Best In-Wall & In-Ceiling Speakers in the UK

Review & Comparison, Last Update February 19, 2024
Where does this music come from? You can hear them but there are no speakers in sight. It's like the house sings. Music is in the ...Read more
PROS

Look similar to illuminators and therefore, fit perfectly into any interior style.

CONS

The shape is not variable except for the round grilles.

OUR VERDICT

A great set of speakers that can be placed nearly everywhere in your home thanks to their elegant appearance and great overall sound characteristics. 

detailed parameters
Package bundle

A pair of 2-way speakers (mid-bass, tweeter)

Mounting

In-ceiling

Power

20 / 100 W

Sensitivity

89 dB

Frequency rate

40 Hz – 20 kHz

Features

Wired connection, Swivel tweeter

Mounting depth

Diameter: 19.2 cm

Mounting depth: 6 cm

Warranty

5 years

PROS

Compact and lightweight, these speakers are easy to mount onto nearly any surface with special clamps, small and big, included in the kit.

CONS

Some people find them not powerful enough.

OUR VERDICT

Great speakers for small compartments, which offer ease of installation and high level of protection against dust and humidity.

detailed parameters
Package bundle

A pair of stereo speakers

Mounting

In-ceiling / in-wall

Power

90 W

Sensitivity

85 dB

Frequency rate

95 Hz – 40 kHz

Features

Wired connection, Swivel tweeter, Paintable grilles, Sealed enclosure (a special protective cap is in the package)

Mounting depth

Diameter: 13.9 cm

Mounting depth: 7.9 cm

Warranty

2 years

PROS

With a few tweaks to the equaliser's settings, 2 cone woofers, each with a diameter of 16.5 centimetres, will allow you to achieve a deep and powerful bass. The silk dome tweeter gives you a clean and smooth high-fidelity frequency response and a crisp audio delivery.

CONS

Takes some time to set it up due to the size and the 6-screw fix.

OUR VERDICT

Electrovision e-audio Dual is one of the most flexible and versatile in-wall & in-ceiling speakers set that the market has to offer and definitely one of the more attractive options in its price range. You can install them anywhere and the sound quality will not disappoint you.

detailed parameters
Package bundle

One 2-way speaker

Mounting

In-ceiling / in-wall

Power

200 W

Sensitivity

89 dB

Frequency rate

60 Hz - 20 kHz

Features

Wired connection, Water-resistant design

Mounting depth

Cut-out dimensions: 43.4 x 20.4 cm

Mounting depth: 7.1 cm

Warranty

2 years

PROS

Astonishing peak power allows these in-wall/in-ceiling speakers withstand high pressure and perform some really loud music.

CONS

The grilles are not paintable.

OUR VERDICT

Great ceiling/wall speakers at a very good price. They take up only a little space, are easy to install, and will surprise you with loud sounding.

detailed parameters
Package bundle

Two 2-way speakers (mid-bass, tweeter)

Mounting

In-ceiling / in-wall

Power

250 W

Sensitivity

N/A

Frequency rate

35 Hz – 20 kHz

Features

Wired connection, Swivel tweeter

Mounting depth

Diameter: 20 cm

Mounting depth: 7 cm

Warranty

1 year

PROS

Features a waterproof design and comes at an impressively low price for a full value audio system. 

CONS

Not everybody likes the shape of rectangular grilles.

OUR VERDICT

A good option for those on a tight budget. At a fraction of the cost, you can get yourself a full audio system with all necessary features and great power. 

detailed parameters
Package bundle

A pair of 2-way speakers

Mounting

In-ceiling

Power

120 W

Sensitivity

89 dB

Frequency rate

60 Hz – 20 kHz

Features

Wired connection, Swivel tweeter

Mounting depth

Cut-out dimensions: 18.5 x 18.5 cm

Mounting depth: 7.6 cm

Warranty

30 days from Amazon

The Best Solution for Your Home

These speakers were specifically designed for public places and big premises. Like it often happens with sound equipment designed for power purposes, the Polk Audi RC60i speakers have a very simple design - rounded profiles, white painted housing, and rounded grilles. And this comes as no surprise since the whole idea of creating stationary speakers is to hand customers something powerful, rather than elegant. With the Polk Audi RC60i speakers, however, the story is different. Fitted with paintable grilles, these speakers can be customized to fit into any interior. Thus, if you aren't a fan of white, you can always paint them the colour you like better. The Polk Audi RC60i are versatile speakers and can be installed nearly anywhere in your home, be it your living-room, kitchen or bathroom. They are totally waterproof and ideal for use in humid conditions. Even though the power of these speakers isn't the highest, their sound quality is hard to underestimate. 

