Minimizing speaker wire exposure

[jtvang125]

Here's my current setup. I've just moved into the house not more than 2 months ago so everything is still a work in progress. Please excuse the mess.

http://cid-548db09b85d9dace.photos.live.com/self.aspx/New album/DSC04199.JPG

http://cid-548db09b85d9dace.photos.live.com/self.aspx/New album/DSC04204.JPG

My plan is to mount the tv to that wall. I'm also thinking of getting a wall mounted shelf for the a/v components and center

http://reviews.bestbuy.com/3545/922...system-for-a-v-components-reviews/reviews.htm

This will go right underneath the tv. A/V cables will be run in-wall using plates behind the tv and shelf so they won't be seen. Surrounds will be mounted to back wall slightly behind and above the seatings.

I'm willing to drill and cut small openings in the wall if I have to. What are some ways to route speaker wires to the front speaker and surrounds while minimizing their exposure to being seen for my setup?

 

[queequeg99]

If I'm understanding your question correctly, I think your best bet is to run the speaker wires down the wall into a crawl space, over to where the speakers will be, then up the wall to the speakers (or up into the attic, over, and down, as the case may be). You can use a wall plate like this if you like:

http://www.summitsource.com/product_info.php?ref=1&products_id=4634

I don't mess with those. Instead, I just get a blank plate and drill a small hole in the middle of it and thread the speaker wire through. I figure that the less splices/connections there are, the less likely my system will develop some fault.

If going up/down and over isn't an option, you can always try going directly sideways with something like this:

http://www.amazon.com/Eazypower-3016.../dp/B0009XAFXU

These things are not a lot of fun to use if you've never used one before (and the model I linked to is for example purposes only - it looks like that particular model sucks). And they will only let you go so far to each side.

 

[kornphlake]

I'd use something like this behind each speaker:
http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10425&cs_id=1042503&p_id=3324&seq=1&format=2

Route the wires through the walls and crawlspace/attic as mentioned above. If you don't have access to a crawlspace or attic you can remove the baseboard and cut into the drywall behind the baseboard to run cables, there are dozens of websites on how to do this.

There are other options but I think in wall wiring with wall plates, specifically with binding posts look the most professional and offer the most flexibility.

 

[sivart]

Put it under the carpet that you lay in that room to get rid of the acoustic nightmare

 

[Smoove910]

Well, the question needs to be 'Are either of those walls exterior walls?'. Reason being if they are, there's a really good chance of them being stuffed with insulation. If you've ever had experience dropping cables through insulation in a wall you know what a pain in the rear it is.

 

[queequeg99]

smoove makes a good point. It looks like you are dealing with exterior walls. Insulation can be dealt with (although it's not fun). Additionally, you might find working in that left corner to be a real pain. I bet there are a ton of studs in the walls given the corner and the windows. I think an earlier suggestion about going behind the baseboard will likely be your best bet.

 

[darkswordsman17]

Is there any particular reason you want to do a wall mount shelf for the components?

As others mentioned, it would be best to just do a baseboard and run through it. The bonus is you could do ambient lighting (run LED strings) underneath it as well (depending on what you do with the baseboard).

 

[jtvang125]

Seems I left out a bit of information on the structure of the house. As you can see the room is tiled and so are the baseboards. Don't think I can take off the baseboards without destroying the tile. House is on a concrete slab so no basement or crawlspace. House is also 2 story so no ceiling access to that room either. The wall with the windows is an exterior wall while the wall with the seating is an interior wall.

After thinking about this some more I think I'm going to ditch the idea of the wall shelf. Hiding wires from this height to the speakers is going to be either too hard or unsightly. I'll ditch the glass stand (I think they're on their way out) and go with a modern looking dark wood stand. Center speaker will be hung underneath the tv with some brackets.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

 

[kornphlake]

I missed the tile baseboards, you probably don't want to try and remove them unless you're going to get rid of the tile baseboard all together. This is going to be a fairly major renovation project if you insist on in-wall wiring. You might consider wiremould instead.
http://www.amazon.com/Wiremold-C50-C.../dp/B000BW0YH6

 

[Smoove910]

Well, with your exterior wall you could always try using a 2" hole saw, cut a 2" hole behind your tv and another 2" hole down by the baseboard. Get a piece of 1 or 1.5" PVC pipe, measure your distance between your 2" holes, and try stuffing it into the 2" hole to give yourself almost a conduit of sorts to run your wires easier.

 

[darkswordsman17]

I missed the tile baseboards, you probably don't want to try and remove them unless you're going to get rid of the tile baseboard all together. This is going to be a fairly major renovation project if you insist on in-wall wiring. You might consider wiremould instead.
http://www.amazon.com/Wiremold-C50-C.../dp/B000BW0YH6

That's actually closer to what I was thinking. Just get some special moulding that you put next to/on top of the baseboard. It will look a bit funky but can be good for adding ambient light and you can always remove it, reuse it, or whatever else. Plus it will make any changes to cabling or anything easier as its not fixed in the wall.

 

[Emulex]

flatwire ethernet/hdmi and rg6 rock!

 

[SithSolo1]

I'd use http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=1023902&p_id=4039&seq=1&format=2#description for running the wire to the rear speakers either in wall or in a cable channel. The cable itself is white so you could just run it along the baseboard but it won't look as clean. When you need to split it just snip the casing and pull out a pair of the wires.