In-wall and in-ceiling speakers are a great space-saving solution in a room as well as a great solution to covering messy wiring, especially if the speakers are large and take up a lot of space.
Not only do they practice, in-wall and in-ceiling speakers often make a room look and feel great by adding a modern twist to the layout.
However, having in-wall and in-ceiling speakers sometimes isn’t all it’s cut out to be.
If you currently have in-wall or in-ceiling speakers installed and you are noticing that the sound quality isn’t quite what you expected, you may want to consider soundproofing your in-wall or in-ceiling speakers.
Soundproofing your in-wall or in-ceiling speakers is a relatively easy process and effective in solving the problem of reduced sound quality. This post will give you all the information you need on how to soundproof your in-wall or in-ceiling speakers.
Why Consider Soundproofing Your In-Ceiling Or In-Wall Speakers?
What’s the point of having snazzy new speakers if you can’t enjoy them in the way you thought you would.
Commonly found in home theatres, in-wall and in-ceiling speakers are a great way to watch a film in ultimate cinematic style from the comfort of your home. However, people often find that once installed, in-wall and in-ceiling speakers pose a couple of unexpected problems.
The first is that these types of speakers can cause sounds to travel throughout the rest of your house and cause a continuous, low vibration. These side effects come as a result of the speaker’s positioning.
In-wall and in-ceiling speakers are often pushed right against a wall or ceiling when they are installed. As a result, when sound comes out, there is nothing to muffle or absorb.
Instead, the sound travels from the speaker to other parts of the house creating vibrations. The sound from an in-wall speaker often travels to the room adjacent, whilst the in-ceiling speaker sound travels to the rooms above.
The effects of this can be irritating, especially if you are in another room enjoying some peace and quiet.
In addition to traveling sound, having in-wall and in-ceiling speakers can significantly affect or reduce the sound quality of the speakers. Improper installation of the speakers may result in the sound quality coming out crackled or muffled.
A common cause of this is the speaker being installed too deep inside the wall which consequently reduces the sound as it cannot project outward to get the full effect of its quality.
If you are experiencing any of the problems above as a result of your in-wall or in-ceiling speakers, soundproofing your speakers may be the solution you need to enjoy your speakers without worrying about how loud, crackly, or muffled the sound is going to be.
You’ll finally be able to get your full cinematic experience without any distractions.
The Difference Between In-Ceiling Speakers And In-Wall Speakers
In-ceiling speakers and in-wall speakers are pretty similar when it comes to function. They are both solutions when it comes to saving space and covering up messy wiring.
The most significant difference probably comes down to aesthetics. In-wall speakers are often rectangular in shape whilst in-ceiling speakers are often circular.
The difference in design shape comes down to aesthetics. In-wall speakers are often rectangular to match surrounding furniture and fixtures such as windows and picture frames.
It also serves as a more practical shape. In-ceiling speakers are often designed to mimic round light fixtures.
Soundproofing Solutions For Your In-wall And In-ceiling Speakers
Soundproofing Solution #1: DIY Backer Box
What is a DIY Backer Box?
If you already have in-wall or in-ceiling speakers installed in your house but you are starting to experience problems with the sound quality, a backer box may be the best solution for you to soundproof your speakers.
This option of soundproofing is something you’ll have to make yourself. This is a great option if you’re a DIY junkie, your speakers are requiring some kind of customization, or you’re just simply looking for a cost effective solution to soundproof your speakers.
This soundproofing option involves building a backer box for your speakers.
Why Do You Need A Backer Box?
If you currently have in-wall or in-ceiling speakers installed, the backs of the speakers are pressed against the wall with your cover, protection, or shield. The result is the transmission of sound traveling through the wall into other rooms causing disruption.
Building a back box will ultimately create an airtight enclosed space that will contain the sound coming from the speakers, keeping it within the room. This option serves as a relatively easy solution to combating the problem of traveling sound.
Requirements
If you’re considering making a backer box there are a couple of things you’ll need to consider in advance. Most walls in a standard room have 2×4 framing and the ceiling has 2×6 framing.
Considering this, it’s advised that your backer box aim to be no more than 3 inches deep if you’re making an in-wall speaker backer box or 5 inches for an in-ceiling speaker backer box.
How To Make A Backer Box
- Begin by measuring the dimensions of your speaker. Keep in mind that the box should be of a tight fit so that there is just enough space for the speaker to slot inside.
- Use 2×4 wood to cut two pieces that match up with the length and width of the measured dimensions of your speaker.
*Note – This process works well for speakers going into the ceiling. However, to make sure that there is enough space for your in-wall speaker, adjust the wood making it 2×3 instead of 2×4.
- Once you have finished cutting the wood pieces, use a nail gun or screws to fasten the wood to the frame.
- Once your frame is ready, you can now begin to add a lid to the backer box. Trace the outline of the frame on either a sheet of MDF or OSB with a pencil.
- Following the marked lines, you’ve just made, use a table saw to cut out the MDF or OSB. The cut-out portion of MDF or OSB will become the lid of the backer box.
- Fix the lid onto the frame with screws.
- At this point, you should have an open-ended backer box.
*Note – If you have any loose wires on your speaker that you wish to hide, drill a hole on the frame of the backer box for the wires from your speaker to slot into.
- Finally, all that’s left to do is to put the backer box into position and fix it on the drywall.
*Note – Make sure that there are no gaps between the frame of the backer box and the drywall. If there is a gap, you can always fill it in with acoustic caulk and using putty pads to seal the holes for the speaker wires.
