Top 10 Best DefInitive Technology In Ceiling Speakers
for December 2023

Definitive Technology's UIW RSS II is a 2-way in-ceiling/in-wall speaker system that delivers excellent sound, and it's versatile enough to serve as both a center-channel speaker and a surround speaker, thanks to Definitive's 3-way design. The RSS II's bass is tight and punchy, with plenty of low end. The speakers' midrange is slightly less detailed and a little more laid back, but excellent for music. The speakers' highs, meanwhile, sound bright and detailed, with crisp high notes. The RSS II's sound has lots of bass and height, which makes it a good choice for music and movies, but it's less well suited for dialogue. The speakers have a 2-year warranty, and Definitive Technology offers a 10-year warranty on the drivers. The RSS II's included control box is compact, but it's a bit fiddly, and Definitive Technology's manual isn't particularly helpful. The RSS II's tweeters, however, provide much better sound than the tweeters on Definitive's previous in-ceiling/in-wall speaker system, and that's a big reason the RSS II is our favorite in-ceiling/in-wall speaker system.

The Definitive Technology Uewa/Di 8R is a good option if you want in-ceiling speakers, but you're not looking to spend a ton of money. Those looking for better sound quality or more robust bass should look elsewhere, but for an affordable set of in-ceiling speakers, the Definitive Technology Uewa/Di 8R offers plenty of volume, good sound quality, and an attractive design. The speakers are exceptionally easy to install (no spackle work required), and they come with pivotable tweeters that give them a clean appearance. The bass response on the Definitive Technology Uewa/Di 8R isn't particularly strong, but it's more than adequate for most home applications, and that's especially impressive given that these speakers are mounted in-ceiling. The Definitive Technology Uewa/Di 8R's mid-range performance is slightly better than average, and it's fairly clear. The speakers don't offer much detail, but if you're looking for an affordable set of in-ceiling speakers, the Definitive Technology Uewa/Di 8R is more than up to the task.

Definitive Technology's Uexa/Di 5.5S square in-wall/ceiling speaker delivers big, impactful sound in any room. The Uexa/Di 5.5S sports 4.1-channel audio capabilities, so it's suitable for home theaters as well as non-home audio setups, and it connects to any speaker system via cables (sold separately). The speakers offer impressive detail, and they're capable of delivering crisp, clear dialogue, even at the highest volume levels. The drivers, specifically the tweeters, are very powerful, so these speakers are capable of delivering big bass tones, too. The speakers also feature a magnetic grille, so it's quick and easy to mount them, and they look sleek and modern. The only downside is their price, and that's a big drawback. The Definitive Technology Uexa/Di 5.5S in-wall/ceiling speaker is pricier than other in-wall/ceiling speakers, but it's worth every penny.

Definitive Technology's Ueua/Di 6.5R round in-ceiling speakers are among the best-sounding speakers in our roundup. They feature the latest generation of balanced double surround system (BDSS) drivers, which pair two 2.5-inch woofers and two 1-inch tweeters in a single cabinet to deliver a full-spectrum sound. The speakers have high-gloss, piano-black finishes, and include a pivoting pure aluminum dome tweeter and two 3-inch pure aluminum dome midrange drivers. The speakers come with four types of mounting hardware, including magnetic grille fasteners, which can be installed in drywall with no spackle work required. The speakers have a wide range of connectivity options, including analog, optical, and coaxial digital inputs, as well as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. The speakers can stream audio from a wide variety of sources, including computers, smartphones, tablets, and other devices. The speakers are easy to set up and come with clear instructions. They deliver great sound quality, and they offer better sound than our previous pick, the Sonos Play:5, at a much lower price.

