Ultimate Guide to Installing Ceiling Speakers with Bluesound
About BlueSound
Bluesound is a collective of audio enthusiasts committed to realising the potential of wireless, high-fidelity sound. They’re known for delivering hi-res audio to a multi-room system around your home.
What we love at a glance
✓ Uncompromising Audio Quality - Bluesound is committed to delivering pristine sound reproduction. Their products support high-resolution audio formats, ensuring you hear every nuance of your music as the artist intended.
✓ Seamless Multi-Room Experience - With Bluesound, you can create a harmonious audio environment throughout your home.
✓ Works with your TV - When used in conjunction with a Bluesound / Edge or Bluesound soundbar
✓ Can be used for surround sound - When used in conjunction with a Bluesound / Edge or Bluesound soundbar
✓ Future-Proof Technology - Bluesound is constantly innovating to ensure its products stay at the forefront of audio technology. Regular updates and new features keep your system fresh and up-to-date.
✓ Connect up to 4 speakers (2 pairs) to the Powernode, 2 speakers (1 pair) to the Powernode Edge
What Amplifiers can I choose from?
Bluesound Powernode - RRP £849 - See spec here.
Bluesound Powernode Edge - RRP: £599 - See spec here.
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How is BlueSound it controlled?
✓ An easy to use App on your device BluOS (mobile, tablet, computer etc)
✓ Apple Airplay
✓ Spotify Connect
✓ Roon Ready
✓ Compatible with Amazon Alexa
✓ Bluetooth
✓ Presets for easy listening on the Powernode
What’s the Bluesound ecosystem like?
✓ Soundbars (for home cinema)
✓ Bookshelf speakers (for music or surround sound)
✓ Portable speakers (for around the home, garden or even taking out and about)
✓ Subwoofers (for that extra bass in home cinema use, or for music)
How does Bluesound work with in-ceiling speakers?
You will need a Bluesound Powernode / Edge to power each zone of audio. But what is a zone? A zone is an ‘independent’ area of audio. Therefore, if you’d like to listen to different audio in your kitchen, from the audio in the dining room, you’ll need 2x Powernode/Edge. Think about how many zones you’d like around your home and how many speakers you need in each room.
Each Powernode/Edge can be ‘grouped’ to have audio follow you from room to room, or they can each work independently. You can ‘group’ the Powernode/Edge with any other Bluesound speakers around your home.
What are the Powernode/Edge amplifiers limitations?
You can fit a total of 2x pairs of speakers on the Powernode and 1x pair of speakers on the Powernode Edge. You would need an Powernode/Edge per zone of audio. (Please note, a single stereo speaker still counts as a pair so consider this when working out how many Powernode/Edge’s you’ll need.)
I don’t want lots of Amplifiers. Is there a workaround?
There are a few workarounds for this.
The first one is to use a speaker switch (we recommend Audio Flow). A speaker switch won’t allow you to play different audio at different volumes but it will allow you to turn off a set of speakers. So when can this be useful? Say you want to put outdoor speakers and your kitchen speaker on one amplifier. You can use a speaker switch to turn off the outdoor speaker when not in use. Another example would be if you’d like to put your en-suite and bedroom speakers on one amplifier. You can use the speaker to turn off the en-suite speaker when not in use and vice-versa.
The next option would be to use a bookshelf speaker in secondary areas. Bluesound have four different wireless speaker you can choose from which can really fit into the decor in the right areas. They link seamlessly with your amplifier & ceiling speakers and they work out a lot cheaper, as they don’t need to be powered by the amplifier (the amplifier is built into the speaker itself.)
Similarly, if you’d like outdoor speakers, but it would need another amplifier, why not consider their portable speaker: Bluesound Flex? While it is water resistant, it isn’t recommended to leave the speaker outside overnight. It would also need to be charged but a big benefit is, you don’t just need to use it as an outdoor speaker and on rainy days or winter months, you can use the speaker around your home, or even to take on a picnic day out.
