Thinking of Re-Wiring....

jemrey81

So after looking around (I am sick at home.... bored), it seems like I might benefit from running my wires differently. Right now I have my Wii, Pioneer receiver and Sony Blu Ray in the lower cabinet of my tv stand and the Tivo is on the upper shelf (right above the cabinet) and my tv is on top of a stand on the unit with my center under the tv and my left and right speakers on the unit next to the center (also under the tv)...... Sorry if all of that doesn't make sense.

All of my wires right now are going through the same hole in the cabinet (power, speaker, and rca type), they are all basically touching to fit through the hole. So I am thinking about drilling a couple more holes to run the wire separately... will it be worth it? I was thinking one hole for the power cords, one hole for the speaker cables, and one hole for the rca type.

For reference, all of the rca type are a mix of MIT cables and the speaker cables are (don't ban me!) Monster Z1 (http://www.monstercable.com/productdisplay.asp?pin=37) with my center channel cable being the Monster Z2 (http://www.monstercable.com/productdisplay.asp?pin=824). The MIT cables were free and the monster cables were an impulse buy because they were more than 50% off and better than the cheap thin speaker wire I was running......

Oh, my other issue (maybe an issue??) is that I bought the speaker cables in a lot longer lengths than I need right now thinking that if I move I don't want to be short on cable.... so, I have them coming out of the back of the unit then in a coil (zip-tied) and then up to the speakers... I really dont think that they should be coiled, but they are insulated, so does it matter?

Anyways, Input needed!! Other suggestions?

ALL212

Drill the holes! At the very least get those power cables away from the sound cables.

jemrey81

Thanks ALL212... I think I am going to drill some holes. After more research, it looks like I am doing 2 of the worst things you can do with your wiring.... 1- running the speaker cables next to power supply, and 2- coiling the extra speaker cable. Who Knew!?

WilliamM2

jemrey81 wrote: »

Thanks ALL212... I think I am going to drill some holes. After more research, it looks like I am doing 2 of the worst things you can do with your wiring.... 1- running the speaker cables next to power supply, and 2- coiling the extra speaker cable. Who Knew!?

Are you hearing any noise in your system? If not, there's really no point in putting in the effort. I've never had any issues running power, speaker, and signal cables together. I assume all your RCA type cables are shielded?

ALL212

jemrey81 wrote: »

Thanks ALL212... I think I am going to drill some holes. After more research, it looks like I am doing 2 of the worst things you can do with your wiring.... 1- running the speaker cables next to power supply, and 2- coiling the extra speaker cable. Who Knew!?

“The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.”

Everyone here has had to make some kind of "corrections" in their systems. I'll start a fight - no one - NO ONE - here has all the answers nor is any system perfect. But, by making adjustments - sometimes even those you wouldn't suspect would do anything - you'll slowly change (sometimes good...sometimes bad) your sound until it does get better.

jemrey81

WilliamM2 wrote: »

Are you hearing any noise in your system? If not, there's really no point in putting in the effort. I've never had any issues running power, speaker, and signal cables together. I assume all your RCA type cables are shielded?

Thanks for your reply.... I am not noticing any noises, but after reading so many threads about not coiling your speaker cables and not running them next to power supply cables, I just figured I should do it. I don't think it will make any difference other than me knowing that it is done the right way.... I have a problem letting things "be" if I know there is a "better" way to have them....... it's kind of a sickness, I think. It's right up there with upgrading stuff when you really don't have too...

jemrey81

So I did it... I drilled two more 2 inch holes. I now have the power cables in one hole and going straight to the outlet (not really an outlet, it's a big surge protector thing), the RCA / Coax cables in another hole and the speaker cables in the third hole. I had to organize all of the other cables that were back there too... I have my wireless router there, phone lines, misc ethernet cables for tivo, blu ray, etc. It was a huge nest of tangled wires.

wutadumsn23

Well, atleast you spent the day doing something productive, and worst case scenario I bet your wire mess is a lot cleaner now, lol.

-Jeff

hearingimpared

all212 wrote: »

drill the holes! At the very least get those power cables away from the sound cables.

Amen

hearingimpared

jemrey81 wrote: »

Thanks for your reply.... I am not noticing any noises, but after reading so many threads about not coiling your speaker cables and not running them next to power supply cables, I just figured I should do it. I don't think it will make any difference other than me knowing that it is done the right way.... I have a problem letting things "be" if I know there is a "better" way to have them....... it's kind of a sickness, I think. It's right up there with upgrading stuff when you really don't have too...

Jemrey, many times you don't realize you're getting noise or grunge until it is gone. It's not a sickness! It's just simply getting as DarqueKnight puts it, "Such good sound." This is why aftermarket power cords are so popular, they lower the noise floor and your music or sound effects from you HT sound like they are coming out of pure blackness.

A couple of things. Power cables should be perpendicular to ICs or speaker cables better still just as far away from them as possible. Try to keep as much distance from power sources ICs & speaker wire. Long runs of speaker wire should not be coiled up. The should be spread out in an 'S' pattern and if possible raised off the floor.

There is much more to consider but the above is a good start.

jemrey81

Thanks for the replies guys... It was a good little project while I was bored at home with a head cold. The wires are a lot more organized, but I can only do so much with the limited space behind a corner unit tv stand/cabinet thing. I was atleast able to get the speaker cables away from all other cables, and the rca/coax cables/hdmi cables on their own too.... which means that the power cables are on their own

My problem now is that I really don't have any room to spread out the speaker cables in "S" patterns.... My center cable is 10' and I really only need 4', so there is a good 6' of extra cable (and it's VERY thick), and my L&R cables are 15' and I really only need 5' so I have two 10' sections to take care of. I Just couldn't see how to "S" pattern so much cable! I have the L&R ones coiled off to the sides for now... they are away from all other cables. The center one I just have hangin' out back there, I didn't have any ties that I could use since it is so thick.... It's not coiled in any way, and it's not on or too close to any of the power cables.

I think for my situation, I have it at it's best.... The corner unit ruins everything (wiring, speaker placement, sub placement), it's all bad, but at least it's better than before.

hearingimpared

Well me being more concerned with the sonics I have my extra cable in the 'S' pattern underneath the rack and some of it shows out from under the right and left side. I have a separate 2 channel room so it's not like it is in the living room where the cables showing would be unsightly. I don't know if that is the situation you have but you can try get them in the pattern under the rack if it is in the living room.

jemrey81

Wouldn't the "S" turn into an "8" and thus not really change anything? And yes, it is the living room... I try and keep all of the wires and stuff out of sight and reach of the kids and dog

hearingimpared

jemrey81 wrote: »

Wouldn't the "S" turn into an "8" and thus not really change anything? And yes, it is the living room... I try and keep all of the wires and stuff out of sight and reach of the kids and dog

Probably if you don't have much space under the rack. I think an '8' is still better than coiling as the wires are crossing almost perpendicular. You seem to be in a pickle. I would just let it go and and enjoy your rig.

Or you can barricade off the living room to keep the kids and dog away!;):D

jemrey81

I could do the "8", but not too sure if that would really be worth it... they seem to be very well insulated. I guess I'll leave it alone for now.

A barricade would be nice!