First subwoofer, SVS PB10-NSD. :)

I'm trying to figure out how to pass the speaker wire through the wall, via a good-looking plate (prob keystone with/without Decora).

1. Why are 'single' RCA plates so hard to find? You can't use a pair of RCA wires with a sub, it's #.1.

2. How do I terminate the in-wall speaker wire onto the back of the keystone RCA front wall plate insert? Seems all RCA jacks are female to female.

Thanks in advance for helping a noobie; I've been searching online for ~ week with little headway. It's probably such a simple answer. I would think RCA female front with a 'binding post' back would be an easy solution, but I can't seem to find it. I don't want to have to pay ~$20 for a custom plate.

You can get F-F and M-F RCA Keystone jacks

http://www.cablesnmor.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=183

Why use a plate at all? I'm planning on running my sub cable right through the wall and into the sub. One less connection point as well.

I like the cleaner look of a plate, c/w a grommet or pass-through.

Yes, both female to female and male to male keystone adapters are available, but I'm looking for something to terminate a wire onto the back of (preferably without solder).

Not sure what you mean.....for sub runs you typically use Coax so you use the appropriate RCA Compression Connector (RG-6 (http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=092-497) or RG-59 (http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=092-496))

I don't have coax running through the wall, it is paired speaker wire, fairly heavy guage. It came with my house (built 15 years ago).

I guess I could terminate the wire onto a coax connector, and then use the coax-RCA keystone insert.

Looks like thats your issue - you will need to try to 'frig' the tranistion unless someone knows of a RCA male adaper you can use with speaker cable.

If Big is looking I'm sure he will have a link being our resident Biggle search engine :D

Good Luck

Maybe this:
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-iEcnCz8BTrJ/App/Product/Item/Main.aspx?I=136CLR2SW

Maybe this:
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-iEcnCz8BTrJ/App/Product/Item/Main.aspx?I=136CLR2SW

Hmmm...maybe.

The sub is mono. Wouldn't that be a single wire? I think I'm missing something here.

Don't RCA plugs have single wires, and not a pair?

RCA has 2 wires.......for a sub the would only use one of those RCA and 2 of the wires. I would think a single RCA splice is available or you cound just buy a short single RCA cable, cut one end off and strip out the wires.

RCA has 2 wires.......for a sub the would only use one of those RCA and 2 of the wires. I would think a single RCA splice is available or you cound just buy a short single RCA cable, cut one end off and strip out the wires.

Sorry, yes, of course. Brain fart.

Mono. 1/2 speaker pair. 1 RCA cable. I have many RCA's lying around to play with.

I'll buy the male/male RCA keystone insert, and splice an RCA cable to the paired speaker wire.

Thanks everyone!

BTW, looking at residential architects for a furnished basement re-do...:D:D:D

I'll move a wall or 2 for the 'playroom', which will morph into a HT/rec room (in ~6 years). However, I'll plan ahead with the wiring and layout. ;)

Anyone else start with an architect?

You might be disappointed with your subwoofer's performance if you are using regular (presumably unshielded) speaker wire and unshielded splices. You may pick up a significant amount of interference on what will become a very long antenna. Because the subwoofer signals are low voltage, the signal/noise ratio is very low (i.e., the EMI noise is a larger fraction of the signal strength). Your subwoofer is most likely amplified, so both the signal and the noise get amplified the same. Result? 60 Hz hum from the power cords, nearby branch circuits, fluorescent lights, etc.

That's why subwoofers are run with shielded cable, usually RG6 or high quality coaxial RCA cables.

Thanks! I'll look into swapping the twisted speaker wire for RG6 or RCA coax; very short distance (as the crow flies, 3 feet from the cabinet), but unsure of actual route of wire (prob up into the attic and back down). That blown insulation may be fun to play in. :rolleyes:

run coax, terminate it to an f connector. put an f connector wall plate on. make your patch cable an f connector on one end and an RCA on the other. Simple. This is what I did. Field terminated cables rule, perfect length every time.

Followup.

I replaced the 2-conductor already in the wall with RG59, terminated on a male-male keystone, in a plate.

First low-voltage run for me. Took 3 hours. Lots of gymnastics in the attic - had to crawl around the perimeter of a tray ceiling, with ~30" head clearance. Through blown insulation. :eek: