Hanging speakers from ceiling with wire cables

[TheInternet]

I would like to hang two conventional bookshelf speakers beneath a vaulted ceiling and am looking to source some suitable hardware to do so. Due to the length and variation in drop I'm considering the use of steel cable. Two or more 1.5mm cables should be ample to support each ~6kg speaker.

Has anybody used Gripple or Tecni-Cable/Tecni-Grip products?

At present I'm tending towards a pile of these:



Does anybody know where I can obtain ready-made, crimped cables? I have requested a quote from the above company but they look more geared towards larger commercial enterprises.

[Murph7355]

Almost used some Gripple when building a chicken run

Are you sure you want to do this? Do you have a photo of the space as I can't visualise it...How will you run the speaker cables? And will the speakers sound any good hanging in the air?

[Ultraviolet]

Never tried it, but generally speakers need a solid base to get the best performance. I don't imagine that would be possible with cables unless they're under some serious tension... And then they may vibrate if you crank up the volume to any degree.

I would look at in wall speakers with pivoting middle/ tweeters. Mount them high up, above head height, and angle the tweeter / mid sections downwards. The speakers will sit flush and the grills can be painted over to make them blend in. I have Monitor Audio in-wall in my cinema room and they are excellent.

Cheers,

UV

[Murph7355]

Ultraviolet said:

Never tried it, but generally speakers need a solid base to get the best performance. I don't imagine that would be possible with cables unless they're under some serious tension... And then they may vibrate if you crank up the volume to any degree.

I would look at in wall speakers with pivoting middle/ tweeters. Mount them high up, above head height, and angle the tweeter / mid sections downwards. The speakers will sit flush and the grills can be painted over to make them blend in. I have Monitor Audio in-wall in my cinema room and they are excellent.

Cheers,

UV

+1....though depending on what the speakers are for, I'd consider getting some funky brackets made and bolt them to the ceiling - make a feature of them.

[TheInternet]

Murph7355 said:

+1....though depending on what the speakers are for, I'd consider getting some funky brackets made and bolt them to the ceiling - make a feature of them.

For regular listening. Used with a sub and not loud. Obviously if it sounded awful I'd rethink.

Plan B is a rigid wall/ceiling fixing but it is more complex from the ceiling and I hesitate to wall mount as it is a party wall. Cable fixing was supposed to be the 'funky' option.

Ideally the suspension cables would also carry the electrical signal.

[TheInternet]

Ultraviolet said:

Never tried it, but generally speakers need a solid base to get the best performance. I don't imagine that would be possible with cables unless they're under some serious tension... And then they may vibrate if you crank up the volume to any degree.

This is true, but I don't think it will prove to be overly detrimental. There would be scope to add mass which would help. The cable lengths would be chosen such that the cabinets point down slightly.

[TheInternet]

Not sure those would present a good stereo image, irrespective of that they look expensive and I already have some speakers.

I did come across these though, also novel:



ETA The JBLs aren't that expensive, and seem to come with Gripple hardware. Will look into them, thanks.

Edited by TheInternet on Sunday 8th January 00:02

[Jonesy23]

For a little cable and load like this, and especially if the crimp isnt going to be visible you can DIY it.

The crimps are cheap and easy to get. Ideally you'd use a proper crimp tool but as mentioned it's a tiny cable and load so just crush the crimp (bootlace ferule in this case?) in a vise, maybe with something solid & round alongside the crimp to dimple it.

Not necessarily the prettiest way to do it but in my experience more than secure enough.

Also means you can tweak things rather than relying on getting the measurements correct first time to order them.

[TheInternet]

Jonesy23 said:

For a little cable and load like this, and especially if the crimp isnt going to be visible you can DIY it.

Also means you can tweak things rather than relying on getting the measurements correct first time to order them.

Thanks, very helpful. The ability to adjust the setup would be a big plus.

[IanCormac]

Have you thought about getting in ceiling speakers instead? Monitor audio do them, I'm about to buy some.

[davidn]

I've used these for window displays in the past:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CEILING-FLOOR-WIRE-CABLE...

Might do the trick.

[LordLoveLength]

Something like this?
http://cpc.farnell.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/S...
Other suppliers are available look under theatre or lighting supply companies

[Jonesy23]

TheInternet said:

Jonesy23 said:

For a little cable and load like this, and especially if the crimp isnt going to be visible you can DIY it.

Also means you can tweak things rather than relying on getting the measurements correct first time to order them.

Thanks, very helpful. The ability to adjust the setup would be a big plus.

Some versions of the Tecni grip and other mountings are a good option for easy adjustment as the cable is just a push fit (gripper mechanism) so can be tweaked endlessly within the length of the cable. Assuming a plastic coated cable you wouldn't even need to do anything to finish the ends, just cut it.

Crimped ends are more for the basic mounts.

[TheInternet]

Jonesy23 said:

Some versions of the Tecni grip and other mountings are a good option for easy adjustment as the cable is just a push fit (gripper mechanism) so can be tweaked endlessly within the length of the cable.

I was hoping to have a neater finish without loose ends poking out. I'm also not sure how they'd fare with the vibration, I think I'd trust crimped ends that bit more.

[Jonesy23]

Ok.

From my vague memories of the cost of doing something like this a drum of the cable was pretty cheap so it made sense to build it once roughly, tweak the cables until it was right then build new clean cables to the final lengths.

[TheInternet]

Jonesy23 said:

Ok.

From my vague memories of the cost of doing something like this a drum of the cable was pretty cheap so it made sense to build it once roughly, tweak the cables until it was right then build new clean cables to the final lengths.

Thanks, looks like I'll need:

1 x Crimping tool
100 x 1.2mm Alu stop ferrules
25m x 1.2mm Wire rope

...which will allow for plenty of strength/position testing.

[Paul Drawmer]

I'm pretty certain the sound from cable suspended bookshelf speakers will be 'toppy', i.e. weak in the middle spectrum, and poor in the base.

Strongly suggest that you rig them up on their hangers, and them compare with a temporary but solid bracket mounting before committing to it.

[Fore Left]

Why not just buy ready made speakers? A quick Google of pendant speakers threw up these and these amongst others.

[TheInternet]

Fore Left said:

Why not just buy ready made speakers?

I have the speakers I wish to use already, I do not believe hanging them will degrade the sound excessively and I can give it a go for ~£40. If they sound poor I'll look at the other options (including those) - but I don't think I'll like them, probably great for a commercial space.

Edited by TheInternet on Sunday 8th January 18:32

[TheInternet]

All the bits and bobs have now been gathered. Need to do a spot of maths to calculate the cable lengths but also need to choose a hanging method. I have the following choices and would like to minimise movement / increase stability. Anybody enlighten me to which is the better option? I'm pretty sure it's B.