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Sonos is a leading American audio technology company that is best known for pioneering wireless multiroom audio systems, which make it easy for listeners to stream music and other content throughout their homes. The company continues to innovate, creating wireless speakers, home theater systems, headphones, architectural components, and integrated home audio solutions that revolutionize how people listen and connect to sound.

If you’re considering in-ceiling speakers, two things are probably true: You want high-quality audio, and you don’t want to sacrifice the aesthetics of your home to get it.

In-ceiling speakers offer an elegant architectural alternative to traditional floor or bookshelf speakers. Pair them with a home theater setup for a more immersive sound experience, or use them on their own to create an ambient vibe that’s perfect for entertaining.

While in-ceiling speakers offer impressive advantages, they aren’t for everyone. In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about in-ceiling speakers and help you decide whether to add them to your home audio system.

The question of whether to install in-ceiling speakers boils down to three key considerations: sound, aesthetics, and budget.

If your budget allows, in-ceiling speakers offer an attractive combination of sound quality and discreet installation. Let’s break down these considerations to help you determine whether it’s a worthwhile investment.

In-ceiling speakers distribute high-quality audio throughout your home

For sound that fills the rooms throughout your home, in-ceiling speakers can be a great choice. They blend in seamlessly with the physical contours of your space while offering natural, high-quality audio for an impressive range of applications.

When you use Sonos In-Ceiling speakers with Sonos Amp, you can activate the “Detect Sonos Architectural” function in the Sonos app to create a custom sound experience. This enables two features that take advantage of your space’s unique acoustics:

 optimizes the EQ to provide a more robust sound.

 measures how sound reflects off walls, furnishings, and other objects or surfaces in a room, then fine tunes your in-ceiling speakers to account for these physical surroundings.

For the most immersive experience, consider pairing in-ceiling speakers with in-wall speakers or another set of ear-level speakers. But even if you use in-ceiling speakers on their own, they can be great standalone speakers for playing music. 

 offer natural, room-filling sound throughout your home to help you achieve a premium ambient sound experience.

In-ceiling speakers blend in with your home’s design and decor

It’s a quandary many people face when building a home sound system: How do I achieve great sound without cluttering my home with speaker hardware? While Sonos 

 were designed to look great on counters or credenzas, our in-ceiling speakers are meant to seamlessly blend in with your home — because, sometimes, “nothing” is exactly what your home decor needs.

So, if discreet installation is what you’re after, in-ceiling speakers are likely your best bet. You can even pair them with other architectural speakers — such as 

 — for a sound system that blends seamlessly into your space and allows your decor to take center stage.

In-ceiling speakers require special installation

Architectural speakers often require a professional installer. It can be worth it to 

find someone with design and installation expertise

, as different space configurations and ceiling materials may require a different approach.

It’s also worth thinking about what your situation and needs might look like a few years down the road, as in-ceiling speakers can be a relatively inflexible solution. Once installed, they’re not easy to move to a different room or a new home. If you decide to take them with you, you’ll need to factor in the cost of a professional installer (again) as well as any repair costs associated with the removal.

On the plus side, if you own your home, installing in-ceiling speakers is a one-time event and can be well worth the investment. You won’t need to think about it again once it’s done, and you’ll enjoy your in-ceiling speakers for years to come. Even if you do decide to move or sell your home down the line, architectural speakers can be an attractive selling point that adds value for potential buyers.

Installer on a ladder installing Sonos in-ceiling speaker

You will almost certainly need to power your in-ceiling speakers with an 

This is because most architectural speakers are 

. In other words, they lack a built-in amplifier that provides power. This is in contrast to wireless speakers such as 

, which are actively powered by a built-in amp.

Why no built-in amp? Passive speakers tend to be larger in size, which translates to better performance but also requires a larger and more powerful amp. Integrating such an amp into the speaker itself would dramatically increase the speaker’s size and weight, creating installation difficulties. This is why in-ceiling speakers (and other architectural speakers) are typically passive.

The good news is that you can easily power Sonos Architectural speakers with 

. Amp provides more than enough juice to reliably power up to three pairs of Sonos Architectural speakers (six total) when wired in parallel. Amp also gives you access to the entire Sonos ecosystem, including the Sonos app and its “Detect Architectural Speaker” function that helps your speakers truly shine.

