Soundbar Mounting and Surround Sound Speaker Installation
The soundbar is sitting on the console and the rear speakers are on the floor with wire across the carpet — we hang them where they belong and put the wire inside the wall.
JMB Builders does soundbar mounting and surround sound speaker installation in homes across the Twin Cities metro. The soundbar goes on the wall under the TV or on the TV bracket, surround and rear speakers go on wall or ceiling brackets into framing, and the speaker wire is fished inside the wall with rated plates. In-wall and in-ceiling speakers are cut in and wired too. Priced per speaker, quoted from photos within one business day.
- Priced per soundbar or speaker
- Brackets into studs or blocking, wire in the wall
- Quote from room photos in 1 business day
- Licensed MN contractor BC809005
A soundbar is easy to mount and easy to mount badly: too far below the TV, off-center, or hung on drywall anchors that let go. It goes on its own bracket into the studs or blocking under the TV, or on a bracket that hangs off the TV mount so the two move together on a full-motion arm.
Surround and rear speakers are where the carpentry starts. They belong high on the side or back walls, or in the ceiling, angled at the seat, and the wire has to get from the receiver to each one without crossing the floor. That means fishing wire up the front wall, across the attic or a ceiling bay, and down to each speaker, drilling fire blocking where it is in the way, and finishing every opening with a plate.
In-wall and in-ceiling speakers are cut into the drywall between the framing, wired, and clipped in. We find the joists and studs first so the cutout does not land on one, and check for wiring or ducts in the bay before the saw goes in.
What you supply
- The soundbar or speakers, and their brackets if they came with any
- The receiver or amp location and which speakers go where — or we lay it out from where you sit
- Photos of the front wall with the TV, each side wall and the ceiling above the seating
- Speaker wire if you have a preference; otherwise we bring in-wall rated wire
What JMB supplies
- Soundbar bracket on studs or blocking, or a bracket off the TV mount, centered and level under the TV
- Wall and ceiling speaker brackets fastened to framing, aimed at the seating
- In-wall rated (CL2/CL3) speaker wire fished through walls, ceilings or attic
- Wall plates with speaker binding posts or brush plates at the receiver and each speaker
- Cutouts for in-wall and in-ceiling speakers between framing, with the speakers set and wired
- Drywall patches where blocking or a bay had to be opened, ready for paint
- Painting of patches quoted as its own line — or leave it primed and paint it yourself
How it is priced: per unit
Quoted in writing from your photos within one business day. What moves the number:
- Soundbar only vs. a full surround set with rear and side speakers
- Surface-mounted speakers on brackets vs. in-wall or in-ceiling speakers cut in
- How far the wire runs and whether it goes through an attic, a finished ceiling or across a hallway
- Fire blocking, insulation or a vaulted ceiling with no attic access
- Whether we supply the wire and plates or you do
- Blocking added for a heavy speaker or a soundbar that spans no stud
Send a photo of each wall the speakers go on and one of the ceiling over the couch. Tell us if there is attic above the room; that changes how the rear wire is run.
How long it takes
Soundbar alone: under an hour. A pair of rear speakers with wire in the wall and attic: half a day. A full in-ceiling surround set: a full day.
How your project works
- 1
Send photos, get a written quote
Send three photos of the space and a sentence about what you want. You get a clear, itemized quote within one business day. We only come out to measure first when the job needs a tape measure — no pressure, no games.
- 2
Pick materials, or bring your own
We help you choose profiles and materials that fit the house and the budget, or match your existing millwork exactly — or you buy the door or trim yourself and we install it. Everything is confirmed before the crew is scheduled.
- 3
Clean, precise installation
The crew shows up on time, protects floors and furniture, and installs with tight joints and consistent reveals. Photos of the finished work go in your job folder.
- 4
Walkthrough and invoice
We walk the finished work with you. If anything is not right, we fix it before we call the job done. Then one invoice, paid by check or direct deposit — no card fees, no payment links.
Situations and options
Soundbar under the TV
On its own bracket lagged into the studs a set gap below the TV, or on a bracket that hangs from the TV mount so it moves with a full-motion arm. Centered on the TV, cable to the TV inside the wall when the TV wires are already hidden.
Surround speakers on wall brackets
Side and rear speakers on articulating brackets fastened into studs, set high and angled down at the seat. Wire fished inside the wall from the receiver, with a plate behind each speaker.
In-ceiling rear speakers
Speakers cut into the ceiling drywall between the joists above the seating, wired through the attic or a ceiling bay. The cleanest look and no brackets; needs attic access or an open bay to run the wire.
In-wall front speakers
Left, center and right speakers cut into the wall beside and below the TV, between the studs. Wired to the receiver inside the wall. The front wall ends up with a TV and three grilles and nothing else.
Soundbar Mounting and Surround Sound Speaker Installation: questions, answered
How do you mount a soundbar under a TV?
On its own bracket screwed into the studs or blocking a few inches below the TV, centered on it, or on a bracket that hangs off the TV mount itself. The TV-mount bracket is the right choice on a full-motion arm so the soundbar swings with the TV. The HDMI or optical cable to the TV runs inside the wall when the TV wires are already hidden, or behind the soundbar when they are not.
Can you hide speaker wire in the wall?
Yes. In-wall rated speaker wire is fished from the receiver location up the wall, across the ceiling or through the attic, and down to each speaker, and every opening gets a wall plate with binding posts or a brush plate. Fire blocking gets drilled and patched where it is in the way. On a masonry wall or a vaulted ceiling with no access the wire goes in a painted raceway instead.
Where should surround sound speakers go?
Side surrounds go on the walls beside the seat, a little behind it and above head height, angled toward the listener. Rear speakers go on the back wall or in the ceiling behind the seat. The center speaker sits just under the TV, and the fronts flank it. We lay it out from where you actually sit, not from the room's center, and mark each spot before drilling.
Can you install in-ceiling speakers in a finished ceiling?
Yes, when there is attic above it or an open joist bay to run the wire through. We locate the joists, check the bay for wiring and ducts, cut the hole with the template, fish the wire, and clip the speaker in. On a ceiling with a finished room above it the wire has to travel along a joist bay from a wall, which takes longer and sometimes needs a small patch.
Do you set up the receiver and calibrate the surround sound?
We mount the speakers, run and label every wire, and land them on plates or directly on the receiver so each channel is on the right terminal. Running the receiver's setup and room calibration, and any app or Wi-Fi setup for wireless speakers, is yours. If a channel has no sound after setup, it is usually a receiver menu setting, not the wiring.
What if the soundbar is wider than the space between the studs?
Most soundbars are, and the bracket usually spans two studs so it does not matter. When the bracket's holes land in drywall between the studs we add a piece of blocking behind the drywall or use a plywood backer so the screws are in wood. We do not hang a soundbar on drywall anchors alone.
Get a written quote for this job
Three photos and a sentence is enough. You hear back within one business day. Or text the photos to 763-204-2099.
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Read morePage reviewed September 24, 2026 · JMB Builders LLC, MN license BC809005 · All tv mounting pages
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