Finally after five years

[lovekeiiy]

I can't believe it, after five years of hearing about the remodeling work that was going to be done, it's actually being done. My dad and I ran the wires through the walls and undering house for three of the surround speakers. Have to wait on speaker because that wall is going to be made taller and wider.


This is wiring that will go to the reciever. These wires are the right surround, right and left rear surround, coaxil cable for cable TV, and telephone wire (legacy wire for cable's boxes when they used a modem to check for PPV programs). Notice blue box that's used for electrical panels.


left and right rear surround speakers wires. One of them I goofed and ended up with too much slack because I didn't pull all the wire though and had slack in the lower hole. Wire is taped so it don't fall in the hole.


right surround wire. Fun spot to wire because ballas for the window was huge because they must use it for extra support since the porch is attached to that wall. Excessive slack because the speaker may be raised. Someone wants it higher so she can put in nicer drapes, LOL.

[lovekeiiy]

With the above said, anyone have experience with binding post wallplates? I would like to use one for the speaker wires to keep things cleaner. I haven't read about them and what effect they may have signal loss or add noise.

I'm not necessarily a fan of radioshack, but they have what I'm speaking of
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2123182&cp=2032057.2032187.203 2194&parentPage=family&summary=summary&techSpecs=t echSpecs&allCount=27&allCount=27&currentTab=techSp ecs&custRatings=custRatings&features=features&acce ssories=accessories&support=support&parentPage=fam ily

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062687&cp=2032057.2032187.203 2194&parentPage=family&summary=summary&techSpecs=t echSpecs&allCount=27&allCount=27&currentTab=techSp ecs&custRatings=custRatings&features=features&acce ssories=accessories&support=support&parentPage=fam ily

PS: Do we have a way to create a link, but add a name for the link instead of showing the whole thing like one can when doing webpages, ie.... [link address]name[/link]

[ZoomZoom71]

Great news on getting that wiring done. Installing it in existing [covered] walls can definitely be a challenge if you're not accustomed to doing it. I used to work as an electrician's helper, so I got plenty of experience getting wires into challenging places. Great work, man!

For the link, do [ url="insert entire link" ]TEXT[ /url ] (remove spaces around the "url" stuff, of course)

I have the binding posts in my setup. What I used were these crimp-on pins, then inserted those in the back of the binding post. These aren't the exact ones I used (mine were flat), but the concept is the same.


At first, I used just the bare wire, but that spread out the strands way to much, even broke off some of them. These pins worked much better. I haven't tested for signal loss or noise, though. I figure for home-grade stuff, I may not notice it anyway. I also used the regular banana-clips on the front side. IIRC, those are crimp-style, as well.

[BrewCityUpstart]

Originally Posted by lovekeiiy

I can't believe it, after five years of hearing about the remodeling work that was going to be done, it's actually being done. .

Thats the longest part of any job lol.

One of these days I'm gonna rip out the ancient drywall off my basement ceiling and put a drop cieling in. I might start that in fall.

[Peench]

Totally looking like its on its way to being awesome! I think those banana plugs that Zoom posted are probably the best bet. They can plug right into the wall plates from Radio shack and look really clean. Awesome, nice to see it all coming together!!

[Desi Cuse]

nice job man.

[lovekeiiy]

I got a bunch of banana plugs and U joints when I got the speakers. I'm mainly thinking of how to keep it clean so there isn't a bunch of wires hanging out the wall. I may do same thing for the surround speaker locations.

But I know some of you are more up on this stuff than me, so I was curious about signal loss and noise in the connection if any.

[MadBryan]

Look up Parts Express. Those guys have everything. I'm lucky enough to live one town over from them, so my theater bug is easily fed. Seriously, google them and see that their cheaper and have better quality stuff than RS.

[ZoomZoom71]

I completely agree w/ MadB on using PartsExpress. They are absolutely cheaper than Radio Shack. Try to find out everything you need ahead of time, so you save on shipping costs.

[lovekeiiy]

I"m not a big fan of Radio Shack. I only use them for other people's stuff or temp stuff. I'll check them out.

I've been trying to research the audio/video wall plates, but I'll I can find are places that sell them, not what effect on the signal they may have. From what I can tell from pictures on them, they're just a double sided post, where you connect speaker in the back via U ring or bare wire, and like wise on the front. If true, should not have much of effect on the signal. just need to make sure the post if made of a good material. This also leads to finding something for the surround speakers that is very low profile or a bit counter sunk, or have to build into the wall that way.

[BrewCityUpstart]

Parts Express rules.

[MadBryan]

I would imagine any break in the wire would intoduce some degradation but I think it would take a meter to see it

[ZoomZoom71]

Very true. About the best thing you can do to optimize your connectivity is to solder your connections.

[lovekeiiy]

what do you guys think about using the speaker connectors in the back of speaker boxes in the walls for the rear surrounder speakers. I've never build any speaker boxes for the home, so I've never used these before, thus I'm not sure how the wire connects to these things.

link

[ZoomZoom71]

I'd suggest using banana plugs for that connection. Those will unscrew, and you could insert bare wire into it, but you'll just have more reliable results with banana plugs.

[The Milk Man 09]

I know how it feels to have to remodel except for the whole paying for it side of things everything else as for living there and having to do the work I'm with you. I usually game in my basement and let me tell you it was not fun when we ripped out the ceiling down here we had these old square foot tiles that we ripped down and there was mouse crap everywhere and that was the least fun I've ever had working on a house. Also it was not fun either gaming down here with plastic down or the floor and over everything during the whole process.

Probably the second least fun remodeling a house was at my dads when we stripped the roof, his house is over 100 years old and had over 3 or 4 layers of shingles on it and it had not been re-shingled for at least ten years. I had almost no more tread left on my shoes and there was moss growing all over this roof the grade is steep and the roof was wet and its about a 17 foot fall at any point let me tell you i was glad when that was done.

Hope you get it done soon because that is about one of the best feelings in the world.