Hanging speakers from the ceiling is not an easy task. It requires a certain set of skills, appropriate hardware, and most importantly, lots of planning and hard work.
Numerous factors affect the exact procedure and hardware you have to use for this project. Things will not be the same for every speaker model, every ceiling type, or every purpose.
In this post, I will try to explain the process of hanging speakers from the ceiling in detail. I will address all the factors that need to be considered before the installation, analyze different mounting options, and give you a step-by-step guide on how to properly and safely hang speakers from the ceiling.
Key Takeaways
- Installing in-ceiling speakers is much easier, safer, and more convenient than hanging the speakers from the ceiling. If you don’t have the speakers yet and you only want to use them as height channels in your home theater system, consider getting in-ceiling speakers instead of hanging bookshelf speakers.
- It is much easier to hang speakers that already have mounting brackets or threaded inserts than speakers that are not supposed to be mounted.
- The first thing to consider when hanging a speaker from the ceiling is the ceiling mount. Not all mounts are compatible with all speakers, so you need to find the one compatible with your speaker model.
- It is not recommended to screw ceiling mounts into drywall. The drywall can’t handle that much weight (maybe up to 15 or 20 lbs). Always use joists and blockings in the ceiling to hang speakers safely.
Recommended Reading :
Can You Use Just Any Speaker as a Ceiling Speaker?
Technically, you can. However, if the speaker was not designed to be mounted on a wall or ceiling, you will have to make serious modifications to the speaker’s enclosure. You will have to drill holes in the speaker’s cabinet, which could damage the internal components or affect the acoustic properties of the speaker.
If you ask me, I’d suggest that you only use mountable speakers. That includes speakers with preinstalled threaded inserts, speakers with mounting brackets, or in-ceiling speakers.
If your speaker doesn’t have mounting brackets or threaded inserts, it will be much harder to hang it from the ceiling. In-ceiling speakers are the easiest to mount since they are already designed for this purpose.
In-Ceiling Speakers VS Bookshelf Speakers Hanging from the Ceiling
Ceiling speakers are used for different purposes. Most commonly, they are used as a part of a home theater system to achieve a more immersive listening experience. The best type of speakers for this purpose are in-ceiling speakers.
In-ceiling speakers are the best option for home theater systems. They are easier to install than bookshelf speakers. Usually, you don’t need additional mounting equipment for these speakers.
In-ceiling speakers are also a great option if you are just looking for some nice background music.
The problem with in-ceiling speakers is their sound quality. They don’t come with enclosures, so you can’t expect great low-end reproduction. It’s not like the bass is non-existent, but they simply can’t compete with enclosed speakers.
I’m not saying that in-ceiling speakers are bad. They can be pretty good, especially higher-end speakers made by JBL, KEF, Focal, Bowers & Wilkins, Monitor Audio, etc.
Still, when it comes to performance, high-end bookshelf speakers and studio monitors are the best options. Installing them is more difficult than installing in-ceiling speakers, but the results can be magnificent.
Hanging bookshelf speakers or studio monitors from the ceiling is the best option if you are trying to get the best audio quality. (Image credit – Reddit)
Reasons to Hang Speakers from the Ceiling
There are at least three reasons to hang speakers from the ceiling.
First, if you are going to use them as height channels in a home theater system, it is absolutely necessary to hang speakers from the ceiling or use in-ceiling speakers.
Technically, there’s the third option that includes using up-firing Atmos speakers, but that’s not a great alternative. In my experience, they add very little to the overall experience and are not as effective as true height speakers.
The second reason to hang speakers from the ceiling is to save space. When trying to get the most out of confined spaces and tiny rooms, hanging speakers from the ceiling is a viable choice.
The third reason to hang speakers from the ceiling is the aesthetics. The room looks cleaner when no speakers are standing in the way.
How to Hang Speakers from the Ceiling – Instructions
In this post, I will only discuss bookshelf speakers and studio monitors with brackets or threaded inserts.
STEP 1 – Initial Considerations
The only way to do things right is to plan everything thoroughly before you even start.
First of all, do you have speakers? If you still haven’t bought them, buy the ones that can be mounted without modifying the enclosure. More precisely, look for speakers with mounting brackets or threaded holes. You don’t want to drill holes in a brand-new speaker.
