New Kitchen Ceiling Speaker Stereo
Discussion
Hi All
I was looking for some advice. I am looking at having my kitchen renovated in the coming year and would like to add a sound system. Looking at the initial design, there is nowhere to easily and neatly mount traditional box speakers.
I'm therefore thinking of having a pair of stereo ceiling speakers installed with and amp hidden somewhere.
I'm thinking something along the lines of a Mission 778X or Monitor Audio IA40-3 amp with a pair of as yet to be determined speakers. The idea of not having a streamer is that I can then add a Wiim Mini or similar to get that functionality if I want to later.
My first question is does that sound like a reasonable small system? I'm not looking for earth shaking music. It'll probably be playing from spotify or tidal mainly.
Secondly, I've never heard a ceiling mounted stereo system. Can a system be listened to in a shop as one might test a tradional setup in an audio shop? I would assume not, but would like to hear a system before buying if possible.
Any thoughts appreciated!
I was looking for some advice. I am looking at having my kitchen renovated in the coming year and would like to add a sound system. Looking at the initial design, there is nowhere to easily and neatly mount traditional box speakers.
I'm therefore thinking of having a pair of stereo ceiling speakers installed with and amp hidden somewhere.
I'm thinking something along the lines of a Mission 778X or Monitor Audio IA40-3 amp with a pair of as yet to be determined speakers. The idea of not having a streamer is that I can then add a Wiim Mini or similar to get that functionality if I want to later.
My first question is does that sound like a reasonable small system? I'm not looking for earth shaking music. It'll probably be playing from spotify or tidal mainly.
Secondly, I've never heard a ceiling mounted stereo system. Can a system be listened to in a shop as one might test a tradional setup in an audio shop? I would assume not, but would like to hear a system before buying if possible.
Any thoughts appreciated!
I went for a single Monitor Audio ceiling speaker. They do one that accepts a stereo input, and has a pair of tweeters that fire slightly sideways.
Speaker wires terminate in an RCA/phono panel to match the 13A sockets.
I did consider hiding an amp in the ceiling, but went for a Tangent BT amp.
Sources are the TV (32", on a cantiler bracket), a Roku 2, and an Echo Show.
The whole lot fits nicely in the corner on the worktop.
Speaker wires terminate in an RCA/phono panel to match the 13A sockets.
I did consider hiding an amp in the ceiling, but went for a Tangent BT amp.
Sources are the TV (32", on a cantiler bracket), a Roku 2, and an Echo Show.
The whole lot fits nicely in the corner on the worktop.
clockworks said:
I went for a single Monitor Audio ceiling speaker. They do one that accepts a stereo input, and has a pair of tweeters that fire slightly sideways.
Speaker wires terminate in an RCA/phono panel to match the 13A sockets.
I did consider hiding an amp in the ceiling, but went for a Tangent BT amp.
Sources are the TV (32", on a cantiler bracket), a Roku 2, and an Echo Show.
The whole lot fits nicely in the corner on the worktop.
Thanks for the reply. Speaker wires terminate in an RCA/phono panel to match the 13A sockets.
I did consider hiding an amp in the ceiling, but went for a Tangent BT amp.
Sources are the TV (32", on a cantiler bracket), a Roku 2, and an Echo Show.
The whole lot fits nicely in the corner on the worktop.
Were you able to listen to the setup in a shop at all before installing it, or did you just have to go on faith that it would be what you were after?
I've never been impressed by ceiling speakers, but maybe I've not yet met the good ones.
We have a pair of Wharfedale bookshelf speakers at the dining end of the kitchen, so reasonably out of the steam from cooking.
Source is hifi in another room or Bluetooth from phones or ipad.
Definitely worth doing, we use it a lot.
You want a reasonable amount of volume, to overcome the background of the cooker hood fan etc, which maybe means anorak hifi quality isn't needed, but you still want something that's not driven into distortion.
Also issues with ceiling speakers may be vapour barrier integrity and fire rating if you're in a 3 storey house, also do they become floor speakers for the room above? I'm sure that's all capable of being sorted, but best done at the design stage?
We have a pair of Wharfedale bookshelf speakers at the dining end of the kitchen, so reasonably out of the steam from cooking.
