All Speakers Are The Same, Right?

While all speakers have a woofer and a magnet, not all speakers are made with the same components or to the same level of quality.  Inexpensive speakers typically do not fill the room with vibrant music, they seem flat and hard to distinguish between medium to high frequencies. Inexpensive speakers simply lack the ability to generate sounds from the low end of the spectrum to the high end. When compared to speakers with better grade components, it's a night and day difference. High quality speakers can get lower sounds, produce bigger bass response, drive the speakers louder and for longer.

When EVS takes over an install from another company at the request of the clients, we always review the in-ceiling speakers. A lot of times we find inexpensive speakers that were originally selected and are a major source of disappoint for the clients. EVS tackles this be showcasing better speakers that perform at a much higher level.

Simply put, we feel better speakers are worth the investment and create a better music experience for everyone!

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Speaker Sizes Make A Big Difference

In the early 2000's it was common to see 5 1/4" size speakers. These speakers were small and had sufficient medium frequencies but not much low end bass. The high end frequencies always seemed to high and were too tinny. During the early 2010s most companies settled on 6 1/2" size speakers for in-ceiling speakers. The larger speaker diameter helped create lower frequencies and rounded out the sound a little bit. Jump to 2026 and a lot of companies will typically select 8" speakers for in-ceiling options. These speakers are the best for low, medium and high end frequencies.  Music sounds fuller, clearer, more enjoyable to listen to when you're getting all of bass and treble coming through crystal clear.

For comparison, 5 1/4" speakers could go down to 67 Hz, 6 1/2" speakers could go down to 50Hz and 8" speakers can go to as low as 38Hz depending on make and model. While it may not sound like a lot, no pun intended, those small frequency differences have a big impact. 8" speakers have a lot more bass response and music can sound a lot more exciting when listening with larger speakers.

Larger speakers can typically handle more power allowing clients to turn the music up without sacraficing music quality or damaging the components.

Proof Is In The Pictures

On a recent install, EVS replaced the speakers that were 20 years old with high quality Triad Speakers TS-PDX-IC84 speakers. You could hear the sound difference immediately. Illustrated below is the difference in size and build quality. The speaker on the right is the brand new one we installed for our client's project.

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In-ceiling Speaker Tips

1. Whenever possible, select 8" speakers for bigger bass respsonse.
2. Select from reputable brands with a long tradition of excellence.
3. Replace old worn out speakers for better sound experience.
4. Use DSP's or Graphic Equalizers to dial in the sound even more.