We started a paging system install this week; all was going well with installing the speakers (QSC Audio, 8” x 5” x 7” deep with the surface-mount yokes); of course, now the client is wanting a last-minute change. Turns out, they don't care for the surface-mounted look of the speakers, and would now like to RECESS all speakers into the wall.

My first thought was to cut through the wall (there’s open space in a closet on the other side of each location) to create a 10” x 7” hole, then finish the hole’s sides with drywall and hang 1/4 plywood at rear to create a surface to which to mount the speaker; an expensive and long process.

I was thinking though – if we could find a prebuilt recessed cavity/cubby/back box, with a flange, of approximately these dimensions … then we could cut the hole, throw the box in and voila, instant cubby. I’m not sure where to start in looking for a vendor that might make such a “prebuilt wall cubby” – if you have any thoughts, please let me know. Thanks!

I take it this is commercial, as few homes have paging systems.

Being commercial, such enclosures have to be fire rated because holes in the wall, even into closets, destroy the fire-retardant ability of the wall.

They don't "care" for the look of the speaker? Only now are they seeing what protrudes into their space? I hope you are able to say that they okayed the look prior to now and you will present them a change order estimating the additional cost to research, purchase, and add the mounting of such boxes to the original price. Rebate them for any mounts you don't use, of course.

I would think that QSC Audio would have back boxes for those speakers unless the speakers are for some reason not intended for commercial use. In which case, ??

yes, absolutely treating this as a change order, we were very conscious to ensure client had dimensions and saw the speaker prior to installation. And yes, this is a commercial install.

The issue is not so much how the speakers look, that they can see the speakers. The old speakers (which we're replacing) were about 1/3 the size, and looked more like square fire alarms - and were about as intelligible as same.

The issue is that they don't want to see the speakers, or more specifically have residents see them. Hence, trying to recess "out of sight."

I'm checking with the vendor as well to see if QSC has back boxes, but not holding my breath - this seems a very specific, nichey use case. I was hoping to find perhaps a non-audio mfg that makes "prebuilt cubbies" meant to create a recess in the wall, in a size that would accomodate the speakers.

And thank you for the point about the fire rating, I had not even considered that - will be certain to check any solution from that perspective as well!

Look at Soundtube. JBL. Tannoy.

If they can't see them, they can't hear them. Unless they open up the wallet and design a way to hide them. They're reneging on the original idea, which left them very visible.

If wood were acceptable for fire, I'd get one of the local small cabinet/millwork shop to bang up some boxes out of plywood, then just paint inside. 

If you need metal (likely in commercial), I'd have a sheet metal shop make me some boxes out of heavy sheet metal (14-12 gauge) and put a piece of plywood on the back to hold screws, then put some resonant damping of some sort on the outside of the sides (dynamat, drywall/green glue, low-elasticity rubber sheet, polyurethane etc). 

1/2 way Recessed....

[Link: store.blackwiredesigns.com]