Source is hifi in another room or Bluetooth from phones or ipad.
Definitely worth doing, we use it a lot.
You want a reasonable amount of volume, to overcome the background of the cooker hood fan etc, which maybe means anorak hifi quality isn't needed, but you still want something that's not driven into distortion.
Also issues with ceiling speakers may be vapour barrier integrity and fire rating if you're in a 3 storey house, also do they become floor speakers for the room above? I'm sure that's all capable of being sorted, but best done at the design stage?
Lewis's Friend said:
Thanks for the reply.
Were you able to listen to the setup in a shop at all before installing it, or did you just have to go on faith that it would be what you were after?
No chance of listening to this kind of setup anywhere near me in West Cornwall. There are still a couple of hifi shops, but they tend to concentrate on high-end stuff. Richer Sounds sell this type of kit, no idea if they can actually demo it though.Were you able to listen to the setup in a shop at all before installing it, or did you just have to go on faith that it would be what you were after?
It was hard enough to get good demos of traditional hifi 20+ years ago. I used to go to Grahams in London when I lived in Milton Keynes - the only shop I could find that did proper demos with no hard sell or rushing.
Other shops, I'd have a short demo, then try and borrow stuff to listen at home for a few days.
I think ceiling speakers would be very difficult to demo, and probably sound totally different when you got them installed at home anyway - so many variables.
I went with Monitor Audio after reading reviews - seemed to offer the best balance of sound quality v price.
Very happy with the setup in the kitchen, so I chose Monitor Audio again for a discrete-looking install in my lounge - SB3 passive soundbar and a pair of ceiling speakers for the rear, supplemented by the Quad sub that I aleady had, and a pair of Polk Atmos speakers that were on offer for £30 when I upgraded the receiver. Very happy with this setup too.
I was doing a house refurbish about 8 years ago
I had the opportunity while the ceilings were down to put ceiling speakers in.
I went on flea bay and bought 6 round Bose pa speakers that you get in shopping centers, airports etc. two in the kitchen , 2 in the dining room and two front for the living room tv system.
They were wired , nothing fancy like Bluetooth etc.
I run the cables into the under-stairs cupboard and a splitter before it got to the amp,
Originally I just pushed the button for the kitchen or dining hall or left it on both
A good sound and no problems. It depends on how far apart they are in how good you want the stereo
I suppose now you can have Bluetooth speakers and stream the music of your choice
It wasn't rocket science
I had the opportunity while the ceilings were down to put ceiling speakers in.
I went on flea bay and bought 6 round Bose pa speakers that you get in shopping centers, airports etc. two in the kitchen , 2 in the dining room and two front for the living room tv system.
They were wired , nothing fancy like Bluetooth etc.
I run the cables into the under-stairs cupboard and a splitter before it got to the amp,
Originally I just pushed the button for the kitchen or dining hall or left it on both
A good sound and no problems. It depends on how far apart they are in how good you want the stereo
I suppose now you can have Bluetooth speakers and stream the music of your choice
It wasn't rocket science
Thanks again for the feedback all.
Unfortunately with the new kitchen/diner layout I don't think there is anywhere for normal speakers to go apart from across the room as far as it is possible to go... As I will be the main listener, and that while cooking, I think a couple of speakers in the ceiling are neater. And hopefully sound OK too of course. I'm not one to be too involved in top sound etc, and a kitchen hardly seems the place to get that anyway, but decent sound at a reasonable volume is the aim.
I understand that ceiling speakers can be found that are moisture and fire resistant, and also I'll be fitting fire/acoustic hoods over them in the ceiling void.
Again, I don't actually know how much sound transmits to the floor above. Hopefully not too much, though at least it will be in the floor of the spare room so I trust that won't be too much of an issue....!
Unfortunately with the new kitchen/diner layout I don't think there is anywhere for normal speakers to go apart from across the room as far as it is possible to go... As I will be the main listener, and that while cooking, I think a couple of speakers in the ceiling are neater. And hopefully sound OK too of course. I'm not one to be too involved in top sound etc, and a kitchen hardly seems the place to get that anyway, but decent sound at a reasonable volume is the aim.
