Matt HallowesThe physical installation of home audio is, to some people, the most daunting part of getting your interior sound set up. Speakers are often an investment to improve the value of a home or improve your quality of life. When we’re already pushing our budget, it’s sometimes hard to justify the costs involved with the installation.
If you’re a stranger to handiwork, we’d recommend contacting a professional installer. However, installing in-wall speakers is not difficult, and many homeowners may be comfortable with the work involved.
We’ll help guide you through the process of in-wall speaker installation without making it more complicated than it needs to be.
The Type of Wall Matters, A Lot
This guide will assume that you’re installing your in-wall speakers into a dry-wall that can easily be cut through. While most American homes allow for the easy installation of in-wall speakers, the story will differ greatly for those with brick walls. We highly suggest contacting a professional in your area to install your in-wall speakers in a brick wall.
Here’s What We Recommend You Use
Drywall Cutter
Just about every home has a drywall cutter lying around somewhere. This is an essential tool for in-wall speaker installations, as you need to cut a hole to mount your speaker.
Screwdriver
As screw-heads can vary, it’s best to have a screwdriver multi-tool, so you’re covered. This is another essential tool for screwing the speaker in place.
Carpenter’s Pencil
You’ll need a pencil to mark out your speaker hole before cutting. The correct pencil is a Carpenter’s Pencil, but you can use any pencil for this job. Make sure it’s a pencil that can be erased if you move the hole. A Sharpie or pen is harder to remove if you make a mistake.
Drill
To use your drywall cutter, you’ll need a drill to make a pilot hole. A drill will also come in handy if you have to drill through studs in the wall to run the cable. Ensure you have a long drill bit if the stud is out of reach for a regular drill bit.
Spirit Level
Even though in-wall speakers come with a template, you must still ensure your speaker is level. For this, a spirit level is essential.
Wire Coat Hanger or Stud Detector
A wire hanger can be used to feel inside for studs or obstructions, but ideally, having a stud detector on hand is still the best for finding studs in your wall. Together these two tools can give you a pretty good idea of what’s happening behind your dry-wall.
The easiest way to install in-wall speakers is when building the room, but dry-walling remains relatively easy. One of the times when in-wall speaker installation may get quite challenging is when you’re attempting to mount them in the wrong location (such as directly in front of infrastructural support, wiring, or plumbing).
If you want to install in-wall speakers into a brick wall, that’s quite a different process, and for that, we highly recommend speaking to a professional installer who can assist you.
1 to 3 Hours
Get Your Tools Together
Assemble your required tools and get the speaker template (if supplied). The template may be as simple as a piece of cardboard with the speaker. This will be the same size as the speaker you want to cut, which lets you use it as a stencil.
Check For Studs
Determine your installation locations and use a stud finder or wire hanger to ensure your desired location is viable.
Trace the Template
Use the template in conjunction with a spirit level to align your cutting location, then use your pencil to draw an accurate outline around the template.
Cut Out The Shape
Take your drywall cutter and cut out the pencil-marked area of the wall.
Remove The Speaker Grille
Get your speaker and remove the grille from the front to access the screws.
Align The Rear Mounting Clips
If your speaker has dog-leg clips on the back, angle them vertically in line with the speaker, as these will drop down once you start screwing and help to hold your speaker in place.
Mount The Speaker
Now place your speaker inside the hole you cut out and bring back the spirit level to ensure the correct positioning before screwing in the screws.
Run The Wiring
Once fixed, you need to run your wiring from your speaker to your amplifier.
