How to Install Kitchen Speakers

Mount speakers into your kitchen ceiling and outdoor wall for clear surround sound with these simple step-by-step instructions.

Highlights:

Trace Position of Each Speaker
Cut Through Ceiling Drywall
Cut Above Destination of Wire
Feed Fish Tape Through Hole
Feed Speaker Wire and Fish Tape Through Ceiling
Label Wires
Strip Wires
Attach Wires to Speaker
Attach Speaker to Ceiling
Pop Grill
Repeat Process for All Speakers
Mount Outdoor Speakers, if Necessary
Feed Speaker Wire

Trace Position of Each Speaker

Use a speaker template and trace it to mark out the position of each speaker on the ceiling.

Cut Through Ceiling Drywall

Cut through the ceiling drywall on the marks using a keyhole saw.

Cut Above Destination of Wire

Cut a smaller hole above the destination of each wire close to where the receiver will be positioned. If you are going across ceiling joists, cut smaller notches below each joist so the wire can jump in and out of the ceiling. Fish tape wouldn't be needed in this circumstance, but these holes will later need to be patched up with spackle.

Feed Fish Tape Through Hole

In longer ceiling bays, feed the fish tape through the hole from starting point to destination.

Feed Speaker Wire and Fish Tape Through Ceiling

Tape some speaker wire to the fish tape and feed it back through the ceiling bay. The longer the run, the thicker gauge speaker wire you will need.

Label Wires

Cut the wire at the desired length and label which wire belongs with each speaker.

Strip Wires

Clearly mark which side of the wire is the positive and which is the negative feed, and strip the wires back about 1/4 inch.

Attach Wires to Speaker

Feed the positive wire into the positive feed on the speaker and tighten the screw. Repeat the process for the negative.

Attach Speaker to Ceiling

Feed the speaker through its designated hole in the ceiling and lock it in place using the four screws on the face of the unit.

Pop Grill

Pop the grill on the front of the speaker.

Repeat Process for All Speakers

Mark and feed the positive and negative feeds, and attach the speakers to the ceiling for any other speakers.

Mount Outdoor Speakers, if Necessary

If you have outdoor speakers, use a special masonry bit to run the wiring through your exterior walls and outside. Use a smaller bit to mount the speaker to the walls.

Feed Speaker Wire

Feed the opposite ends of the speaker wire into the positive and negative feeds in the receiver or a speaker selector, if applicable. If you are running the wiring to a speaker selector, you will need additional speaker wire to run the feed from the speaker selector to the receiver.