I understand that ceiling speakers can be found that are moisture and fire resistant, and also I'll be fitting fire/acoustic hoods over them in the ceiling void.
Again, I don't actually know how much sound transmits to the floor above. Hopefully not too much, though at least it will be in the floor of the spare room so I trust that won't be too much of an issue....!
Hey OP
Not sure what your budget is but I'm very happy with what we did. Had to replace a mid tier system in the kitchen / conservatory (old system was Audiolab 8000S, Blusound Streamer and a pair of B&W CM8's).
Old
New
So I'm using 2 pairs of these.
https://totemacoustic.com/product/kin-architectura...
I did install a small(ish) SVS sub as I'm a bit of a Bass head and bass in small amounts tamed an otherwise bright sounding room.
I'm guessing if you're starting a new project you can decide which way you want to go. I went passive as it had to replace a pretty decent system. However if you just want background music then the BT based speakers will be a lot easier to install.
Best of luck!
T1b
Not sure what your budget is but I'm very happy with what we did. Had to replace a mid tier system in the kitchen / conservatory (old system was Audiolab 8000S, Blusound Streamer and a pair of B&W CM8's).
Old
New
So I'm using 2 pairs of these.
https://totemacoustic.com/product/kin-architectura...
I did install a small(ish) SVS sub as I'm a bit of a Bass head and bass in small amounts tamed an otherwise bright sounding room.
I'm guessing if you're starting a new project you can decide which way you want to go. I went passive as it had to replace a pretty decent system. However if you just want background music then the BT based speakers will be a lot easier to install.
Best of luck!
T1b
Edited by T1berious on Sunday 24th December 21:25
I installed a pair of Monitor Audio ceiling speakers in my kitchen and another pair in the bathroom about 10 years ago. They are powered by a pair of Sonos Amps both hidden away. The kitchen ones get used every day. The Sonos Amps are kind of expensive these days, if I was installing them now I’d probably use a Bluesound Powernode Edge or WiiM Amp.
https://www.ceiling-speakers.co.uk/collections/mon...
I’m just about to move into a new house and have treated myself to a whole house Bang & Olufsen system with a Beosound Balance for the kitchen that I expect will raise the bar compared to the current ceiling speakers. Kitchens have a lot of hard surfaces which make them less than ideal listening environments, the active room compensation of the Balance should help.
https://www.ceiling-speakers.co.uk/collections/mon...
I’m just about to move into a new house and have treated myself to a whole house Bang & Olufsen system with a Beosound Balance for the kitchen that I expect will raise the bar compared to the current ceiling speakers. Kitchens have a lot of hard surfaces which make them less than ideal listening environments, the active room compensation of the Balance should help.
Edited by paralla on Monday 25th December 22:54
Thanks once again for the feedback.
T1berious - your kitchen looks lovely. I will say though that you're midrange system that you've just got rid of is more than my budget, let alone your new setup!
My thinking was also that, as said, a kitchen is a very imperfect sound stage so going too bad with the system is probably not good value.
I've heard good things about Monitor Audio, so may give them a look.
T1berious - your kitchen looks lovely. I will say though that you're midrange system that you've just got rid of is more than my budget, let alone your new setup!
My thinking was also that, as said, a kitchen is a very imperfect sound stage so going too bad with the system is probably not good value.
I've heard good things about Monitor Audio, so may give them a look.
Lewis's Friend said:
I understand that ceiling speakers can be found that are moisture and fire resistant, and also I'll be fitting fire/acoustic hoods over them in the ceiling void.
Again, I don't actually know how much sound transmits to the floor above. Hopefully not too much, though at least it will be in the floor of the spare room so I trust that won't be too much of an issue....!
Good idea on the hoods.Again, I don't actually know how much sound transmits to the floor above. Hopefully not too much, though at least it will be in the floor of the spare room so I trust that won't be too much of an issue....!
On the sound transmission, it's not much BUT when I did some listening tests it was enough for me to deactivate Atmos with my daughter sleeping above my living room. I have hoods (can't remember which brand but it was the one everyone on AV Forums seemed to be using), with thick underlay and carpet on the floor above.
Worth noting that Atmos is mostly transient sounds whereas music, being continuous, could be more acceptable to sleeping children and the like.
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