Technologies

It is not only surprisingly great quality and low price that set the Polk Audio RC60i speakers apart from many others on the market but also the fact that it features a great number of innovative technologies that are often used in more expensive sound equipment. On top of all this, they offer a special Dynamic Balance sound correcting system that allows them to filter the flaws, noises, and distortions of the recorded sound and provide users with a crisp listening experience. Equipped with swivel tweeters, the Polk Audio RC60i can fully immerse you into your favourite music, washing you head-to-toe with beautiful sounds of forest, ocean, and nature, making you feel like it is real. You can change the sound direction turning speakers to either side and scatter the sound source across the room. 

What Else?

If you haven't got yet all the necessary sound equipment to set up a proper acoustic audio system at home, you may want to consider getting yourself stereo receivers.

Additional Info

User Manual     Manufacturer

Last updated price £114.00
Stock In stock
ASIN B00005T3BD

Convenience and Reliability

Today, sound characteristics of audio systems alone can't impress anyone because they are all pretty much the same. What does distinguish one pair of speakers from the other one is the assembly quality, a set of usability features, and material composition. Yamaha is the company that doesn't need advertising. It is one of the biggest manufacturers of audio equipment in the market and it is famous for its meticulous approach to details and implementation of innovative technologies. The NS-IC400 WH Built-in speakers are one of their recent equipment that we believe you should definitely consider. This pair of speakers is distinct for its durable hermetic design and high protection against dust and moisture, which speaks not only of its decent assembly but also of high-quality materials. The package bundle comes with mounting grilles to allow for tool-free installation. This is a big advantage of these speakers and you will find it easier to mount/dismount them later on if need be. 

Compact but Powerful

What makes these Yamaha NS-IC400 speakers even better is their overall small dimensions - at 150 x 86.5 mm, they have very thin construction, light weight (~0.8 kg) and 79 mm of mounting depth. This gives you plenty of mounting options. The speakers will look right on a wall, ceiling and elsewhere where your conventional speakers don't fit.  Even though these speakers aren't very powerful, they offer great frequency rate, which has been achieved due to the conical shape of the driver and the ladder-like construction of the speaker itself. The sound literally "climbs" up these stairs coming out pure and smooth in the end. The Yamaha NS-IC400 speakers use a special technology designed for sound dispersion adjustment and thus, produce denser and higher quality sound than many similar models. 

The Best Solution for Your Home

These speakers will be perfect for all small rooms and premises. At a relatively low power rate, they can provide rich and loud sound enveloping your place with quality sounding.   

Additional Info

User Manual     Manufacturer

Last updated price £115.00
Stock In stock
ASIN B005DOY7AM

Commercial or Domestic Applications

People have different preferences and requirements when it comes to just about everything. For example, we like our speakers flexible and versatile, which is part of the reason we've included Electrovision e-audio Dual in this review. There are a lot of things that make this model as versatile as it is.

The water-resistant design would be as good of a place as any to start, so let's begin there. Naturally, it wouldn't make any difference for those who're planning to install the in-wall speaker in their living room. But, with this model, you aren't limited to any area like that. The robust water-resistant construction makes the speaker just as suitable for bathrooms, kitchens, and conservatories.

Now, let's pivot a little, from its overall design to the model's power. Sure, it's nothing we haven't seen before in ordinary loudspeakers, but 200 watts of peak music power and 100 watts of RMS power is fairly impressive for an in-wall device. With that much power under the proverbial hood, the speaker won't just prove a good fit for multi-room speaker systems but also for background music and other similar applications in residential or commercial settings.

Now, as far as sensitivity and the frequency rate are concerned, this is more or less your typical in-wall & in-ceiling speaker, able to reach 89 dB of the former and between 60 Hz and 20 kHz of the latter.

The Quality to Boot

The audio quality of the sound system is always difficult to determine and quantify. But there are a few things that make it objectively better than a good chunk of its competition. For one, the model incorporates 2 cone woofers. Each of these woofers features a diameter of 16.5 centimetres so, with a few tweaks to the equaliser's settings, you'll be able to achieve a deep and powerful bass.

