[Emil]

 Who has them? What do you think?

I like the idea of having them up and out of the way but even if i were to go that route, I have a drop ceiling to contend with. Would installing them cause all the ceiling tiles to vibrate and rattle?

[mcgsxr]

I cannot comment on "proper" in ceiling speakers, but I once mounted a set of JL Audio car component speakers into my ceiling, as rear surrounds.  It was in a drop ceiling.  I removed a whole rectangle of ceiling, cut a piece of mdf to fit, cut the holes for the speakers, painted the mdf white, and installed it all.

They did a credible job, not as good as a set of good speakers back there, but I would do it again in a heartbeat with any spares I had around.

It never caused any audible vibration of the mdf panel that they were mounted in, in my case.

[Emil]

Thanks Mark

That's exactly how I was planning on doing it.

Concerning the front three speakers, has anyone heard such a setup? Did the vocals sound as if it was coming from the ceiling?

[BobM]

I've got rear cieling speakers and I can say that, if I could I would definitely use regular speakers in the rear too. Th cieling's just don't spread the sound around and create a "space" the way rear's should.

Bob

[JP78]

the best surround speakers for rear home theater use often have the following two characteristics:

- a bipolar configuration
- sealed enclosures (verus open back) make a huge difference in a full range sound quality

i'd recommend looking at the definitive technologies reference in wall, or the triad in wall series.  both are several cuts above the standard garbage.  they use def tech here at work, and i think it does a great job spreading the sweet spot across a row of seating.  i think anything you can crossover at 60hz is more than adequate for surround duty.  for a 7.x or 9.x configuration it's advised to have one pair direct radiating and the other pairs bipolar.

happy listening,

[JP78]

Thanks Mark

That's exactly how I was planning on doing it.

Concerning the front three speakers, has anyone heard such a setup? Did the vocals sound as if it was coming from the ceiling?

i've heard these installed at work, and they do not sound like they are coming from the ceiling:
http://www.definitivetech.com/Products/products.aspx?path=In-wall/In-Ceiling%20Speakers&productid=UIW%20RCS%20III

also, i believe sonance and speakercraft both make motorized speakers that come out of the ceiling and tilt...a little bit of overkill, but great imaging...definitely not the standard muffled ceiling sound.

good luck,

edit i don't want to say the def tech speakers sound like they're coming exactly from the television, as this is would be patently false.  however, the speakers (as with the motorized options) do a much better of job of not attracting attention to themselves and ruining the suspension of disbelief than standard concentric in-ceiling speakers.