Best way to run speaker cables for surround sound

[ln1234]

Currently refurbing the living room and want to put in cables for surround speakers. Whats the best way to do this?

I know the locations of the speakers and was thinking of running cable and having it 'poking out' of the skirting. This is a bit ugly but seems the easiest. Other options are to put in speaker wall plates, but that involves chasing the wall a bit.

Cheers

[Plotloss]

Depends what sort of speakers you are going to have.

Also remember they're not rears, they're surrounds.

They go either side of the listening position facing each other, not behind facing the screen...

[dave_s13]

Plots....can you recommend a decent surround speaker that's really rather small.

Plan for my new house is to convert the now living room into a TV/Movie room but the positioning of rear speakers is proving bloody awkward, I need something discreet, that still works.

[Plotloss]

Gallo Micros generally pass the WAF test.

Depends how far you want to go, we've got product options that are totally invisible (assuming its stud rather than brick/block and set)

[ln1234]

Plotloss said:

Gallo Micros generally pass the WAF test.

Depends how far you want to go, we've got product options that are totally invisible (assuming its stud rather than brick/block and set)

I was going to have 2 systems in a room. A plasma mounted on the wall, and a PJ + screen mounted on the adjacent wall. I've created a rough diagram below with the speaker placements highlighted in red.

Would that work for the PJ setup?

[Plotloss]

Are the three fronts going to be in ceiling?

[ln1234]

I haven't thought about the exact positioning yet, but ceiling could be an option. Most likely they will be in the corners of the wall, hence my question about the cabling (haven't decided exactly how the centre will fit in though).

What works best in this type of situation? Appreciate your knowledgable help!

[rhinochopig]

Plotloss said:

Depends what sort of speakers you are going to have.

Also remember they're not rears, they're surrounds.

They go either side of the listening position facing each other, not behind facing the screen...

Given the O/Ps diagram, where would the additional 2 be positioned then for a 7.1 set-up?

[Plotloss]

rhinochopig said:

Plotloss said:

Depends what sort of speakers you are going to have.

Also remember they're not rears, they're surrounds.

They go either side of the listening position facing each other, not behind facing the screen...

Given the O/Ps diagram, where would the additional 2 be positioned then for a 7.1 set-up?

In an EX array the surrounds would be where they are now and you'd have two addition speakers next to each other in the centre of the rear wall giving steerability.

In a TrueHD array, similar but the rear surrounds would be seperated 60degs from the cash seat.

Really, in a 7 channel array the surrounds should be dipoles or tripoles.

[sonic_2k_uk]

I guess it depends how stealth you want to go and how much you want to spend.

I have run cables under the carpet for the easy solution, and it does annoy me having them sticking out of the carpet.

It also allows for the cat to have a go at them

Plotloss said:

Depends what sort of speakers you are going to have.

Also remember they're not rears, they're surrounds.

They go either side of the listening position facing each other, not behind facing the screen...

Interesting point that, one which i've not given much thought too.

My rears surrounds are behind my sitting position, with the speakers positioned in each corner and the seats in the centre effectively.

Does this have a massive impact?

[ln1234]

Coming back to the original question, if I did chase the cables into the walls, it is better to keep the cable as one long length to the speaker, or is it better to terminate into wall terminal plates and connect the speakers from there?

[sonic_2k_uk]

ln1234 said:

Coming back to the original question, if I did chase the cables into the walls, it is better to keep the cable as one long length to the speaker, or is it better to terminate into wall terminal plates and connect the speakers from there?

Every termination and connection adds the potential for more interference and signal degradation, so a single cable would be better although perhaps not as practical.

[Plotloss]

ln1234 said:

Coming back to the original question, if I did chase the cables into the walls, it is better to keep the cable as one long length to the speaker, or is it better to terminate into wall terminal plates and connect the speakers from there?

We generally don't use wall boxes for speakers as it limits the mounting options and they look awful.

Your surrounds want to be overhead you see.

[ln1234]

Plotloss said:

ln1234 said:

Coming back to the original question, if I did chase the cables into the walls, it is better to keep the cable as one long length to the speaker, or is it better to terminate into wall terminal plates and connect the speakers from there?

We generally don't use wall boxes for speakers as it limits the mounting options and they look awful.

Your surrounds want to be overhead you see.

Ah, so I could run them through the ceilings and then drop cables for each speaker location?

Edited by ln1234 on Tuesday 18th May 13:04

[blackcab]

bose 321 system awesome bit of kit, several versions from about £450 without hassle of wires everywhere
http://www.soundandvision.co.uk/dvd/dvd-home-cinem...