Any audiophiles in here?

[JimBob2232]

Ok.  not really looking for high quality here...but im pretty ignorant on this.

 

I'm remodeling a bathroom and want to add a speaker(s) in the ceiling.  I'd like to be able to play music/podcasts/etc from my iPhone over the speakers.  My wife and I would both like to use our phones.   Thats about the end of my requirements and knowledge.

 

I was thinking about an in-ceiling bluetooth speaker.  I keep reading online about maybe a speaker/amp solution being better and/or easier.  I do have a nearby closet if I need an amp, but would prefer it to be small.  

 

Any suggestions?  Sound quality really isn't terribly important here...

[davefan66]

13 minutes ago, JimBob2232 said:

Ok.  not really looking for high quality here...but im pretty ignorant on this.

 

I'm remodeling a bathroom and want to add a speaker(s) in the ceiling.  I'd like to be able to play music/podcasts/etc from my iPhone over the speakers.  My wife and I would both like to use our phones.   Thats about the end of my requirements and knowledge.

 

I was thinking about an in-ceiling bluetooth speaker.  I keep reading online about maybe a speaker/amp solution being better and/or easier.  I do have a nearby closet if I need an amp, but would prefer it to be small.  

 

Any suggestions?  Sound quality really isn't terribly important here...

I guess the question is, why speakers and amp, versus WiFi speaker?  You can also go with Amazon Echo’s that can play same music station/service over all in a group throughout the house.

 

If you want speakers in the ceiling, I have this small tube amp from Amazon. Douk audio. Bluetooth capable and pumps out decent volume.  I have a nice receiver, for my main stereo, but this is my Bluetooth option.  Works well.  As far as speakers, I have always been partial Polk Audio. Amazon has several varieties.

 

Tube amp

The nice part of the Bluetooth amp is you can connect an iPad if you wanted video and play over your speakers.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Edited Thursday at 10:22 PM by davefan66

[Augie]

14 minutes ago, JimBob2232 said:

Ok.  not really looking for high quality here...but im pretty ignorant on this.

 

I'm remodeling a bathroom and want to add a speaker(s) in the ceiling.  I'd like to be able to play music/podcasts/etc from my iPhone over the speakers.  My wife and I would both like to use our phones.   Thats about the end of my requirements and knowledge.

 

I was thinking about an in-ceiling bluetooth speaker.  I keep reading online about maybe a speaker/amp solution being better and/or easier.  I do have a nearby closet if I need an amp, but would prefer it to be small.  

 

Any suggestions?  Sound quality really isn't terribly important here...

 

We have spent significant money having old speakers and intercoms and other antiquated things removed from our current house. We have WiFi speakers everywhere, and you can turn it on or off by room. Please seriously at least look into that first. Cheaper and more flexible. 

[Augie]

9 minutes ago, davefan66 said:

I guess the question is, why speakers and amp, versus WiFi speaker?  You can also go with Amazon Echo’s that can play same music station/service over all in a group throughout the house.

 

If you want speakers in the ceiling, I have this small tube amp from Amazon. Douk audio. Bluetooth capable and pumps out decent volume.  I have a nice receiver, for my main stereo, but this is my Bluetooth option.  Works well.  As far as speakers, I have always been partial Polk Audio. Amazon has several varieties.

 

Tube amp

 

 

 

I had Polk Audio surround sound at one point, and I was very happy with the performance. Of course, that was a long time ago and I was a virgin to that stuff! 

 

But times have changed (rapidly!) and I just hope that all the available options are explored. We have Sonos speakers all over, and you can carry them outside with you. 

 

 

.

Edited Thursday at 10:32 PM by Augie

[JimBob2232]

6 minutes ago, Augie said:

 

We have spent significant money having old speakers and intercoms and other antiquated things removed from our current house. We have WiFi speakers everywhere, and you can turn it on or off by room. Please seriously at least look into that first. Cheaper and more flexible. 

Thank you.  We had an intercom system in the house (before we lived here - its a early 90s house!).  We ripped alot out too over the years. We're certainly not big audio people...and while cost really isnt a concern - we're not going to appreciate top sound quality - and its a bathroom...

