Discreet and relatively easy to install. A great way retain high-quality sound while saving space.
Overall Top Pick
Polk Audio RC85i
The Polk Audio RC85i is a great sounding speaker that is suitable for use anywhere in the house, including bathrooms, saunas and kitchens.
Best Budget Choice
Micca M-8S
The Micca M-8S is an excellent budget pick for quality audio. Installation is simple, and the speakers are durable, making them a versatile and affordable audio solution.
Best Center Channel
Polk Audio 255C-RT
The Polk Audio 255C-RT is an excellent center channel speaker, offering excellent sound quality and nuance for under $200.
Best For Home Theater
Klipsch R-5650-W II
With precise highs and balanced mids, the Klipsch R-5650-W II sounds great for home entertainment, especially when paired with a high-quality subwoofer.
Best For Ecosystems
Sonos In-Wall Architectural
When paired with the Sonos Amp, the Sonos In-wall Architectural can seamlessly integrate with your existing Sonos home ecosystem for a modern approach to in-wall audio.
The 6 Best In-Wall Speakers
In-wall speakers are discreet and relatively easy to install, making them a great choice for those looking to increase their floor space while retaining high-quality sound. With the right model, you can even use them to add music to bathrooms, kitchens, and saunas. Whether you’re looking to improve your home entertainment area or use them for room ambiance, here are our picks for the best in-wall speakers.
In-wall speakers barely age, making them a great investment. Many of these speakers have been around for years and are still some of the best in-wall speakers on the market today. Here are 8 in-wall speakers that will elevate your home audio while remaining discreet.
1. Polk Audio RC85i
Why we picked it:
The Polk Audio RC85i is an extremely versatile in-wall speaker that can be installed in any room. Featuring a moisture-resistant design, it is suitable for kitchens, saunas, and bathrooms too. It has a full-bodied sound ideal for home entertainment, music, or ambiance. The large 8″ woofer provides thumping bass, balanced mids, and clear highs. A swivel-mounted tweeter allows precise directivity towards the listener, which is especially useful in home theater installations. The RC80 and RC55i are smaller variations of the RC85i and are also worth consideration if you think the RC85i is too large for your space.
Notable Features:
- Adjustable tweeter
- Moisture resistant design
- Paintable grille
- Full sound
Specifications:
- Power Handling: 20-100W
- Sensitivity: 90dB
- Impedance: 8 Ohms
- Frequency Response: 50Hz – 20kHz
- Dimensions: 10.1 x 3.5 x 14.2″
Our Thoughts
The RC85i is our top pick because of its well-rounded design that incorporates clear, refined sound with directivity control via the adjustable tweeter and moisture resistance that makes it suitable for installation in kitchens and bathrooms too. Whether used for music or movies, the RC85i is a safe pick.
2. Klipsch R-5650-W II
Why we picked it:
The Klipsch R-5650-W II is a great in-wall speaker, ideal for home theater and music enthusiasts. Featuring a 6.5″ Cerametallic woofer and a 1″ titanium tweeter with a swiveling Tractrix horn, it has a dynamic and powerful sound with impressive clarity. Its paintable, low-profile design allows it to blend into your room’s design. The durable materials ensure longevity, while the easy installation process makes it accessible for those with some DIY experience. With exceptional performance, versatile placement options, and wide frequency response, the Klipsch R-5650-W II is perfect for creating an immersive audio experience in any home.
Notable Features:
- Controlled Dispersion Technology
- High Power Handling
- Treble attenuation switch
Specifications:
- Power Handling: 100W
- Sensitivity: 93dB
- Impedance: 8 Ohms
- Frequency Response: 52Hz – 23kHz
- Dimensions: 14.3 x 9.3″
Our Thoughts
The Klipsch R-5650-W II is a great choice for a moderately-priced in-wall speaker. It is made from high-quality materials and features a beautiful look with the grille removed. Its sound is extremely detailed, loud, and full, making it great for music and home theatre. It excels in creating an immersive sound.
3. Micca M-8S
Why we picked it:
The Micca M-8S is a top-tier budget in-wall speaker offering impressive audio performance and easy installation without breaking the bank. Featuring an 8″ poly woofer and a 1″ soft dome tweeter, it produces a clear and crisp sound, particularly in the highs. Its paintable design allows it to blend seamlessly into any decor. It also has a durable construction that ensures long-lasting use, and the straightforward installation makes it accessible for DIY enthusiasts. Overall, the Micca M-8S combines affordability, quality, and versatility, making it a great choice for budget-conscious music lovers.
