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Installing speakers in-wall is not a joke for those who don’t know about the walls, wiring, and how surround music systems work.
That’s why you’re here and trying to find out how to install surround sound speakers in walls.
Installing at own surround sound speakers can save a couple of hundred dollars, and it will take barely 1 to 2 hours(If you have all the equipment).
Quick Helping Notes*
- Hiring a Professional will be the best way to install in-wall speakers.
- If you want to do it on your own, Plan your project to put the speakers and run the wires.
- Next, measure and cut holes in the wall for the speakers, then connect wires to the speakers. Tight the speaker’s screws and install the grill to finish the process.
Tools you will need to install Surround Sound speakers on walls
Here is the list of tools that will be required, when you try to install Surround Sound speakers on walls:
- Tape measure
- Stud finder
- Pencil/any marker
- Level
- Drill
- Drywall saw
- Wire stripper (Shirp knife enough for it)
- Screwdriver
- Floor covering tarp or newspaper
Consider Before installing Surround Sound speakers:
- In-wall speakers should be positioned at ear level when seated (men/women) on a sofa, usually about 35″ to 42″ inches from the floor.
- If you don’t want to use wire, buy wireless surround sound speakers and invest in a good receiver. A good receiver will cost you around $500-$800, it’s depend on the system(5.1, 5.2.2, or 7.1).
- Try to buy speakers with a grill, a wall color-matched grill must be preferred.
- Measure your room and plan your speaker position according to your surround sound system( 5.1,7.1).
- I’ll recommend standing speakers, than installing speakers on the wall if you have a bigger room in Leanths.
Steps to install surround sound speakers in walls
1. Plan your Speaker’s placement:
There are many types of sound systems available like 5.1,5.2,7.1 etc. If you choose 5.1, you may need to install 4 in-wall speakers and for 7.1 it will be 6.
So, it all depends on you, how many speakers you want to install in-wall. Ensure all Surround sound speaker positions must be 35″-42″ off the floor(ear level when seated on a sofa).
2. Use a stud finder and Mark locations: Mark the speaker’s location on your wall using the stud finder tool. If you’re living in concrete walls, skip this step.
3. Use your template: Most of the inwall speakers companies provide templates. Use the pencil and mark carefully because this is the exact length you need to cut into your wall. Also, Use a level to ensure the template is properly aligned and straight.
4. Cut your openings: Cut the wall you marked exactly before using the speaker template. On drywall you can use a drywall saw, for the concrete wall use a concrete wall cutter and concrete wall chaser.
Tips* This process can produce enough dust, so cover the floors with a tarp or newspaper before you start cutting walls.
5. Run your wires: If you have wireless speakers, connect them to an AV receiver and you’re ready to play. But if you bought surround sound speakers with wires, you can follow these ways to run your wires into walls:
- Run wires through the ceiling crawlspace or behind the drywall.
- Run through the walls using Cable Raceways, Wire Clips, or existing skirting board.
- Run wires underneath carpets or rugs along the floor,
Tips* Don't try to cut your concrete wall only for this. For the concrete house or flat, choose wireless speakers and invest in a best AV receiver.
6. Make your connections: After all wires are perfectly installed in the walls, connect all speakers one by one.
7. Install your speakers: With the connected wires, place the speaker into the opening and use a manual screwdriver to tighten the screws. If all speakers fit perfectly in walls, let’s dive into the next step.
8. Install speakers grill: In the modern era of in-wall speakers, speaker grills are provided by every well-known company. Some provide magnet grills and some are manual, put the grills on every speaker to finish the installation process.
Tips* Try to test every speaker before installing in-walls. Use clean cloths to clear the fingerprint you left on the grills of the spears during the installation period.
How to install surround sound speaker wires in walls?
There are many ways to install surround sound speaker wires in walls, here we provided a few legit and possible ways. Fews are cost less and few may cost you.
These are the best ways to install wires in walls; you can choose any of them:
1. Use Cable Raceways: Cable raceways are an excellent way to install wires along walls and baseboards. Measure the length you need, cut the raceway to size, and attach it to the wall with the adhesive backing or screws.
Then, place your wires inside. This method keeps cables organized and out of sight without requiring any modifications to your walls.
2. Existing skirting board: You can use existing skirting boards for the wires. Place your wires inside the skirting board and connect them with the pre-installed surround sound speakers.
3. Wire Clips: If installing clips possible in your home, this may also be the easiest way to install surround sound speaker wires in walls.
Draw the path of your wires and install wire clips. The gap between two clips depends on you, ensure the wire does not look like hanging between two clips.
4. Behind the drywall: Pass the whole wire behind the drywall to connect with the speakers. The holes in the walls only need to be 1 inch in diameter, or wide enough to expose both sides of the stud.
5. Leverage Carpets and Rugs: For wires that need to cross open areas or doorways, consider them underneath carpets or rugs.
How can I change old surround sound in-wall speakers?
Before changing the old speakers, you need to check the points we listed below:
- Find out the same size or lengthy speakers,
- The wire you previously installed must support new speakers,
- If the old speaker is wireless, check your receiver is compatible with the new one.
- A few tools like a Tape measure, Screwdriver, drill, and drywall saw may be needed when you trying to change old in-wall speakers.
If you followed all the points we listed, now you are all set to change old surround sound in-wall speakers, here are the steps:
- Remove the speaker’s grill if available,
- Now you can see all the screws, that are tightly attached to the drywall. Just pull out all of them one by one.
- After all screws are removed successfully, pull off the old speaker from the wall and cut the wire if available.
- Now, connect the wire with new Surround sound speakers. If you have a wireless speaker, you don’t need to connect any wire.
- Install the new speaker in the same position on the wall with screws. After installing the grills to the speakers you’re done.
Conclusion:
After following this helpful guidance about how to install surround sound speakers in walls, you must get your answer. Installing any in-wall speaker is not as hard as you think. If you have proper tools in-house, you can do it yourself.
Hiring a professional may cost you hundreds of dollars, you just need to know the proper ways to use tools and follow the guide we provided earlier in this article.
I’m sourav, a music lover and sound enthusiast. After experiencing multiple sound qualities, I thought many people searching regarding this topic, but there is not enough detailed information on it. That’s the main reason why I created this blog.