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Background & Wall Speakers

Background and wall speakers for music and announcements in shops, restaurants, offices and homes. The range includes box speakers in 8 Ohm stereo pairs or 100V line versions, weatherproof models for outdoor areas, active speaker sets with a built-in amplifier and cabinet speakers for voice alarm. It also has network speakers such as the Hanwha SPA-W100B and in-wall speakers such as the Vanco IW5-BSC. Adastra makes most of the range, with models such as the 952.714UK.

Choosing Background & Wall Speakers

Decide first how the speakers will be driven, then where they will be mounted.

8 Ohm pairs or a 100 volt line

Low impedance speakers such as the Adastra BC series 100.904UK are 8 Ohm and come in pairs for connection from a stereo amplifier. 100V line speakers such as the 952.714UK have a rotary selector for 100V line tappings or 8 Ohms operation. The BM-series 952.504UK offers four 100V power tappings, 3.75W, 7.5W, 15W and 30W, and the BM-series SK952.506UK suits multi-speaker installations.

Indoor and outdoor

Indoor BC series speakers such as the 100.910UK have ABS enclosures and a powder coated steel grille, and the trapezoidal 100V models such as the 952.712UK can sit neatly in a corner. For outdoor areas, BH series pairs such as the 100.921UK and BHV models such as the 952.617UK are rated IP44, BG and BP series models such as the 952.625UK and 952.814UK are rated IP54, and the LX-series 952.954UK is rated IP66. The FC series 952.965UK has an equalisation switch that boosts high frequencies outdoors.

Active and network speakers

Active sets have an amplifier built in: the Adastra 170.166UK pairs a powered speaker with a passive one and has volume, treble and bass controls, and the BG5A 170.161UK runs from a 12Vdc adaptor with RCA and 3.5mm inputs. The BPA-series 952.824UK is a 12V weatherproof active speaker for CCTV or background music. On a network, the Hanwha SPA-W100B is a PoE wall speaker with a built-in 10W class D amplifier.

In-wall and voice alarm

For flush fitting, the Vanco IW5-BSC in-wall speaker has a 5.25" polypropylene woofer, a swivel silk dome tweeter and 50W RMS power handling. Penton cabinet speakers such as the APC4T/ENC are EN54-24 certified for voice alarm and evacuation systems.

ModelTypeRating
100.910UKBC stereo pair, 8"90W RMS, 8 Ohm
952.716UKBC 100V, 6.5"100V or 8 Ohms
100.923UKIndoor/outdoor pairIP44
952.627UKBG 100V, 6.5"IP54, 70W
952.956UKLX-series, 6.5 inchIP66, 8 Ohm/100V
SPA-W100BIP wall speakerPoE, 10W

Related categories

See ceiling speakers for flush installs, 100V audio amplifiers to drive the line and outdoor speakers to take sound outside, or read our Help & Support guides.

Brands we stock in Background & Wall Speakers

Adastra, AV:Link, Bose Professional, CIE Group, Hanwha Vision, Honeywell Commercial Security, Netgenium, Penton, TOA and Vanco.

Frequently asked questions

Should I choose 100V line or 8 Ohm speakers?

Choose 8 Ohm pairs for a stereo amplifier in one area and 100V line speakers for longer runs with several speakers on one amplifier. BC series pairs such as the 100.907UK are 8 Ohm and are supplied in pairs for connection from a stereo amplifier. 100V models such as the 952.716UK and the BP series 952.814UK have a rotary selector for 100V line tappings or 8 Ohms operation.

Which of these speakers can go outside?

Choose a model with an IP rating for outdoor use. The 100.923UK pair and BHV models such as the 952.611UK are rated IP44 for indoor or outdoor use, BG and BP models such as the 952.627UK and 952.814UK are rated IP54, and the LX-series 952.956UK is rated IP66. Vanco WP4V-BSC and WP6V-BSC on-wall/pendant speakers are also rated IP66.

Can I use background speakers without a separate amplifier?

Yes, with an active or network speaker. The Adastra 170.165UK and 170.166UK sets pair a powered speaker with a passive one, the 952.824UK has a built-in amplifier and runs from a 12Vdc supply of at least 2A, and the Hanwha SPA-W100B takes power and audio over PoE. The AV:Link 120.150UK bookshelf speakers also play from Bluetooth, USB or Micro SD.

Are these speakers sold in pairs or singly?

Some come in pairs and some singly. BC series stereo speakers such as the 100.904UK and BH series speakers such as the 100.917UK are supplied in pairs, while 100V models such as the 952.714UK, the BHV 952.611UK and the BG 952.627UK are supplied singly. The Bose 888478-2120 AudioPack Pro comes with four FreeSpace FS loudspeakers and an integrated zone amplifier.

How do I set the level of a 100V background speaker?

Select a tapping on the speaker to set how much power it draws from the 100V line. The BM-series 952.504UK has four tappings, 3.75W, 7.5W, 15W and 30W, and BHV models such as the 952.617UK have a rotary volume tapping switch behind a protective cover at the rear. Add up the tappings on a line to size the amplifier.

Can wall speakers be mounted on a ceiling?

Yes, many can. BC series speakers such as the 100.898UK mount on a wall or ceiling surface with an adjustable steel bracket and also have M6 screw sockets, and BM-series speakers such as the SK952.506UK come with a steel bracket for a wall or ceiling surface. For fully flush fitting, in-wall speakers such as the Vanco IWLCR4-MB fit inside the wall itself.

  • Established 1975
  • Birmingham trade counter
  • UK-only supply

Written by the West Midlands Electrics technical team

Updated

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