The exact number of in-ceiling speakers you need depends on a few things, starting with the size and layout of your room. You can adequately cover most small rooms (up to 150 square feet) with only a pair of speakers. For larger rooms (up to 500 square feet), you may need six or more speakers.

But it isn’t just square footage that matters.

Speakers project sound outward in a V shape, which means that the further away they are, the more space they cover. So, in-ceiling speakers can cover more area in a space with 14-foot ceilings than they would in a space with 8-foot ceilings, because the sound waves have more room to travel outward before they reach the height of the listener’s ears.

Other considerations may factor in, too. For example, if you only want in-ceiling speakers to cover the section of a room in which your home theater is installed, you can likely get away with only a pair of in-ceiling speakers installed on either side of your seated location. And if you want a 

, consulting a professional is probably your best bet. They’ll be able to advise on the type, number, and size of speakers that would be optimal for your space.

Where should I place my in-ceiling speakers?

In a typical two-channel system, the left and right in-ceiling speakers should be placed anywhere from six to 10 feet (1.8m to 3m) apart.

For a balanced sound experience, the main listening position should be as close to midway between the speakers as possible. Think about where you listen to music the most — your sofa, for example — and make sure that this location is centered between your speakers.

In a home theater setup, the in-ceiling speakers should also be positioned two to six feet (0.6m to 1.8m) behind your main listening position. This maximizes the soundstage and contributes to a more immersive sound experience. You can find a diagram of this configuration in the 

Sonos In-Ceiling By Sonance installation manual

Sonos in-ceiling speakers diagram for surround speaker placement

Remember that ceiling height is an important factor here, too. In the 

, you’ll find detailed instructions on how to space your in-ceiling speakers based on the height of your ceilings and the position of the listener.

Another factor that determines how many speakers you need? The size of the speakers themselves. Most ceiling speakers come in a 6” or 8” size, with the larger size usually offering a wider coverage angle, deeper bass, and a louder maximum volume.

It’s also possible to mix speaker sizes within the same configuration. Sonos In-Ceiling speakers come in pairs, but a single Amp can reliably power up to three pairs of speakers when wired in parallel. Just note that, in order to activate DSP and Trueplay, all of the speakers connected to Amp must be exactly the same size (e.g. all 6” or all 8” speakers). So if you are mixing speaker sizes and still want the best possible performance, you’ll need to dedicate one Amp for each speaker size.

Blending in is one of the major benefits of in-ceiling speakers. And painting your speaker grilles the same color as your ceiling can help them blend in even more.

Sonos by Sonance In-Ceiling Speakers include bezel-less grilles that completely cover the exposed speaker frame, so only the grilles themselves require painting. We recommend using only water-based latex paint on the grilles, and waiting until the paint is thoroughly dry before mounting the grille back on the speaker.

You find detailed grille painting instructions in the 

If your speakers are connected to Amp, you can control your Sonos In-Ceiling speakers directly via the 

Of course, you might prefer to use a home controller that isn’t on your smartphone or that also controls other features in your home, such as lighting. In this case, you still have plenty of options. Simply look for the 

 to ensure that any third-party controller or hardware components you buy will seamlessly connect with your Sonos home sound system.

 are in some ways similar to in-ceiling speakers, though they’re installed at head-level and are thus in a better position to be directly picked up by your ears.

Generally speaking, in-wall speakers are more of a specialized option than in-ceiling speakers. They’re often used in literal home theater setups, offering the kind of focused and immersive listening experience you’d expect from a trip to the cinema. There’s a good reason for this. Because they project sound at ear-level, in-wall speakers are well-suited to deliver crisp, clear dialogue — a must for movie watching.

In-ceiling speakers actually tend to be much more popular than in-wall speakers. Why? For one, people are generally more hesitant to drill holes in their walls than in their ceilings. And in-ceiling speakers can be more practical to install, as most homes have an attic or crawl space that lends itself to easier installation.

This isn’t to say it’s an “either-or” proposition. For a truly immersive sound experience, in-wall speakers can be a great complement to in-ceiling speakers.

Bring ceiling speakers into your home with a Sonos installer

While not the easiest option, in-ceiling speakers are worth considering if you want premium sound that seamlessly blends in with your home.

