[imcarthur]

As above, inwall/inceiling speakers are a major compromise in sound.

1. Imaging doesn’t happen. This is because the tweeter is typically recessed & the high frequency dispersion is seriously hampered. To recess the drivers on an essentially infinite baffle just doesn’t work well.
2. Bass response is far, far less than ideal – even in the non-subwoofer frequencies. Inwall/inceiling speakers typically are unboxed in the rear so you are relying on the air volume behind it. In a ceiling application that could be your whole attic or the length of your stud airspace volume. A bass driver needs a specific air volume to compress. You can improve any inwall/inceiling application by boxing it (figure 12 -15 liters for an 8”) & filling it with insulation & damping the box with a dynamat type of product.
3. Most inwall/inceiling speakers are cheap generic Chinese-made speakers with plastic baffles. In other words: like a decent clock radio with a 6" or 8" driver.
4. Inwall/inceiling speakers have the largest profit margin of virtually anything in consumer electronics.

Ian