Another little detail responsible for the increase in quality is the silk dome tweeter. It gives you a clean and smooth high-fidelity frequency response and a crisp audio delivery.

For the most part, the speaker is not difficult to install. With the device itself, you get easy fit fixings and a cutting template, so you won't need any additional tools to set it up. The only problem is that, due to the size of the whole thing and its 6-screw fix, it might take some time to put it together. But, as you'd imagine, you won't have to do that on a semi-frequent basis, so we'll hardly call it much of a drawback.

Other than that, to rephrase our earlier point, Electrovision e-audio Dual is one of the most flexible and versatile in-wall & in-ceiling speakers that the market has to offer and definitely one of the more attractive options in its price range. You can install them anywhere and the sound quality will not disappoint.

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price $0.00
Stock In stock
ASIN B00C94RVUC

You Won't See Them but You Will Feel Them

The Pyle PDIC60 Dual Speaker System features everything most customers need in this type of devices. These in-wall/in-ceiling speakers are pretty compact and, therefore, do not need a lot of space for mounting. The installation process isn't difficult either. For your ease of use and convenience, the manufacturer supplies this set of speakers with mounting templates. Thus, you will only need to lean them against the wall on which you want to hang your speakers, run a contour, and make a hole. The mounting depth for these in-wall and in-ceiling speakers is so small that you can easily install them even on thin walls.  What we were greatly impressed with is the speakers' peak power. Here it is 250 W and it sounds very loudly. Furthermore, thanks to a swiveling tweeter, the sound can be further dispersed all around the room, creating a studio-like surrounding. 

All in all, in our opinion, these in-wall/in-ceiling speakers are perfect background sound providers. Small and compact like they are, they are easy to install and fit in any interior. 

Did You Know?

The Pyle company was established in 1960 and quickly gained reputation of a leading manufacturer of subwoofers and car acoustic systems. By the end of the XX century, you wouldn't find a car enthusiast who wouldn't have heard of the name Pyle and who wouldn't have wanted their high-quality products. Today, the company's work is separated into three areas with one, named Pyle Car, being focused totally on auto acoustics, the second one, known as Pyle Hone, engaged in manufacturing electric home appliances, and the third one, Pyle Pro, working on deploying specialized audio equipment. Offering such an array of high-quality products, the company is confident that all its customers can find what they need.  

Additional Info

User Manual     Manufacturer

Last updated price £47.50
Stock In stock
ASIN B0007LCL90

VIDEO

Why E-Audio?

In the range of budget models, the pair of E-Audio speakers is one of the cheapest models, which, nonetheless, appeals to many customers. This isn't surprising given the technical characteristics it offers. The E-Audio speakers have 120 W maximum power and 60 Hz – 20kHz frequency range which, if you compare with some other models with a higher price tag, will be the same. Thus, it's fair to say these speakers go above the average in their segment. Unlike the vast majority of speakers that have rounded profiles, the E-Audio speakers come with rectangular-shaped grilles. Thus, if you've been looking for a unique design solution, they may suit you well. The package, along with the speakers, includes a special mounting template that may help you make a perfect hole in a wall for accurate installation. 

Affordable Quality

This product is the perfect option for all those who are new to audio systems and aren't knowledgeable about technical specs. It doesn't have any learning curve and is very easy to use. These speakers are also a real bargain in terms of price to quality ratio. At a fraction of the cost, you can get good power and quality performance. One more advantage of these speakers is that they are dust- and waterproof too and therefore, they can be installed just about anywhere in your house or flat. Compatibility with most sound systems such as Hi-Fi, Surround Sound makes them even more attractive and versatile out there.

Last updated price £19.99
Stock In stock
ASIN B00A68SBMA

What Are In-Wall & In-Ceiling Speakers?

In-wall and in-ceiling speakers are a great catch for those who strive to enrich the sound of their home system but are reluctant to sacrifice too much space for this purpose. As the name suggests, those are the acoustics intended for mounting into your ceiling or wall. They are almost invisible so whatever your interior design is like, they will fit in just fine. And although compact, the in-wall and in-ceiling speakers provide some great sound. All the connections are done inside the walls and ceiling, therefore no cords will disrupt the clean and elegant look of your room. Of course, you'd expect speakers like that to be lacking in power. But that is seldom the case. On the contrary, even an average in-wall or in-ceiling sound system is able to produce and deliver a respectable audio quality with a powerful signal.