How To Go The Extra Mile To Soundproof Your Speaker
When you’re making something from scratch, there’s always a chance that it may not go exactly according to plan. When you’re making your DIY backer box, the aim is to make it airtight.
In doing so, once the backbox is over your in-wall or in-ceiling speaker it should sufficiently deaden the sound to great extent. However, if you feel like it’s not as quiet as soundproofed as you’d like there is a tip to soundproofing your backer box further.
To achieve extra soundproofing, rather than using a single layer of MDF or OSB, try using two thin layers fixed together with a damping compound positioned between them. Creating a damped box will be more effective in soundproofing your speakers.
Adding multiple layers to your backer box and using a damping compound to soundproof your backer box is a great way to ensure that your speakers are soundproofed to the max, the quality of sound is clearer, and the sound will stay contained in the room.
If you want to go even further or you fancy a challenge, you can always create inner walls in the backer box to strengthen the soundproofing.
Soundproofing Solution #2: Purchase An In-wall Or In-ceiling Speaker Enclosure
What Is An In-wall/In-ceiling Speaker Soundproof Enclosure?
Unlike the backer box, the in-wall/ in-ceiling speaker enclosure is something that comes ready-made.
If you’re after efficiency and a quick fix to your speaker problem, purchasing a speaker enclosure may be the right route for you to take to soundproof your speakers. This is a great choice to save time, energy and get the process done right the first time.
There are loads of great options of soundproof enclosures that are affordable and easy to install. Speakers like the Dynamat in-ceiling speaker enclosure or the Dynamat En-Wall Enclosure both help to improve sound quality and reduce sound through walls and floors.
Dynamat En-Wall Enclosure
The Dynamat en-wall enclosure is an effective solution to soundproofing your in-wall speakers.
This product helps to significantly reduce wall vibration and helps to project clear surround sound into the room. This product works to reduce the effects of unwanted noise traveling through walls to maximize your listening experience.
Dynamat In-Ceiling Enclosure
The Dynamat in-ceiling enclosure is also a great product for effectively soundproofing your in-ceiling speakers.
This product helps to diffuse back-wave distortion which helps to reduce the noise transmitted through the floor. This product works to improve sound quality to improve your overall listening experience.
Enclosure Considerations
If you’re thinking of going down the route of purchasing an enclosure it’s important to keep a couple of things in mind as you’re shopping around.
- Make sure you find an enclosure that is the right size for your speakers. Your speakers should fit tightly and comfortably in the enclosure with minimal movement. Too much space between the speaker and the enclosure will create rattling which can impact the quality of the sound.
*Tip – Look for a product that is customizable, or offers adjustments.
- Make sure to always check the reviews. Whilst some products will look great, their ability to soundproof may not be up to scratch.
Waying Up Your Installation Options
If you’re thinking of making a DIY backer box because your speaker requires customization but you’re concerned about getting the measurements wrong, it’s always an option to get a professional to help you make it.
This way, it’s more likely to be done right the first time and to a high standard. This also applies if you have speakers with a lot of complicated wires or you have wires running through the walls or ceilings.
Recommendations For Soundproofing
Whether you’re attempting to do your own soundproofing or you’re thinking of purchasing an enclosure, before starting, try to be as organized as possible by laying out everything you’re going to need and planning where everything will go and how it will be positioned.
Planning ahead will ensure that there won’t be any surprises and installation should ultimately be a lot smoother.
What’s The Purpose Of Soundproofing?
Having a perfect set of speakers that deliver poor quality sound can be frustrating, especially when you’ve been looking forward to experiencing what it’s like to hear clear and crisp sound.
A frequent problem faced by those who have in-wall and in-ceiling speakers installed in their homes is that the quality of the sound is diminished.
Or, they face another problem of sound traveling to other rooms, leaving the sound in the room sounding muffled. The only solution to this problem is to soundproof the speakers.
Soundproofing aims to reduce the transmission of unwanted sounds between spaces, by isolating airborne noise with materials that can absorb or reflect the noise in diverging directions before being heard by the person wanting to hear the sound.
Soundproofing is a popular way to reduce unwanted noise in homes and it also serves to reduce the harmful effects that loud noise can have on the ears. It’s commonly used in home theatres, games rooms, recording studios, and study rooms.
Other Benefits Of Soundproofing Your Speakers
- Soundproofing your in-ceiling or in-wall speakers will result in the reduction of noise transmitted to other rooms. This will ultimately provide those areas with more privacy and quiet allowing for a peaceful environment.
- Soundproofing your in-ceiling or in-wall speakers will reduce discomfort. The effect of in-ceiling and in-wall speakers without soundproofing is often crackling noises, poor quality sounds, and loud vibrations which often create discomfort. Reducing these will make for a positive experience that will enable you to appreciate the quality of your speakers.
Summary
If you have in-wall or in-ceiling speakers installed and you are experiencing poor sound quality, vibrations, and the unwanted transmission of sound into other rooms, then maybe now is the time to soundproof your speakers.
Whether you’re thinking of creating your own soundproofing solution, or you’re looking to hire a professional to help you out, soundproofing your speakers is a great way to ensure you get the most out of your speakers.
Soundproofing your in-wall or in-ceiling speakers is sure to improve the overall sound quality in your room.
With the information provided on the options of soundproofing, along with information about the process, soundproofing your speakers has never been easier.
Not only are the options relatively simple to make and easy to install, they are also an effective way to improve the quality of the sound coming from your speakers.