Notable Features:
- Budget-friendly price point
- 8″ woofer for deep bass
- Adjustable tweeter
Specifications:
- Power Handling: 100W
- Sensitivity: 90dB
- Impedance: 8 Ohms
- Frequency Response: 40Hz – 20kHz
- Dimensions: 10 x 14.1”
Our Thoughts
For under $60, the Micca M-8S offers comprehensive value. Its 8″ woofer is something rarely found on budget in-wall speakers, and adds a good amount of bass, while the upper mids and highs balance it out with a clear, vibrant sound that increases clarity in dialogue and improves vocals when listening to music.
4. Polk Audio 255C-RT
Why we picked it:
The Polk Audio 255C-RT is an excellent center channel speaker that can be used by itself or in a larger audio setup. It features two 5.25″ woofers, and one 1″ tweeter, delivering superb sound and nuanced details. The magnetically fastened Sheer-Grille allows it to blend effortlessly into any decor without needing to paint. It can be used effectively to increase the intelligibility of dialog or as a stand-alone full-range speaker in smaller rooms, making it great for gaming too.
Notable Features:
- Pristine clarity
- Paintable grille
- Easy to install
Specifications:
- Power Handling: 10-150W
- Sensitivity: 90dB
- Impedance: 8 Ohms
- Frequency Response: 30Hz – 27kHz
- Dimensions: 7.6 x 13.1″
Our Thoughts
An outstanding center-channel speaker that can be used independently in smaller rooms or paired up with left and right-channel speakers for a more comprehensive sound. Dialogue is crisp and panning effective. A popular choice for console gamers who want a compact single-speaker option for under their television.
5. Sonos In-Wall
Why we picked it:
Sonos In-Wall Architectural speakers offer a modern solution with impressive technological features, especially when paired with the Sonos Amp, which enables Wi-Fi connectivity and caters to comprehensive home ecosystem installations. The Sonos Amp also facilitates Trueplay technology, which measures the reflections in your room and automatically adjusts the sound quality, allowing you to redecorate your room with less fear of acoustic changes impacting your listening experience. It features a 6.5″ woofer that produces balanced sound, while the tweeter ensures high frequencies sound crisp. Installation is simple and the grilles can be painted to match your room.
Notable Features:
- Wi-Fi connectivity (with Sonos Amp)
- Flush, sleek design
- Trueplay Technology (with Sonos Amp)
Specifications:
- Power Handling: 130W
- Sensitivity: 89dB
- Impedance: 8 Ohms
- Frequency Response: 44Hz – 20kHz
- Dimensions: 7.87 x 11.77 x 3.5″
Our Thoughts
The Sonos In-Wall Architectural are relatively bland unless they’re paired together with the Sonos Amp, which is where they shine. Using the Amp facilitates Wi-Fi connectivity, allowing it to be incorporated into a comprehensive home ecosystem. The Trueplay technology is another huge benefit brought by the Sonos amp. If you’re a Sonos guy, this is the pair for you.
6. Yamaha NS-IW760 6.5″ 2-Way
Why we picked it:
The Yamaha NS-IW760 is an impressive, versatile in-wall speaker that retails for under $150. Because its design features two 6.5″ woofers and a central 1″ soft dome tweeter, it can be used vertically as a left or right-channel speaker or rotated horizontally and turned into a center-channel in-wall speaker. It’s this versatility that makes it such a popular choice. It has great dynamic performance, retaining clarity even at high volume levels. It can be used effectively for movies or music and has a paintable grille to match the room’s interior.
Notable Features:
- Vertically or horizontal installation
- Can be used as an effective center-channel speaker
- Powerful, clear sound with good dynamics
Specifications:
- Power Handling: 130W
- Sensitivity: 88dB
- Impedance: 6 Ohms
- Frequency Response: 50Hz – 24kHz
- Dimensions: 7.69 x 23.44″
Our Thoughts
While large, the Yamaha NS-IW760 is one of the most versatile in-wall speakers on the market. For around $400, you can install three of these speakers – a left and right channel, and a center channel. They have great dynamics and can get quite loud without degradation in quality.
The Benefits of In-Wall Speakers
While in-wall speakers aren’t as popular as they once were, they still hold some advantages over the now prevalent soundbar design that is commonly used for home theatre. They can be installed flush into the wall, meaning you don’t have to worry about objects protruding from the wall, which can be useful for installations where there is a focus on a flush TV installation. It helps tie together the setup. Soundbars also have limited soundstage, while a center-channel in combination with left and right in-wall speakers can create a broad soundstage that can be tailored to the design of the room.
