Help with new home wiring

[Lantis]

Hey so I just moved into a new home that has existing in-wall speaker set up. I do not know very much about audio setups so I am turning to you guys for help. Here is a run down of my system. I have my TV in the main room with two in-wall speaker sets on the front and back wall. They are 8om jvc speakers and each set has 4 wires, I think for the volume control. Anyways the wiring for those is under the stairs (separate from the tv) along with 4 more wires for a speaker in the living room. There are two digital coaxial cables that run from the tv to under the stairs. Do I need an amplifier under there or how can I run this and have the sets in surround mode for the tv. I am pretty certain I will need a new receiver as mine is pretty old. If I don't that would be great too. Hope someone out there has a good idea, I am totally stumped. Thanks so much!
Erik

 

[bandphan]

Hey so I just moved into a new home that has existing in-wall speaker set up. I do not know very much about audio setups so I am turning to you guys for help. Here is a run down of my system. I have my TV in the main room with two in-wall speaker sets on the front and back wall. They are 8om jvc speakers and each set has 4 wires, I think for the volume control. Anyways the wiring for those is under the stairs (separate from the tv) along with 4 more wires for a speaker in the living room. There are two digital coaxial cables that run from the tv to under the stairs. Do I need an amplifier under there or how can I run this and have the sets in surround mode for the tv. I am pretty certain I will need a new receiver as mine is pretty old. If I don't that would be great too. Hope someone out there has a good idea, I am totally stumped. Thanks so much!
Erik

It sounds like the previous owner was using the system for whole house back audio and not surround sound, in which case you would need a center speaker (unless you set it for phantom center) and would need to match the JVCs. Are their volume controls in the other room ? I think you need to decide what your goals are, set a budget< and then deciede if you want to tackle the work yourself.

 

[Lantis]

Thanks for the reply bandphan. I agree that they were using it for an audio system rather than surround however I would have more use for it as surround as it is all in the tv room aside from one in the dining room. The volume controls are between the two rooms which are right there so its not terrible placement. Would they work for surround sound very well? I have bookshelf style speakers, a subwoofer and a center channel already, what the system is really missing is surround. Maybe it wouldn't sound good since they are not at precise distances and also flat on the wall not at the correct angle as I am seeing people talk about. Thanks again!

 

[bandphan]

Thanks for the reply bandphan. I agree that they were using it for an audio system rather than surround however I would have more use for it as surround as it is all in the tv room aside from one in the dining room. The volume controls are between the two rooms which are right there so its not terrible placement. Would they work for surround sound very well? I have bookshelf style speakers, a subwoofer and a center channel already, what the system is really missing is surround. Maybe it wouldn't sound good since they are not at precise distances and also flat on the wall not at the correct angle as I am seeing people talk about. Thanks again!

If the speakers are on the back wall and close to optimal position relative to seating, you could possibly use them for rears in a 7.xx system, but it would be advised to take the volume control out of the equation.