, including in-wall speakers and our weatherproof outdoor speakers. Combine all of them to create a whole-home audio system that amplifies every experience, from watching movies on the couch to hosting guests in the dining room and back patio.

For help installing and designing your Sonos architectural system, 

Kitchen with Sonos In-Ceiling speakers installed

The Beginner’s Guide to In-Ceiling Speakers

Sometimes, watching TV calls for a more private listening experience. Maybe there's construction noise outside that only Active Noise Cancellation can drown out, or maybe your viewing partner has fallen asleep and you don't want to disturb them. In these moments, switching your TV audio to headphones lets you watch what you want in peace — and in total immersion.

 can sound every bit as rich as a traditional audio setup. And even if you already have a surround-sound system at home, there are plenty of reasons to periodically swap audio from your TV speakers to your headphones. In this guide, we'll explain how to connect headphones to your TV. There are a few ways to do it, but some of the most obvious options (using Bluetooth or a traditional audio jack, for example) may not be the best or even the simplest.

Can you use Bluetooth headphones to connect to your TV?

Most modern televisions are Bluetooth-compatible. You should be able to use your Bluetooth headphones with your TV if you own at least a mid-range model dating back to 2015 or later.

Each television model has its own configuration instructions, so if you’ve kept the user manual around, look in there for the specifics. If not, don’t worry — the same general walkthrough applies to most TVs. To connect headphones to your TV via Bluetooth:

Enable “pairing mode” on your Bluetooth headphones

. You can usually do this by pressing and holding the power button, or by pressing a dedicated pairing button.

Navigate to your TV’s “Settings” menu. 

When you’ve found the menu, look for a key phrase like “Bluetooth”, “Sound”, or “Connected Devices” and click on it to open up the Bluetooth device settings.

Enable Bluetooth on your TV (if it isn't already on).

 If you’ve never used Bluetooth with your TV before, you must enable it. You can usually do this via a toggle on-off switch.

Look for an option like "Add Device" or "Pair New Device".

 When you click on this option, your device should show up in the list if it’s in “pairing mode”. Simply click on your device, and wait for pairing to complete.

Even if you can connect your headphones to your TV via Bluetooth, better options may be available. While Bluetooth has a lot going for it, it shines best when WiFi isn't readily available. And since WiFi isn't usually a problem in most homes, a 

 typically offers higher bandwidth, better sound quality, and a more extensive 

 in case you need to move around while keeping one eye on the TV.

White Sonos Ace tile on light gray background

Two people sitting on a couch watching sports on TV with Arc Ultra and one person wearing Sonos Ace Headphones

Can you use an audio jack to connect headphones to your TV?

The 3.5mm audio jack (also known as a headphone jack or aux port) has been the traditional way to connect headphones to TVs since the 1980s. While many newer TV models have eliminated this port in favor of wireless solutions, you can still find adapters for digital optical output or RCA ports if needed.

Though a wired connection offers some advantages—no charging, zero latency, and freedom from wireless interference—it comes with serious limitations. The cable length restricts your movement, and a standard 3.5mm connection may not support 

. For most people, a WiFi-powered headphone connection is a superior alternative to the wired audio jack of yore.

, the best and simplest way to connect your headphones to your TV audio is via the 

This WiFi-powered connection offers the best of all worlds: immersive surround sound quality, the range and portability of a wireless connection, and a simple and easy setup.

Setting up TV Audio Swap for the first time

 and connect it to your iOS or Android device. You must also enable WiFi on your Sonos home theater speaker in order for it to work with TV Audio Swap. Once that’s done, follow these steps:

Navigate to the “Settings” menu in the Sonos app and select your Sonos Ace in the “Headphones” section.

Under “Home Theater”, select “+ Add TV Audio Swap”.

Select the speaker you’d like to use, then follow the instructions to complete the setup.

Once you’ve set up TV Audio Swap, it’s easy to switch your audio source from your TV to Sonos Ace:

Make sure your TV is on and that your TV audio is playing through your home theater speaker.

Swap TV audio by long-pressing the “Content Key” on the right ear cup of Sonos Ace. You can also swap audio directly from the Sonos app by using the “Swap” button on Sonos Ace’s info screen.