In-wall speakers also save a lot of space when you compare them with bookshelf or tower speakers which require placement positions or lots of floor space, respectively. In-wall speakers can also often be painted the same color as the wall, meaning they can blend in seamlessly with your room.
Buyer’s Guide to In-Wall Speakers
Our buyer’s guide will examine additional considerations you need to make before and during purchase. We’ll cover potential limitations, best practices, and topics that benefit your purchase process.
Learn the Technology and Terminology
One thing you will have learned by now is that there are a lot of technical terms in place when dealing with speakers, particularly passive speakers that don’t have their own built-in amplifier. You may have never heard of crossovers, ohms, or impedance before – these all describe various aspects of audio. Here’s a brief rundown of the most important terms you may encounter.
| 2 Way Speaker | A speaker with two drivers (typically a woofer and a tweeter); they are designed to offer a good high range and low range response. These are not generally so good at the mid-range sounds. |
| 3 Way Speaker | A speaker that has three drivers, one for each of the low, mid, and high frequencies. These speakers will feature a woofer, midrange and tweeter. |
| Central Speaker | This deals with the dialogue and special effects in a movie; it must be located near the television and central to the room. They are also called center channel speakers. |
| Crossover | A speaker crossover is an electronic circuit used in multi-driver loudspeaker systems to split the audio signal into different frequency ranges, directing each range to the appropriate driver (e.g., tweeter, midrange, woofer). |
| Decibel | This refers to the measurement of volume, abbreviated as dB. It is measured on a logarithmic scale, with every 10 decibels representing a 10x increase in volume. For instance, a speaker with 100 dB SPL is 10 times louder than a 90 dB speaker. |
| Diaphragm | This device separates frequencies, allowing only certain ones through to each driver inside your speaker. This is imperative for high-quality sound reproduction. |
| Frequency Response | Frequency response refers to the range of frequencies the speaker can reproduce. |
| Impedance | This is an electrical term that shows the resistance given by a speaker to the amplifier or music system. |
| Sensitivity | Speaker sensitivity, also known as speaker efficiency or speaker SPL (Sound Pressure Level), is a measure of how effectively a loudspeaker converts electrical power into sound energy. It quantifies how loud a speaker can get with a given amount of power input. |
What do You Want the Speakers For?
The next question you must ask is what you want the speakers for. Your choice of speaker will be different if you want to enjoy some calming music compared to wanting to feel like you are at the center of the latest action film. Television systems usually deliver the best sounds when connected to a surround sound system; your in-wall speakers can be a part of this. In this instance, you will want a good-quality center channel speaker. Combining left and right-channel speakers with a center-channel speaker provides better panning between channels and crisper dialogue in movies.
Installation
In-wall speakers have their cables hidden; this is part of the attractiveness of the design and will help convince your partner that they are a good idea. However, this is an extra challenge when fitting your speakers. You need to be confident that you can cut the correct hole size in your wall without damaging any studs. If you make it too big, then your speaker will not be secured, and you will have some repair work to do.
In addition, you must get the cable from your music system or television to your speaker. It must go inside the wall, which can take some work to achieve.
Before you buy your in-wall speakers, you must decide if you are comfortable doing this or need to hire a professional. This cost may impact the budget you have available.
Do You Need an Amplifier?
In most cases, yes. In-wall speakers are usually passive, meaning they don’t have a built-in amplifier that gives them power. That means you need to have an appropriate amplifier to drive the speakers. If you already have some speakers set up that are powered by an amp, it can be beneficial to look for in-wall speakers that are matched for power handling and impedance. This way, you won’t have to buy another amp, and you can more easily tie it into your existing setup.
Alternatively, if you don’t have a suitable amp, you’ll need to factor this into your budget.
Conclusion
In-wall speakers offer a discreet way of enhancing your home audio. Relatively affordable and beautiful to look at, there’s a reason why homeowners around the world incorporate them into one or several of their rooms. Elevate your home audio experience with immersive sound through the enhanced soundstage presence.
Polk Audio RC85i
The Polk Audio RC85i is a great-sounding speaker that is suitable for use anywhere in the house, including bathrooms, saunas, and kitchens.
Great post .With in depth review of the speakers i am very glad to find this article .It helped a lot .There are so many article out there but they try to sell and don’t go in depth but you explained it all .Thank you