What Are Architectural Speakers?

Architectural speakers are designed to be installed and flush mounted directly into a room’s walls or ceiling. The key difference from traditional speakers lies in their placement and integration into the architecture.

Being installed directly into a wall or ceiling, architectural speakers are designed to blend into the room and provide a discreet and space saving solution, whereas traditional speakers are floorstanding or sit on bookshelves or stands and are often a focal point of the audio-visual set up.

The installation of architectural speakers may also require a more complex setup and using a professional installer. Some architectural speakers come with their own enclosure, but for some products the user needs to provide the back acoustic volume for the speakers.

The discreet appearance is achieved through design elements that prioritise integration with the surrounding architecture. The majority of in-wall and in-ceiling speaker components are held within the cavity space of the wall or ceiling, so the only parts on show are the Ultra Thin Bezel and magnetically applied grille. This minimises protrusion and creates a sleek, unobtrusive look.

Thanks to an array of clever KEF technologies, including our signature Uni-Q driver designed to eliminate the traditional ‘sweet spot’ and allow complete freedom of positioning with all listeners enjoying the same clarity of sound, wherever they sit, our Architectural speaker models can be installed in even the most challenging of locations.   

For example, the Ci160CRds and Ci160CSds Dual Stereo models recreate high-fidelity stereo sound where there is only room for one speaker model, whilst the Ci-T Series speaker models have an installation depth of just 36mm meaning they are ideal for use where there are restrictions in mounting depth.  

Plus for those wanting to enjoy exceptional sound in their outdoor space, KEF’s Ventura Series speakers are weatherproof, IP65 certified and salt spray tested making them the ideal solution for bringing high-quality sound to a patio, pool, or even a yacht.

Other architectural speakers are designed specifically for mounting in-walls as they are part of the stereo or multi-channel system.

When choosing your speaker set up, there are a few factors to consider which will impact the cost. Firstly, consider the system requirements and how your speakers will be used.  If you are planning an installation that will be used for low level background music, a less technical and more budget-friendly speaker model could be specified. Whereas, if sound quality, clarity and dynamic range is more important, then a speaker made using higher grade components and materials will offer a lot more performance, naturally, this will cost slightly more.

Aside from speakers, you’ll also need to consider other components of the set up, which includes things like audio source (audio receivers and amplifiers) and cabling.

Finally, for larger, more complex installation projects, we recommend speaking with a professional architectural speaker installer, so it’s a good idea to factor installation into your budget.

It's worth noting here that KEF architectural speakers are passive speakers and will require additional electronics, such as amps, DACs, streamers and wiring, in the same way as other passive HiFi speakers.

Read more about the difference between passive and active speakers.

First and foremost, the installation needs to be planned out which will include choosing speaker locations. An approved installer or acoustic expert can offer this service. 

Before cutting into the wall or ceiling, wall studs and ceiling joists will need to be located to ensure it’s safe to mount the speakers in that location.

When installing architectural speakers, care should be taken to check the volume and air space behind the speaker is within the required specification of the speaker to ensure you get the best bass performance. The cavity should be treated as a closed enclosure to prevent sound-spill or leaks and filled with acoustic wadding to manage the box interaction. Each speaker comes with a cut-out template which is covered by the bezel and allows the pressure-fit legs to have adequate material to hold the speaker in place.

For larger architectural speakers, a strong and sturdy baffle or solid dry wall construction with thick (double) plasterboard may be required, so we recommend taking this into consideration when planning your set up.

Thankfully using a Uni-Q array offers far better versatility of placement than a regular discreet design, the directivity of the High Frequency is identical on every axis so the whole area is flooded with clean detail and exceptional clarity - even when outside of the designated listening area. 

Room Acoustics can also affect performance of the speakers, a lively room will be reflective so absorbers and soft furnishings will help, even adding a subwoofer can overcome the effects of this type of space. A heavily damped room will be much less reflective but bass will be more pronounced, ideally, some reflection panels are required to ensure a spacious speaker delivery and a focused stereo image.

When it comes to obtaining the best bass quality and to reduce sound travelling to other parts of your house, you can construct or buy a back box, or sound enclosure, for your speakers. You can find our suggested back box volumes for each of our Ci speakers on our Architectural Product Support page under 'Ci Minimum Cabinet Volume Chart'.

If a DSP amplifier is being used in the setup, the sound can be customised in a number of ways. DSP amplifiers often come with advanced EQ capabilities, allowing you to adjust the frequency response of the speakers. They also allow you to customise the crossover settings to define the frequency range handled by each speaker. This ensures that each speaker reproduces the frequencies it handles most effectively, preventing overlap and muddiness in the sound.

If you have speakers at varying distances you’ll be able to adjust the time alignment to synchronise the arrival time of audio signals. Some DSP amplifiers also feature room correction modes which automatically analyse and compensate for irregularities in frequency responses.

The bass response is controlled by the speakers’ back volume and the grille affects the treble performance. However, for fine adjustments you will need to add a DSP amplifier into your setup.

Most models in KEF’s Ci Collection come with metal grilles which can be painted to colour match your room’s décor.

Optional cloth grilles, with magnetic fixings for easy attachment, are also available for the Ci-Reference and Ci-R Series speaker models.