Recommendations for hiding wires

lanion

I'm getting a little tired of looking at the wires attached to my wall mounted surround speakers. What are some good ways to hide them?

Schris22

ideally behind the drywall....

no idea never hid wires in the rear. Use thinner wire, that I think nordost has that you can paint to match the color of the paint of the wall...not sure though

put a wall rug, poster, drapes whatever over the wire. depending on what and where you put it...it may help room acoustics

Chris

McLoki

drill a hole behind the speaker and another just above your baseboard. Run the speaker wire through the two holes (use fishing line and a weight or a fish tape to run the line first) then go under the baseboard around to your amp.

This has worked really well in apartments and other places where you are limited on holes. (easily patched)

Do you have crown moulding running in the room (or want to add any) that you could run the wires in? (same method as above but run from behind the crown moulding to behind your speakers and then from behind the crown moulding to behind whereever your amp is at.

I have some other ideas but need to know - are you in a house or apartment? What is below your listening room? (basement, crawlspace, living room, etc) what is above your listening space? Bedrooms, attic, etc.)

Will any of these ideas work? if not why not and maybe we can come up with a way around the issue.

Michael

lanion

I think that first option would work pretty well. Pretty simple... I have absolutely no experience with hardware sorts of things so I don't really know what you can and can't do
thanks.

okiepolkie

Just realize that Nordost stuff is EXPENSIVE. There are some other flat wire/paintable solutions that might work for you as well. I researched them about a year ago, but don't remember my findings.

Edit: Here are some raceways that might help, or you might just try a google search for "hiding speaker wire" It comes up with several flat wire solutions as well.

Zach

PolknPepsi

McLoki hit the bullseye with his helpful fishing line advice.....

steveinaz

Another solution would be panduit strip, althogh once you stick that stuff to the wall, it isn't coming off, so you better be sure your runs are where you want them.

PolknPepsi

I just remembered our local dealer has some peel and stick flat speaker wire about 3/4" wide and 1/8" deep. It might be Monster brand.....check their website.

lanion

Do you think there is any reason to use in-wall grade wire if it is just going to be going about 5 feet?

WilliamM2

I've never used in wall rated wire. But in most areas it is code for new construction. All it means is that it is fire retardant.

McLoki

lanion wrote:

Do you think there is any reason to use in-wall grade wire if it is just going to be going about 5 feet?

If you are purchasing new, I would get in-wall rated wire. If not, don't worry about it.

Michael

Frank Z

http://www.audaud.com/audaud/MAY02/EQUIP/equip3MAY02.html

Fallen Kell

WilliamM2 wrote:

I've never used in wall rated wire. But in most areas it is code for new construction. All it means is that it is fire retardant.

Yeah, you might want to be wary of this. Basically its more about cost/risk. Insurrance will not cover something that you do that is outside code. But then again, that wire(s) would need to be found to be part of the cause and/or contributing factor of a fire...

Frank Z

Speaker wire is low voltage and the placement inside a wall does not violate the International or National Electrical Code. The only time it becomes an issue is when a non-plenum rated cable is run through a space or area designated as a supply or return air plenum. Having worked in the HVAC field and dealt with our building department for 11+ years I can honestly say that I've never had a problem with any low voltage wiring that I've installed....ever.

thegrover

I just put up Crown Molding and put the wires behind.

miner

I used http://www.wiremold.com/- (The cable mate II) worked very well. I was able to run a pair of bi-wire through without a problem. Bought it at Lowe's.