Articles and whitepapers

In-Wall, In-Ceiling Inspiration (2/1/2004)

By Adrian Blundell and Keith Haddock

If there were one item, within a home entertainment system, that perfectly divided opinion, it would be the loudspeaker. For all but the committed audio enthusiast, the loudspeaker, in its conventional guise, is an unnecessary evil. Sound, it seems, is sound, whether it comes from a big hi-fi loudspeaker or a little transistor radio driver. Fidelity is not a consideration because the experience of 'great sound' must inevitably include the use of enormously 'macho' monolithic loudspeakers, which never make it onto the wedding list.

Manufacturers constantly strive to design the perfect speaker, but 'perfection' is entirely subjective. For some, a 'perfect' speaker would be the most accurate transducer of music or movie sound, for others it would be the most aesthetically pleasing, which in many cases translates to its success in blending with interior design.

The good news is that in-wall and in-ceiling loudspeakers are for many manufacturers and their clients, the perfect compromise. Interior designers love them because, hidden in walls and ceilings and disguised by décor-matching fabric, they do not upset the geometry of an interior. Families love them because they do not occupy any living space, there are no wires to trip over, and in several instances, in-wall and in-ceiling speakers can sound great as well.

Discreet speakers in dining room ceiling (courtesy of Speakercraft)

Hidden but effective

Certain leading loudspeaker manufacturers have invested huge resources in endowing these 'architectural' loudspeakers with innovative technologies that can replicate the sound quality of conventional boxes. They are often the beneficiaries of the most intensive research, because the rewards are potentially huge from a market that has come to view 'invisible' entertainment systems as the most desirable. The future for in-wall, in-ceiling loudspeakers is bright.

But to transform what looks like a car speaker - the most familiar form of flush-mounted design - into a hi-fidelity residential device that is flexible enough to be considered as an alternative to conventional box speakers, manufacturers needed to devise a number of revolutionary modifications. The profound challenge for designers was to overcome the inherent limitations of a fixed location. How do you address a dynamic living space with an immobile loudspeaker?

Wide and even coverage

A basic in-ceiling speaker will, essentially, create a vertical column of sound. This is fine if you are underneath it, that is 'on-axis,' but as you move to one side or another, that is 'off-axis,' the tonality and volume of a speaker can change. As to how far off-axis a speaker will successfully work is a factor of its 'dispersion' characteristics. Certain manufacturers have gone to considerable lengths to provide wide and even coverage. One has devised a large baffle area (the surface used by a speaker to project sound) that provides an optimised surface for the high-frequency dispersion. Others use a dual-concentric design, in which the tweeter is mounted directly within the bass unit and uses the surface of the bass unit as its baffle. Both designs can help to create a noticeably wider and more even coverage.

A new generation of designs goes a step further by providing a pivoting tweeter, which allows the installer to focus the critical high frequencies on the listening position. Possibly the most complete solution though, is a totally pivotable speaker. In these designs both the bass unit and the tweeter can be rotated - similar to the way light can be directed from a down lighter. As the baffle is also 'aimed' toward the listener, a highly-focussed sound stage is created, which is perfectly suited to more critical applications such as home cinema.

Horses for courses

Wherever there is a need for sound around the home, there is enough flexibility in the in-wall/in-ceiling design pantheon to accommodate it. For background music, look for speakers with a wide dispersion. These can also be smaller in size, since volume levels will generally be low. For more critical listening applications, look for speakers designed to focus sound. In the bedroom for example, the bed would be the listening area. Suitable designs would have wide dispersion, but also have a pivoting tweeter and larger drive units. A 200mm (8") bass unit would provide exceptional sound quality.

In the main home entertainment area, where a home cinema system might be installed, advanced architectural loudspeakers really do fulfil their promise. Surround sound applications, requiring multiple loudspeakers, will benefit from the virtues of discreet design. In place of a room full of speakers, you will perceive a room without speakers, but you will enjoy the sound all the same. In these instances, in-wall designs are considered superior to in-ceiling designs, but the evidence is entirely subjective - it is like saying that a 4 x 4 vehicle does not handle as well as a sports car.

To embrace serious sound applications in the home, aluminium and titanium drive units and ribbon tweeters have been appropriated for more esoteric designs. Pivoting tweeters and rotatable drive units are widely used at this level. Certain specialist manufacturers are now designing back-boxes for in-wall in-ceiling speakers, which enclose the drivers and baffle, in order to optimise their performance.

Conclusion

In any event, the inviolable conclusion is that the architectural speaker has come of age, leaping the aesthetic hurdles that conventional speakers and wires present, to make a complete high-performance in-ceiling or in-wall home theatre system a convincing reality.

Although the installation of architectural speakers is a little more involved than screwing in a wall bracket for a conventional design, the rewards are considerable, and ultimately more satisfying. If you are not completely comfortable with the mechanics of DIY and electrical installation, a custom installation specialist will be happy to advise which speakers to choose, and to complete the work.

CEDIA (Custom Electronics Design & Installation Association) is a totally independent trade organisation that has, for many years, worked to raise standards of professional competence in this area. Its members are both UK and internationally-based, and will arrive at your door armed with extensive training and liability insurance to ensure the job is finished to your specification.

A successful in-wall/in-ceiling sound system can be liberating in the very sense of the word. It allows you to enjoy music and film anywhere in the home, without damaging the décor and gives you the freedom to maximise your living space in a wire-free environment.

Adrian Blundell is Technical Support Manager for CSE.

info@csesolutions.co.uk