Does anyone have any tips on how to improve the sound of in-ceiling and in-wall speakers.
Whats the ideal cavity and wall material for your typical high performance in-wall speaker?
Is it worthwile placing some form of material ie fibreglass wadding behind the speaker?

Any tips greatly appreciated

Thank you.

Normally speakers are desingned with the entire stud cavity as the acoustic chamber, and yes, you will probably tighten up your bass with the addition of some fiberglass. But in all honesty, you will never acheive the performance you desire unless the in-wall/ceiling speaker includes it's own acoustically designed enclosure. A couple names come to mind here POSH, and Monitor Audio. I'm sure there are more upper mid end speaker manufacturers that take this into condiseration. Putting this in a retrofit application will be a challenge for most...

Hope this helps.

I have had very good results with using 3/4" sealed enclosures of 1.5 CF. This results in tighter bass, improved overall sound.

try speakercraft, they have metal backboxes with insulation for every speaker size they manufacture. their high end speaker are available with special insulation packages

I know that Sonnance has in-wall enclosures for many of their speakers as well.

What type of speaker do you have? All built in speakers are not the same. We always pack the stud/joist cavity with fiberglass, but it is usually to help stop the sound transfer to another room. The best sounding room for in-ceiling speakers for us is usually a covered porch, where there is open attic and we don't use any insulation behind the speaker.

Make sure your speakers are in phase.

We like to use Sonance in-wall/celing products. They sound good for the use we select, but the real reason is the install is easier than most products. They are ready to go as you open the box and they are very reliable. This is important when you are trying to finish a job and stay on budget.

Thanks for all your help

We mainly use Sonance, Boston for in wall and KEF Uni-Q, B&W for in-ceiling.
I am thinking of trying Speakercraft and am curious about PSB.

Any views greatly appreciated.

BTW, if you have blown-in insulation, do you move it back in contact with the in-ceiling speaker, or keep it away (presumably to keep the cone from being packed with it).
=Tom

Cut your hole. Remove the sheetrock slowly so that the blown in insulation stays put. Put a piece of bat isulation in the hole. Then place speaker in hole. This allows you to retain the r-value needed and keeps the insulation from packing in around the woofer.