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How to Build Ceiling Speaker Boxes

Hanging speakers from the ceiling is a great way to build a custom surround sound system, yet save floor space for more important items, like stadium seating or a dance floor. While modern speakers often come with convenient wall or ceiling installation hookups, vintage speakers, though still capable of producing perfect sound quality do not offer convenient ceiling attachment. Building a wooden speaker box to hang the speakers from the ceiling offers the best possible sound potential while showcasing the appeal of the speakers themselves. The positioning of the speakers allows the installer to make them as prominent or as hidden as possible.

Things You'll Need

  • Two side boards -- 1/2 inch by 1 inch greater than the speaker depth by 2 inches greater than the speaker height
  • One rear board -- 1/2 inch by 2 inches greater than the speaker width by 2 inches greater than the speaker height
  • Two top/bottom boards -- 1/2 inch by 1 1/2 inches greater than the speaker depth by 2 inches greater than the speaker width
  • Drill
  • Drill bits
  • 2-inch wood screws
  • Two partial coverage front boards -- 1/2 inch by 3 inches by 2 inches greater than the speaker width
  • Four eyehooks
  • Screwdriver
  • Two 1-inch carabiners
  • Chain
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Instructions

    • 1

      Position the side boards upright and parallel on their edges with the rear board behind them so that the ends of the side boards butt into the front face of the rear board. Place the top board on top of them so that three of the edges of the top board are flush with the three outside edges of the other boards. Predrill three holes down through the top board into each individual board for a total of nine holes. Attach the boards together with wood screws.

    • 2

      Flip the assembly upside down and attach the bottom board in the same manner. Predrill one additional hole through the back board and into the center of each side board. Attach these boards together with wood screws, strengthening the attachments between the boards. Drill a hole into the rear board to allow the speaker wire to pass through, positioning it close to where the speaker wire exits the speaker.

    • 3

      Run the speaker wire out through the hole and insert the speaker into the box. Rotate the speaker box on its back and position the two small front boards at the top and the bottom of the front opening to keep the speaker inside. Predrill one hole through the front boards and into each of the three adjoining boards, and attach the front boards to the box with wood screws.

    • 4

      Predrill one hole into each top rear corner of the back board using a drill bit with a diameter the same as the eyehook. Install one eyehook into each hole, rotating with a screwdriver if necessary. Install two eyehooks into the ceiling and pass a chain through both ceiling eyehooks, with a caribiner on each end. Attach one carabiner to each eyehook on the speaker box.