Ceiling Speakers but Keeping It Simple

leyton01 on 25/12/2023 - 01:24
Last edited 25/12/2023 - 12:08 by 1 other user

We have recently reconfigured our lounge room to make it more open plan and unfortunately the TV is now further away from the couch and is mounted onto a wall of a new bedroom. Although we soundproof insulated the wall I am wanting to reduce the volume at which we have the TV and 'move' the sound closer to the couch.

I am thinking some ceiling speakers (but open to any other suggestions) but want to keep the set up as simple as possible for the children and the in-laws i.e. no separate remotes, having to power multiple devices on etc. KISS principle.

Currently we use a Telstra TV which also controls the power and volume of our LG OLED TV (I want to say a B3 maybe). Very simple set up with a single remote. The sound does not have to be cinema quality - we don't need to listen to Blippi in Dolby Atmos surround sound. We have been using the TV speaker - anything else will be a step up.

There is on open room between the TV and the couch and no really good place for floor speakers and only 1 wall on the right, I had thought about speakers behind the couch but I don't like the idea of the sound coming from behind. Is there a way to achieve a simple, sound transplant from the TV to near the couch or am I heading down an expensive complicated, amp-driven path?

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  payless69 on 25/12/2023 - 01:58

  Suspend 6 small Bose brand speakers similar to the setup cinema's have and hide a huge subwoofer somewhere.
  Dolby 7.1 still allows for a vibration motor to be built into your couch!

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    [Deactivated] on 25/12/2023 - 03:43

    +2

    vibration motor

    giggity!

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  solidussnake on 25/12/2023 - 07:17

  Just get a soundbar ?

  • 

    leyton01 on 25/12/2023 - 07:31

    -1

    And put it where?

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      sumyungguy on 25/12/2023 - 09:50

      Can you not wall-mount it below your TV?

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        leyton01 on 25/12/2023 - 14:52

        The whole idea is to move the sound away from the TV wall as it backs onto a bedroom and is well across the room so has to be quite loud to reach the couch. That is the problem.

        • 

          sumyungguy on 25/12/2023 - 15:05

          +1

          @leyton01: There will be a difference as your TV speakers likely face rearwards but the soundbar drivers will face towards the couch. If you have tables and power near the couch you could try smart speakers via bluetooth as you've mentioned already.

          • 

            leyton01 on 26/12/2023 - 23:15

            @sumyungguy: True - might be more directional.
            So hard to tell though as the soundbars all advertise "immersive sound" which fills the room (probably advertising crap though)

          • 

            leyton01 on 26/12/2023 - 23:16

            @sumyungguy: So far it looks like I could possibly use Bluetooth from the TV (not sure how convenient this is). Either directly to active, Bluetooth speakers in the ceiling, or to a small bluetooth amp and passive speakers.

            This is somewhat of an expensive risk. If the Bluetooth is flakey or doesn't automatically connect, or has a delay etc it might all fall apart as a solution

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  RockyRaccoon on 25/12/2023 - 08:06

  Keeping it simple. Using Google 🤣

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3-yLR-7Zu8

  But the biggest issue is having someone fit them for you.

  Merry Christmas

  • 

    leyton01 on 25/12/2023 - 14:53

    I had seen this video but only just started it. Going all the way through point 5 is useful.

    So I might be looking for some active speakers (so I don't need an amp) and maybe even Bluetooth to reduce the wiring.

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  AustriaBargain on 25/12/2023 - 16:07

  In the book about building his dream house, The Road Ahead, Bill Gates says he initially had a system of trapdoors and motorised things that reveal the speakers from hidden panels. But he said it made him feel like a James Bond villain so he swapped it all for a more discrete solution, mesh panels hiding them in the walls iirc. Gates also said in the first edition that the Internet was just a fad and wouldn't threaten Microsoft's stronghold over the tech world, so I'd take his advice with a grain of salt…