General Tips for Installing an In-Wall Speaker

So you think you are ready to install a home-theater system, and after doing all your measurements and assessments, you have determined that you will have to do some in-wall installation of at least one speaker in order to achieve the best audio experience for your surround-sound home-theater system.

But installing in-wall speakers is a tricky proposition, because it involves making holes in your walls, which hold up your ceiling, in case you haven't noticed. And this is one of those projects that, if you insist on doing it yourself, will involve some pretty large holes and no chance for do-overs if things get messed up.

If you think you have what it takes to try installing yourself, then here are pieces of advice that we can provide for you to ensure that your project gos smoothly. A smooth project can take about 30 minutes per speaker; if you make mistakes, you could easily take an entire morning just putting in a single speaker.

Be cautious and double-check everything before you make any holes. Some companies offer templates with their speakers that you can follow for installation, which can be supremely helpful.

Set up all the templates and do the measurements for all speakers to be installed before you make any holes. It's better to do that as a group than one at a time, since they are not separate speakers but part of an entire system.

Locate studs and use those as a guide for the location of your speakers; don't go only by what your manual says. The manuals always allow for leeway, so take advantage of it. Speakers now have a mechanism to calibrate themselves just in case your speaker isn't in the perfect location.

When ready to drill, make a small pilot hole first and poke a wire through the hole, feeling around for obstructions like screws, nails or a body. (Just kidding on that last part.) Slowly increase the hole little by little and continue checking for anything that might be in the way of the speaker. If there is something, be ready to adjust your speaker a little in whatever direction to accommodate in case the obstruction can't be easily removed. And keep in mind - each speaker is part of a bigger system, so if you have to move any speaker, you will have to adjust the templates for all the speakers.

When trying to pull wires through the wall, try to use pre-made entryways into the wall whenever possible and avoid drilling any new holes if possible. Use a snake or coat hanger to fish the speaker wires. You can go across the walls, but that involves removing baseboards and a sliver of drywall.

Follow the manufacturer's instructions very carefully. Taking creative license on your own is not a good idea, even if you're experienced.