These two-way, in-ceiling speakers from Definitive Technology offer plenty of punch for their size, and are surprisingly versatile. They perform well at low levels, which makes them a good choice for home cinema applications. The tweeters are driven by a 1-inch pure aluminum dome, which provides a very clean, detailed sound, and even at low volumes, they project well to the back of a room. The bass driver is a 8-inch stamped basket design, which provides plenty of thump and definition, and, in our experience, produces enough bass to fill a small living room. The speakers are finished in white, and the speaker grilles are removable, so you can install them either flush with the wall or with a quarter-inch of space between the wall and the speaker. The speakers include a speaker wire, and the binding posts are protected by a rubber grommet. The speakers' crossover frequencies are 870Hz and 1.8kHz. The speakers are wired in a bi-wire configuration, which means they can be connected to a single speaker wire or to a Dual Audio cable (sold separately), which can accept up to four speaker wires. The speakers are powered by 90-watts per channel amplifiers, and the amplifiers are housed in separate enclosures, which minimizes their presence in the room. The speakers also include a volume control and an input for connecting an amplifier. The speakers have 3-1/4 inch threaded inserts on the rear of the speaker, so you can easily install them flush with a ceiling. The speakers have 4-1/2 inch dual drill holes on the rear of the speaker, so you can install them either flush with a ceiling or with a quarter-inch of space between the wall and the speaker. The speakers have a recommended ceiling height of 8 to 12 feet, and include a 3/8-inch to 1-1/2 inch adapter, so you can use the speakers in ceilings that are 8 to 12 inches thick. The speakers include a 3-year manufacturer warranty.

The Definitive Technology Ueqa/Di 3.5R Round in-Ceiling Speaker (Single), is a sleek, attractive speaker that rivals many higher-priced models from its competing brands. It plays great sound, has solid bass performance, and is easy to install. The speaker's 3.5-inch (

The Definitive Technology Ueva/Di 6.5str speaker kit is an ideal choice for anyone who wants an affordable, sleek-looking in-ceiling speaker that can be controlled via voice-activation and who also wants a high-quality sound system. This speaker's pivoting pure aluminum dome tweeters and double surround system, which maximizes the speaker's output, make it sound far better than its $99.99 list price. The speaker's design is also aesthetically pleasing, and Definitive Technology has a wide range of in-ceiling speakers to choose from. This speaker kit costs more than some of its competitors, but it's built to last, so it's a good investment. The speaker connects to your audio source via a single cable, and Definitive Technology provides simple instructions for installing it. The speaker's voice activation feature works well, but as we noted in our full review, the Alexa integration isn't as robust as we'd like. Our only real complaint is that Definitive Technology's instructions aren't as clear as they could be.

Definitive Technology makes some of the most beautiful and well-built speakers you'll find, and the 5.5R is no exception. It includes a clear plastic dust cover, which protects its aluminum dome tweeters, and the cabinet is very solid. The speaker's sound is as powerful as it is warm, with deep, clean bass and precise, detailed highs. Its sound is clean and balanced, and it offers plenty of punch. The 5.5R is great as a surround speaker, and it's especially good as a speaker for a wall-mounted TV: the sound is immersive, and it's slightly more powerful than our Editors' Choice, the Vizio SB3700-1, which topped our surround sound speaker test group. The 5.5R's sound signature is best suited for stereo music, but it's quite good as a front-channel speaker. Overall, the 5.5R offers impressive sound quality, and it's definitely worth looking into if you're planning to install in-ceiling speakers.

The Definitive Technology DT6.5str is our first pick for the best in-ceiling speaker because it's an excellent all-around performer. It puts out surprisingly big sound for its size, and it's easy to use and install. The speakers are housed in slim, durable, metal housings, and they feature convenient controls on both the top and the bottom of the speaker. The controls include a volume knob, a mute button, a gain control, and an input selector. The input selector allows you to choose between two different types of inputs: RCA line-level inputs, or balanced line-level inputs that are compatible with most major home automation systems. The speakers also come with a down-firing 4-inch port, which improves the bass response. The DT6.5str's 5.25-inch speakers are powered by a dedicated 60 watt amplifier, and the speakers are able to deliver sound at volumes as high as 100 decibels. The DT6.5str speaker's output measures 100 watts at 4 ohms, and 165 watts at 2 ohms. The speaker has a 94.2 dB sensitivity rating, and it uses 8 ohm speakers. The DT6.5str's frequency response is 70 Hz to 20 kHz, and its nominal impedance is 8 ohms. The speaker's dimensions are 7.5 x 4 x 2.75 inches, and it weighs 7.5 pounds.

The Definitive Technology Dt Series DT8R in-ceiling speaker delivers big sound in a small package. These speakers produce plenty of volume to fill a room without being overly loud, and their performance is comparable to our top choice. They produce enough bass to fill a small room without becoming boomy, and they didn't distort when we turned up the volume. They're also much crisper and cleaner than some of our top picks, which tend to sound a bit muddy. The speakers are easy to install, and they come with an installation template to make wiring easy. The speaker wires are long enough to reach across the ceiling, and the included wire covers and brackets make installation a breeze. The speakers aren't quite as versatile as our top pick, but they're good enough that we'd recommend them to most people.