When to swap audio to Sonos Ace for a better listening experience

TV Audio Swap is the best way to optimize your sound experience to your viewing situation. For example, if you’re dealing with a lot of external noise, you can swap to Sonos Ace and benefit from 

. This can be an especially effective way to 

And while you may worry about a loss in sound quality when swapping audio from a premium soundbar like 

, Sonos Ace offers a singularly immersive experience for individual watchers. That’s thanks to 

, which creates a virtual soundstage that surrounds you in hyperrealistic sound from every direction. It even tracks your head dynamically, adapting the sound to keep you in the middle of every scene.

Sonos-quality sound, from your soundbar to your headphones

, it’s important to consider how your headphones connect to the media devices you use the most. An otherwise great pair of headphones may not be ideal if it can only connect to your TV via Bluetooth or an audio jack. For a truly seamless and top-quality sound experience, you’ll want headphones that can connect to your TV via WiFi at the push of a button.

 with a full range of audio experiences in mind — from listening on the go to watching a movie in the privacy of your home. Wherever you take Sonos Ace, you’ll enjoy lossless audio streaming over Bluetooth and USB-C, plus connectivity with Sonos home theater, Active Noise Cancellation, and up to 30 hours of battery life.

If you’re interested in headphones like you’ve never heard them before, get in touch with a Sonos expert by 

Person sitting on a couch wearing Sonos Ace watching TV with Arc Ultra

How to Connect Headphones to Your TV

If you’re looking to upgrade your TV sound, there’s no denying the simple appeal of a soundbar. This all-in-one solution will instantly sound better than your TV’s speakers, and it doesn’t require much space. Most soundbars can fit snugly beneath your TV. And despite their front-facing position, many premium soundbars are engineered to fire sound in all directions around the room, giving you an affordable alternative to a multi-speaker setup.

But speakers have their place, too. Though soundbars like 

 are more than capable of incredible surround sound, a multi-speaker system benefits from the simple fact that there are more speakers placed around the listener. This lends itself to a more powerful and tailored solution, especially for larger rooms or 

Before we wade further into the speakers vs. soundbars debate, we’ll let you in on a little secret: You don’t have to choose. In fact, you’ll get the best home-theater experience by combining both. But you have to start somewhere, so let’s explore which of the two sound solutions is the best fit for your current needs.

Speakers vs. soundbars: General differences

 may look like a single elongated speaker, it actually houses multiple speaker drivers that work together to create an immersive sound experience.

In some cases, the sheer amount of speakers that can fit inside a single soundbar is truly impressive. Arc Ultra, for example, features 

 to cover every frequency on the sonic spectrum.

This differs from a typical surround-sound speaker system, which includes multiple speaker components placed at different spots around the room. Some of these speakers may be more specialized than others. A premium smart speaker like 

 can faithfully reproduce low to high frequencies, while a standalone subwoofer like 

 is specifically engineered to generate deep, dynamic low end.

So, when we’re comparing soundbars with speakers, we’re really comparing a single do-it-all device with a multi-component system. Thinking of things this way, the relative advantages of each become more clear:

 is a better choice if you want a single device that can combine the benefits of multiple speakers. If you’re interested in an easy upgrade to your home theater or TV sound, it’s likely the best way to go.

 are a more flexible solution, as you can mix and match different speakers to create a system that’s precisely tailored to your space and listening needs. And if you listen to music throughout your home, a multiroom speaker setup makes more sense than a single soundbar.

Now, let’s compare the two options based on factors like size, ease of installation, and sound quality.

Soundbars typically require less space than a multi-speaker setup. Most soundbars have a low-profile design that fits squarely beneath your TV. If you don’t like the look of speakers, you may prefer the relatively unobtrusive design of a soundbar.

(Of course, this isn’t necessarily a deal-breaker when it comes to speakers. Though they require more time, energy, and forethought to install, in-ceiling or in-wall 

 are another discreet option to consider.)

Speakers are generally placed throughout the listening space, with different speakers designated as the front, rear, surround, or height channels. This is in contrast to a premium soundbar like Arc Ultra, which actually does the work of nine ear-level speakers, one subwoofer, and four overhead speakers.

So, if you’re looking for the most efficient solution, a great soundbar will almost always win out. This is especially true if you’re mostly interested in watching TV and only have the budget for front-channel speakers.

But if you’re craving the most powerful and precise 

, you may consider investing in a multi-speaker setup.