Or perhaps even consider a soundbar for the TV!
What does the BluOS App look like?
BluOS is the advanced wireless platform that powers Bluesound systems, letting you effortlessly control and enjoy high-resolution (lossless, hi-res audio up to 24-bit/192kHz) music throughout your home. Stream millions of songs from popular services or your own library, all with stunning clarity, using the intuitive BluOS Controller app.
Let’s take a look!
Frequently asked questions for the BlueSound system - when used with ceiling speakers
Q - Do I need a Bluesound amplifier?
A - If you want to power in-ceiling, in-wall, or outdoor speakers within the Bluesound ecosystem you will need a BlueSound amplifier. Bluesound bookshelf, portable speakers and soundbars all have amplifiers built in, so you don’t need to connect them directly to the Bluesound amplifier/s.
Q - How many Bluesound amplifiers do I need?
A - You’ll need an amplifier per zone of audio. Would you like separate music playing in the kitchen, dining room & lounge? Then you’ll need 3 Amps. You can fit a total of 2 pairs of speakers on one Bluesound Powernode (single stereo count as a pair). If you go over this, keep that in mind.
Q - Does the Bluesound Powernode/Edge have Bluetooth?
A - Yes, both the Powernode and the Edge feature Bluetooth 5.0 aptX - which can deliver great quality audio. Bluetooth 5.0 has a range of up to 800 feet, and allows you to connect up to 2 devices simultaneously.
Q - I want to create a surround sound ceiling speaker system. How many amplifiers do I need?
A - The Bluesound amplifiers don’t work like an AV Amp. This means you would need an amplifier for the front channels of audio and an amplifier for the back (surround sound) channels of audio.
Q - How many speakers do I need to connect to the Bluesound Amplifier for TV audio?
A - The Bluesound amplifiers create a ‘phantom centre channel’ meaning you’d only need to connect 2 speakers for the front channels of TV audio, there is no input for a centre channel.
Q - Can I use Amazon Alexa/Google Assistant to control the BlueSound Amp?
A - Google is no longer supported, but you can use Siri, or Alexa
Q - Where can I put the Bluesound amplifiers?
A - The Bluesound amplifiers are very flexible, and you can really place it anywhere! As long as it’s accessible and in reach of the Wi-Fi you’re good to go. The Powernode also has pre-sets, so if that’s your thing, make sure they're somewhere easy to access. Maybe next to the coffee machine!
Q - What cable do I need?
A - For indoor speakers, we just recommend the 16 gauge 2 core speaker cable. When speaking to companies, they may try to upsell you on speaker cable, so watch out! You will need to upgrade the cable if you’re running super long lengths (longer than 32m) then check out 14 gauge 2 core speaker cable.
For the outdoor speakers, you will need something more robust! Weather proof cable will do the job.
Q - Is there anything else I need to create a ceiling speaker system?
A - You may also need to consider Fire Hoods. Fire Hoods are legal requirements if you have habitable rooms above where you’re looking to install (like bedrooms for example.)
Q - What ceiling speakers can I pair with the Bluesound amplifiers?
A - You can pair any of our passive ceiling speakers on the website with the Bluesound amplifiers just remember the amplifiers limitations
Q - How far apart should I distance my ceiling speakers?
A - 2-3 metres apart is the ideal positioning.
Q - I don’t have room to position my ceiling speakers 2-3 metres apart, what can I do?
A - Not to worry, you can install a single stereo. A single stereo features a ‘twin tweeter’ - the left channel is sent through the left tweeter and the right through the right tweeter.
Q - Can I install on a pitched/slanted roof?
A - Yes you can but you’ll also get a better experience if you install the speakers in the closest half of the ceiling to where it meets the wall so the speakers are not positioned too high up. We also recommend choosing a ceiling speaker with a pivot-table tweeter or driver so the angle of the ceiling can be offset by angling the tweeter or driver back downwards.