Can we have a list of overhead speaker?
There seem to be very few speakers with mounting holes on the back like this?
I know 3 types of speakers that have mounting holes:
1. Studio monitors.
Higher-cost models usually have some kind of mounting system.
Lower-cost models may or may not have mounting systems.
Example: Genelec 8030
2. Outdoor-type (waterproof) speakers, which usually have a mounting system.
Here's the ones Amir reviewed:
-Revel M80XC
-JBL Control X
-Polk Audio Atrium 4
-OSD Audio AP650
-RSL Outsider II
-Focal Chorus OD 706 V
-Revel M55XC
Example: Focal Chorus OD 706 V
3. Atmos-style (angled) passive speakers, which usually have a mounting system.
Examples include:
-Kef R8A
-SVS Elevation
Example: Kef R8A
The problem is doing such a list gets difficult.
Here's a few reasons I can come up with:
1. Aesthetics, that play a major role in mounting speakers overhead. Studio monitors, outdoor speakers, Atmos-style angled speakers, in-wall speakers.
I personally like in-wall speakers mounted above, instead of a physical speaker, but that's only my preference.
2. Some people need water-proofness (since they're doing the outdoor installation), while others don't need water-proof (since they're doing in house installation).
3. Response is often much more limited in terms of bass output, so while Amir liked and highly recommended
Revel M55XC, it's preference rating is only 2.4. Mostly due to having LFX of 90hz and not exactly flat frequency response. Still, overall, the sound was preferred. Alternatively, if you compare this with say a studio monitor that can be mounted like Neumann KH80 (with preference rating of 6.2) which has a better LFX of 48hz.
4. Active vs passive. Active speakers require the power cable and input cable. Passive speakers only need the power cable. In-wall speakers have hidden cables.
This means recommendations become more subjective and must be tailored for your use-case.
I think the user will need to do their own research.
Remember, my lists are ranked based on preference score. I'm not quantifying things like power handling, distortion handling, aesthetics, etc.
Also, I'm already recommending in-wall/in-ceiling speakers, which is easy to separate from the rest of the speakers.
At this point, Im thinking if you want to have mountable speakers overhead, you already know who you are and you probably have a certain criteria for choosing such speakers.