Between soundbars and speakers, the ease of installation comes down to simple math. It’s usually faster to set up a single soundbar than it is to set up multiple speakers — especially if you need to think about where to position the speakers around the room.

With that said, setting up a multi-speaker system doesn’t have to be labor-intensive. Many of the 

 from Sonos can be fully installed within minutes of opening the box, and detailed product guides can help with placement decisions.

When comparing a single soundbar to a single speaker, the soundbar will typically have a more impressive all-around output.

Remember, soundbars are really multiple speakers in one. The acoustic architecture of Arc Ultra contains seven precisely angled tweeters to create crisp high frequencies and clear dialogue, six moodwoofers to handle mid-range frequencies, and a dual-membrane woofer to deliver exceptional bass. Such a wide range of specialized drivers would be difficult to find in any single speaker enclosure.

However, if you looked into the Era 300 speaker you’d find four tweeters ensuring faithful playback of high and mid-range frequencies and two woofers that maximize low-end output and are angled left and right to support stereo playback. So, both the Arc Ultra and speakers like Era 300 provide great quality and can support Dolby Atmos spatial audio. However, your decision depends on the circumstances you want to use them in.

Person placing a record on a turntable next to a white Era 300

Person using the touch controls on a white Arc Ultra mounted below a TV

Speakers vs. soundbars for home theater setups

A soundbar — especially one outfitted with 

 — is the best standalone option for a home theater setup.

Not only does a Dolby Atmos-equipped soundbar like Arc Ultra provide the all-important front channels; it also creates a massive soundstage with side-firing drivers and adds the dimension of height with upward-firing drivers.

Interested in an even more immersive home theater experience? Start with the soundbar to cover your front channels, then add two additional speakers to cover your rear left and rear right channels, and a subwoofer to handle the low end. (Sonos does not currently support speakers as front channels for TVs.)

So, you see, we don’t really need to put soundbars against speakers in a winner-takes-all battle. The best solution from a sound perspective is to combine them both to create the ultimate 

Because they’re such a great solution for a home theater setup, we don’t often think of soundbars as an option for listening to music. But a premium soundbar can certainly do justice to your favorite songs, given its spatial audio capabilities and the diverse range of frequencies it can reproduce.

With that said, if your only desire is to create a

 at home and you don’t have much use for a home theater setup, you’ll get better mileage by combining separate speaker components rather than relying solely on a soundbar. Take the Era 300 into consideration, which features six optimally positioned drivers all around the front, sides, and top to support Dolby Atmos Music—immersing you in every dimension of the song.

Even if you start with speakers, you can always add a soundbar to cover your front channels if you eventually decide to convert to a more cinematic setup.

A soundbar stands out as the best and simplest solution to upgrade your TV’s sound. The best soundbars combine remarkable ease of use with performance that’s truly cinema-quality, thanks to Dolby Atmos spatial audio technology.

But the choice between a soundbar and speakers isn’t as black-and-white it may appear. It’s easy to combine both options in a Sonos sound system that delivers a premium audio and home theater experience in one. And thanks to the 

, you can control every component of your system and stream your favorite music from the palm of your hand.

If you’re interested in bringing a new dimension to your sound experience, get in touch with a Sonos expert by 

Couple watching soccer on TV with a black Arc Ultra, Sub 4, and pair of Era 100 speakers

Speakers vs. Soundbars: Which Is Best for You?

At a high level, WiFi and Bluetooth speakers do the same thing — they connect to a remote device to play audio without a wired connection. But these two wireless technologies work in fundamentally different ways, and these differences can affect everything from their range and audio quality to their compatibility with other devices.

If you came here looking for a definitive “winner” between WiFi and Bluetooth technologies, you’ll find the reality is more nuanced. Each technology has its advantages (which explains why many Sonos products feature both capabilities). WiFi excels at streaming lossless audio thanks to its greater bandwidth, while Bluetooth is generally more portable.

The Beginner’s Guide to In-Ceiling Speakers

How to Connect Headphones to Your TV

Speakers vs. Soundbars: Which Is Best for You?

WiFi vs. Bluetooth Speakers: Key Differences Explained

The Beginner’s Guide to Outdoor Speakers

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Speakers vs. Soundbars: Which Is Best for You?

WiFi vs. Bluetooth Speakers: Key Differences Explained

The Beginner’s Guide to Outdoor Speakers

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