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Started By
Message
Best options for wiring a living room for 5.1 surround sound
Posted on 10/25/17 at 8:27 am
Posted on 10/25/17 at 8:27 am
I'll try to explain the situation as best I can without a wall of text...
I have all the equipment and cables and just need my living room wired for surround sound in the house we just moved into. I've had Best Buy come out only to tell me that my roof overhang on the exterior wall that I want my TV, fronts and center channel speaker is very small making it near impossible for them to get a drill to the joist to drill through and drop the wire.
I then had an electrician come out who said we could cut into drywall near the ceiling and drill through from below to feed the cables into the attic.
I had a local AV company and also Magnolia Design Center come out as well to discuss ideas. I don't want to spend a fortune considering all I need is the grunt work and none of the programming type stuff but seems most of the folks I've had come out are making it seem like my house is the hardest they have ever seen to install.
Any opinions? I live in OK so can't use any local recommendations unfortunately.
I have all the equipment and cables and just need my living room wired for surround sound in the house we just moved into. I've had Best Buy come out only to tell me that my roof overhang on the exterior wall that I want my TV, fronts and center channel speaker is very small making it near impossible for them to get a drill to the joist to drill through and drop the wire.
I then had an electrician come out who said we could cut into drywall near the ceiling and drill through from below to feed the cables into the attic.
I had a local AV company and also Magnolia Design Center come out as well to discuss ideas. I don't want to spend a fortune considering all I need is the grunt work and none of the programming type stuff but seems most of the folks I've had come out are making it seem like my house is the hardest they have ever seen to install.
Any opinions? I live in OK so can't use any local recommendations unfortunately.
4
Posted on 10/25/17 at 8:58 am to Big Saint
Exterior walls will do that to you.
The electrician is probably your best bet, if you don't feel like cutting the drywall yourself and drilling through the joist. You could buy a drywall saw, extended drill bit and fish tape and pull the cable yourself.
I did this twice on an interior wall (coming from the attic) I just about burned up my 20v drill getting through the joist, so I'd suggest a more powerful electric drill to do the job. You may have fire blocks to deal with and insulation on the exterior wall that will make it harder to feed the cable through.
BestBuy/Magnoila are going to screw you.
The electrician is probably your best bet, if you don't feel like cutting the drywall yourself and drilling through the joist. You could buy a drywall saw, extended drill bit and fish tape and pull the cable yourself.
I did this twice on an interior wall (coming from the attic) I just about burned up my 20v drill getting through the joist, so I'd suggest a more powerful electric drill to do the job. You may have fire blocks to deal with and insulation on the exterior wall that will make it harder to feed the cable through.
BestBuy/Magnoila are going to screw you.
Posted on 10/25/17 at 9:02 am to TigerRob20
quote:
You may have fire blocks to deal with and insulation on the exterior wall that will make it harder to feed the cable through.
I do have fire blocks. Actually have them on the interior wall where the rears will go as well. Knowing that, I already knew I'd be cutting into some drywall which is fine. That can be patched.
I was originally leaning towards doing it myself but the feedback I've gotten so far makes me think it's a job a little over my nonexistent skill set. I'm waiting on the Magnolia quote but so far the local AV guy is the one who came in at the highest. The electrician basically said $80 an hour but I have no idea how long it'd take him or how many extra guys he'd bring that I'd pay at the same rate.
This post was edited on 10/25/17 at 9:03 am
Posted on 10/25/17 at 9:29 am to Big Saint
i was seriously blown away with how well the sonos playbar/base, sub and 2 play 1s sound as a 5.1 surround setup.
you may want to seriously consider going wireless given your situation and there's alot more you can do with a sonos than a traditional setup.
that will set you back close to $1500 but at least you don't have to run wires.
just think about it.
you may want to seriously consider going wireless given your situation and there's alot more you can do with a sonos than a traditional setup.
that will set you back close to $1500 but at least you don't have to run wires.
just think about it.
Posted on 10/25/17 at 9:37 am to CAD703X
quote:
but at least you don't have to run wires.
Are the speakers battery powered ?
Posted on 10/25/17 at 9:47 am to Big Saint
You’re trying to drill through the top plate, and the overhang is too small to get a drill perpendicular in that area?
Do you have crown molding? Can you come out behind the crown and up through the ceiling? Brick wall? Can you just punch through the exterior wall and come up through the soffit?
What about running along the floor behind some shoe mold/baseboard and coming up a different wall?
