Discussion:
Tiled Floors - Speaker Cable?
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Mike
2005-03-12 16:54:44 UTC
Permalink
But of a strange question i know, Our house is fully floor tiled i'm
wondering how other people go about
connecting up all your speakers, particular rears?.

Is it a case of running cable around the edge as neatly as possible or are
there wireless setups people recommend?

Would appreciate any ideas/recommendations

TIA
Kubez
2005-03-12 19:37:00 UTC
Permalink
Post by Mike
But of a strange question i know, Our house is fully floor tiled
i'm wondering how other people go about
connecting up all your speakers, particular rears?.
Is it a case of running cable around the edge as neatly as possible or
are there wireless setups people recommend?
If it's a ranch you can install outlet-like boxes with speaker connectors,
then drop the wire it behind the wall from the attic and hook it to the
outlets.

Otherwise you can get conduits that run along the baseboards.
Lucas Tam
2005-03-13 06:45:28 UTC
Permalink
Post by Mike
Is it a case of running cable around the edge as neatly as possible or
are there wireless setups people recommend?
NO WIRELESS!

You can use raceways, ultrathin flat cables (these cables are paper thin
and are paintable), fish the cables through the walls/vents/ceiling, or
just leave the cables on the floor.
--
Lucas Tam (***@rogers.com)
Please delete "REMOVE" from the e-mail address when replying.
http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/coolspot18/
z***@yahoo.com
2005-03-13 13:10:17 UTC
Permalink
I'm don't think you'll get enough cross section with the flat wires; do
you know what gauge wire they are equivalent to?

If you're going to start going up and down walls, just be aware of the
total length your using, again to keep the resistance down. You'll be
surprised how long the runs will become.

Home depot makes some plastic channels made for running cables in, they
fit 2 runs of #16 lampcord which should be OK for rears. Come with
double sided sticky for mounting and accept latex paint well. I use
this on my fronts which are 3' up on shelves. They're painted the
witht the same paint as the walls, the effect is they just look like a
shadow on the wall. If your baseboard is painted and you put the
channels there, I but most people won't even know they are there.
Mike S
2005-03-13 14:58:56 UTC
Permalink
I've seen the "flat" cables up to 10 gauge.
Post by z***@yahoo.com
I'm don't think you'll get enough cross section with the flat wires; do
you know what gauge wire they are equivalent to?
If you're going to start going up and down walls, just be aware of the
total length your using, again to keep the resistance down. You'll be
surprised how long the runs will become.
Home depot makes some plastic channels made for running cables in, they
fit 2 runs of #16 lampcord which should be OK for rears. Come with
double sided sticky for mounting and accept latex paint well. I use
this on my fronts which are 3' up on shelves. They're painted the
witht the same paint as the walls, the effect is they just look like a
shadow on the wall. If your baseboard is painted and you put the
channels there, I but most people won't even know they are there.
dg
2005-03-14 17:48:49 UTC
Permalink
Post by z***@yahoo.com
shadow on the wall. If your baseboard is painted and you put the
channels there, I but most people won't even know they are there.
I have often thought (but never done it) that a guy could remove his
baseboard and if thick enough, use a router to make a channel in the
backside of the baseboard. Wire could be run in there. I often use surface
mount raceway, its cool because most people don't even notice it. I might
think "oh that looks like shit" but others don't even see it. Years later
if I see my work I did, I don't even see it much either.

--Dan
wkearney99
2005-03-14 19:22:44 UTC
Permalink
Post by dg
I have often thought (but never done it) that a guy could remove his
baseboard and if thick enough, use a router to make a channel in the
backside of the baseboard. Wire could be run in there. I often use surface
mount raceway, its cool because most people don't even notice it. I might
think "oh that looks like shit" but others don't even see it. Years later
if I see my work I did, I don't even see it much either.
Yes, it's common to pull a baseboard and dig a channel for the wire. Most
of the time it's in the drywall but it could just as well be in the
baseboard. One could even replace the baseboard with something slightly
thicker (or boxed) to handle some fairly thick gauge wire.

Also consider a combination of surface conduit and in-wall wiring. Run the
wire along the wall horizontally through surface conduit until you reach a
'good place' to punch into the wall for a vertical rise inside the stud
wall. Most residential rooms will have joists of some fashion in the
ceilings (or floors) and that can be used to run the wire. When the joists
run left/right then pull the wire across the wall until it reaches the
left/right space. With front/back joists it's a matter of running to each
left/right line along the wall to the right joists.

