You will often enjoy improved sound quality when speakers are mounted on a wall or on some sort of high object. That is why you need to consider mounting speakers regardless of their weight, especially if it’s outside.
If you are moving into a new building with an unfriendly layout, learning how to get your speakers mounted without a sweat is a good option? Read on and we’ll give you details on how to mount heavy speakers on the wall.
Should I Mount Heavy Speakers On A Wall?
Mounting speakers on a wall or mounting speakers within a wall is not a new thing. However, most people mount lighter speakers and tweeters on walls for convenience and to save floor space.
However, mounting heavy speakers on the wall can prove to be a major challenge. If you want to mount your heavy speakers anyway and you are wondering whether you can successfully achieve this, continue reading.
How To Mount Heavy Speakers On A Wall (Step by Step)
Before you attempt to mount your speakers on the wall, you will need to tick all or some of the items in the list below:
- Speaker cable
- Stud finder
- Speakers with bottom-facing 1⁄4 “– 20 threaded mounting points
- Mounting hardware
- Speaker mounts
- Cordless drill with a 5/16 or 1⁄4-inch drill bit
- Cutter
- Wire stripper
Mounting heavy speakers on a wall may be a great experience if you are attempting a DIY for the first time.
However, if you have ever tried mounting ceilings on a wall, you are most likely repeating a similar process. Let’s see how this is done, step by step.
1. Choose The Right Mount
Always begin by checking and ensuring that your speakers are mountable. Some speakers come with mounting holes or slots, while some do not have them at all.
Besides, the available mounting slots should be well-matched with the mounting brackets you are likely to acquire.
Because you are mounting heavy speakers, you need stronger mounts that can support the weight for as long as you want them.
One great example is the Pyle Speaker Wall Mount which is great for speakers weighing up to 110 lbs.
Besides, wall mounts should be flexible enough to allow speaker turn, tilt, and rotation adjustments. This guide is for wall-mounting speakers that are fitted with threaded mounting points.
2. Identify The Right Location
Speaker placement should be properly planned. Be very clear on where you want your speaker to mount as you may not want to turn back with two or three holes already made on the wall.
Speakers should be at least two feet from the corners and should leave a clear view of the windows and even the door.
Keep front speakers at the same height and do the same with rear speakers to adequately balance the sound.
Also, do not take your speakers too far so that cables won’t reach them. Though it is easier connecting cables to the speakers before they are mounted, finds which method gives you more convenience. Always remember to measure speaker paths before buying speaker cables.
Once speaker paths are measured, add 15 percent of the total cable length to get the most appropriate cable length that also takes care of the wiggle.
3. Mount The Brackets
If your speakers came with a mounting kit, follow the instructions carefully.
Every time you are attempting drywall mounts you should consider electrical safety first. You can do this by using stud finders to determine the location of electrical pipes, conduits, or the presence of any other hazards. Once this is done, use a speaker mount of cardboard template to easily mark mounting holes.
Of course, if you are working with drywall, the holes should be drilled into studs and to determine where the studs are in the wall, you can use a stud finder like the Folai Stud Finder Sensor Wall Scanner.
Drill 1/4-inch or 5/16-inch holes depending on the type of anchors you choose. Clean the holes and insert the right wall anchors. You may need to tap the anchors gently using a light hammer especially if you are using 1⁄4-inch holes.
You should useToggler TB hollow wall anchors if you intend to mount the speaker brackets on drywall. The anchors can be easily installed by folding them closely before pushing them into the hole. You should use them until they flush with the wall. They use 5/16 holes.
4. Mount The Speakers
Once the brackets are in place, mounting the speakers is an easy task. For speakers with threaded studs, this is much easier.
Inspect the backside of your speaker to locate the female threaded hole. This should give you an idea of the size of the threaded stud required.
Insert the stud into the speaker mount. Turn it until it bottoms out. Install a safety strap to secure the speaker from falling in the process. Attach the speaker to the end of the threaded stud and tighten.
Properly position the speaker and threaded stud mount against the thread and secure using mounting screws. Once mounting is successful, adjust speaker angles to your desired positions. You can then test the speakers and find out if more adjustments are required.
3 Best Heavy-Duty Wall Mounts For Speakers
Let’s look at some of the most common and among the top 3 best wall mounts for speakers.
1. Mount-It! MI-SB03 Quad Brackets
They are strong and can support up to 33 lbs. and each mount can go up to 5.5 inches. Besides, it allows 360 degrees turn, sleek modern design, and can be tilted 900 down or up. One key setback is however that they can sag if the speaker is too heavy.
2. Pyle Speaker Wall Mount
It consists of two brackets of reinforced steel. Very strong and does not sag even with the heaviest speakers on it. It is also more advantageous because it gives you a sturdy, vibration-free mount.
3. Bookshelf-Speaker Wall Mount
Tailored with anterior clamps, side clamps, and solid-steel brackets each with up to 55 lbs of speaker weight and up to 11 inches of speaker width, this mount will fit most of your speakers.
Further, it can mount on both dry studs and concrete with a tilt angle of up to 7.5 degrees. This mount also allows your speaker to swivel a complete 180 degrees in the sides.
Why Mount Speakers In The First Place?
Those heavy-duty speakers can cost an arm and a leg. They are solid sound masters and make your musical life amazing.
But not when you accidentally knock on them because they’re in the way. This is when you should start thinking about placing them exactly where they belong – on the walls.
Some of the other reasons for will mount include:
Optimal sound
With wall-mounted speakers, you can often enjoy a superior sound experience because the height will eliminate unwanted reflections that are likely to worsen your listening experience.
Protection
As mentioned above, strong and proper wall mounts keep you, your children, friends, and other family members safe from having these large objects lying around. Besides, it also protects the cabling, screws, and speaker cones from damage.
Saves space
If you like a clutter-free space or you are living in squeezed quarters, wall mounts give you the most ideal clutter-free solution. Free up some space and get an improved sound experience!
Is It Bad To Wall Mount Speakers?
Quite often than not, wall mounting is often a better choice for center-channel speakers. If you place the center in a cabinet, you need to put it closer to the edge of the cabinet. If any shelving in front of the speaker is exposed, it will cause the sound to bounce off and create reflections that may negatively affect the sound quality.
Wrap Up
Mounting speakers can be messy especially if this is your first attempt. However, proper mounts and procedures will give you a greater listening experience. Choose the right speaker mount for stronger suspension and greater tilt angles for greater sound quality. Once you have done this, you will have more reasons to mount your speakers than have them stuffed on the floor. Happy listening!