Reddit reviews Polk Audio RC80i 2-way Premium In-Ceiling 8" Round Speakers, Set of 2 Perfect for Damp and Humid Indoor/Outdoor Placement - Bath, Kitchen, Covered Porches (White, Paintable Grille)

A couple details:

Components:

I read QUITE a few reviews and this series was very highly rated at a reasonable price. Ended up getting many of them on refurb, open box, or otherwise for a great discount.

R/L Floor Speakers: Polk Audio TSi400

Center channel: Polk Audio CS20

R/L surround: Polk Audio TSi200

R/L rear in-ceiling: Polk Audio RC80i

Subwoofer: Polk Audio PSW505

Receiver: Harman Kardon AVR-3650

Projector: Optoma HD20

Screen: Elite Screens Sable, 100" CineWhite

Blu-Ray player: Pansonic DMP-BDT220

Remote: Logitech Harmony One RF (no line of sight needed)

Total of all electronic components with wiring and such came to around $5,000.

All lumber used for coffers is 1x finger jointed poplar. Used 1x8 ripped to dimension for verticals, 1x10 for horizontals. Sizes were dimensioned based upon the depth of the gimbal lights above the columns and the width of the column capitals.

Base and casement trim is also FJP, crown molding was MDF due to the major cost difference. Doors are Western solid cores, knobs by Emtek.

All speaker wires are 12 gauge UL rated for in-wall usage. All other cables and connectors are from Monoprice as well.

110v wiring is all 12/2 with 15A receptacles.

Gimbal lights from Lowes, wall sconces are Minka Lavery.

Total for all building materials came to around $2,000 (much of it in the coffered ceiling materials).

The project took around 2 months to complete from start to finish, of working on it after work each day. I'd estimate that there was about 100 hours in the ceiling construction, a great deal of that in paint work.

The columns/trim/doors/coffers are all done in a BM satin, which is the lightest shade of brown. The walls are of the same swatch, only one color darker, and in flat (to prevent light reflection from the bright projector). The ceiling is one color darker on the same swatch, also in flat. The vertical insides of the coffers behind the crown was also painted with the ceiling color to make the crown stand out more. The dark colors were all chosen to minimize any reflection from the screen.

Now that the room has a closet and an egress window, it can technically be counted as a 4th bedroom in my house when it comes time to sell.

Polk Audio RC80i 2-way Premium In-Ceiling 8" Round Speakers, Set of 2 Perfect for Damp and Humid Indoor/Outdoor Placement - Bath, Kitchen, Covered Porches (White, Paintable Grille) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00006BMQT/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_xLCVDb97RVHY3

These are another good option

I also don’t have a back wall. I have these as rear R/L. They work well.


Polk Audio RC80i 2-Way In-Ceiling/In-Wall Speakers (Pair, White) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00006BMQT/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_G6p-AbRYGAEQW



Edit- they are really easy to mount. Wiring may be difficult, especially with that ductwork you have there. But you could probably hire someone to help with that. I live in a strange New Mexico house that has no AC/heat vents, so it was a little easier.

I had you a very through reply, but I got an error on save and lost my mini-novel for you. I don't have it in me to rewrite the whole thing, so i'm just going to summarize; however feel free to ask specifics.

• You need a sonos product for each area/zone you want to control interdependently. I counted 7 in your desc.
  
• I would specify to have dedicated 14/4 or 12/4 ofc wire runs to a central rack/av area. I prefer those runs go to manual volume controls and then change to 14/2 or 12/2 to individual speakers.
  
• I would recommend running 6 sonos connects and a 12 channel amp(with audio sense) + a sonos connect amp if your goal is only to have 7 zones. 7 Connects and (2) 8-channels amps are a close second option.
  
• I think a good value/sound speakers are Speakercrafts CRS6 or CRS8's(note the zero through four's give more bells&whistles) or Polk rc80/rc60. Lots of high end options that would be better addressed in another subreddit.
  
• Spotify works fine for me today, not sure what you'd be waiting for?
  
