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Finding a sound system that’s make perfect balance quality and style might seem almost impossible. When looking for a solution for audio in your home or office, you will probably consider two options: Soundbar vs. Ceiling Speakers.
Deciding on the best option can seem like a massive challenge if you’re not sure which one best meets your needs. Solution? Always inform yourself before even entering a store. Maybe you don’t know, but what you need is a soundbar and nothing else. Or perhaps that bar that you already have at home does not quite satisfy you, since what you need are good Ceiling Speakers.
What is a soundbar?
A soundbar is a suitable audio solution without the cost of expensive home theater surround sound equipment. What makes soundbars convenient is that they are typically compact and sit right in front of or below the TV. Without relying on a receiver, the soundbars are self-contained, making it easy to move them from one location to another.
What are Ceiling Speakers?
This audio solution has separate components for enhanced sound quality. You’ll have better surround sound effects with different speakers and an amplifier/receiver than a soundbar. What’s more, it can be adapted to any space in the ceiling.
Also read: stereo-receiver-vs-integrated-amplifier
Similarities: Soundbar vs ceiling speakers
[wptb id=4546]they have small number of similarities because, these two sound systems function in different ways.
Soundbar or ceiling speakers?
Main difference between soundbar vs speakers is the Ceiling speakers are a long-term audio solution and will provide you with room-filling sound for decades to come. This is why it is so important that your speaker choice is carefully aligned with the sound quality you want to get from your speaker in the specific room. Is it for ambient music, or do you want to be able to have the occasional party on occasion? Or is it somewhere in between?
Have a nice wide soundstage. The sound effects come from every direction and even above your head. It does this by using a combination of DSP as well as placing multiple speakers inside the soundbar and aiming them in different directions so sounds will reflect and bounce off the walls and your ceiling. All of this excellent sound quality for a fraction of the space that separates speakers.
We take up well that particular type of soundbar you bring up isn’t be cheap we’re talking roughly around $1,000 and closer to 1500 for one of the best ones for around the same $1500 mark yes we’ll have to get more speakers and a better receiver you can get a good Dolby atmos DTS X receiver for about $300, and you can piece together a 7.1.2 channel speaker package for 1200 that’s nine speakers with a subwoofer and receiver for the same $1500.
That type of sound quality will be unmatched from any soundbar in that price range. Well, any soundbar in any price range, for that matter, you’ll have distinct sound effects coming from separate individual speakers.
So let’s say a helicopter is flying above and to the left side of the room. It’ll come precisely from that spot with an 11 channel soundbar you’re relying on sound bouncing around your room and hoping it bounces back at your ears correctly.
I mean, let’s face it, just because you add two speakers on top of a soundbar doesn’t guarantee it’s going to bounce off your ceiling and properly find its way back to your ear if you’ve got a vaulted or an unusually high ceiling you might as well forget about a full surround effect that sound will go up and go somewhere else so you have just thrown away $1500 also with separates you can always upgrade any part of the system as technology changes for the soundbar you’ll be buying a whole new setup.
All over again, now don’t get me wrong, those expensive Dolby Atmos DTS X soundbars definitely have a specific use case if you’re tight for space or don’t want unsightly boxes placed around your room, and sound marking creates a certain level of immersiveness.
types of ceiling speakers
In-ceiling speakers:
These are for those of you looking for the most discreet audio installation possible. Ceiling speakers are cut out and mounted to the ceiling above your room.
The quality of the recessed ceiling speakers can range from background listening options to full audiophile level speakers. Get in touch with one of our friendly advisers to make sure your budget goes as far as possible.
Mono vs. Stereo Speakers
Main difference between mono vs stereo speakers is the most conventional ceiling speakers are described as “mono”, which means you only have one sound channel. This means that it is designed to receive a left or right music channel and must be used in conjunction with a second mono ceiling speaker to create a stereo pair.
However, customers often report that ceiling space is too limited or impractical to install a pair of ceiling speakers. Installing a mono speaker would sound horrible because the speaker only outputs the left or right channel of the music.
That’s why the Single Stereo Speaker was introduced, a single ceiling speaker with a built-in left and right channel. This means that you can install a single speaker in a smaller space and still receive stereo sound.
They are also generally a better value than buying a pair of monkeys but keep in mind that the stereo separation will not be as great as two separate monkeys. We only recommend opting for a single stereo speaker when you have limited space.
For Installers: Individual stereo speakers require two speaker cables that will need to go to each speaker, so you can only install a maximum of 2 individual stereo speakers or four mono speakers, per Connect
In-wall Speakers
These speakers have the same options as ceiling speakers, but instead, they are typically mounted on the walls of the room rather than the ceiling. This option can be used for a superior TV surround sound experience, as the sound will be at a listening height rather than a ceiling speaker where the sound is coming from above.
Wall-mounted speakers are also great in situations where ceiling mounting isn’t possible, but a discreet audio solution is still required.
Quantity Of Ceiling Speaker For a Room
How many ceiling speakers is a common question in Smart Home Sounds. This goes hand in hand with the size of the room, but the consistency of the sound plays an important role here. To give you an example, imagine that you are hosting a social gathering with some background music and a pair of 6.5-inch speakers in the living room (say about 15 square meters). Until late at night, you decide to turn up the volume of the music.
Since you’re only using one pair of speakers, you’ll need to turn up the volume higher to compensate for the fewer number of speakers. This makes it uncomfortable for guests directly below these speakers due to the proximity to them.
Conclusion
For a movie theater, that’s just how it should be. But for your home theater, the choice between a soundbar or ceiling speakers is a no-brainer. The former fills the room and plays the same audio everywhere, while the latter fills the room and is directional. If you have both, it’s like going to the movie theater and having them split the screen in half.
Separate speakers are awesome, they just take up way more room than a soundbar, which is why we recommend you use one over a soundbar. They are not as convenient, though, so if you’re looking for something more convenient and less expensive than a soundbar, we recommend going with a soundbar. You can find the perfect one for your budget with our soundbar guide.
So what do we think? Is the sound bar the better option in terms of quality and convenience? Or does it make sense to save space for a dedicated set of speakers? Let us know in the comments.
