Best site to get tips on how to wire house for surround?

[StageLeft]

I made a thread a while back and it was of help, but I think I'm gonna take the plunge very soon and wire the living room for surround. I "think" that the inner walls are not insulated (I see no reason they would be!), and the attic is easy to get up, so it should be pretty straight forward.

Also I need to know the exact perfect placing for rears (I'm only wiring the rears, since the fronts I can hide the wires under the carpet easy enough). I want it to look like a good job with face plates and all the good stuff. Thanks!

 

[ElFenix]

is it 1 story? cuz dropping wire is kinda a pain in the ass.

ideal position is behind the couch slightly above the ears of the listener.

 

[VictorLazlo]

Run some temporary wires to make sure the speakers sound good where you plan to put them. There are basic guidelies for speaker placement, which I won't go into here. My advise is to play by ear.

Dropping a wire down an interrior wall is easy, IF they are not insulated and don't have fire breaks. You will need special equipment in either case, if they do.

I know some tricks to make running cable easier (ex-cable contractor). I'm too lazy to post them if nobody cares, so let me know or PM me.

 

[Gunbuster]

You gona wire for 7.1? might as well do surround left and right along with back left and right.

 

[StageLeft]

It's a one story. I'm gonna search for pics, because I took some when it was mid-construction. I am wiring only for 5.1 now for two reasons:

1) It will be eons before I get a 6.1 or 7.1 setup (well I think anyway)
2) Importantly I don't want an extra thing there on the wall - this is our main living/family room, so until I need it I really can't put anything else there

In regards to placing I'm forced to put these speakers in only one spot, so I don't need to try temporary cables since it's either this or that

In fact, gunbuster, come to think of it surround left and right would be hanging in the air. Not optimal for sounds, unfortunately, the room is massive and hass the living room off the side, so it's not an enclosed room. To its benefit we're at least able to square things off in regards to tv placement and the couch is out from the wall a few feet (and will stay as such)

I will PM you victor! I was planning on getting some wires (reasonably thick gauge I suppose), and one of those stiff cable thingies from home depot to feed wires down through the wall. At the top of the wall up in the atic is insulation that goes down for a couple of feet I believe. My concern is trying to make sure that I place the wire face plates squarely (or pretty much) between wall studs, so that I'm not overlapping and have a mess of sheetrock to clean up (ie, I want to cut a 3 by 2 inch rectangle and end up being forced to overlap part of that with a stud - that would be bad).

Thanks all!

living_room.jpg Just uploaded that - it's the best pic I have. The far left wall is where the tv is, and I presume the opposing wall is the same. You can see no insulation so that's a good sign

 

[GoingUp]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
It's a one story. I'm gonna search for pics, because I took some when it was mid-construction. I am wiring only for 5.1 now for two reasons:

1) It will be eons before I get a 6.1 or 7.1 setup (well I think anyway)
2) Importantly I don't want an extra thing there on the wall - this is our main living/family room, so until I need it I really can't put anything else there

In regards to placing I'm forced to put these speakers in only one spot, so I don't need to try temporary cables since it's either this or that

In fact, gunbuster, come to think of it surround left and right would be hanging in the air. Not optimal for sounds, unfortunately, the room is massive and hass the living room off the side, so it's not an enclosed room. To its benefit we're at least able to square things off in regards to tv placement and the couch is out from the wall a few feet (and will stay as such)

I will PM you victor! I was planning on getting some wires (reasonably thick gauge I suppose), and one of those stiff cable thingies from home depot to feed wires down through the wall. At the top of the wall up in the atic is insulation that goes down for a couple of feet I believe. My concern is trying to make sure that I place the wire face plates squarely (or pretty much) between wall studs, so that I'm not overlapping and have a mess of sheetrock to clean up (ie, I want to cut a 3 by 2 inch rectangle and end up being forced to overlap part of that with a stud - that would be bad).

Thanks all!

living_room.jpg Just uploaded that - it's the best pic I have. The far left wall is where the tv is, and I presume the opposing wall is the same. You can see no insulation so that's a good sign

Hey Skoorbie! I just wired our whole conference room for surround sound actually, so if you want some tips or even pics of what I did, LMK. I recommend the wall plates at radio shack...

 

[Viper GTS]

6.1 and 7.1 systems are becoming quite common (where's my 8.1, why can't I have both a rear center AND mid lef/right?), you might as well prepare for it.

DD/DTS receivers are already in the $100-200 range, it won't be long before DD EX et.al. are in the same range.

Hell, even good pre/pro's are <$1000 and that's pro level stuff.

Don't let the HT bug bite you, it gets expensive really quick.

I started out with a $400 boxed set (albeit a pretty good one), & I'm already buying pro equipment.

D'oh!

Viper GTS

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
6.1 and 7.1 systems are becoming quite common (where's my 8.1, why can't I have both a rear center AND mid lef/right?), you might as well prepare for it.

DD/DTS receivers are already in the $100-200 range, it won't be long before DD EX et.al. are in the same range.

Hell, even good pre/pro's are <$1000 and that's pro level stuff.

Don't let the HT bug bite you, it gets expensive really quick.

I started out with a $400 boxed set (albeit a pretty good one), & I'm already buying pro equipment.

D'oh!

Viper GTS

hehe the bug tends to bite on most hobbies doesn't it I have a 2 year old sony receiver that cost about $400 US and I have maybe $700 or so worth of paradigm speakers. I'm changing out the two rears with something smaller (the rears I have are huge and overkill for the position). It's a 5.1 capable receiver (I have yet to buy the subwoofer unfortunately but will soonish now that we have a house!) and not 6 or 7, but although i could go with a 6.1 setup for the rear center given the orientation of the room it will be infinitely impossible to go with any side speakers for the duration of our stay in the house

 

[faziwazi]

Okay, im a complete n00b when it comes to sound system. Not trying to hijack the thread, but my family is in the process of building a house and its almost done. We have already prewired for 7 speakers for the ceiling only. 5 Speakers in the great room ( 3 up front near the tv for left center and right) and ( 2 rear speakers behind our couch). Then we have 2 speakers ( 1 speaker per hall) in our house. What kind of system is this? What type of receiver would I need and what type of speakers are affordable, but also are good sounding speakers. Thanks for any help.

 

[jfall]

I believe the best position for rear speakers is 2-4 feet above the listeners head and slightly behind.. also, both rear spearkers should point towards each other

 

[Ameesh]

man it up and make faceplates for the fronts too and make sure you wire it up for 6.1 if not 7.1

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: Ameesh
man it up and make faceplates for the fronts too and make sure you wire it up for 6.1 if not 7.1

skoorb effect in full affect - I can't have a 7.1 setup because i have no walls on either side of the viewing area!!