Do you have crown molding? Can you come out behind the crown and up through the ceiling? Brick wall? Can you just punch through the exterior wall and come up through the soffit?
What about running along the floor behind some shoe mold/baseboard and coming up a different wall?
Posted on 10/25/17 at 10:05 am to CAD703X
Sonus does not help me with video though. If everything is in a media closet except the TV then wireless speakers or not, there will have to be an HDMI run to the TV. If I'm making that run, then I'm running speaker wires as well considering I've already made the speaker purchase years ago.
Posted on 10/25/17 at 10:07 am to LSUtigerME
quote:
You’re trying to drill through the top plate, and the overhang is too small to get a drill perpendicular in that area?
That's the vibe I am getting from all the installers who came in to offer a quote. I'm not exactly sure what the aversion is to drill from below after cutting a hole in the dry wall below the ceiling but I've proposed it to everyone. I think that would simplify things but leave me with some dry wall to repair. No big deal there.
quote:
Brick wall? Can you just punch through the exterior wall and come up through the soffit?
Yeah it's all brick but I'd rather not cut any holes in the exterior if I don't have to.
Posted on 10/25/17 at 11:28 am to TigerWise
quote:
Are the speakers battery powered ?
Thanks for pointing that out. I always forget you have to plug the power for the speakers directly into the back of the TV.
Posted on 10/25/17 at 2:30 pm to Big Saint
Have you ever considered "in-ceiling" speakers?
I have a 5.1 channel setup in my living room and I opted for "in-ceiling speakers because of the room's configuration. My subwoofer is sitting next to the fireplace in the room where I ran the sub's cable up through the cavity of the fireplace into the attic and dropped it down to where my A/V equipment is being stored in my home office.
I have a 5.1 channel setup in my living room and I opted for "in-ceiling speakers because of the room's configuration. My subwoofer is sitting next to the fireplace in the room where I ran the sub's cable up through the cavity of the fireplace into the attic and dropped it down to where my A/V equipment is being stored in my home office.
Posted on 10/25/17 at 2:35 pm to Hammond Tiger Fan
I've considered that and Sonos. The problem is I already own everything for a 5.1 system. Two floor standing, a center and two rears.
If I was starting from scratch this wouldn't be an issue.
If I was starting from scratch this wouldn't be an issue.
Posted on 10/25/17 at 2:51 pm to Big Saint
quote:
If I was starting from scratch this wouldn't be an issue.
Sale your existing stuff and get new equipment that will better fit the space you're trying to put it in.
For me I didn't want bulky arse speakers or any wires to be seen. So, I splurged on some really nice "in-ceiling" speakers and a subwoofer.
Posted on 10/25/17 at 3:20 pm to Big Saint
quote:
The problem is I already own everything for a 5.1 system. Two floor standing, a center and two rears.
thats a 5.0 setup
Posted on 10/25/17 at 3:27 pm to CAD703X
Maybe his center has a built in sub
Posted on 10/25/17 at 3:38 pm to CAD703X
Yes and a sub CAD...
Posted on 10/25/17 at 3:50 pm to Big Saint
quote:
Yes and a sub CAD...
just making sure.
and tigerwise
you fail againPosted on 10/25/17 at 4:16 pm to CAD703X
Not sure how indirectly calling you an arse is a fail
Posted on 10/25/17 at 4:19 pm to TigerWise
quote:
Not sure how indirectly calling you an arse is a fail
not sure how you consider a center with built-in bass a true 5.1 setup
Posted on 10/25/17 at 4:32 pm to CAD703X
OP said he had two floor standing speakers, center and two rears. Failing to mention a sub. You make smartass comment and I follow saying maybe the center has a built in sub. Now take off you shoes and count it out.
2 floor standing speakers + 2 rears + Center = that's 5 add a built in sub in the center and there is your .1 making a 5.1 setup.
2 floor standing speakers + 2 rears + Center = that's 5 add a built in sub in the center and there is your .1 making a 5.1 setup.
Posted on 10/25/17 at 4:38 pm to TigerWise
quote:
OP said he had two floor standing speakers, center and two rears. Failing to mention a sub. You make smartass comment and I follow saying maybe the center has a built in sub. Now take off you shoes and count it out.
2 floor standing speakers + 2 rears + Center = that's 5
and i said
quote:
thats a 5.0 setup
quote:
add a built in sub in the center and there is your .1 making a 5.1 setup.
you just like to argue. you don't put your center on the floor and you don't have a true 5.1 unless you have a sub.
there's even a connector for it.
This post was edited on 10/25/17 at 4:40 pm
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