Ceiling speakers to replace Quad L-ite

[clockworks]

Planning to redo the living room in the next few months, so looking at whether it's feasible to replace my current L R and rear speakers with ceiling speakers, without sacrificing sound quality.

I'm using a set of Quad L-ite 5.1 speakers, but the fronts have been replaced with the larger 11Ls. I want to keep the centre (recessed below TV) and sub (tucked away in the corner behind sofas), replacing the rest.
Main use is for TV, with a bit of music listening. Denon AVR-3312, used as a pre-amp for the front channels, which are bi-amped by old Linn and Naim amps. I might get rid of the extra amps for simplicity, as they are probably overkill for TV use. Room is 13' square. TV will be in the centre of one wall, main sofa directly opposite.

Budget is around £500 for 4 speakers. Can spend more (within reason) if necessary.

[Dr Z]

Check that the ceiling speakers you're looking at don't have a funny dispersion pattern and are regular speakers. Otherwise there is no reason why a speaker can't be mounted inside a wall. Pro studio style.

[clockworks]

I wonder if it might be better to use in wall speakers for the front channels, and ceilings for the rear?

My plan for the room is to build a partition wall, creating a separate living room and entrance hallway. The partition will be about 450mm deep, with a few recesses for the TV, speakers and electronics on the lounge side, and bookshelves / display cabinet on the hallway side. A much "cleaner' way of doing things that the current TV stand in a corner.

Building recesses deep enough for my current front speakers could work, but would mean knocking a hole through into the integral lobby wall (single blockwork) that makes up the first metre of the new partition wall, and boxing in the back. I could bring the partition 4" into the room, and make it full width - enough depth for the left in wall speaker. Centre and right will fit into the full 450mm depth partition.

[VEX]

Ideally you should be looking at speakers in the wall, on bookshelves or floor standing at around ear height when sat.

However us installers and manufacturers recongnise that at least half our battle is with aesthetics and room layouts, so in-ceiling is acceptable.

Ideally look for ceiling speakers that are angled towards your seating position or at the least with directional tweeters. Most of what we supply allow this, Most brands from low/mid ranges will offer this.

At home our screen drops in front of our patio doors, I have managed to get floor standers either of the doors but the centre channel is an angled, in ceiling and you really wouldn’t know the sound comes from the ceiling when watching.

Also if your are replacing the ceilings with more ceilings check your opening sizes and depth. Either getting ones bigger or the same. Smaller would be a nightmare to deal with.

V.

[clockworks]

Been looking at Monitor Audio in wall speakers, didn't realise there were so many companies making in wall stuff now. I've got a Monitor Audio "stereo" ceiling speaker in the kitchen, impressed with it for the price.

Looks like I'll end up doubling my budget. Any other makes worth considering at around £200 per speaker? I'll keep the Quad sub. I had it rebuilt with better components a few years ago, as one of the power transistors went pop. The Denon amp does everything I need. I'll probably sell the Linn and Naim amps, should cover the extra money for the speakers.

I think in wall for the fronts is the way to go, with ceiling units for the rears.
I used to be into hifi in a pretty big way, so I understand about speaker placement, although an AV setup will always be limited in a smallish room with a big TV..
I should be able to get the front left and right at ear level, about 2 metres apart. Centre will go in just below the TV, which will be mounted lower than than "fireplace" height, but a bit higher than my current stand.