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I have a new pair of the Sonance Sonos in-ceiling speakers and a Sonos Amp and am about to do an install. Before I started cutting holes in my ceiling, on a table, I connected the Amp to the speakers as test. Best way to describe the sound is, it’s like the music is coming from my iPhone. It’s super flat with virtual no mid or low range.I double checked speaker wire connection and tried on two different amps, also listened individually to each speaker and both sound the same. 

Is something magical going to happen when they are in the ceiling and I use true play or is something wrong with these?

You cannot perform Trueplay unless the speakers are Sonos Architectural by Sonance speakers which have been designed to be optimized when used with the Sonos Amp.

Yes, that’s what they are, but I didn’t run Trueplay since I was just testing on a countertop but thinking they should sound much better.

After you connect them, make sure you perform the “Detect Sonos Architectural” feature in the Sonos app. After this is completed, you should hear a significant difference. Also adjust the EQ to your liking.

Open backed in-ceiling or in-wall speakers use the ceiling/wall cavity as an enclosure.  A such, they are going to sound very different playing like you have them compared to when they are actually installed. 

Thanks for the responses! I did install them and it’s a drastic change, they sound great. Hopefully this post finds other people testing them before the install. 

Many years ago I worked at a shop that sold car speakers, the ones you stuck in holes you cut in the rear deck. The shop had a demo-box that was just a few sheets of plywood and 2x4 framing. The front had multiple sized holes cut that you could open and stick a speaker in.

You likely could do the same, but cheaper with a 1/2” sheet of strand board stuck up against a doorway so the backs of the speakers were isolated to the other room.

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