Walls of music: in-wall speakers go high-end

Custom Home, April, 2003 by Rebecca Day

SpeakerCraft, which sells architectural speakers under its own name as well as to other suppliers, is behind a number of innovations that have advanced the in-wall speaker market. The company's pivoting speaker design is used for a variety of locations from home theater to hallways and kitchens. Speakers can be put in out-of-the-way locations while still providing wide sound coverage. SpeakerCraft's higher end speakers, including the $1,100-a-pair Model 8.3MT, have adjustable bass and treble controls which also enable installers to adjust the sound for a particular room.

Another recent design innovation is the dual-speaker enclosure for bathrooms and other small spaces. One round speaker houses two tweeters, which provide stereo imaging from one enclosure. SpeakerCraft's Model 8.5DT ceiling speaker sells for $299. Veteran custom audio companies Niles Audio and Sonance offer competitive product lines.

In the custom electronics market, aesthetics role even when it comes to the exterior of the home. Homeowners want sound around patios and pool areas but don't want to see rectangular boxes or wires. One popular solution is the "rock" loudspeaker, a speaker that's built into rock-shaped enclosures made of granite and clay-colored resins that can blend into a rock garden or landscaped pool area. SpeakerCraft and Rockustics offer rock speakers selling for $500 and more.

With custom audio accounting for most of the growth in the high-margin consumer audio market, look for more innovative--and invisible--designs to come out over the next few years. The growth in flat televisions will spur flat speaker sales as well, whether in-wall or on-wall. "High-quality in-wall speakers and plasma TVs are very appealing," says Clark of Harman Specialty Group. "I think in the long run they will be the future of the business."

Rebecca Day specializes in writing about home electronics. She can be reached at rebecca362@aol.com.