Furthermore, make sure the speakers are not too big or too small for your room. You can find all kinds of mounts, even if the speaker weighs 40 lbs or more, but having a too big or too small speaker will affect your listening experience.
Another thing you have to consider when planning is the type of ceiling. Conventional ceilings with a drywall finish are the most common type in US homes. They are perfectly suitable for in-ceiling speakers.
Conventional drywall ceilings are the most common type of ceiling in US homes.
However, hanging a speaker from a conventional drywall ceiling can be an issue. You can’t drill and mount the speakers wherever you want without making some adjustments.
The speakers might be too heavy for the drywall. Drywall alone can handle only up to 20 lbs. Luckily, you have joists in the ceiling. They are the same thing as studs in your walls. They can handle much more weight than drywall. You can even add blockings between the joists if you are not happy with the position of the joists. If you can access the attic, adding blockings will be a breeze.
STEP 1.1 – Additional Consideration – Speaker Wiring and Power Supply
You mustn’t forget about wiring your speaker and power supply for powered speakers and monitors.
If your room is prewired for surround sound, the position of the speaker cable determines the spots where you are going to hang the speakers from the ceiling.
If you still need to run the speaker wire, you can choose the spot where you want to hang the speakers. It doesn’t matter if you first install the ceiling mounts and then run the speaker cable or do it the other way around.
Wiring your home for surround sound, especially wiring your surround and height speakers is probably the hardest part of the whole process of setting up a home theater system. Hanging speakers from the ceiling is the second-hardest thing, but it can easily become the hardest if you are hanging powered speakers.
When hanging powered speakers, another thing to consider, besides running the speaker cable, is the power supply. Speakers’ power cables are not very long, so you may also have to install power outlets in the attic, which makes hanging your speakers from the ceiling much harder. If you don’t have electrical wiring in the attic and don’t have any knowledge about electrical wiring, adding outlets to your attic will increase the cost of the installation significantly.
STEP 2 – Find the Right Kind of Speaker Mounts for Your Speakers
Assuming that you already have the speakers you want to mount and that your speakers are suitable for mounting (they have threaded inserts or mounting brackets), the next step is finding the right mount.
There are all kinds of speaker mounts. The prices vary from $50 to more than $300 per mount. The quality also varies.
The most important thing is compatibility. Not all ceiling mounts are compatible with all speakers. Some will only work for speakers with threaded inserts, while others will work with speakers with brackets.
Fluance Wall/Ceiling Speaker Mount (compatible with Fluance bookshelf and surround speakers)
Ideally, you will get a pair of mounts made specifically for your speaker model, maybe even mounts made by the same manufacturer. For example, Bose sells mounts for its surround sound and bookshelf speakers. Fluance does the same thing for its speakers. Some of these speaker mounts might be compatible with other speaker models, but you need to check the specs.
When buying third-party mounts, always check the weight limits. Furthermore, open the specs sheet and check whether the holes on the speaker plate that comes with the mount match the mounting holes on your speaker. If they don’t match, the mount is not compatible with your speaker.
Mounts compatible with multiple speakers usually come with a few mounting brackets/adapters to match different kinds of mountable speakers. Sometimes, you have to buy these adapters/brackets separately. Also, some speaker mounts have telescopic handles that allow you to adjust the speaker height or create enough room for larger enclosures. Sometimes, a mount will come with only one speaker bracket with many holes to match different types of speakers.
Some ceiling mounts for speakers are compatible with multiple speaker models. Others are only compatible with one model or one speaker series.
If you want to hang professional studio monitors, assuming that they are, in fact, mountable, I would recommend that you use professional mounts.
My top recommendations are IsoAcoustics and König & Meyer. You can also opt for OEM ceiling mounts made by speaker manufacturers like Genelec’s ceiling mounts.
Professional speaker mounts are certainly more expensive than some generic Chinese mounts, but their quality and durability justify the price.
K&M König & Meyer Ceiling Mounts for Studio Monitors
IsoAcoustics and König & Meyer professional mounts are compatible with a number of professional studio monitors, but you have to buy additional plates/adapters and brackets to make the installation possible.
