Ceiling speaker selection - looking for a straw poll from experienced AV people


Hello! I am building a bar/mancave underneath my house, ~ 600 sq ft, 8' ceilings; listening/entertaining area ~ 25' x 20'. During the construction I wired for 6 in-ceiling speaker locations (plus 4 more in an adjacent wood shop of similar size), plus wired for positioning sub-woofers in each area. This is not exactly "home theater" . . . . let's be honest - this is a bar for entertaining my buddies . .. having great music is the objective; would like decent performance for when it's just me lounging and listening  . I have been reading up on various in-ceiling speaker solutions as well as subwoofers; every product under the sun is "great". To say the least, it has been hard to narrow down. I have found very few listening locations where I could actually A-B different in-ceiling speakers.

SO - I thought I'd see if I might reach any kind of consensus from folks who have systems with in-ceiling speakers as the main element. As I have 10 speakers to buy, I have been trying to keep the price per speaker below $250 (willing to buy via eBay vs. retail to up the quality). Also have 2 subwoofers to buy.

Given the above, what would be your pick for:
1. In-ceiling speakers
2. subwoofers

Thanks for your suggestions
stote
1. In-ceiling speakers- none. The reason hardly anyone has in-wall speakers to compare is because no one buying in-wall speakers really cares. Not really. Oh, they say they do. But if they really did they would be buying real speakers, not in-wall. Plus, hate to say it, they’re for women. Women who want music to just magically be there without ever having to look at a speaker. Ewwww!

2. subwoofers- four. Does not matter which ones. Spend what you can afford but spend it on four per room not one. Or two, or even three. Four. Go on. Be a man.

Why such contrary advice? For the simple fact that your budget, even just the $2500 you have budgeted for in-wall dreck, will buy a whole entire stereo that will sound much, much better than anything like you are planning.

Seriously: whatever amount you’re thinking on in-wall, write that number down, take it to the best stereo shop in town and ask to hear what they could do for that. Thank me later.

Totem :-) they make great in wall and ceiling speakers and regular stuff also
the Tribe subs in wall can kick.
i have Totem in our sunroom with 40’ glass wall cantilevered over puget Sound - the steerable tweeters and mid ranges on angle can help tame things as needed. powered by NAD amplifiers, nobody complains.... but it may have been the wine...