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options for sound in a non-cable-friendly condo? What have you done?

ViviTheMage

ViviTheMage

Lifer
I live in a Condo, probably will for 2-3+ years, so moving is no option right now...plus, I can't leave my 50MB internet, hehe.

I have a TV that is wall mounted, a sofa that is near the wall...I have no REAL way to run a cabled a 5.1 setup, the only set up I could run cabled is 2.1....and even then, it may look cluttered, I guess my question is, are there any good wireless speakers out there?

Or what have others done in a condo situation?

Also, no carpet to run speaker wire either...all wood.

If you've done anything like this, i'd love to know too...pictures would rock. Give me some ideas.
 
I had a similar situation.

Run cables along the wall using wire "covers" like these (available at home depot, etc):

cord-cover-kit-192052.jpg


here are some in my current setup (running up the wall and to the surrounds):
4374574689_ee975684d4_z.jpg


In my old apartment I just ran the cables and covers at the base boards (as seen in the top photo) on one side of the room.

In my current apartment I couldn't run wires along either side of the room, but my setup allows me to have a couch on one side of the room on a large area rug, so I run the cables to the back under a floor cable cover on the ground as seen in the bottom left of this picture:
4374697893_905efd2fa1_z.jpg


available at here, or at any other home improvement/electronics store.
 
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Not a bad idea at all, but the floor is wood, and nothing will go over the floor smoothly, which is why I think wireless is the only real option.

We have the same couch 🙂...I love it, microfiber rocks.
 
I helped a friend install his surround system in the condos just off the lynn/henn exit (taller 70's ones on Groveland) and it was a huge pain. Removed all kinds of trim, channeled dry wall, etc... Got it looking perfect though, it can be done.

Install crown molding and put the speaker wires behind it and in the wall?

Most wireless rear kits are pretty crappy but if you can live with it for a few years they can be better than nothing.
 
Enter, the wireless (5GHz) home theater systems, silver bullet thingy: These are not your brother's wireless speaker solutions of yore...

http://www.aperionaudio.com/product/Aperion-Intimus-4T-Summit-Wireless-71-System,270.aspx

Note the built-in, one click sweetspot tech.

Here's a related system plus review: http://www.bigpicturebigsound.com/Product-Preview-Aperion-Intimus-4T-Summit-Wireless-Speakers.shtml


If your room has walls configured for bouncing sound...

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-mLKeVPK....html?tp=27835
 
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Yeah, those would look pretty ugly against our wood though...I just don't think it's possible.

NO way i'd spend 3k on a wireless set up either ... i'd be better off buying 1K worth of equipment, tar down the wall, and run cable in there for the extra 2k.
 
Srry if this post too old. But why not just run the wire under the floor? Drill a hole on either end of the room and just fish it through. Or if the floor is a solid slab, the same thing can be done through the ceiling. Even if there's a second floor, there's generally a space between the floors that can be fished through. While you're at it, you may as well pull some shielded cat6 for future too. It's what I'd do anyway.
 
If you have at least 3 walls, there's no reason why you can't use the raceways like Kanalua suggested.

What about using the wire raceways on the ceiling? It won't look the neatest, but it's probably the best way to get the wires to the back wall if you only have 2 walls to work with.
 
I do not have 3 walls, there is a walk way right in the middle. We have 13 foot ceilings, and I think using raceways along the top might look horrendous.
 
If you only have 2 walls and can't use the ceiling you are screwed....

Floor or wireless is the only option :|
 
Yep. There's some situations you just need to suck it up and accept the compromises of your living arrangements. I think surround sound is largely overrated by most people anyway. For me I'd rather focus my money on a solid front stage & sub and/or TV/projector. I could just as easily live without surround sound.

I have to just shake my head and laugh at the aweful ghetto setups that some people run in their homes all for the sake of saying they have surround sound.

Don't get me started on the 7.1 zealots.

😛
 
Yeah, which is kind of what I have done. I do not want to ghetto rig up something either, I do like things to look nice, especially in smaller spaces like our condo.

I'll just wait until I move out, into a house for something like this.
 
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