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Basement Project - Wire Tips/Suggestions Needed

post #1 of 18
7/31/11 at 11:13am
Thread Starter 
I am finishing my basement and trying to figure out where to place the wires while the walls are still open. I assume I am going to want a 5.2 system. The room is 14x22 to but "TV Area" will only be 14x10.

I have no idea what style/brand of speakers I will want but I want everything in places for when I decide/can afford it.


Any tips/suggestions?
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post #2 of 18
7/31/11 at 12:10pm
http://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/sp...tup-guidelines
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post #3 of 18
7/31/11 at 4:44pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks. I guess I need to figure out if I want bookshelves or towers. If I want bookshelves then I put the wires ear level, else I put them by baseboards?
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post #4 of 18
7/31/11 at 5:09pm
You're smart to prewire while the walls are open, consider all possibilities. Wire for bookshelfs, subwoofers or towers, the same (assuming you will not wall mount bookshelfs). Place junction boxes at same level as electrical outlets.

If in-wall/in-ceiling speakers will be considered, you'll need to wire junction boxes at specific locations.
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post #5 of 18
7/31/11 at 5:17pm
Thread Starter 
So, just put the junction boxes in the 4 corners (about a foot from the wall) and one under the TV?
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post #6 of 18
7/31/11 at 5:32pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by BankZ View Post
So, just put the junction boxes in the 4 corners (about a foot from the wall) and one under the TV?
I think that would be good, depending on positioning of AV equipment you may not need the center but probably better to do it. Include the SW cables in the corner junction boxes. 1" foot from the wall may be too close but will depend on placement of the wall studs. I would also add a couple of in ceiling boxes (to accommodate surround or rears if you move to 7.1). Also add ceiling boxes at the far end of the room (Zone 2?). Consider adding boxes higher on the front wall for height speakers. It is cheap and easy to do this before dry wall is up.
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post #7 of 18
7/31/11 at 5:59pm
Thread Starter 
You got me thinking. I'm going to have a sectional in the one corner. How do people deal with that?
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post #8 of 18
7/31/11 at 6:38pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by BankZ View Post
You got me thinking. I'm going to have a sectional in the one corner. How do people deal with that?
I would use in-walls for surround, positioned on opposing walls at height of standing ear level. Place the gang/junction boxes at 5-6 feet from floor, 90 to 110 degrees from the center seating position on the sectional.

See this link for reference.
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post #9 of 18
7/31/11 at 6:43pm
My in-laws built a house with all the receptacles cut into the baseboards. Granted, it's a more expensive install, but its such a clean look.
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post #10 of 18
8/1/11 at 4:00am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by stevensctt View Post
I would use in-walls for surround, positioned on opposing walls at height of standing ear level. Place the gang/junction boxes at 5-6 feet from floor, 90 to 110 degrees from the center seating position on the sectional.

See this link for reference.
The problem is there isn't a "left" wall. The TV area is 14x10 but the room is 14x20. I'm guessing my choices is to use a shelf or in ceiling (can you do that with a drop ceiling?)
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post #11 of 18
8/1/11 at 6:06am
Quote:
Originally Posted by BankZ View Post

The problem is there isn't a "left" wall. The TV area is 14x10 but the room is 14x20. I'm guessing my choices is to use a shelf or in ceiling (can you do that with a drop ceiling?)

Yes, in-ceiling speakers can be installed in a drop ceiling.
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post #12 of 18
8/1/11 at 7:07am
You need to determine what the codes are in your area, but generally speaking, you should get CL2 or CL3 wires. These are for in wall installations. You also need to be careful of how you run the wires through the studs. Most codes require you to be at least 2" away from any electrical wiring and you can't drill out more then 25% of the stud to run wires. Plus the holes need to be a certain distance from the edge. If you drill in the middle, you'll be OK.

I would go to monoprice.com and look at what's available for keystone jacks. They have red and black banana plug keystone jacks for speakers. They have RCA keystone jacks you can use for subs. Another option is to get wall plates that just have a hole in them for running whatever you want through them.
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post #13 of 18
8/1/11 at 8:23am
I don't know what the conduits are like for running wires in the USA, but put big ones in (minimum 3/4"). I was cleverly planning my HT requirements and running these conduits all over the place, but found out the hard way that it can be surprisingly difficult to later run speaker wires through a 1/2" conduit when there's one or two 90 degree bends involved, even if they're not particularly sharp bends.
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post #14 of 18
8/2/11 at 9:45am
Thread Starter 
I bought 350 feet of wire so I figure I will run it to multiple places and just remember where it is. What do you think my best bet is (future proof)? This is what I am thinking:

1. Back wall, ear level, 2 feet from corner right corner, then 4 feet for the next speaker (2+4+2 = 8 feet to center with TV wall)
2. Power socket level 3 feet from corner two feet then the next speaker (3+2+3=8). This will be in case I ever get rid of the sectional and want towers on the side of a sofa.
3. Ear level on the right corner, Ear Level on left corner (in case I want to put in shelves). There is a small closet on the left side about 12-13 feet from wall. I could mount speakers there.

The "TV" wall is 8 feet long (a door on the left, wall on the right) so I will probably do:

Left - 1 foot from door at power socket level
Right - 1 foot from wall at power socket level
Center - Will have to fish to mount on wall after I get my TV hung. Do you recommend above or below the TV?
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post #15 of 18
8/2/11 at 9:53am
Quote:
Originally Posted by BankZ View Post

I bought 350 feet of wire so I figure I will run it to multiple places and just remember where it is. What do you think my best bet is (future proof)? This is what I am thinking:

1. Back wall, ear level, 2 feet from corner right corner, then 4 feet for the next speaker (2+4+2 = 8 feet to center with TV wall)
2. Power socket level 3 feet from corner two feet then the next speaker (3+2+3=8). This will be in case I ever get rid of the sectional and want towers on the side of a sofa.
3. Ear level on the right corner, Ear Level on left corner (in case I want to put in shelves). There is a small closet on the left side about 12-13 feet from wall. I could mount speakers there.

The "TV" wall is 8 feet long (a door on the left, wall on the right) so I will probably do:

Left - 1 foot from door at power socket level
Right - 1 foot from wall at power socket level
Center - Will have to fish to mount on wall after I get my TV hung. Do you recommend above or below the TV?

You seem to have most possibilities considered. I like the center below the TV but depends more on the height of the screen. Place the center nearest to ear level while seated.
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post #16 of 18
8/2/11 at 9:54am
Thread Starter 
Do the distances seem correct?
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post #17 of 18
8/2/11 at 10:26am
Quote:
Originally Posted by BankZ View Post

Do the distances seem correct?

Unlikely to be exact, but I think they're OK
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post #18 of 18
8/10/11 at 3:18am
Thread Starter 
I am going to run the wires today and I am starting to stress a little. Do you think an 8 foot wall is enough for a 60" TV and speakers (Left, Center, Right) ?
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