• I would have an audio cable run if you do TV a/v wiring in the bedrooms to connect to the aux input on the associated sonos. It'll give you TV sound over the speakers in the bedroom which is great when you dont want to crank the volume but you still want to hear whispers.
  
• Dont skimp on prewire if you think you even MIGHT want speakers in the future (mud room, garage, laundry room, office, entry, hallways, gym, etc.)

Awesome. Speaker placement is definitely going to be a bit odd if everything is shoved pretty much into the side wall, but I'll address that below.

• Receiver - Denon X1300
  
• LCR Speakers - HTD Level 3 OR Emotiva Airmotiv (B1 + C1)
  
• Surrounds - Polk RC80i OR Micca M-8C
  
  Listed two surrounds depending on whether you wanted to go 5.1 or 7.1. For a 5.1 the surround channels should be placed to the left and right of the couch (not directly above!) then angled towards the listeners. A 7.1 might not work unless you pull the couch out a bit, as the rear surrounds need to be behind the listener. You might be able to get away with in-wall speakers for rears and keep the couch against the wall, but it's definitely not ideal.
  
  I also listed two brands for the main speakers, just in case you wanted some more options. The HTD's are probably the ones I'd go with for your use case, as they're more geared towards HT so movies and TV.
  
  Hope this helps, at the very least as a starting point. Definitely try to shop around a bit more and get more feedback, and if possible have someone come into your house to help with speaker placement.

Not in your price range but I have these and they sounds great to me

Polk Audio RC80i 2-Way In-Ceiling/In-Wall Speakers (Pair, White) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00006BMQT/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_4qb8uGeofNQ78

I use these Polk speakers

They sound great, very clear and can handle the lower mid range stuff quite well, almost to the point that it adds a bit of that "rumbling" the sub provides but from above.

OK for that budget, here's what we can do.

$500 now = front three speakers + new sub(s)

Let's say we can ebay the current front three speakers plus sub.

SELL THE FOLLOWING:

Yama Sub = $50-100 depending on model

Para V2s = $100 (found two pair selling now for that price)

Sony center = $50-100 depending on model

So now we are at say $750ish to spend for the front three + sub.

SUB

BIC F12 $200ish

https://www.amazon.com/BIC-America-F12-475-Watt-Subwoofer/dp/B0015A8Y5M

Alternate sub options aplenty out there.

FRONT L/R/C

Pioneer Andrew Jones line, cost $200-400 total

Towers = $140 each

https://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-SP-FS52-Designed-standing-Loudspeaker/dp/B008NCD2S4

Bookshelves = $100 pair (if towers are not an option)

https://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-SP-BS22-LR-Designed-Bookshelf-Loudspeakers/dp/B008NCD2LG

Center = $80

https://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-SP-C22-Designed-Channel-Speaker/dp/B008NCD2EI

I own these Pioneer Andrew Jones speakers and they sound great and are extremely popular on Amazon. Awesome entry-level line of speakers. Just one recommendation out of many more you could get.

So now if you got the towers + center + sub and you sold the old stuff on ebay for decent prices, you are still within your $500ish budget, with room for cables/speaker wire/universal remote (if you don't have one) etc etc.

If towers are not an option, you can get a whole speaker line that is higher up, Klipsch for example will run you $450 for R15 front bookshelves + R-25 center. Still within budget + sub if you sell the old stuff.

https://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-R-15M-Bookshelf-Speaker-Pair/dp/B00LMF41IY

https://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-R-25C-Center-Channel-Speaker/dp/B00LMFYRIS

LATER = $500 more

Rears + Atmos

If you got the Andrew Jones speakers, you can now grab another bookshelf pair for $100.

Meanwhile another Klipsch rear matching R-15 pair will be $200.

