How to install Wall and Ceiling Speakers

Installing wall and ceiling speakers in your home can be the foundation for a

whole-house audio system or a sound system for your home theater room.

In-wall speakers make great sound effects as the surround channel speakers.

They can be installed in hallways and under soffits outside the perimeter of your

home. In-wall speakers can be installed in both new construction and into

existing homes. Unlike regular boxed speakers, in-wall speakers don’t stick out

and are not easily noticed by visitors.

Plan the location and running cable

Start by selecting a location for the speakers. They can be installed in the ceiling

or in a wall. There is not too much difference between the sound quality of the

two different types of installations. Much of your decision will be based on the

ease of getting wires to the speakers and obstructions.

The first task will be getting speaker cable to the planned location. Be sure to

use only Class-2 or higher rated cable. In new construction, before the walls go up,

the electrical inspector will check all your wiring, including low-voltage lines like

speaker cable. These cables have the UL Class 2 number clearly imprinted on

the sheath of the cable.

In many cases, it will be necessary to drill into

framing to run the cables. Drill holes in these

pieces directly in the center. When running

speaker cables or any low-voltage cable, be sure

to avoid running the cables near regular

electricity lines. We recommend that the cables

be at least 16 inches from parallel runs of AC

cables. Where the cable must cross each other,

cross them at 90-degree angles. Do not use the

same holes drilled in the framing that are used

for the electrical wires. For wall speaker

installations, use a wall cavity (the area between the studs) that does not have an

electrical cable running down the top plate to an electrical outlet in that cavity.

In a home with finished walls, using a Fish Tape can

aid in the running the wires. You can run the wire

before making holes in the wall or after cutting out the

opening; it’s your choice. You will also find it nearly

impossible to run wires in exterior walls because the

of installed insulation and fire stops.

Another wiring option is to use Tape Wire. This wire

can be run along floors and walls between the

amplifier and the speaker. Once installed, cover the

Tape Wire with a thin coat of dry-wall compound,

Spackle, or plaster. Once textured and painted, no

one will notice.

In new construction, we recommend

running the cable to the proposed

location of speaker and coiling up five to

six feet of cable. It’s easy to cut off the

extra cable, but if you run short, you’ll

discover that cable does not stretch at

all! After the drywall is installed and

then painted, you can go back and finish

the installation. Another alternative

available on some speakers is to use a

Rough-in Bracket. It will be nailed to the

wall studs. Later, the drywall installers

will cut an opening in the wallboard for

the bracket. After the painters finish, it’s just a matter of attaching the speaker

wires and screwing in the speaker.

Making holes in the walls

In this step, you will lay out the holes that must be cut to

accommodate the speakers. Careful planning must be done in

this step or you could end up with an ugly hole on the wall.

Use a Stud Finder to locate the framing around the speaker. If

this is new construction, a sketch of the wall with dimensions

from the sides can help you remember what the wall’s framing

looks like. At this point, it may have been several months

since you dropped in the cable before the walls went up.

Check the speaker’s instructions for the minimum clearance

needed to install the speaker. Most speakers need at least

one or two inches of free space around the opening for

mounting. Ideally placing the speaker in the direct center

between the studs is the best course of action.

Use a pencil to outline the area to be cut.

Once the outline is marked on the wall, begin cutting out

the wall material. Use a drywall saw or a keyhole saw

to remove the material. Take your time and go slowly –

a mistake can ruin the project. Wallboard is pretty easy

to cut and if you are a little on the big side, the

speaker’s outer frame will cover any minor over-cuts.

Remove the center section you have cut out and place

it in a safe location. Why do this? In case you have

made a mistake and have to repair the wall. If for

some reason the hole you have made can’t

accommodate the speaker, it will have to be patched.

Despite the best planning, after opening the wall a

water pipe or heating duct could be revealed. It’s not

likely to happen, but better to play it safe and save the

cutout until the project is completed.

Reach inside the wall cavity and find the speaker

cable you previously installed. If you did not prewire

prior to this step, now’s the time to run the

wires. One optional step at this point is to install

some fiberglass insulation to improve the speaker’s

sound.

Installing the Speaker into the

Wall

Install the bracket for the speaker if

one is included.

Some units have clamps that hold

the speaker to the wall from the

inside of the wall.

Strip the insulation for the speaker cable and

attach to the input jacks on the speaker. If the

wires are connected to an audio source, test

your speaker now. It’s easier to fix a glitch now

instead of after the speaker has been installed

and painted!

Slide the speaker into the opening.

Center the speaker in the cut-out and

evenly tighten the screws. For final

tightening, use a manual screwdriver.

The speaker’s plastic case may crack or

be distorted if over tightened by an

electric screwdriver.

Finishing Touches

Press the grille onto the speaker and perform a final

test. If you like, the grilles can be painted to match

the walls. Use a well-thinned paint and try not to

block the grille’s holes as it will diminish the sound

quality. High quality spray paint produces the best

results.

That’s it! With your new speakers installed you can

enjoy high quality sound from recessed speakers in

that room.

If you don’t feel that you have the skill set to install

in-wall speakers, there are professionals that can

help. Electricians, custom stereo installers, and

phone system installers all have the skill set to run

cables through the walls. Another alternative is a

general handyman. The local home improvement

center is a good place to pick up a few names of folks in your town who can help.

CUTOUT SIZES（inches）