Pre-Wire surround sound on new home

polkatese

Anyone has any information or have bought a new home with pre-wire cabling?

Here is the description:
"Pre-Wire Only for Surround Sound System Includes: (2) Front Speaker Cables with Blank Plate (2) Rear Speaker Cables with Blank Plate (1) Center Speaker Cable with Blank Plate (1) Subwoofer Cable With Blank Plate *Does not include any finish. Homebuyer is responsible for locating speaker wires after COE."

- What kind of cables do the homebuilder typically used?
- The front and center speakers are assumed to be ceiling mounted, which I don't think it's ideal, but definitely cleaner install. Not for 2 CH setup I would imagine. Have anyone do ceiling mounted Front and Center? thoughts?

TIA

Tour2ma

Are you moving again?

polkatese

Again? How have you been Bruce? Hafler still kicking ****?

tpb68polk

sounds like a re-wire is in order. who knows how its wired in there. if your house is on a crawlspace I would re-wire it exactly as you want it. I never recommend ceiling mounted speakers unless its the only option. In my opinion you lose a lot of the imaging factor thats so important. Even on a slab its possible to re-wire, just takes more wire.

mantis

Pm me bro and I'll give you my number. I can tell you anything you wanna know.

mantis

tpb68polk wrote: »

sounds like a re-wire is in order. who knows how its wired in there. if your house is on a crawlspace I would re-wire it exactly as you want it. I never recommend ceiling mounted speakers unless its the only option. In my opinion you lose a lot of the imaging factor thats so important. Even on a slab its possible to re-wire, just takes more wire.

Are you in the business? They are strong words against In ceiling speakers.

tpb68polk

well Dan if I may steal a line, I am in the business of saving the world from bad audio/video, one install at a time. I wont use that again, I promise. I do think the sounds of TV and movies are intended to surround you. And the best way to achieve that is with the speakers mounted as close to ear level as possible, as equadistant as possible. Ceiling mounted speakers could certainly work and sound good, but will be lacking in the imaging dept. But I suppose the thought of re-wiring might be a bit overwhelming to some.
Very clever signature....

Tour2ma

polkatese wrote: »

Again? How have you been Bruce? Hafler still kicking ****?

Was thinking you'd left SoCal a while back... No?

Doing OK. Lotta changes... least of which was a move.

Your old Haf is still around. Semi-retired now, but will see some action in "the wall".

polkatese

Nah. Still in the same house since 2000. Glad to see the brave few still around.

Dan, thanks for the offer. Will do.

tpb68, Agreed. Hence the question. I think aesthetically not having a floorstander is ideal, but it would be a completely different experience, notwithstanding two-channels benefit.

craftsman

I can't claim a lot of knowledge on this, but I can claim some common sense. I own an old house which was never insulated. I'm going room by room and removing the lath and plaster and putting insulation into the walls, and hanging drywall. As long as I had the walls open in the living room anyway I put conduit in the walls with a 4x2 electrical box in each of the four corners. I put a 4x4 electrical box in the wall, also served by conduit, directly behind where I intend to locate my components cabinet. I'll mount my 50" plasma tv on the wall above that. I strung my speaker wires through the conduit rather than just placing the wire inside the walls because I intend to live in this house for a while, and I don't know what technology will come along as an upgrade to wires, maybe optical cables?

If I'm going to build a home theater system I might as well do it right, so Polk speakers all around. I'm still finishing the room and building the system, but so far I have a PSW 505 subwoofer and a CS10 center speaker. I'm building a 7.1 system, and still need the speakers for the corners and in the front, but I'll be getting some Polk speakers there too. I intend to go with 8 ohm speakers all around, so I want to have at least 100watts per channel. I'm seriously considering the Yamaha RX V571 AV receiver, and will be ordering that in the next few days.

tonyb

I would re think that receiver choice. First off, it's best to decide on the speakers before making a decision on whats going to power them. That receiver is pretty entry level and will not get you 100 watts per channel in 7 channel surround. More like 30-40 watts. Plus it has no pre outs to add any amplifiers should you decide to upgrade speakers down the road to something that may need the extra juice.

Are you doing in wall speakers for the front ? Towers ? Bookies on stands ? How big is this room ?

craftsman

tonyb wrote: »

I would re think that receiver choice. First off, it's best to decide on the speakers before making a decision on whats going to power them. That receiver is pretty entry level and will not get you 100 watts per channel in 7 channel surround. More like 30-40 watts. Plus it has no pre outs to add any amplifiers should you decide to upgrade speakers down the road to something that may need the extra juice.

Are you doing in wall speakers for the front ? Towers ? Bookies on stands ? How big is this room ?

Thanks Tony. The room is 15x12. I plan to mount speakers on the walls, not in, near the ceiling. I'm open to suggestions on receiver choice, but of course I'm also on a budget. I've spent time online comparing units, and gravitated to Yamaha, but have also been looking at the Pioneer VSX 1021.

leftwinger57

As a former alarm/ audio installer I must say pre-wireing is the way to go.The wire generally used is 12gu rated for in wall constuction and should be good for any speakers you would want to push around. 1.you need a termination destination where your amps and gear are going and depending on how many rooms will depend on the dress wall plate you would use. In new construction some builders/ inspectors do not like to see bare wires coming out of the walls so you might have to use some blank plates before closing.After inspection and ready for install all you would need is either depending on color cable plates sans the f-connecter or phone plates.In older houses it would be a good idea to use what's called old work boxes so all the plates fit tight and straight.Of course during wireing you must get all your measurement right or it will look the ****.Pipeing or conduit is not needed unless there is a wacky code in your town.Good luck,half the battle is having the walls open and you do not have to snake all the wires...

wallstreet

Don't assume you will get 12 gauge wire. You will most likely get 16 gauge. Ask, ask, ask. Get all the details. Notably missing from your list are cables for 7.1 should you decide to go that route at a later date. What about a projector? If it is ever in the works, now is the time to run the cables. Are you going in walls or on walls for surrounds? On wall, have them give you a plate. In walls, take a picture before sheet rock so you can find the cable afterwards. If you go in-wall you don't want a plate. Ceiling mounted fronts are not ideal. They work OK as I have this setup in my bedroom, but front firing at ear level as tbp68polk mentioned is far better. For surrounds, above you and slightly behind the listening area works best.