Question Talk to me about ceiling mount Bluetooth speakers

[punkncat]

A friend has asked me to assist with an install of ceiling speakers on a porch. Currently, they have some nice 6.5 or 8" ceiling speakers, plenty of audio hardware to run it/switch it, etc.

The installation is, IMO a bit tricky in that there is spray in foam insulation which is concealing the rafters in this section of house. The roof line is also very low so that parts of this area are rather filled with expanding foam.

The speakers in this area are only going to be driven from TV as source on a news channel basically 24/7. The TV is a nice Samsung unit with wireless and Bluetooth tech. I am considering rather than trying to bring wires down in the chimney chase/stone front to utilize the Bluetooth speakers instead. In my professional capacity I have never installed permanent "structural speakers" as it were, in the ceiling which were wireless. I know they will still have to be run back to power and that aspect would be much easier than getting the required wiring from the TV to a receiver (already on hand) and wires back out to the speakers via the chimney.

I have found several sets and just in a general way was curious to know a few things. If using this general type of connection, is it a pair to the TV and forget it type thing?
Is there easy capability to pair them to other devices?

 

[kerberos_20]

it should work as any other bluetooth speaker

 

[punkncat]

it should work as any other bluetooth speaker

On most of those the sync button and such isn't eight or so feet in the air either.

 

[USAFRet]

You still have to provide power for these, correct?

 

[punkncat]

Yes, they pull back to an outlet and/or splice in with electrical.

 

[Ralston18]

I would first try a prototype install with as minimal physical damage as possible with regards to ceiling speaker placement and electrical cable runs.

Put speakers on top of ladders or initially hang from very tiny ceiling hooks or some of those self-adhesive hooks that are non-marring. Painter's tape to temporarily hold wires externally along the paths being considered.

Very likely that you will discover other issues and concerns. Physical maybe - but perhaps horrible acoustics as well.

Or as mentioned by @punkncat - how accessible will the reset button(s) be?

Still even when all works once working inside the walls and ceiling - who knows....

A good stud finder is recommended: a surprise horizontal stud, ductwork, piping, or cable, or something, somewhere may really get in the way.....

 

[kerberos_20]

Or as mentioned by @punkncat - how accessible will the reset button(s) be?

there shouldnt be any reset button (or any button at all). so some switch on power line might be considered

 

[Ralston18]

Good point!

Will concede on the presence or absence of speaker hosted buttons per se.

The overall concern being some need to physically touch the speakers for whatever reason.

If no buttons then buttons are moot.

 

[punkncat]

I convinced the homeowner to go with some Bluetooth speakers. I also dissuaded her from putting them in the ceiling for this room. My concern was the very large fan on the ceiling causing the "talk through the fan" issue. She opted for a nice set of Sonos.

I installed a couple of matching 6.5" ceiling speakers into her kitchen ceiling and on this we wired it back to the receiver she already has in the adjacent room, a really nice Yamaha unit. One thing about it though, and I really wish that manufacturers would stop doing this....
The receiver is very high featured. It offers 7.1 and 2 zone control. It and another model are nearly the same except this one doesn't allow zone 2 to 'follow' zone 1, they have to be different sources. It also has a 7 channel stereo function that will work wonderfully for the setup, however:
You can't do any adjustments to the amp output or get to that 7 channel mode without the remote control. The unit offers both a phone app that you can download as well as straight up LAN control....but you need the remote control to set it up.

I cannot see why a person pays what they do for high end equipment for it not to have a simple program or menu key on the front.

The remote is around somewhere. I looked it up and got a picture for the homeowner to use as reference while things get unpacked. Hopefully will turn up by next weekend when we are scheduled to be back for the final setup and an install to the MBR.