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Building a home pre-wired for 5.1

Posted on 10/20/14 at 9:26 am
Posted by ag3ntpurpl3
Member since Aug 2011
1140 posts
Posted on 10/20/14 at 9:26 am
First off, I'm sorry if this has been asked before but I'm new to this.

I'm building a home and one of the packages we selected added in 5.1 speaker wiring in the ceiling of the living room. I'm completely new to this as I've only ever lived with my parents or in apartments.

I know I've read in-wall surround sound speakers aren't optimal but for my wife & I they'll be an upgrade over what we currently have. I guess my question is, first, if there's somewhere with a write-up on this situation already or if someone can recommend a complete setup (speakers with sub & amp/receiver). We watch a lot of movies via my Roku 3 and I plan to have one of my record players setup to play vinyl during parties or just relaxing at home.

I appreciate any advice. I'm not sure on what price-range I'm looking at currently (building a house with no furniture bought is hard to decipher available income) but somewhere between $500-1500 is possible.

Thanks guys.
Posted by CidCock
Member since Sep 2007
Member since Feb 2011
8631 posts
Posted on 10/20/14 at 9:32 am to
I don't know what you are paying, but I'd just do it myself, especially if it's a new build.

I gutted my house and ran the wire myself before the sheet rock was hung, it's not hard.

I am not an audiophile, but I bought these off of craiglist. LINK

and they more than suit my needs. you can spend as much money as you want on this stuff. I got a reciever (yamaha 671 i think) that I can connect to network. It's nice because I can control from phone.

Best thing I would recommend is to get a 7.1 stereo (2 channels for zone 2) and wire it to the porch..its nice.
This post was edited on 10/20/14 at 9:33 am
Posted by Murtagh
Metairie, La
Member since Feb 2008
2044 posts
Posted on 10/20/14 at 9:49 am to
You don't necessarily have to get in-wall speakers. Just a drop to a spot on the wall, that terminates where you think you'll want speakers.

As for speakers themselves, if you're looking for cheap options, www.monoprice.com has a nice selection that sound decent. It's what I have right now until I upgrade all the speakers I currently have.
Posted by GrammarKnotsi
Member since Feb 2013
9354 posts
Posted on 10/20/14 at 10:11 am to
quote:

Just a drop to a spot on the wall


Get them to drop it all the way down..Plus some...
Posted by ag3ntpurpl3
Member since Aug 2011
1140 posts
Posted on 10/20/14 at 10:23 am to
I guess I should say the package is just for wiring and they will cap them until I decide what to put up there
Posted by Helo
Orlando
Member since Nov 2004
4592 posts
Posted on 10/20/14 at 11:12 am to
I just put these near where I would want to put a speaker.

LINK
Posted by VABuckeye
Naples, FL
Member since Dec 2007
35565 posts
Posted on 10/20/14 at 11:28 am to
quote:

I don't know what you are paying, but I'd just do it myself, especially if it's a new build


Many builders won't allow this. Liability issues. It's a 100% certainty that if he's buying a tract home he isn't running any wire himself.

Wall or ceiling locations can be fine. The ceiling certainly takes bad locations for windows, fireplaces and doors out of the equation. If this isn't a critical listening room he can have a perfectly acceptable system that blends well into the room.
Posted by The Eric
Louisiana
Member since Sep 2008
20992 posts
Posted on 10/20/14 at 1:49 pm to
Get ofF of reddit escargot!!!
Posted by The Eric
Louisiana
Member since Sep 2008
20992 posts
Posted on 10/20/14 at 1:50 pm to
I seent you on r/hometheater
Posted by ag3ntpurpl3
Member since Aug 2011
1140 posts
Posted on 10/20/14 at 2:10 pm to
Hahaha! Just trying to get as much advice while our home is being built.

