Installing Surround Sound in Ceiling/Walls

[Tangwhich]

Has anyone ever installed a surround sound system into their living room wall and ceiling?

I don't have any of the equipment yet, but I've got a new home being built and I'd like to rough in the boxes if I can. So I've got a couple of questions.

What typically is the kind of box that you can ceiling mount the back speakers to? An octagon (round) or a stand plug type rectangular box?

Is there some sort of formula/rule of thumb on where to position everything?

Thanks..

 

[Sparkss]

Here is a great guide for speaker placement.
One of the better ones i've found anyway.
http://www.practical-home-theater-guide.com/home-theater-speaker-placement.html

As for the type of boxes.
If your only roughing int he wires and then going to terminate the wires to something like these wall plates
http://www.besthomesystems.com/audi...ntrol_list.asp?Type=ConB&WeblocationA=VolConB

then you can use just normal square Electrical boxes. ( in fact you should!)
If you are planning on Mounting the speakers to the boxes... check with the speaker manufacturer for the specifications required.


I saw some really nice bose speakers a while back that were flush to the ceiling and they only required the same type of setup as a "retro" fit Pot light.
So i'm sure they are different for each.

 

[papasmerf]

I do it by eye and just rough the wires. I do however rough them to all possible locations of the TV in the room along with coax. I then use speakers that can mount on their own and no box is required. In the wall I place Arlingtion LV-1 box eliminators (this can be done after the drywall is up). Hang the wall speakers on them. At the TV locations I have 4 speakers on RCA jacks (solder type) and all the walls are paralleled, the coax is a home run to an amp. Ceiling speakers tend to be less than you expect for surround sound. As for layout you need to realize the layout of your furniture will change from time to time and you need a layout that is flexable enough to deal with that. Since every room is different you can not just say always put it at 71 inches AFF and in the center of the wall. You have windows and doorways to consider.

 

[Tangwhich]

Thanks for the tips..
Papa: Unfortunately, these boxes are going to be in concrete, so I only get one crack at it

 

[papasmerf]

Thanks for the tips..
Papa: Unfortunately, these boxes are going to be in concrete, so I only get one crack at it

Nice play on words

If you send me your floor plan and ceiling heights along with type of material to be used on the walls I can suggest placement. I dare say you will likely be framing out the walls and boarding the ceiling. If this is the case you can still fish the walls for surface mount speakers but for the tv locations I would suggest a deep double brick box with a 1" pipe to it.