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Speaker mounting from wall/ceiling?

Posted: Wed Apr 12, 2017 3:48 pm
by James Steele
Hey all. I have a pair of JBL 4410s that a old school and pretty heavy. I have them no on stands up very high, with their tops about a foot or two from the ceiling of the room. I'm like to some how hang them from the ceiling or perhaps there are mounts sold that can attach to the wall? (Obviously in either case I'd have to make sure to attach to a stud inside the wall... the speakers are that heavy.) What I don't want to do is drill holes in the wood cabinet of the speakers to put eyelet screws in their as a way to attach wires... at least if I can avoid it.

Any suggestions on how I might go about doing this?

Re: Speaker mounting from wall/ceiling?

Posted: Wed Apr 12, 2017 4:01 pm
by MIDI Life Crisis
I would call in a pro (union) rigger or comparable pro to either do the job or advise you. Yeah, it'll cost ya, but you can be secure in the knowledge that it'll get done right.

When I was at UCSB as music director, I worked with the riggers to ceiling mount 4 large speakers in a couple of dance buildings. Triple redundant steel cables and an added security cable "just in case." Unless you have a lot of headroom in the space, there may be no truly elegant way to ceiling mount them.

You might consider building platforms on the wall, again, with substantial support below (super heavy duty (i.e. - 90 degree bracket mounts).

You're brave man Mr. Steel! Good luck!!

Re: Speaker mounting from wall/ceiling?

Posted: Wed Apr 12, 2017 4:26 pm
by HCMarkus
MLC has a good idea, but I am fairly certain any pro rigger is gonna' want to fasten securely to those cabinets.

DIY, you could hang each speaker with two straps seatbelt-like wrapped underneath, one strap near each end, if going with horizontal speaker orientation. Small screws thru each strap and into the cabs could secure the straps to prevent them from wandering.

If vertical mount is desired, a plywood platform hanging from four corner-mounted chains or cables would work as long as some provision is made to keep speakers from shimmying and shaking off the platforms and falling to their (or your) demise.

Secure ceiling mounting will be essential; as noted, studs/rafters as anchor points is a very good idea.

Buckle up and turn it up to 11!

Re: Speaker mounting from wall/ceiling?

Posted: Wed Apr 12, 2017 5:20 pm
by MIDI Life Crisis
Actually, when we ceiling mounted our massive speakers at the U, we did not drill into the speakers. As HK suggested, we used straps and the security (failsafe) stables went thru the handles on the speakers.

Clearly, earthquakes will be the biggest concern, so whatever you can do to prevent "swinging" during even small tremors, would be a priority, IMO.

Re: Speaker mounting from wall/ceiling?

Posted: Wed Apr 12, 2017 5:55 pm
by mikehalloran
JBL 4410s weigh 19kg / 42lb. each.

Anyone remember macrame speaker hangers from the '70s?

Image

I recall a few control rooms hanging JBL L100 / 4311s from such contraptions back in the day and those weighed the same.

I certainly wouldn't trust one ceiling hook to hold 42 pounds, though. You want two or more sturdy hooks going into ceiling joists, of course. I wouldn't do this to unreinforced 2x6 joists, however. 2x8 or bigger is no problem. Likewise, reinforcing 2x6 joists over the area is pretty easy by "sistering" some lumber along each beam (assuming that you can get to them easily in the attic). Not an issue with a multi-storey house as the joists between floors will be a lot bigger.

Re: Speaker mounting from wall/ceiling?

Posted: Wed Apr 12, 2017 9:42 pm
by James Steele
Hmmm... I don't know what I'll do about that. It's not a high ceiling. Problem with stands is it's hard to angle the speakers downward. I appreciate all the suggestions.

Re: Speaker mounting from wall/ceiling?

Posted: Wed Apr 12, 2017 10:45 pm
by MIDI Life Crisis
You probably already considered this, but I would probably mount them horizontally if your pressed for headroom (actual headroom - lol).

Re: Speaker mounting from wall/ceiling?

Posted: Wed Apr 12, 2017 11:06 pm
by James Steele
MIDI Life Crisis wrote:You probably already considered this, but I would probably mount them horizontally if your pressed for headroom (actual headroom - lol).
They'd certainly be more stable that way... less likely to topple over.

Re: Speaker mounting from wall/ceiling?

Posted: Wed Apr 12, 2017 11:33 pm
by MIDI Life Crisis
James Steele wrote:
MIDI Life Crisis wrote:You probably already considered this, but I would probably mount them horizontally if your pressed for headroom (actual headroom - lol).
They'd certainly be more stable that way... less likely to topple over.
AND... angling them down would be a lot safer as well since they wouldn't be as top heavy. I don't know what the room looks like, but if you can accommodate a couple of study bookcases or other cabinets. you could place them up there and create a ramped shelf with a rim or border in front that might protect them from sliding when the vibrations from your pointy guitars are having their way with them. :lol:

Re: Speaker mounting from wall/ceiling?

Posted: Thu Apr 13, 2017 1:50 am
by Klaus
I'm using these
https://produkte.k-m.de/en/Speakerlight ... ctor-black
with speaker stands for live work since they came out,
and they are still holding the weight …about 40 Kg

K&M have a lot other options, hope you find something
Best
Klaus

Re: Speaker mounting from wall/ceiling?

Posted: Thu Apr 13, 2017 6:34 am
by mikehalloran
I forgot that I had a JBL monitor crash during the Loma Prieta earthquake of 1989. It was a bit banged up but the answering machine it landed on was crushed. We now use a special putty to secure valuable objects on shelves but it won't hold a heavy speaker cabinet.

I'm looking at remodeling my studio and trying to get my Equators raised up a bit. I will likely go with a wall mount of some sort but that won't happen for awhile.

Re: Speaker mounting from wall/ceiling?

Posted: Thu Apr 13, 2017 7:09 am
by Phil O
Any existing screws you can use or replace with longer ones (handles, etc.)?- at least to mount a bracket or something without drilling.

Re: Speaker mounting from wall/ceiling?

Posted: Thu Apr 13, 2017 10:08 am
by HCMarkus
James Steele wrote:Hmmm... I don't know what I'll do about that. It's not a high ceiling. Problem with stands is it's hard to angle the speakers downward. I appreciate all the suggestions.
+1 on horizontal mounting, but if vertical is preferred, upside down is not a bad way to go for several reasons...

1. Tweeters (which tend to be beamy) closer to ear level
2. HF reflections from ceiling reduced
3. LF coupling with ceiling enhanced

Re: Speaker mounting from wall/ceiling?

Posted: Thu Apr 13, 2017 10:17 am
by Tonio
I used to have Klipsch Heresey's mounted on old CRT TV wall mounts. Definitely need vertical studs to attach them w/ 1/2 lag screws. Home depot may have some, I got up to 75 lbs mounts. Worked great, its angled down ,and I had them pretty high up on the wall, behind my main monitors.

Something like this: https://www.amazon.com/AVF-750S-Standar ... wall+mount

Re: Speaker mounting from wall/ceiling?

Posted: Thu Apr 13, 2017 12:35 pm
by James Steele
Tonio wrote:I used to have Klipsch Heresey's mounted on old CRT TV wall mounts. Definitely need vertical studs to attach them w/ 1/2 lag screws. Home depot may have some, I got up to 75 lbs mounts. Worked great, its angled down ,and I had them pretty high up on the wall, behind my main monitors.

Something like this: https://www.amazon.com/AVF-750S-Standar ... wall+mount
thanks! Looks interesting! Mine are high too, so I'd love something I can angle downward a bit.