It's a stressful time, especially since I want it to be as perfect as possible for our first home together.
Posted by SATNIGHTS
Red Stick
Member since Jan 2008
2239 posts
Posted on 10/20/14 at 2:25 pm to
I am right there with you. what I am going to do is ask the builder if I can put a few lengths of PVC pipe where I will route wires through the walls. That way I can easily fish them through at a later date.
Posted by Gaston
Dirty Coast
Member since Aug 2008
39025 posts
Posted on 10/20/14 at 2:29 pm to
I'd just put in a 2.0 system for the vinyl rig and use the wiring as a selling point in the future. If you can handle floor standing speakers then movies will sound just fine through them. Only my opinion.
Posted by NEMizzou
Columbia MO
Member since Nov 2013
1369 posts
Posted on 10/20/14 at 2:29 pm to
If you are wanting to hook your record player up to your home theater and you are needing to buy a receiver to work with that, just know that most receivers with a phono input that also do home theater are going to be pricier than their counterparts without the phono input. Just depends on your budget if that is going to be a concern, but something to look out for. As for in-wall vs others, all depends on what you are looking for. You can get some in-wall speakers that are almost as good as one that isn't, and certainly better than a bose cube speaker.

If you give your budget details then you might get more recommendations...someone suggested the binding posts from monoprice; that's what I would do in the meantime so you're wired and all you have to do is either plug in and mount or cut a bigger hole for the in-wall option.
Posted by ag3ntpurpl3
Member since Aug 2011
1140 posts
Posted on 10/20/14 at 2:47 pm to
quote:

If you can handle floor standing speakers then movies will sound just fine through them. Only my opinion.


I would do floor-standing speakers but the house comes pre-wired with 5.1 (four in ceiling, sub and soundbar ground level.)

I have another vinyl rig I'm setting up in my office for personal use and just plan on having my father's old Onkyo setup in living room for when guests are over and my wife & I listen to music while cooking/relaxing. Thanks for the advice, though!

quote:

As for in-wall vs others, all depends on what you are looking for. You can get some in-wall speakers that are almost as good as one that isn't, and certainly better than a bose cube speaker.


I'm leaning more towards just installing posts, as mentioned, and buying speakers to mount to those because I've hear in-wall have reverberation problems and I'm too chicken-shite to cut my own drywall for installation; installing posts seems like a better/easier option.
Posted by VABuckeye
Naples, FL
Member since Dec 2007
35565 posts
Posted on 10/20/14 at 2:52 pm to
quote:

because I've hear in-wall have reverberation problems


Well, yeah. If the drywall isn't coupled to the studs it's going to vibrate. This has nothing to do with the speakers and everything to do with the construction of your home.

If you do get inwall speakers get something like this



that is an actual speaker that goes in the stud bay. This will take the acoustics of the bay out of the equation and will account for the boundary affect. They also have angled baffles to image the sound to the listening position.
Posted by Coater
Madison, MS
Member since Jun 2005
33064 posts
Posted on 10/20/14 at 3:18 pm to
quote:

Best thing I would recommend is to get a 7.1 stereo (2 channels for zone 2) and wire it to the porch..its nice.


yep and depending on your setup (driveway, etc) consider having speakers under your front porch as well. sounds kinda strange but you can have music playing for guests as they arrive or listen to music while playing with the kids in the front driveway (something we do religiously). have volume controls on each of your rooms
Posted by Gaston
Dirty Coast
Member since Aug 2008
39025 posts
Posted on 10/20/14 at 6:29 pm to
quote:

(four in ceiling, sub and soundbar ground level)


That wouldn't be an acceptable music setup for me. You're going play that in mono? 'Fronts' of a 5.1 being in the ceiling?
Posted by ag3ntpurpl3
Member since Aug 2011
1140 posts
Posted on 10/20/14 at 7:33 pm to
quote:

That wouldn't be an acceptable music setup for me. You're going play that in mono? 'Fronts' of a 5.1 being in the ceiling?




This is the diagram the company sent me. Our living room ceiling goes at a slant from back to front.
Posted by VABuckeye
Naples, FL
Member since Dec 2007
35565 posts
Posted on 10/20/14 at 7:38 pm to
That doesn't work acoustically. It's just going to be muddled sound.
Posted by MeatSlingingFool
Maurice, LA
Member since Sep 2014
304 posts
Posted on 10/20/14 at 9:42 pm to
Your center channel needs to be directly above or below your TV. Your two fronts need to be on the TV left and right. Your two surround speakers can be either left and right behind your listening position or directly left and right of your listening position. Sub placement is not as important. Just put it where it sounds best.
As previously mentioned, I don't see how the setup you diagram would produce anything worthwhile.
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