Ceiling speakers put music and film sound into a room without taking floor or wall space, and our range runs from compact two-way models for kitchens and living areas to three-way designs and overhead channels for home theatres. It covers Monitor Audio, Bowers & Wilkins, Definitive Technology, Polk Audio, Wharfedale and Altronics.
Driver size and two-way or three-way
Most in-ceiling speakers are two-way, with a mid-bass driver and a tweeter. Monitor Audio's C3M and C3L step up to three-way, with separate bass, midrange and tweeter drivers, and the C3L-A angles its midrange and tweeter array toward the listening area. At the other end, the Bowers & Wilkins CCM 632 uses a single 75mm full-range driver for small spaces.
Size is the next decision. Monitor Audio's small, medium and large models need 171mm, 212mm and 248mm cut-outs, while 8 inch ceiling speakers such as the Bowers & Wilkins CCM683 and CCM684 or the Definitive Technology Dymension DC-80 MAX are built around a 200mm main driver. A larger driver is designed to move more air, which matters more in bigger rooms and for film.
Aiming, depth and sealed back boxes
A ceiling rarely puts the speaker where the seats are. Pivoting tweeters on the Bowers & Wilkins CCM662, CCM663 and CCM682, the Wharfedale WCM-80 and the Monitor Audio Core C180 let treble be aimed after installation, as do the swivel tweeters on Polk Audio's V60, V80 and RC80i. The Dymension MAX models pivot the woofer as well.
Monitor Audio's CP models (C2M-CP, C2L-CP and C3L-CP) use a fully sealed back box, designed to perform consistently whatever the ceiling cavity is like. Shallow ceilings have options too: the Bowers & Wilkins CCM663RD is a reduced-depth version, and the Monitor Audio Super Slim CSS230 has a 50mm mounting depth. Where one speaker has to cover a small room, the CCM663SR and CCM664SR carry both stereo channels in a single unit, and Monitor Audio's T2X models switch between stereo and surround duty.
Home theatre, covered outdoor areas and Bluetooth
For overhead channels, the Dymension DC-80 MAX SUR adds dual pivoting tweeters, and each of these passive models needs an amplifier channel from an AV receiver. The Dymension MAX range is IP55-rated, and Monitor Audio's AWC265 and AWC280 are All Weather models intended for patios and poolside areas; the rest of that category sits with our outdoor speakers. If the walls suit better than the ceiling, see our in-wall speakers. The Altronics Opus One 2-Way Bluetooth pair is the exception to the passive rule, with an amplifier, Bluetooth 5.0 and an RCA input built into the active speaker.
Questions we get asked
Are ceiling speakers any good?
They suit whole-room music, background listening and overhead effects, and they keep a room uncluttered. For focused two-channel listening, freestanding speakers aimed at one seat give more placement control. Angled and pivoting designs are aimed at narrowing that gap.
Will they work as Dolby Atmos height speakers?
Yes, as the overhead layer, run from an AV receiver that decodes Atmos. Where they sit relative to the seats matters, so the layout is worth planning before anyone cuts a hole.
Do they need a separate amplifier?
Most do, because they are passive. The Altronics Opus One 2-Way Bluetooth pair is the self-powered option in our range.
Call the team to talk through your room, ceiling cavity and amplifier, or visit the Murarrie showroom. Demos are arranged by calling or messaging first.
Stuart Taylor, founder and director
