I am planning on running some speaker wire in the the walls of our condo and have a few questions I haven't found answers to yet by searching. The walls are all finished (70's construction) and once the drops are to the floor I plan on running the wire along the baseboard hiding it behind the new baseboard trim we plan on putting in. It will likely be a flavor of Belden 12 gauge.

-Is there any best way to run the wire along the bottom of the wall? Should I just run it outside the wall and then try and find baseboard trim that's already notched out? Or should I notch out the drywall to make the wire flush with the wall? If I notch the drywall to create a channel for the wire should it be all the way at the bottom or an inch or so up? I have noticed that in some places I may be able to squeeze the wire in the little space between the bottom of the drywall and the floor. When we install the new trim should we also then use something like a construction adhesive instead of nails so as not to damage the speaker wire?

-For one drop there is a cross brace about halfway up the wall - what's the best way to deal with it? Should I cut out a piece of the drywall and then notch it or drill a hole through it and then patch it back up?

-I know there's been plenty of discussion as to what wire to use and based on what I've read here I am going to go with one of the Belden 12 gauge 5000 series wires but can anyone say from experience if I should go for the more flexible UE version or if the UP will be fine to work with? The runs are about 30 feet, some under a carpet edge, and being connected to a set of M&K SS150's and a Bryston 9BSST.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions anyone has.

Vince

Vince,

If your going to use your wire and put it behind the baseboard you shouldn't have to notch the baseboard or etch out the wall - the baseboard should hide it just fine once its nailed into place. In the past I've done this with no issue. Keep the wire on the floor and tuck it into the wall space where possible (the flat part of a banana knife works good for pushing cabling into these spaces and between carpet and the adjoining wall). If the speaker wire is kept on the floor and you nail the baseboard 1/2 way up (depending on baseboard size of course) you should be fine.
There are couple of other options you may be interested in. You can go with flat wire and paint it or look into a product like WireTracks - Baseboard Molding Wiring Channel System.

Good luck.
Cheers
Calvin

Calvin,

Thanks for the response. When you say "tuck it into the wall space" do you mean the space between the bottom of the drywall and the floor - as it seems the drywall does not go all the way flush to the floor? We currently have removed the old baseboard trim and will be selecting new trim to put on. Most of the trim I have seen squares up with the bottom of the wall and the floor - not really leaving any space if I have the wire on the wall behind it.

I looked at the flat wire and at 12 gauge the price is insane so I don't really want to go that route. Thanks!

You could always try raceways above the baseboard if you can't go under / behind.

http://www.rd.com/content/openContent.do?contentId=17528

Cheers
Calvin