IsoAcoustics V120 Ceiling Mount for Studio Monitors (adapters and brackets are sold separately). Image credit: IsoAcoustics
I have also seen people using nets and chains in combination with eyelet hooks to hang the speakers from the ceiling, but I don’t find these methods visually appealing. I can’t deny they are budget-friendly, but that’s their only advantage.
STEP 3 – Gather All the Tools You Need
Once you find the right ceiling mount for your speakers, it’s time to prepare other necessary hardware.
You will need the following tools:
- Stud finder
- Power drill and appropriate drill bits
- Philips screwdriver
- Tape measure
- Pencil
- Ladders
Necessary tools for the project
Optional tools:
- Laser level (for perfect precision)
STEP 4 – Let’s Get to Work
Now that you have the speakers, ceiling mounts, and all the necessary tools, it’s time to move on to actual work.
STEP 4.1 – Locate Joists (Add Blockings if Necessary)
Ceiling mounts usually consist of multiple detachable parts. Usually, you can separate the ceiling plate, brackets/adapters, and a speaker plate. The ceiling plate is the part attached to the ceiling.
The ceiling plate is usually detachable from the body of the ceiling mount. You first need to attach the plate to the ceiling. Then, you have to mount the speaker onto the body of the ceiling mount and connect the mount to the ceiling plate.
If your room has a conventional drywall ceiling, you can’t just mark the holes and drill. It’s not recommended to hang the speaker from a drywall. If the speaker is too heavy, the drywall will not be able to support the weight and will get damaged. Your speaker will be damaged, as well. It doesn’t matter what anchor type you use.
Joists in the ceiling, on the other hand, can handle much more weight than the drywall itself. That’s why you need to find the joist and fasten the ceiling plate to it.
The common joist dimension is 2×6″, so you may have to add blocking between the joists and screw one side of the plate into the blocking. If you have an open attic space above the ceiling, it will be easy to add blockings.
It’s recommended that you screw at least one side of the ceiling plate into the joist. If the screws on the other side of the ceiling plate go into the drywall, you should add blockings between the joists and use them to fasten the other side of the plate.
How to Safely Hang Things from the Ceiling
If you have already decided where to mount your speaker, but the spot is between joists, you may have to add two blockings for each speaker to make the installation possible. If you still don’t have the exact spot, use a stud finder to locate the joist and align one side of the ceiling plate with the center of the joist.
Use a stud finder to locate the joist
STEP 4.2 – Drill Holes for the Ceiling Plates and Install the Plates
After finding the joist and aligning the screws on one side of the ceiling plate with the center of the joist, mark the holes for drilling and drill them. Then, fasten the ceiling plate to the ceiling.
Mark the holes, drill them, and fasten the ceiling plate. If necessary, install blockings in the ceiling before fastening the ceiling plate.
STEP 4.3 – Attach the Mount to the Speaker
If your room is prewired and you don’t have to run the speaker wire, the hardest part is over. Your ceiling plate for the mount is already installed and secure. Now, you need to connect the speaker to the body of the mount and connect the mount to the ceiling plate.
Some ceiling mounts come with speaker plates/brackets and adapters. Sometimes, brackets and adapters are sold separately for different speaker models.
Speaker plates for König & Meyer ceiling mounts are sold separately. The same applies to the IsoAcoustics ceiling mount.
Some ceiling mounts come with only one plate with many holes to match the holes on different speaker cabinets.
PYLE universal ceiling mount comes with a single speaker plate with many holes compatible with multiple speaker models and sizes.
Finally, some mounts are only compatible with one speaker model or speaker series.
Flexson ceiling mount is only compatible with select SONOS speakers (SONOS One, SONOS One SL, SONOS Play:1)
If the ceiling mount comes with a speaker plate/adapter, fasten the plate to the speaker using the included screws. Then, attach the speaker with the plate to the body of the mount. Finally, attach the mount to the ceiling plate and fasten the screws.
Some ceiling mounts might require that you connect the body of the mount to the ceiling plate first. Then, connect the speaker plate/adapter to the speaker. The last step is mounting the speaker with the plate onto the body of the ceiling mount and fastening the screws.