For Atmos, pick your poison on in-ceiling speakers. Say we went with these 8" Polks for $130 pair (leaning a little more expensive on these since they are gonna be stuck in there and can't easily be swapped out like a bookshelf speaker):

https://www.amazon.com/Polk-Audio-RC80i-Ceiling-Speakers/dp/B00006BMQT

EDIT: also check out these Miccas for in-ceiling, $40 each:

https://www.amazon.com/Micca-M-8C-Ceiling-Speaker-Pivoting/dp/B002YPS6T6

Finally, add the second sub if you haven't already, another $200.

So $100 pioneer (or $200 klipsch) bookshelves + $130 ceiling polks + $200 F12 sub is also right around budget at $450-550.

Some random thoughts from me here. :)

EDIT 2: and if the full size bookshelves don't fit as rears, grab the Polk OWM 3's for $100 pair (or consider the OWM 5's for $300/pair) as mentioned in another comment for crazy versatility options and wall mounting.

So my parents gave me some pretty devastating news... They wanted a bose system. "How could they!?" I asked myself whilst attempting to console my emotions with my bookshelf speakers and a giant 90's receiver...
Okay, so it didn't go quite like that but my parents are looking to purchase an all-in-one sound system from Bose, that is 5.1 with a receiver and some other random thing I can't tell what it is. So my budget, $1500 needs some solid (preferably floor standing) L and R speakers, a nice center, two in-ceiling speakers for the rear, a subwoofer, and a receiver... I'm thinking this Denon AVR-S500BT for a receiver, and this Dayton Audio SUB-1000 for a subwoofer, and maybe these Polk Audio RC80i's for the rears; they are two-way speakers so you can't distinguish where the sound is from behind you.
As for left, right, and center, I'm at a loss... any ideas? With all the above stuff my budget left for L, C, and R is about $970. Help me /r/audiophile, you're my only hope!

These: Polk Audio RC80i 2-Way In-Ceiling/In-Wall Speakers (Pair, White) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00006BMQT/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_o668AbDY1KV8A

Denon X4400 from Accessories4Less for $900 then.

The Fluance XLBP I mentioned is bipole. For Atmos setups, Dolby recommends ear level to 1.25x higher than ear level (45” of ear level is 3ft). So, ear level with the back row is fine. If it’s so close to you (meaning horizontal distance), you could go a tad higher, you don’t want them shouting in your ear.


Going with those surrounds and receiver, but keeping the front sound stage I mentioned, that would total ~$1900 (~2050 with the matching stands for the L/R).

Heights, I’d probably go with these Polk’s

Also, while the ceiling wires/speakers are being installed, get this, and install it above your seating. I always recommend a Logitech Harmony for controlling a setup, and the Echo Dot can control them via voice (hub based models only). Now, a regular Harmony 650 (what I have) is <$50 and works via IR like a normal remote. The Harmony elite+dot comes with the Hub and an advanced IR remote (with charging base, mine just takes AA batteries, and ears thru them pretty fast). The Hub is controlled via RF, but then uses IR/RF to control the devices, and it can do this whole hidden. A lot of people hide away all devices (cable box, receiver, blu-ray player, etc.), and then use the Hub to control everything. The Hub is controlled by the remote, the app on your phone, or via Alexa (for turning things on and off, via activities whichyou setup up, like my “Watch TV” button turns on the tv/receiver/cable box, while “Watch a Movie” is tv/receiver/blu-ray, and it of course does all the right inputs and button mapping, and custom button mapping and on the screen too).

It may seem like a lot, but it’s worth it. It’s also good to have down the line, so I’d still install the Dot kit now. Maybe use the Dot as a normal person would until you want to buy the Harmony. Or, do away with all of that, keep all components visible, and use the 650 remote.

_____

For subwoofers, you could get a single great 12” sub, or dual good 12” subs. For a single sub, this HSU model.

Budget: $2000-2500

Usage: Multiroom wifi streaming system that can be controlled with phones/tablets and integrates with in-ceiling speakers.

Gear Owned: Drops for the speakers and the phones/tablets to control the system with.

Source: Not sure. See below.

Material: Literally everything, from classic Bollywood songs to EDM.

Willing to Buy Used: I'd rather not. I'm not experienced enough to tell if I'm being ripped off or not.

