A guide to custom speaker installations

What is a custom speaker installation? 

Custom speaker installation refers to the process of strategically placing and integrating speakers into a space in a customised or personalised manner. This often involves designing and installing speakers to meet specific acoustic and aesthetic requirements of a room or environment.  

In reality, custom installations can include any type of speaker, but for this article we refer to in-wall, on-wall and in-ceiling speakers.

Why choose custom install speakers? 

The traditional way to deliver high-quality stereo sound is by placing cabinet speakers, sometimes large floorstanders, around a room. However, this solution is often impractical or even impossible; perhaps you aren’t willing to give up the floor space needed to accommodate cabinet loudspeakers, or maybe you just don’t have the floor space.

Custom install speakers integrate seamlessly into the architectural elements of your room, while delivering all the audio performance of a cabinet-based sound setup.

What should I consider before investing in a CI setup?

Before you decide whether to invest in custom install speakers, there are certain things you need to bear in mind. Here are a few:

• Do local building and fire codes – or your lease contract – allow for custom speaker installations?

• Are your walls and ceilings suitable for custom install speakers? For example, if you plan to install CI speakers into load-bearing walls or solid-concrete ceilings, we strongly encourage you to consult with your local Hi-Fi installation experts first.

• Do you have the necessary skills to carry out the work yourself or will you need professional help?

How to install custom installation speakers

If you’re remodelling your home or taking on a new build, there's no better time to consider custom install speakers. Even if you're not, a false wall can also avoid costly retrofits and deliver great results.

Here are a few ​​​installation tips​:

• Make sure you have sufficient space behind the wall/ceiling surface to accept the full depth of the install speaker.

• If in doubt, measure twice and cut once.

• If your wall has insufficient internal space for in-wall speakers, you can build a false wall using studs and gypsum board (or similar construction panels). This solution also gives you the option of flush-mounting your flat-screen TV in the false wall for a complete, discreet system.

• Ensure your speaker cable is the right thickness (gauge) for your installation. If in doubt, your local Hi-Fi store or installer is always ready to help.

• For the optimal listening experience, always install the speakers well away from room corners to maintain a good stereo image and avoid excessive bass.

• Some CI speakers require a ​backbox​ to give the best audio performance, while other models include sealed enclosures or back-cans, which don't need additional acoustic correction.

Speaker positioning

As with any type of speaker, you need to position custom install speakers correctly to get the best results. In a stereo configuration, the listening position and speakers should form an equilateral triangle to provide a balanced, believable soundstage. In many setups, the ability of custom install speakers to disperse sound is limited, which results in a relatively small listening sweet spot. However, the wide-dispersion characteristics of every DALI speaker create a larger sweet spot and a more well-balanced sound throughout the listening area.

Wide dispersion custom install speakers are also great for passive listening. Whether you’re entertaining friends at the dinner table or relaxing in the bath, custom install speakers can fill any room with discreet, high-quality music for passive listening – even at low volumes.

In a ​multi-speaker home cinema setup​, custom install speakers can perform every bit as well as cabinet speakers. And with features like rotatable hybrid tweeters for sideways and upside-down installation and directional tweeters, DALI custom install speakers can be fine-tuned to deliver immersive, well-balanced sound in virtually any room.

​​​In-wall, on-wall or in-ceiling speakers?

Choosing between the different types of CI speakers hinges on your individual preferences, room layout and aesthetic considerations.

In-wall speakers

In-wall speakers offer a seamless, minimalist aesthetic as they are concealed within the surface of a wall, providing a clean and unobtrusive appearance. This is a good choice if your priority is to minimise visual clutter. In addition to their aesthetic appeal, in-wall speakers allow for precise placement, while optimising sound distribution and acoustics that are tailored to the room.

On-wall speakers

On-wall speakers provide versatility, as they can be easily mounted on the wall without the need to cut holes in your wall. This makes them a practical choice when in-wall installation might be challenging or impractical. On-wall speakers, while visible, can also serve as a design element in the room, adding a visual component that complements the overall aesthetic.

In-ceiling speakers

In-ceiling speakers can deliver better coverage than wall-mounted speakers in larger rooms. In a surround setup, in-ceiling speakers also deliver immersive height-channel sound in a compatible surround setup or surround-channel sound when wall-mounted speakers aren't practical, for example, if your couch is positioned against the back wall of your room.

Custom install speakers from DALI

DALI PHANTOM custom install speakers bring Hi-Fi sound to any room without the need for traditional cabinet speakers. Incorporating the same loudspeaker driver technology from our cabinet speakers, custom install speakers feature slim enclosures that mount flush with the surface of a wall. This means no free-standing cabinets taking up precious floor space, and because our CI speakers merge seamlessly with almost any decor, they maintain the aesthetics of your living space.

A great home-cinema solution

If you’re considering a home cinema setup, custom install speakers can be a great solution. Even a basic 5.1 setup, with centre, main and surround speakers, requires more space than you might be willing or able to free up in your room. And if you have your eye on that 7.1 or 9.1 dream installation, you’re going to need a bigger room... or are you?

With DALI PHANTOM custom install speakers, any surround sound setup is a realistic proposition for almost any room. Whether it's PHANTOM M and S series speakers providing powerful Hi-Fi sound through the front and centre channels, or PHANTOM E, H and K series units taking care of the surround, rear and height channels, custom install speakers create an immersive home cinema soundscape that will satisfy even the most demanding movie aficionado.

Blending great sound and great looks

At DALI, although we consider a beautifully made loudspeaker a piece of fine furniture, we realise that not everyone feels the same way. Speaker stands, cables and other components are all part of the package, which not everyone can readily accept into their home. And while wireless speakers let you mount smaller satellite speakers on the walls, this can also be unacceptable from an aesthetic point of view. If you're in this situation, then custom install speakers are the perfect solution, giving you peerless Hi-Fi audio in a discreet form that will appease even the most ardent sceptic.

To learn more about whether your room is suitable for a custom install setup or you need help installing custom install speakers, you should enlist the help of your local professional Hi-Fi installer. Your local DALI dealer can also help find the best solution for you. Find your nearest dealer here.

​​You can also find out more about the DALI range of custom install speakers here.