5 Best Outdoor Ceiling Speakers

Collection of ourdoor ceiling speakers over an illustration of a living room

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Elevated review….see what I did there…elevate…speakers…in the ceiling….?


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Best Outdoor Ceiling Speakers
2024

From summer barbecues to winter bonfires, upgrade your weekend fun with the best outdoor ceiling speakers on the market. Whether you want wall-mounted speakers for a more direct audio experience or in-ceiling speakers for a surround sound effect, you’ll have dozens of options to choose from.

Editor’s Pick
Polk Audio RC80i 2-way 8

These Polks are the one to beat. The price is higher than some and the others on the list but they’ve considered use in damp conditions, which is pretty much anywhere. They have a paintable grill and sound awesome with a 2-way 8″: cone. Easy choice here if you have the budget.

Budget Pick
Pyle Flush Mount Cheap Ceiling Speakers

If you’re looking for something affordable and easy to mount then the Pyle fit the budget category. With spring loaded brackets (similar to LED ceiling lights) and a decent sound, this pair of 6.5” flush mount in-ceiling speakers are a great pick. (Can also be used in walls of course, as all these can.) 2 Way and 200 watts is plenty of boom for your buck.

Since outdoor speakers are directly exposed to the elements, including temperature variation, wind, and rain, you will have to take special care with placement and product durability. In other words, take your time to find the best outdoor ceiling speakers.

Are they worth it? I’ve written about that too but the bottom line IMO is yes, they are.

What to Look For in Outdoor Ceiling Speakers?

When you’re looking for a good set of outdoor speakers, you should keep a few things in mind. Here are all the things that matter most about a ceiling speaker.

Depth and Size

Depth is an important factor that comes into play when you’re installing your speakers. There needs to be enough space behind the ceiling to make sure your speaker fits properly. There are ultra-thin options available. But they generally cost more.

In addition, size is something you should keep in mind as well. An average ceiling speaker is around 6.5” to 8”. 6.5”, which is the most practical size. However, an 8” speaker will have better bass. 

The sound also depends in part on how much air movement exists on the ceiling side of the speaker.

You could also go for a minimalistic 3” speaker, but you’re really compromising on the bass here.

Bass isn’t as much of a big deal if you’re using these as height speakers for a Dolby Atmos set-up, the rest of your set-up, which I’m assuming has a subwoofer, as this will be ambient sound only. Even if you want to pack in some major signal through these for your home theatre your HiFi or HT amp is going to only send what it chooses to send – bullets whizzing overhead, helicopters, rain sounds etc.

Shape and Color

Speaker shape and color are something you should pay attention to since it determines the overall aesthetic. The most common shapes of speakers are round and square. Most people prefer round speakers, but at the end of the day, it comes down to what you find aesthetically pleasing in your ceiling, or what your partner approves of (WAF) in the ceiling.

The color of your speakers should be neutral, preferably white. However, you could also look into paintable speakers. This way, you can ensure complete discretion without the speakers ruining the appearance of your ceiling. A few brands will also have changeable faceplates.

Brand

Ceiling speakers are an important purchase since you won’t be having them changed every now and then. So it’s important that you purchase your speakers from a trustworthy brand. Like all other electronics, a few brands specialize in speakers as well.

So do your research and purchase from a manufacturer known for making good quality ceiling speakers at an affordable price.

Mono Stereo Vs Single Stereo

A standard speaker usually produces a left or a right channel of sound, hence the name mono. However, a ceiling speaker wouldn’t sound too appealing if there’s a single channel of sound blasting through it. And the fact that such speakers have to be used in pairs makes them even more impractical.

A single stereo speaker, on the other hand, is capable of producing two-way sound. So ideally, you should make sure you’re using a two-way speaker.

Top 5 Outdoor Ceiling Speakers

So, here is my recommendation on what’s a good choice right now.

The prices are not overwhelming, which is nice. I have a few fantasies about putting some out in my patio area and some in the lounge if I can get some WAF approval…good luck on that. At the moment I’m using Dolby Atmos height speakers.

Good music is the soul of any party (I’m pretty exciting a party too with a drink). And we all know that speakers can make all the difference. Especially with ceiling speakers, the competition is even tougher. There are a few things your outdoor speakers need to accomplish.

Let’s have a look at a few speakers that make this cut.