Note that it's often useful to rig up a temporary stand for speaker
positioning. Better to listen to the room with the speakers moved around to
different places BEFORE punching holes... There are 'technically correct'
postions, angles and placements of speakers but no two rooms, ears and
equipment are alike. Granted, for in-wall (or ceiling) units this doesn't
work as well but there's no harm in trying.

-Bill Kearney
Lucas Tam
2005-03-14 19:26:25 UTC
Permalink
Post by z***@yahoo.com
I'm don't think you'll get enough cross section with the flat wires; do
you know what gauge wire they are equivalent to?
Check out Decorp.com, they sell several types of flat wire. Flat wire comes
in 12, 14, 16, and 18 guage wires.

http://www.decorp.com/product/audio.htm
--
Lucas Tam (***@rogers.com)
Please delete "REMOVE" from the e-mail address when replying.
http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/coolspot18/
dg
2005-03-13 07:19:28 UTC
Permalink
The best thing to do (in my opinion) is to cut holes in your walls behind
the sound system and speakers, run the cables into the wall-across the
ceiling or under the floor to the other end, install some nice faceplates
with the appropriate jacks and be done. It really isn't as much work as it
might sound like and you will be happy with it. By mentioning the tile
floor it sounded like you thought that was a problem-but it doesn't make any
difference what the floor is. Even if you DID need to wire through the
floor, any hardware store should have drill bits that can cut right through
ceramic tile like it was balsa wood. You could even install plates on the
floor, nice brass recessed jacks with flip covers just in case you move the
speakers for some reason. Hell, I bet you could find GOLD floorplates or
whatever you like. Cutting holes doesn't mean it has to look bad. Go to a
local electrical supplier and find out whose cabling products they sell then
browse that companies web site and look at catalogs.

Wireless is crap usually. Even the best wireless system isn't as good as
cheap wire.

--Dan
Post by Mike
But of a strange question i know, Our house is fully floor tiled i'm
wondering how other people go about
connecting up all your speakers, particular rears?.
Is it a case of running cable around the edge as neatly as possible or are
there wireless setups people recommend?
Would appreciate any ideas/recommendations
TIA
wkearney99
2005-03-14 19:27:10 UTC
Permalink
Post by dg
By mentioning the tile
floor it sounded like you thought that was a problem-but it doesn't make any
difference what the floor is.
Oh yeah? What about tile on slab? That'd sure as heck make a difference.
If he's in a house that has no basement then there's no space underneath it
in which to run the wire.

Any wiring contractor worth his salt will be able to suggest effective ways
to run the wire. If there's no obvious way to run it, and experiments with
a fish tape don't succeed then call in a contractor.

Another angle to consider is access from the space above. Closets in rooms
upstairs or even carpet rolled back to allow cutting an access panel into
the subfloor are often useful in getting around wiring problems.
Post by dg
Wireless is crap usually. Even the best wireless system isn't as good as
cheap wire.
Absolutely right.
anonomizer
2005-03-15 16:36:55 UTC
Permalink
I used a surface raceway from Hubbell products {Mediatrak}MT5 ,I needed to
hide much more than just the speaker wire, long power runs and a few video
cables and such....,MT5 has 3 separate channels,and is somewhat large,
though it's not noticeable at all. Hubbell isn't cheap but they make really
nice raceways for cable management.
--
William
Post by wkearney99
Post by dg
By mentioning the tile
floor it sounded like you thought that was a problem-but it doesn't make
any
Post by dg
difference what the floor is.
Oh yeah? What about tile on slab? That'd sure as heck make a difference.
If he's in a house that has no basement then there's no space underneath it
in which to run the wire.
Any wiring contractor worth his salt will be able to suggest effective ways
to run the wire. If there's no obvious way to run it, and experiments with
a fish tape don't succeed then call in a contractor.
Another angle to consider is access from the space above. Closets in rooms
upstairs or even carpet rolled back to allow cutting an access panel into
the subfloor are often useful in getting around wiring problems.
Post by dg
Wireless is crap usually. Even the best wireless system isn't as good as
cheap wire.
Absolutely right.
Bob Weissman
2005-03-19 20:45:54 UTC
Permalink
Post by Mike
But of a strange question i know, Our house is fully floor tiled i'm
wondering how other people go about
connecting up all your speakers, particular rears?.
Is it a case of running cable around the edge as neatly as possible or are
there wireless setups people recommend?
A friend of mine simply bought a large area rug for his tiled floor and
ran flat wires under the rug.

This is probably a good idea anyway to reduce audio reflections from
the tile.

- Bob

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