 

When you say "WiFi Speaker" are you talking about an Alexa (or equivalent)?  My "in ceiling" desire is mostly based on not wanting to clog up a counter with a speaker.  

[JimBob2232]

18 minutes ago, davefan66 said:

I guess the question is, why speakers and amp, versus WiFi speaker?  You can also go with Amazon Echo’s that can play same music station/service over all in a group throughout the house.

 

If you want speakers in the ceiling, I have this small tube amp from Amazon. Douk audio. Bluetooth capable and pumps out decent volume.  I have a nice receiver, for my main stereo, but this is my Bluetooth option.  Works well.  As far as speakers, I have always been partial Polk Audio. Amazon has several varieties.

 

Tube amp

The nice part of the Bluetooth amp is you can connect an iPad if you wanted video and play over your speakers.

 

Hope this helps.

 

 

So...something like this https://www.amazon.com/Polk-Audio-Ceiling-Speakers-Placement/dp/B00006BMQT?gQT=1&th=1 in in the ceiling, with speaker wire running between it and the amp...Bluetooth connects to the amp?

 

[Augie]

1 minute ago, JimBob2232 said:

Thank you.  We had an intercom system in the house (before we lived here - its a early 90s house!).  We ripped alot out too over the years. We're certainly not big audio people...and while cost really isnt a concern - we're not going to appreciate top sound quality - and its a bathroom...

 

When you say "WiFi Speaker" are you talking about an Alexa (or equivalent)?  My "in ceiling" desire is mostly based on not wanting to clog up a counter with a speaker.  

 

I have never met Alexa, and I hope to keep it that way. 😊

 

It’s wireless with whatever source you choose (Pandora, Sirius, etc) from your phone. We have speakers all over the house and my wife can turn them on when she’s in that area. They can be as small as a Coke can, but a tall boy gets you pretty good sound! You can hide it on any counter. 

 

Please look into it. 

[AlCowlingsTaxiService]

Trust me … just spend at least $100 and get a decent Bluetooth speaker. You’ll find plenty of uses for it. True “audiophiles” will scoff and ridicule you for daring to think anything involving Bluetooth even remotely produces audiophile quality sound however.

[Mr Info]

Another thing to consider is an efficient but quiet fan in the bathroom so you can hear the music while doling out a stinker.

[davefan66]

10 hours ago, JimBob2232 said:

 

So...something like this https://www.amazon.com/Polk-Audio-Ceiling-Speakers-Placement/dp/B00006BMQT?gQT=1&th=1 in in the ceiling, with speaker wire running between it and the amp...Bluetooth connects to the amp?

 

Yes, especially if they are rated for that environment. Just make sure the watts of the amp are greater than the speakers. If you pump more watts into the speaker than rated for they will sound terrible and may ruin them.  Connection is made via banana jack. Can get this on Amazon.

 

Banana jack

 

At the very least, run wires if you have open ceilings.  Make sure you know where they are in the ceiling.  If you choose to do this later, the wires are there and can be accessed later.  Be careful of amp placement. You don’t want it in an area it will overheat in, or be susceptible to steam in a bathroom.

 

I love the idea of in ceiling speakers. Have them in my kitchen. Seemless way to listen to music. One way that makes it perfect is in the wall volume control. So you don’t have to control your amp at its location.

 

Volume control

 

The other options mentioned above are definitely worth a look.  Wireless speakers are great. You can get Sonos which will allow for an all over the house experience. Amazon Echo can do this, but is limited to streaming services and does not work as a Bluetooth device.  I have single Bluetooth speaker in my bathroom. Works great, just get one that is loud enough for you. 
 

Would be really cool if the amp had the ability to drive two sets of speakers and you could place another set in a room near the bathroom, ie: bedroom or home office.

 

 

 

Edited Friday at 08:51 AM by davefan66

[Tony P]

13 hours ago, Augie said:

 

We have spent significant money having old speakers and intercoms and other antiquated things removed from our current house. We have WiFi speakers everywhere, and you can turn it on or off by room. Please seriously at least look into that first. Cheaper and more flexible. 

 This. We have Sonos speakers all around our house and they are perfect for integrating with your phone and streaming music. They are reasonably compact while delivering great sound and are even Alexa compatible if you use Prime. 

Edited Friday at 11:48 AM by Tony P