Polk Audio RC80i 2-Way Premium In Ceiling Speakers 8 Round Set of 2 Perfect for Damp and Humid

I was really impressed with how easy these were to install. The user's guide clearly walked me through the process even though these were the first in-wall speakers I've installed. It also comes with a very handy template to ensure it's a "cut once" process with no regrets (or spackle). Since there's a lip on the frame you don't need to be worried about making a perfectly smooth cut through the drywall since the rough edges are hidden. I was torn between these and the RC80i model. Both had identical tech specs on the Polk site. What sealed the deal in terms of the RC85i model is that it is a bit more shallow than the RC80i (depth of 2 and 7/8 inches for the RC85i versus 3 and 1/4 inches with the RC80i). More importantly, the tweeter assembly on the RC85i is a bit different. According to Polk, the tweeter in the 85i has a plate underneath it that helps project the sound. This is not found in the 80i. But the proof is in the sound, and these sound wonderful. I'm using them in a basement wired to a Denon AV receiver in the LR. While the sound can't compete with the Kef's I have in the LR, the Polks sound far better than I expected given the price. Very pleased! They also are very aesthetically pleasing. The grill is nicely made, and can be painted. As with installation, clear and detailed instructions on painting the grills are in the user's guide. Good sound, good looks and good price - can't ask for more! Highly recommend. Read more

Yeah, you just can't beat these guys for the price and the sound. I use them as Atmos speakers in my home theater room. They sound great and almost disappear into a white ceiling. Super easy installation. The directional tweeters offer a nice level of sound adjustment you just won't get with a fixed tweeter. My room is on the smaller side, so I only needed a pair of them. Well worth the money. They would also work well as stand alone ceiling audio speakers. Read more

Love, love, love these speakers. They changed my movie watching experience. It feels like I’m actually there in real life when watching movies. They sound better than the speakers at my local theater. They are an excellent value for the money as well. Being able to paint the speaker grilles makes it so I don’t even notice them. They look fantastic. They are a great value for the price. I never imagined they would sound this good at this price. They work very well. II highly recommend for them your home theater room. Very simple installation. Read more

I bought these to install in the basement we just finished. They are mostly to play music during parties and also to hook into the tv if we have parties for the "big game" etc. so the sound can be broadcast though-out the entire basement. We pre-wired three speaker locations to cover the entire 1500 sq ft. These two speakers sound great. You walk from area to are and the sound just carries from one location to the next. The sound is consistent through-out. No loud spots / quiet spots. Turn the sound up loud (I have a high quality Dennon receiver that is probably overkill) and there is no distortion. They were very easy to install. Take the little card board template, draw your circle, drill a pilot hole, and cut it out. (I used a fine tooth saw-zaw blade by hand since we had already painted the ceiling and I didn't want it to chip/scuff the ceiling, but a jig saw would have probably done fine. Either way is ok, dry wall is easy to saw. On a ladder I used one hand to hold the speaker and the other to easily make the connections. The connecters are easy to work with one hand. I then just inserted into the ceiling, pulled the screw drive our of my pocket (don't forget to do this or you will be down the ladder with your speaker dangling from wire)... screwed in four screws that snap out and then down the little brackets that hold the speaker snug to the ceiling from inside the ceiling, and inserted the grill (which covers the speaker and the screws). Easy as can be. Another point: circles are easier to install then rectangles. If you are considering buying rectangle speakers, consider how good you are and making things square, plumb, etc. And also consider that even if you are good at it, your drywall installers, even if they worked for a good builder, may not be. So you ceiling and/or wall may not be at right angles to each other. If you install in ceiling close to a wall, or in wall close to a ceiling, you may end up with a speaker that looks crooked one way or another. And even if the walls and ceiling are all straight, it's still hard to stand on a ladder, measure the how far each corner is to your nearest reference point, set the template etc. With circles, these problems go away. Two quick wiring tips: 1. When you do the initial wiring, make sure you leave enough slack so that the wire hangs and least three feet down lower then the ceiling. It makes connecting the wire to the speaker much easier when standing on a ladder to not have to be making the connections over your head. You'd rather have it waist high. So leave enough slack, it easily tucks up into the ceiling when the speaker is installed. 2. I mentioned that I wired for three speakers. Since these come in pairs, I wanted to buy a single 3rd speaker instead of buying a second pair and having one left over. I made the mistake of buying the very similar "Polk Audio RC6s" for my third speaker without reading enough of the description or reviews. That speaker probably works fine, but it requires two sets of speaker wire, not one. I of course had one set of wire to each speaker location. This "Polk Audio RC6s" I now find out is both a left and right speaker all in one little package. So it didn't work for me. I ended up buy and second set of the product we are talking about here, and it now works perfectly. So if you do the same, either run two sets of wire or just buy yourself a second set... The set is not much more money then the single "Polk Audio RC6s" anyway. Polk Audio RC6s In-Ceiling Stereo Speaker (Single, White) Read more