To see the connection options for the in-wall and in-ceiling speakers to your main sound system, please look through our stereo receivers review.

What Features to Compare

Location

Having decided that you definitely need either in-ceiling speakers or in-wall ones, think about how many of them you want and where you are going to mount them. Please pay attention to this as some devices can only be mounted in walls and not in ceilings. You don't want to discover this after the purchase, right? As for the number of speakers, it obviously depends on the room size. Small rooms like standard kitchens do not need more than 2 speakers, whereas large dining or living room will require several sets for the sound to be really top-notch. Also, look at the mounting hole size — sometimes, it can limit your options for mounting.

Sound Characteristics

Next proceed to what this is all about, the sound characteristics. That's the quality of sound. There is the frequency, measured in Hz, that will let you know the range the speakers support. The wider range means more details to your music. The speaker power increases in sync with the upper volume limit. Sensitivity shows how effectively the speaker uses the booster power and also affects the volume. All-in-all, the bigger numbers you see in these parameters, the richer sound you obtain in the end.

Extras

Finally, when you are done with the main parameters, there are still extras. For example, some have a rotating tweeter for the sound to follow the direction you choose instead some fixed one. Many in-wall and in-ceiling speakers also feature paintable grilles so you will no problems making them suit your room interior. If the speakers have a water protection certificate, you can even place them in your bathroom. And if they feature the sound control elements, you will also be able to adjust it directly in the room where the speaker is located.

FAQ:

Q: Can I move the speakers around?
A: 
Not really. To do so, you will need to dismount them first, which means you will need to put some effort and spend some time. We don't think you will like an idea of moving them too often, reconnecting the wires and screwing in and out the bolts. Therefore, we recommend you to choose the place with due consideration to all details.

Q: What places are not suitable for wiring?
A: Even if your speakers are waterproof, you can't place them in locations where they may interfere with cooling or heating systems, ventilation, and plumbing. Make sure to figure out the fire code requirements prior to making holes in walls and get convinced there are no obstructions in the way. 

Q: How can I improve the sound quality?
A: As a rule, in-wall speakers have a cone-shaped design to produce clear and quality sound. Unfortunately, though, it is not only design peculiarities that affect the end sounding. If the wiring is of poor quality, the sound quality may drastically degrade. Thus, choose thicker and shorter wires, reducing the travel path of the sound from the playing source, to obtain higher quality audio.

Q: In-wall or in-ceiling?
A: 
If we place in-wall and in-ceiling speakers in one room, more likely than not you will like the sounding of the in-wall speakers better, given that they produce the sound at the ear-level. However, it isn't that easy to predict. If your room has a different layout to the standard, acoustic equipment in it may sound differently too. The only win-win solution is to install both speakers types. 

Q: Can I match speakers produced by different manufacturers?
A: You can decide to buy different models just because you like the sound characteristics and think of a perfect conjunction. However, you shouldn't forget about voice-matching. Speakers by different brands may have different tonalities. And if you don't notice it at the beginning, the moment you crank the system up, the difference in sounding will strike you at once. Thus, we'd not recommend you to put different audio devices together. 

Q: Why do they have swivel tweeters?
A: 
Higher frequencies sound better when you direct the sound towards yourself. Thus, you can rotate the tweeter for a perfect performance.

Sources:

1. Joshua Crane In-wall and ceiling speakers buying guide, Crutchfield. July 22, 2016.

2. Tara W. Installing in-wall and ceiling speakers, Crutchfield. August 8, 2016.

3. Your Guide to Buying In-ceiling Speakers, eBay. March 3, 2016.

4. In-Wall/In-Ceiling Buyers Guide, Monoprice.

5. Paul Scarpelli The Truth About In-Wall Speakers, Audioholics. July 23, 2015.

6. Steve Munz What is Dolby Atmos For Home Theater? Audioholics. August 9, 2014.

7. A.J. Andrews How to Install Speakers in a Prewired Wall & Ceiling, Chron.

8. Tweeter, Wikipedia. Last modified on September 25, 2016.

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