Ceiling Speakers- Need Help

[Mr Magoo]

I had my basement pre-wired for a 5.1 system. I would like to keep the total cost of my surround sound system at about $1,000 to say $1,300. By my reckoning that allows about $400 for the 4 ceiling speakers+ subwoofer+center speaker+A/V receiver.

I have no idea what brand or model ceiling speakers to buy. I already picked up a Klipsch subwoofer at Costco.

I want some good speakers but I am not an audiophile. What drives me crazy is speakers are more of an art than a science. I mean I can read the blu ray player specs and figure out which player I like. On the speakers its more of an opinion as to which are better. The salesmen either don't really care or seem to always try to upsell to more expensive speakers. I find it hard to really figure out which sound better at a Circuit City listening station anyway. Or, if I try to buy online, I can't hear them in the first place.

Anyway are there any ideas? I would like advice on some good solid ceiling speakers but they don't have to be the best available. Will $100 per speaker achieve my goal?

PS I am planning on buying a A/V receiver with about 100 watts per channel.

[jctash]

try looking at monoprice.com or outdoorspeakerdepot.com.

I bought 8 speakers from outdoorspeakerdepot.com. and am very happy with the quality and speed in which I got them.

[MouseRider]

I would never buy speakers from a box store.

$100 each for a good home theater in-wall/ceiling units is going to be pretty slim pickings. You might be able to find generic in-wall/ceiling units in that budget.

You might be able to get better value for money if you went for standard "cabinet" surround speakers.

[Big Daddy]

Try this site.

http://www.proacousticsusa.com/category.php?cId=44

[ascian]

You can do it, even in a box store. The Best Buy website even lists JBL and Sonance for $180 and $205 a pair. Personally I feel that Klipsch or Speakercraft is an undeniably better speaker, both in sound and build quality, but you'll be doubling your target price. Off the top of my head they'll probably run between $300-400 a pair.

Don't overtighten the speakers when you install them in the ceiling either!

[Mr Magoo]

Originally Posted by ascian

You can do it, even in a box store. The Best Buy website even lists JBL and Sonance for $180 and $205 a pair. Personally I feel that Klipsch or Speakercraft is an undeniably better speaker, both in sound and build quality, but you'll be doubling your target price. Off the top of my head they'll probably run between $300-400 a pair.

Don't overtighten the speakers when you install them in the ceiling either!

Thanks for your insight. Does anyone else have an opinion as to which speakers ceiling speakers are the best value in the $200 to $250 per pair price range?

[MouseRider]

Originally Posted by ascian

You can do it, even in a box store. The Best Buy website even lists JBL and Sonance for $180 and $205 a pair.

I would never touch a JBL these days but its not because of that I avoid box stores. If you have a small speciality home theater store near you, you may be surprised what you can find in the less "commercial" brands that can give you much more value for money than you might think possible.

Also what I mean by generic in-wall/ceiling which is what you'll get with the Sonance units.

Not that you can't use generic in-ceilings for your surrounds but dedicated surround speakers are constructed differently to give you better performance for your surround tracks.

One of the main problems with ceiling speakers is the downward firing nature, it creates a sound-field that isn't quite right for theater sound imaging, many in-ceiling home theater speakers are designed differently for that reason, primarily the elements are angled.

With your increased price range, look at Polk, they have some nice ones and they make in-walls/ceilings for all channels so you can get good timbre matching with all your channels. Some of them even are THX-certified.

[gearyt]

Originally Posted by MouseRider

With your increased price range, look at Polk, they have some nice ones and they make in-walls/ceilings for all channels so you can get good timbre matching with all your channels. Some of them even are THX-certified.

I use Polks in my Bedroom and they create a nice soundfield

[snoopywatcher68]

I swear by Boston Acoustics for either floor-standing, bookshelf, or in-wall/ceiling use. They have different product lines for any budget. You can find some of their speakers at Circuit City to audition. There are also good deals online as well.
Good luck in your quest.

Mike