Mounting Speakers in drop celing panels?

[Negativecreep0]

Is it possible to mount speakers in my drrop ceiling panels? Or everytime the music plays would it make the panels vibrate or rattle? Any ideas would be appreciated

thanks

[NinjaEpisode]

Kinda depends....

How much space is above the drop ceiling?  Is it close to the rafters or do you have like 2-3 feet above it?

If it's close to the rafters, you can mount the speakers to the rafters, like you would a recessed light, which doesn't really use the ceiling tile for weight, but rather "floats" above it.

Either way, you'll probably get a little rumbling going on with a drop ceiling as it settles and loosens over the years.

I know my basement ceiling rattles when we turn up the arcade or the jukebox.

[JeepMonkey]

How big / heavy of a speaker are you talking about?

You may be able to put a couple strips of Dynamat or other sound deadening material on the back side of the ceiling tiles that will have the speaker.  The Dynamat may help reduce the amount of vibration.

[JackTucky]

Offices always have them installed in those panels.  They screw tight to the panel.

Not sure how loud they could be (think Muzak), but it's worth a try.

Jacktucky

[SOAPboy]

Offices always have them installed in those panels.  They screw tight to the panel.

Not sure how loud they could be (think Muzak), but it's worth a try.

Jacktucky

They can be loud, Muzak stations are loud as hell, its just lowered manually like you would in a room with people trying to talk..


Sound quality of cheapy ones like they use in walmart, suck passed barely audible volume.. Get some 6X9s or something and use those, mount metal plate behind them to the rails that hold the tile, and put a cup/cone on the back of the speaker to make a "box"..

[ChadTower]

all you would have to do is put something around the panel to absorb vibrations... maybe some foam rubber insulation strips on the metal support strips.  That way if it vibrates you won't hear it.  I assume you're not putting a sub or anything up there so you should be fine.

[Negativecreep0]

hell no, if i  subed the drop ceiling forget about it!!! Thanks for all the suggestions, I intend to do the drop ceiling panel installation for my homemade jukebox. You guys think 2 is enough ( one on upper left corner of room and bottom right corner of room) for a 23 x 25 ft room?


thanks

[ChadTower]

"enough" is completely relative to your goals.  Unanswerable.

[DrewKaree]

It IS possible, and they DO make them.  Darned if I can find a link, but someone will come up with one or else I'll have to do some homework for you, but they specifically make speakers for drop ceiling panels that DEFINITELY ARE NOT the cheap kind you have in an office or store.  Are you planning on using them as surround sound speakers, or the main speakers to play music?  If you're using them as the main speakers to play music, I'd suggest doing an in-wall installation instead of going into the ceiling.

Do a search on a home theater forum or something similar. 

*edit*
Here, from www.crutchfield.com Each item is a clickable link.  There's:

• In-Ceiling speakers
• In-Wall speakers
• Installation brackets if you wanna use your own speakers (REALLY fiddly process)

These are just a small selection, and I happen to have 2 places I can buy these in my city that are cheaper, but if you want them, they make them, and it can be done.  Some come with gaskets and other fiddly parts to mount them more securely, but some are just "cut the tile and press in place".  They won't rattle, although I've only ever installed them for folks using them as rear surround speakers.

[Negativecreep0]

that is exactly what i need but 200 a pair.... not so much needed

[DrewKaree]

that is exactly what i need but 200 a pair.... not so much needed

I can get a pair of speakers for that type of application for $60/pair.  That was just a link to show you what you're going to be looking at and what else can be done.  I'm sure now that you know what you're going to be looking for, you can find something more in your price range.

Remember, you didn't ask us about price, you just asked if it were possible