best in-ceiling speakers


Dear Gents and Ladies,

I will greatly appreciate your advice to get best in-ceiling speakers.

I was suggested to go with THX Ultra-2 speakers for 5.1 home theatre.
It is not a separate HT room - The floor is open concept and the area is shared with dining and kitchen.

Speakers must be in-ceiling.

Please advise for the case when money is not an issue.

I looked around and found Polk Audio RTS100 and Klipsch KS-7502-THX:

_www.polkaudio.com/customaudio/rts/index.php?s=lcirts100

_www.klipsch.com/ks-7502-thx-in-ceiling-speaker

It seems that both products were release quite a while ago so I am not sure.
Also, Polk RTS100 peaker is not quite seamless in ceiling and you can see a "cone" which I do not like. On another hand, Klipsch KS-7502-THX speaker is not angled and I feel it may be a problem to direct the sound towards listening position.

Some people recommend going with Paradigm Signature in ceiling.
Though I somehow feel that several drivers are better that a single driver (that what Paradigm Signature in-ceiling has).

There are also pretty expensive B&W square in-ceiling speakers which I have been considering:
_www.bowers-wilkins.com/Speakers/Custom_Installation/CI_Series/CCM7.3.html

,but it is not mentioned that they are THX Ultra-2 speakers.

Additionally, I came across Sonance cinema speakers: LCR1S and LCR.5S

_www.sonance.com/products/speakers/detail/553

_www.sonance.com/files/downloads/file/Cinema%20In-Ceiling%20Manual_080909Final.pdf

, But it is also not mentioned that they are THX Ultra-2 speakers.

How important is it to have in-ceiling speakers to be THX Ultra-2 speakers?

I will greatly appreciate your help here.

Thank you so much for your help!
/ John
johnsap
I recently put in a pair of the Polk RTS 100 ceiling in a fourth system in my house (living room). The electronics are tubed SET, DAC, and sonos, all hidden in a cabinet. I absolutely love the sound of this system and the Polk speakers( I have not demo'ed any other in ceilings.) I think the Polks are hard to find since they are no longer made. However, a friend found a pair after her my system.

Hope this helps.
I've got the Linn Custom 104C in-ceiling speakers for my surround speakers in my HT system. They are a step-up from the Sekrits, I believe, and they sound great. However, I can't say I did a lot of shopping around. I already had Linn speakers in front and saw these on an open-box special on A'gon classifieds. However, they have the same 2k array drivers as the Linn Majik speakers (i.e., they are a 3-way speaker design).

That all being said, there are tons of good options available out there.
I seriously doubt the THX Ultra-2 rating means anything after you reach a certain level. I mean, the Thiels or Revels are going to sound great -- does it really matter if they've gone to the added expense of getting some rating attached to them (which, by the way, you pay extra for)? Best of luck.