How to Hang Studio Monitors from the Ceiling Using IsoAcoustic V120 Ceiling Mount and Brackets
We are almost done. The only thing left to do is angle the speakers and fasten the screws to keep the speaker securely in that position. Different ceiling mounts offer different levels of flexibility when it comes to positioning. Some will allow you to tilt the speaker downward (0-45°), others will allow you to tilt it upward (0-45°). Some ceiling mounts also have telescopic handles that allow you to adjust the height of the speaker or rotate it toward your listening position.
Once you position the speaker, fasten the screws, and your job is done.
You just need to connect the speaker wire to the speaker and connect the wire to the appropriate terminals on the back of your AVR.
Hanging Fluance Speakers from the Ceiling/Wall Using Fluance Speaker Mount
STEP 5 – ENJOY!
You did it! The speakers are safely hanging from the ceiling. Let’s play some music to test the speakers.
And don’t forget to clean all the mess you’ve made during this DIY project.
Bonus – Installing In-Ceiling Speaker in a Ceiling Tiles
Frequently Asked Questions
- Question: Is it OK to hang speakers from the ceiling?
- Answer: Hanging the speakers from the ceiling or walls is a viable option if you want the cleanest possible appearance or are trying to save some space. However, hanging your speakers from the ceiling is not easy and requires lots of planning. You have to think about the wiring, find the right spot to mount the speakers, find the right ceiling mounts for your speakers, make adjustments to your ceiling (add blocking between joists), etc.
- Question: Can you put speakers in the ceiling?
- Answer: Yes, you can put speakers in the ceiling. That’s certainly a more convenient option than using ceiling mounts to hang them from the ceiling. And it’s easier. Wiring in-ceiling speakers should not be a huge problem if you have an attic.
- Question: What are the best in-ceiling speakers?
- Answer: The best models of in-ceiling speakers I can recommend are: Bowers & Wilkins (CI300 and other CI-Series speakers), KEF (Ci200MR, Ci160RDs, Ci160QR, Ci200QR), JBL (Stage Series, Studio Series, Arena Series), Focal (Series 100, Series 300, Series 1000), Monitor Audio (CSS-230, CP-CT380IDC, CS180 R, C 265 – FX, CPC 120, C165-T2), DALI (Phantom E-80, Phantom E-50, E-60), Martin Logan (Motion XTC8, Motion XTC8-HT, Motion MC series, Helos series, IC series), Definitive Technology (DT Series), etc.
- Question: What is the best setup for ceiling speakers?
- Answer: That depends on many factors. The number of speakers is partially determined by the size of the room. Most rooms don’t need more than 4 ceiling speakers. If the room is smaller, 2 should be enough. When it comes to positioning, it’s best to follow Dolby’s guidelines for Atmos speakers. Installation is the most difficult part. It’s slightly easier if you opt for in-ceiling speakers. Hanging the speakers from the ceiling will make the installation harder.
- Question: Do I need an amp for ceiling speakers?
- Answer: Unless your ceiling speakers are powered (active), you will have to connect them to an amp. So, yes, you do need an amp for ceiling speakers.
- Question: Are ceiling speakers a good idea?
- Answer: Ceiling speakers add another dimension to your listening experience, making it more immersive. If you really want to add height effects to your surround sound system, ceiling speakers are certainly a better option than up-firing Atmos channels.
- Question: Do in-ceiling speakers sound good for music?
- Answer: Well, they are fine, but I can’t say they are great. They are perfect for some background music, but they can’t compete with the same-priced bookshelf models when it comes to sound quality. High-end in-ceiling speakers sound pretty good and are fairly loud, but their low-end reproduction is not on par with same-priced bookshelf speakers.
- Question: Do I need to enclose in-ceiling speakers?
- Answer: Most in-ceiling speakers don’t come with enclosures and aren’t supposed to be enclosed. Adding enclosures to ceiling speakers would certainly improve the overall sound quality, especially the bass response, but you would have to buy some custom-made enclosures for such speakers.
Conclusion
I hope this guide helped you learn to hang your speakers from the ceiling. I did my best to explain how to choose the right ceiling mounts for your speakers and point out all the challenges you may face during the installation.
If you have any additional questions or experience difficulties when trying to hang your speakers, leave the comment below, and I will try to help.
