnetic grid
expensive
The Bose 791 speaker is 7 inches wide and features Bose's signature Stereo Everywhere technology to balance sound throughout the room.
Easy installation with an ultra-thin bezel allows this Bose model to be plugged directly into the ceiling (via pre-cut holes) and held in place with dogleg clips. They have a removable speaker grille that can be removed and painted to suit your room's décor. As with the Bose 591, we appreciate the Bose 791's design and build quality.
Channels : L and R | Bluetooth : No | Physical Connection : Spring Loaded Cylinder | Paintable/Magnetic Grill : Paintable and Magnetic | Waterproof : None
If you want your speakers to be as discreet as possible, choose a style that matches the color of your room. Paintable grilles allow you to match the color of your in-ceiling speakers to the color of your ceiling, while the low-profile design helps the speakers blend in.
"The size of the room in which you want to install your ceiling speakers will determine the type you choose. In-ceiling speakers come in two different sizes: 6.5 inches and 8 inches. Smaller speakers are generally suitable for small to medium-sized rooms. 8-inch ceiling speakers Speakers are better suited for larger rooms because the bass volume is higher,” says HomeHow designer Sylvia James.
This is not a big deal if you pay for professional installation. However, if you're installing these ceiling speakers yourself, you'll want to choose a model that has simple instructions for easy installation, with dog-leg clamps and a template for cutting the holes. The last thing you want to do is accidentally cut too big a hole for a speaker, so pay attention to how easy it is to install the speakers you're interested in.
When choosing ceiling speakers, you may have to balance price and sound quality. The question is, how much are you willing to pay for great sound? You can choose stereo and use just a pair of speakers, or go for a full surround-sound setup with five speakers and a subwoofer. Also, pay attention to metrics like frequency response, which indicates the range of tones a speaker can produce.
FAQYes, although it's not always possible, you need to keep the cables connecting your speakers and receiver as short as possible to get the best audio quality. However, unless they are 25 feet or more away from your receiver, your sound quality won't be affected much. You should use 14-gauge cable for any wired speakers, and 12-gauge cable for any speakers located more than 25 feet from the receiver.
Best Buy does offer wall and ceiling speaker installation through Geek Squad. You can talk to a Best Buy home expert for a free estimate on installation costs. Best Buy will do everything from installing and securing the speakers, hiding wires, organizing cables, positioning the speakers properly and showing you how to use them.
