dunce head..prewiring set up problem

[rapster]

I just purchase a HTS out the box. My house is prewire..becasue I see ( 2 wire in back, 3 wire in front, with the center have two sets of wire) and I was told so.

The thing is I don't know how send sound to the speaker from the receiver. There is just one wire coming coming out of each wall plate, but none coming back to be attach to the receiver speaker connectors. Basically there is no...start for the speaker wires, just where they ends.

Did I bought a simple straight hook up HTS? or This kind of prewiring are for more complex high systems.

Oh..it's Pioneer HTP 2600.

 

[3x10^8]

More than likely, according to what you have stated, the person who "pre-wired" your hometheater did it incorrectly. That is only if the information you stated is accurate. Is your home new?

For the most part, the basic home theater system is considered 5.1 (meaning 5 speakers + 1 subwoofer). So, this boils down to 2 rear speakers, 2 speakers in front (one on the left and the other on the right), a center channel which is also in front of you, and a subwoofer. Every speaker needs a separate signal source from the receiver for home theater puropses, as each channel is separately encoded by the receiver (this means each speaker is receiveing a different "type" of sound). Therefore, for every speaker wire coming out of the wall, there has to be a wire going into the wall. This equates to ([5 + 1] x 2) or for a total of 12 wires going in and coming out of the wall.

 

[rapster]

Yes the house is less than 1 year old.

That was my assesment too. I thought that I've been under a rock and the wiring of speaker had change. We'll be calling the builder to get this corrected...hopefully there is a warranty on such thing.

Thanks very much for the response!
rapster

 

[John D]

Check the closets

I've read through your post a few times and to me, it sounds like the wires may be starting in a closet somewhere. Just check through your closets to see if there is a bunch of wires hanging around in there.

 

[Johnd]

John D: you trying to rip off my name? Just kidding.

The chances of your house being pre-wired for 5.1 without you explicitly knowing about it are next to nil. Pre-wire has many meanings in the building community...pre-wiring for a home theater would amount to a meaningful sum...if done correctly. 3x10^8 hit it on the head: twelve wires need to go in, and come out for 5.1. It sounds like you may be pre-wired for a set of speakers or two, but not 5.1.

 

[rapster]

check the closet

John D,

I'll check the closet for wires Thursday (the builder is coming over Friday). If there's wire in the closet. It would suggest that I need to give my cuurent HT to my son and buy a different (expensive) type of HTS.

What would be the next logical step?

 

[John D]

I don't steal!

Johnd: No, I don't steal! And besides, it would have been my parents that would have been ripping off your name. I can't vouch for them though!

Rapster,
I can't see why you would have to give your HTIB away. Unless, you can use this as an excuse to look for better stuff (i.e.: spouse approval). Depending on the brand of HTIB, I can't see why you cannot hook it up in the closet. If all the wires start in the closet, then it shouldn't be very hard to hook them up to your receiver and then place the speakers where the other ends come out. Unless, you don't like the speaker wire locations. The main problem I see with having the receiver in the closet is that you cannot see it to control it. Other people here with experience in this type of setup can probably give you better advice that I can about this type of setup. My TV and stereo gear is in one entertainment center, so I can see everything, including the spider-web of wires in behind!

If the speaker wires are not labeled, I may be able to help you figure out which one goes where. I assume that the wire ends are far enough apart that a multimeter probably wouldn't work to check for continuity. Then, you can use a battery and a flashlight bulb (or test light). Just get someone to hold both conductors of one end of a wire to both ends of the battery and you can go to each of the other ends of the wires with the light to see which one goes to where. Hope this helps more than it confuses!

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I just looked up the specs on your HTP 2600 system (I was also a bit too lazy this morning to delete what I said above and start over, so I just continued on). Judging simply by the specs and description of this system, I would bring this back for a refund, if you still can. Then, I would spend some time searching through the posts here and you will get a better idea of what to look for in a HT system. Also, as you look through the posts, you will understand why the 2600 system would not be a good choice. I don't know what your budget is, but there are certainly other setups that are affordable and would sound much, much better.