AV Amp, Speakers & Cabling Help needed
Discussion
Hi Everyone,
As per another thread, we've had a look round today at what sound bars and the like are out there.
The Sonus play bar with the added sub is ok, but just felt like colossal money for 'ok'. We checked out a Bose Cinemate 120 system, and that felt far better, but its still £1000 for a speaker under the tv and hidden amp. I think we can do better for less.
I like the idea of getting a dedicated amp, something like the Sony 1040 - http://www.richersounds.com/product/av-receivers/s...
...a decent pair of front speakers, like the Monitor Audio BX2 Bronze - http://www.richersounds.com/product/standmount-spe...
... and then a separate sub http://www.richersounds.com/product/subwoofers/mon...
Without shopping around, thats £249.99 (Amp), £249 (Stereo Speakers) and then £449 (Sub), so about £950 all in.
Granted, we need cables on top of that, but I get the feeling we'd have a higher quality solution, and something we could make more use of and build on in the future.
Now. I'd appreciate a view on that equipment list, but I also need to sort doing the cabling. I want it all hidden, but I need help on working our what bits I need to order, and where I can order it all from please.
- I presume for the speaker faceplates I just need to order speaker wire and two faceplates - the amp is going to be right by one of the speakers, so I won't need to hide the wire - Reasonably priced recommendations for that cable would be great.
- I don't know what faceplate and cable I need for the sub. Help needed here !
- I know I need two HDMI faceplates, but I've got no idea what cable i need to connect the two, what do i need.
If with all of the above you can link me to items, that would be hugely appreciated.
As per another thread, we've had a look round today at what sound bars and the like are out there.
The Sonus play bar with the added sub is ok, but just felt like colossal money for 'ok'. We checked out a Bose Cinemate 120 system, and that felt far better, but its still £1000 for a speaker under the tv and hidden amp. I think we can do better for less.
I like the idea of getting a dedicated amp, something like the Sony 1040 - http://www.richersounds.com/product/av-receivers/s...
...a decent pair of front speakers, like the Monitor Audio BX2 Bronze - http://www.richersounds.com/product/standmount-spe...
... and then a separate sub http://www.richersounds.com/product/subwoofers/mon...
Without shopping around, thats £249.99 (Amp), £249 (Stereo Speakers) and then £449 (Sub), so about £950 all in.
Granted, we need cables on top of that, but I get the feeling we'd have a higher quality solution, and something we could make more use of and build on in the future.
Now. I'd appreciate a view on that equipment list, but I also need to sort doing the cabling. I want it all hidden, but I need help on working our what bits I need to order, and where I can order it all from please.
- I presume for the speaker faceplates I just need to order speaker wire and two faceplates - the amp is going to be right by one of the speakers, so I won't need to hide the wire - Reasonably priced recommendations for that cable would be great.
- I don't know what faceplate and cable I need for the sub. Help needed here !
- I know I need two HDMI faceplates, but I've got no idea what cable i need to connect the two, what do i need.
If with all of the above you can link me to items, that would be hugely appreciated.
Speaker cable I'd suggest 2.5mm copper, Van Damme blue or this stuff from TLC is decent. http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/CASPEAK79.htm...
Personally I wouldn't use face plates, its just another extra point to add poor connection, for a neat finish I used brush plates where the cable leaves the wall.
You only mention 2 speakers and a sub, while its fine and the amp can be configured to run as 2.1 (I have an old Arcam AVR doing just this in my kitchen/diner) it might be wise to run cables for centre and rears.
The sub connection is a simple single RCA (AKA phono) of a suitable length.
Personally I wouldn't use face plates, its just another extra point to add poor connection, for a neat finish I used brush plates where the cable leaves the wall.
You only mention 2 speakers and a sub, while its fine and the amp can be configured to run as 2.1 (I have an old Arcam AVR doing just this in my kitchen/diner) it might be wise to run cables for centre and rears.
The sub connection is a simple single RCA (AKA phono) of a suitable length.
conanius said:
My worry about brush plates is the cable disappearing down the hole, and it being unrecoverable due to the fact were about to fit solid oak flooring over the top of the existing floorboards....
Am I over thinking this?
To prevent the cable disappearing you could use a simple "P" clip to secure it to the wall box*, or even a couple of suitably placed cable ties.Am I over thinking this?
- I forget the correct terminology for that - is it a pattress box?
conanius said:
The Sonus play bar with the added sub is ok, but just felt like colossal money for 'ok'. We checked out a Bose Cinemate 120 system, and that felt far better, but its still £1000 for a speaker under the tv and hidden amp. I think we can do better for less.
You certainly can. In our old house, we had a Yahama amp with the Monitor Audio Radius speakers all around, which I really liked. When we moved last year to a much bigger place (has several sitting rooms), I wanted a much more compact solution for the smarter lounge so went with the Orbitsound M12. I really like it, produces a great sound. It's nowhere nears as good as separates though. Worth looking into if you are still considering a sound bar.conanius said:
- I presume for the speaker faceplates I just need to order speaker wire and two faceplates - the amp is going to be right by one of the speakers, so I won't need to hide the wire - Reasonably priced recommendations for that cable would be great.
Fisual cables are great - had the 2.5mm Super Pearl all around in the old place. Haven't got round to wiring up in the new house yet, but most likely will go with either the Super Pearl or the Hollywood again.Just make sure it's thick enough - I wouldn't go below 2.5mm, although you could for the rears.
We're about to start decorating one of the downstairs rooms, and this will be wired up for AV - am currently on the fence as to whether we go for speaker plates or just have brushed outlets. My concern with the plates is potential connection issues, but in my mind I think they will look nicer.
conanius said:
- I don't know what faceplate and cable I need for the sub. Help needed here !
Cable - they are called Subwoofer Cables, but are actually just a single channel phono cable. I think the one I had was a Fisual one again, I spent around £20-30 on an 2 or 3 metre long cable and it was fine.Plates - google subwoofer wall plate and you'll get a few hits. They are a single pole phono output.
conanius said:
- I know I need two HDMI faceplates, but I've got no idea what cable i need to connect the two, what do i need.
These just have an HDMI port on the other side, so all you need is a long HDMI cable to take the signal from the amp to the plate. If you do a google image search for HDMI wall plate you'll see what I mean.TonyRPH said:
To prevent the cable disappearing you could use a simple "P" clip to secure it to the wall box*, or even a couple of suitably placed cable ties.
Yep - although back when I was 17 and worked in an electrical shop, the electricians used pattress to refer to the surface mounted ones and either back box or wall box for the galvanised in-wall ones.- I forget the correct terminology for that - is it a pattress box?
Other option is to use either some decorator's caulking or no more nails to fix the cable in place in the back box.
Depending on the length of your subwoofer cable run, I would consider using coaxial cable for better shielding. I have always picked up interference on runs over 5 ft of standard single phono, but shielded coax will work fun and eliminate interference problems.
Also, if you are planning on running wires to other parts of the room, try running these in the skirting boards and not floors, if you have a nightmare, it's easier to pull skirting than flooring.
Also, if you are planning on running wires to other parts of the room, try running these in the skirting boards and not floors, if you have a nightmare, it's easier to pull skirting than flooring.
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