Active in-ceiling speakers have a built-in amplifier and don't require any additional equipment to function. They are powered by a 240V mains supply* and connect wirelessly to source devices via Wi-Fi and/or Bluetooth.
Bluetooth or Wi-Fi?
There are two main types of active in-ceiling speaker, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. It's important to understand the differences between the two technologies to ensure you purchase the right products for your requirements.
Bluetooth only speakers are the simplest, and therefore the most cost effective type of active in-ceiling speaker. A Bluetooth speaker can connect to any Bluetooth source such as a phone, tablet or TV. However the limitations of Bluetooth mean that a source cannot connect to more than one speaker at a time. As a result, Bluetooth speakers are great for single room applications or fully independent zones, but will not work for multi-room applications where audio needs to play across multiple zones simultaneously.
Wi-Fi in-ceiling speakers are suitable for multi-room applications as they provide more complex connectivity. This type of active speaker can be grouped with other Wi-Fi speakers for true multi-room audio functionality. Speakers can be grouped together to play as one, making them more suitable for open plan environments, whole house background music, and of course parties. Please note that Wi-Fi speakers will require a good Wi-Fi connection to operate reliably. They may not be suitable for larger properties which don't have extended Wi-Fi systems. Please contact us for further advice if you require any assistance.
Active speakers are perfect for retrofitting and for smaller audio projects. However for large multi-room audio solutions, and those requiring greater flexibility or a higher quality audio experience, we recommend a system like Sonos which consists of passive (non-amplified) speakers and a separate amplifier.
PLEASE NOTE: When purchasing an active in-ceiling stereo pair, you will receive one master speaker and one slave speaker. The master speaker contains the amplifier, while the slave speaker is simply a non-amplified passive speaker which is driven by the master. Therefore, when installing a stereo pair, the slave speaker must be connected to the master speaker via a length of speaker cable (5m is supplied).
*The power supply must be protected by a 3A fuse or circuit breaker. If powering from an existing circuit (including lighting circuits) then a 3A fused spur must be used.