Install Ceiling Speakers With A Drop Ceiling

Ceiling speakers are designed to offer sound reproduction in areas where in-wall or freestanding speakers are not practical. Ceiling speakers can also help conceal the speakers so they do not interfere with the visual appearance of a room. The convenience of ceiling speakers can be combined with the practicality of a drop ceiling, but you must take into account the size, shape and weight of the speakers before you try to install them into a drop ceiling.

Instructions

1. Determine the weight of your speakers. It may be possible to install light speakers directly into the ceiling tiles, while heavier speakers will take more support. The speakers should have weight ratings on their specifications. Check your speaker weights against your ceiling tiles and determine if you need brackets or extra supports for your speakers.

2. Choose brackets or specialty tiles for your ceiling. If the speakers are too heavy to mount directly on to a current ceiling tile, you will need to opt for a different type of support. Brackets will give you the most support, but it may be difficult to install brackets above the drop ceiling, and your ceiling's aesthetics may suffer. If a bracket will not work, heavy duty ceiling tiles, such as those used for video projectors, can give you added support with easier installation.

3. Run your wires. You need to decide if you want to run the wires on the outside or on the inside of your walls. Running the wires on the outside of the wall will be much easier, but it may not look as nice, and can place your wires where they may be easily damaged. If you run the speaker wires inside the wall, consult with an electrician to ensure proper installation.

4. Mount your brackets, or cut a whole in your ceiling tiles. Remove the ceiling tile that is in place. If the tile can support your speaker, cut out an opening in the tile using a utility knife. If you must mount a bracket, find a solid crossbeam or ceiling joist above the drop ceiling to mount to.

5. Install and connect the speakers. The speakers should either slide into the opening on the ceiling tile or connect to the bracket. Hook up the wires and test the speakers before you finalize the installation so that you can quickly fix any possible problems. Once you have verified that the speaker works, place it in the ceiling. Many in-ceiling speakers include a grill that will protect the speaker and cover the seams used in installation.

Tags: ceiling tiles, drop ceiling, your ceiling, ceiling tile, above drop