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I just moved into a new house that has drops for in-ceiling speakers. The drop placements are as follows:

2x Kitchen

2x Family Room

2x Outside Patio

2x Formal Dining

2x Game Room

making 10 speakers total. I'm very new to the world of quality budget audio components, so as a placeholder speaker I selected this, which comes out to $700 for the speakers. Since each of the speakers will be in a seperate room, I assume I'll need an amp to power each pair. I'll also need something to turn the speakers into "smart" speakers, for lack of a better term. I was looking at the [CONNECT:AMP] (http://www.sonos.com/sonos-shop/products/connectamp) to fulfill the roles of an amp and speaker but at $500/pair of speakers it's way too expensive for me. I'm new to this, so I'm not sure if this is too ambitious on my budget or if something like this is even possible, but I figured this was the right place to ask. Thanks!

Noob here. I'm an IT guy that's been tasked with adding a sound system for background music for a very small coffeeshop. Basically, I've got 1 room to provide sound for that is approximately 20' x 30' with 9' ceilings. My budget for doing this is around $450.

I've been looking at amplifiers like this

https://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-Audio-R-S202BL-Stereo-Receiver/dp/B01EMQI2CU/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=yamaha+rs202bl&qid=1571585324&sr=8-4

or this

https://www.amazon.com/BT20A-Bluetooth-Audio-Amplifier-Integrated/dp/B07BQC7GNL/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?keywords=bt20a&qid=1571585361&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUFMNkRZM09SVjlBS1YmZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTAxMTkwMDdKUFhOSFJDQlJLQlomZW5jcnlwdGVkQWRJZD1BMDEyNjQ1NEE4OVROMFlKSjc5WSZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

and putting in ceiling speakers like this

https://www.amazon.com/Polk-Audio-Ceiling-Speakers-Placement/dp/B00006BMQT/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=polk+in+ceiling&qid=1571585254&sr=8-3

Will I be fine with what I have listed, or are there better options, especially for the amplifier?

I have a setup that's a bit larger space - 110 inch screen, 23 x 26 room. Due to the seating arrangement / layout went only with a 5.1, the additional 2 speakers (left and right sides of room) would have been difficult to pull off.

Anyway I bought off Amazon this Polk Audio RC80i but is now discontinued; apparently the newer Polk Audio MC80 is also a two-way, ceiling mount that has succeeded it.

I believe it was here on Reddit that I found the recommendation (it was about a year ago that I was shopping for it) and have been very pleased with its performance.

I’ve got these.

Polk Audio RC80i 2-way Premium In-Ceiling 8" Round Speakers, Set of 2 Perfect for Damp and Humid Indoor/Outdoor Placement - Bath, Kitchen, Covered Porches (White, Paintable Grille) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00006BMQT/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_ZzAACbEE9DBVG

They work well.

Well, 2 for $213 - Polk Audio RC80i 2-Way In-Ceiling Speakers (Pair, White) https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00006BMQT/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_sTuEDbFC9G6N2

My powerful yet stealthy touch screen sound system for about $500: An Amazon kindle running the Pandora app sits in a kitchen cabinet. Plugged into the audio out is a headphone to RCA adapter. That's plugged into a passive volume control mounted beneath the cabinet. The output drops down to the basement, where I have a signal detecting power amplifier. That amp drives four Polk in-ceiling speakers mounted in our open concept first floor.

Thanks for the recommendation. Seems like a great setup for under $1000. For the rear speakers, would it we okay for going with something more cost effective considering it's more background music? Something like this: https://www.amazon.com/Polk-Audio-Ceiling-Speakers-Placement/dp/B00006BMQT/ref=sr_1_3?crid=3J7PQLLU0PKE8&keywords=polk+ceiling+speaker&qid=1565989967&s=electronics&sprefix=polk+ceiling%2Celectronics%2C138&sr=1-3 - or is it not worth the $150 savings? Re-finishing the basement is adding up in costs so any where I can save can be put to other areas (poker table, table games, etc.).