Ceiling Speakers connected to projector

[JayJo13]

I don't know much about audio connections so I'm hoping someone can help.

I want to install a pair of flush-mounted ceiling speakers in my garage and connect them to my projector. My projector (Optoma 1080HDR) has an "audio out" port, which I currently have a small speaker plugged into and it works okay. I assume this should be quite simple.

If I want to install celling speakers, would I connect the speakers together with speaker wire and then one of the speakers would plug into the "audio out" port in the projector? Would I need a special wire for that? I also assume I would need to plug the speakers into a power outlet so would each speaker need to be plugged in? Do I need an amplifier or receiver? Sorry, just not sure how it all works and Google/YouTube haven't been much help.

Thanks in advance!

[Hacker1]

You would need an audio cable (RCA) to connect speakers to the projector - not just speaker wire. Do the ceiling speakers have RCA inputs? Also bear in mind you will likely only get mono sound (not stereo). Not sure how you would connect more than one speaker if you only have one output using RCA. Do you have an HDMI eARC port?

[JayJo13]

I haven't purchased the speakers yet. I currently have an HDMI running from laptop to projector.

[agent0024]

You are going to need to power the speakers with a receiver or amplifier unless you will be using powered speakers like Sonos. You would wire the speakers to the receiver. Your projector can't amplify the in-ceiling speakers if they are passive. If the speakers are like a Sonos, they will require a power outlet, if they are passive speakers (no built-in amp), you do not need electricity for the speakers, just speaker cable. Your A/V receiver would require a power outlet.

[JayJo13]

Thanks for the info, this helps. Cheers!

[fortner28]

I presume that you have a cable that runs from your computer to your projector? If you want to add sound to speakers there are a few ways to do this. If the speakers are not amplified then you will need a receiver to run everything to. The most common cable method would be to take an HDMI cable and run it from the computer into a receiver. You then run another HDMI cable out of the receiver and into the projector. You would need to run speaker wires from the speakers to the back of the receiver. This may be a job for professionals if you aren't that familiar with these things. Running in ceiling speaker wire usually requires going through joists and you may have to cut/remove sheetrock to get everything installed correctly.

[timsiegle]

I'm using something like this (amplifier) to receive the audio through a 3.5mm jack from the computer, then sending through speaker wire to the in-ceiling speakers. Much cheaper than using a receiver or amplifier.

https://www.amazon.ca/Lepy-LP-168plus-Amplifier-Adapter-Control/dp/B071XTCJ7G/ref=sr_1_7?dchild=1&keywords=lepy+amplifier&qid=1623870014&sr=8-7

[timsiegle]

Also using this https://www.amazon.ca/FERRISA-Switch...878472&sr=8-12
to handle the video from various sources (PC, Cable Box, Roku Stick). Audio from the source HDMI signal goes from the HDMI Matrix/Splitter into the Amp, then on to the ceiling speakers.

[JayJo13]

Awesome, Thanks!