1: Polk Audio RC80i Ceiling Speaker

Stellar performance with a slightly higher price tag
Polk Audio RC80i outdoor ceiling speaker with grill on and off
The Polk Audio RC80i – like a party on your ceiling…literaly.

Polk Audio RC80i is all the rage when it comes to ceiling speakers. They’re great at staying hidden while you and your peers get to enjoy the experience of a full-sized stereo system. Other than that, the Polk RC80i has a lot of great features to its name.

  • Swivel mount tweeter at a 15° angle for balanced sound even at high-frequencies
  • Wide sound dispersion is excellent for a bigger crowd.
  • Easy installation and undetectable design
  • It comes with a rubber seal which makes it waterproof. So you can even install it in your bathroom.

2: Micca M8C Ceiling Speaker

Great sound, lots of sizes but sold in singles
Micca M8C Ceiling Speaker on white background

When you start looking for a high-performance ceiling speaker at a budget price, the Micca M8C is the first one that one can think of. 

These ceiling and wall speakers have a two-way speaker system design. This makes them great for a smooth and natural sound output. But if you thought that’s it, then brace yourselves since there’s a lot more Micca M8C has to offer.

  • It features an 8-inch poly woofer and a 1-inch soft-dome tweeter for phenomenal audio output.
  • Advanced 6dB/octave crossover design gives the smoothest possible transitions.
  • Comes in multiple sizes with a paintable surface for added camouflage

3: Monoprice 6816 Square Ceiling Speaker

More sizes, shapes and wattage than you can poke a broom at
Monoprice 6816 Square Ceiling Speaker on white background with the front grill off and on
Monoprice 6816 for all you the empty squares out there

If your precious speakers have disappointed you with poor vocals and an overall imbalance in sound output, look no further than the Monoprice 6816

These speakers are perfect for movie nights when vocals and dialogs are the stars of the show. Plus, the best part is that these speakers have a lot more to offer.

Here are a few key features of the Monoprice 6816 you should look out for:

  • They have an awesome 30-day money-back guarantee and a 1-year warranty. Making it rain on returns.
  • Their Dupont Kevlar fiber woofer cone is responsible for that fantastic distortion-free sound effect.
  • Titanium silk dome tweeter gives a clear sound and is best for warm tones.

4: Pyle PDIC1661RD Ceiling Pairs

Affordable AND they sound good
Pyle PDIC1661RD Ceiling Speaker
A Pyle of great sound with the PDIC1661RD

One of the most versatile speakers on our list is the Pyle PDIC1661RD. These speakers come in pairs, and you can choose to mount them on either a ceiling or your wall. 

And to add to that, they won’t put a massive dent in your pocket either. So here are a few other cool features you get with the Pyle PDIC1661RD:

  • Their compact and flush-mount design makes installation easy.
  • Reinforced propylene woofers give you unbeatable sound quality.
  • They have environmentally friendly ABS construction.

5: Acoustic Audio CS-IC83

A generous pack of 5 at a decent price for sound everywhere
5

If you want to go all-in with your sound system, the Acoustic Audio CS-IC83 is precisely what you need!

These speakers come in a set of five, and you can use them for your home theater system as well. Better still, install them all over your house, and there’s a party in every room. 

The also come in frame or frameless. The frameless would be my choice and looks good with a clean finish.

These are some of the best features of the Acoustic Audio CS-IC83 speakers –

  • Their pressure lock mounting system allows for effortless installation.
  • They use a spring-loaded design for easy wiring connection.
  • They have a 3-way woofer, so you get a full-range sound coverage.
  • There are 5 speakers in this set! Odd…considering most set ups are in pairs but hey, works for me.

So, my final thoughts…

Picking out the best outdoor ceiling speaker can be stressful because you’re making holes that are hard to fill in if it ends up being a bad choice.

Hopefully, with the help of this guide, you’ll be able to do it in no time and make the right choice based on your budget.

As far as which speaker won the battle of the best outdoor ceiling speaker is concerned, all the items on our list are phenomenal. 

They’re all fantastic choices for outdoor parties because of their even sound distribution and unbeatable sound quality. And while picking a winner is a tough call, Polk Audio RC80i had the odds in its favor.

Questions? Drop ’em below folks and we’ll get to them asap!

Sid writes about HiFi, Electronics and a range of other really exciting gadgetry things. He's a bit shy on the photo front but not everyone likes a profile.

This post was last updated on 2024-03-26 / Some images from Amazon Product API & some links may be affiliate links which may earn us a commission from purchases.


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