[charro08]

Hi
I have an armoire to hold the receiver/dvd player/vcr player/center speaker/modem for the cable and a wireless router . (the new TV I bought doesn't fit inside the armoire.)darn. I am trying to do 2 things:
1 . Make the armoire work to house the component with TV OUTSIDE of the armoire ( some of the cords/cables are too short to have them very far away from the tv) and
2. configure the speakers for surround sound on the walls in other areas of the room.

A "certified electrician" that I hired to run the speaker wire into the wall ran 1 SINGLE length of speaker wire, NOT the wires that came with the surround sound set. ( I am not speaking to him again as he will just charge me more money for an already crappy job) so I don't even know how to re-run the correct wires to get the speaker in place on the wall.someone suggested I could "fish" them down the existing holes, but they just get caught on something inside the wall and won't go any further.

I want the armoire to be NEXT to the TV as it is easiest to connect everything... but I can't get everything close enough to the TV to connect as the connection cords are too short.
Also, does anyone have a brilliant idea as to how to hid all these massive globs of cable and cords? Or at least make it look neater?
A diagram would be helpful if possible
ANY RESPONSE WOULD BE APPRECIATED as I am at a loss as to how to even being
Thank you

[robertva]

While I wouldn't recommend installing things other than the speakers across the room, you should be able to obtain longer cords than the two or three footers that come with many components. That's just part of the cost of putting the components somewhere other than the stand or entertainment center that holds the TV.

I'm a little uncertain about what you are describing about the electrician's work. Did the electrician install single conductor wires to each speaker, or a single two conductor wire for multiple speakers? How specific were you about where you wanted to install the home theater receiver/amplifier and where you wanted the speakers? Are you certain the speaker wires that came with the system were long enough. Did the electrician install thicker wires?

Sometimes it's possible to tape a new wire (or pair of wires) to the end of a previously installed wire so the previously existing wire can be used to pull the new wires through the wall, ceiling or floor. That method relies upon the existing wire not being attached to anything behing the plaster or paneling though.

Some retailers that sell longer cable also sell products that can alleviate the cable nest syndrome a bit. Some solutions are split plastic tubes and hook and eye strips resembling some athletic shoe straps.

[charro08]

THANKS... the info you gave is great... I didn't want to go to the store and ask for longer cords etc if they didn't exist.
Also.. the wires that came with the speakers were quite long and I explained to the electrician which areas I wanted the speakers. A friend of my also suggested taping the wires are re-running them through the wall , so I am going to try it.
Hope it works
Sorry robertva... I can t seen to open the "rate this answer" box, but I give you an A +

[donf]

Charro8,

To begin with, did your A/V Receiver come with an instruction book?

What level of surround sound is it set to accommodate (Dolby Digital 5.1, 7,1) or is it a DTS only system?

How many speakers do you have to install? Also do you have a sub-woofer speaker with the system?

On a Dolby Digital 5.1 system you will have 1 Center Channel speaker, 1 front left channel, 1 front right channel. There are also 2 rear speakers. 1 for the right rear and one for the left rear. Finally there is the sub-woofer, usually installed in a corner

Speaker wire can be purchased from just about any store. I use Radio Shack simply because it is close to me. There are different gauges of wire available but the last few sets I installed needed #8 AWG because of the distance to the rear speakers.