I need help with my home's built in sound system.

[Mizman12]

Hello there! I am a total newb when it comes to any form of av system. We just bought our first home and in the basement is a set of speakers along the wall. There is a set of hookups upstairs that I assume is for these speakers. What do I need to get this up and running? I want to use it for movies ideally. Any advice is appreciated. Here is a link to a set of photos showing what im working with.

http://imgur.com/a/NadigCn

 

[lovinthehd]

That's one strange labeling on the terminals as well as setup of speakers. I'd start over myself but if you want to use the speakers it appears the terminals upstairs (the middle set) use banana plugs but as to what speakers they work with who knows, since it seems there's only part of a setup labeled....do you even see a subwoofer down there? Do you have any audio gear now?

PS calling @BMXTRIX

 

[Mizman12]

That's one strange labeling on the terminals as well as setup of speakers. I'd start over myself but if you want to use the speakers it appears the terminals upstairs (the middle set) use banana plugs but as to what speakers they work with who knows, since it seems there's only part of a setup labeled....do you even see a subwoofer down there? Do you have any audio gear now?

PS calling @BMXTRIX

There is no gear here. No sub. Theres an identical set of terminals on the opposite wall in the living room that im assuming are for the same thing. Its a strange setup. I dont even know how to to about changing it if I wanted to

 

[lovinthehd]

There is no gear here. No sub. Theres an identical set of terminals on the opposite wall in the living room that im assuming are for the same thing. Its a strange setup. I dont even know how to to about changing it if I wanted to

They may be more about the main room in one or both cases? Hard to know with this little to go on. We do get a lot of posts who buy a house and get no info on the installed wiring (or even if speakers are still installed....have you checked?). You have absolutely no audio gear? (which to me sounds extraordinarily odd but I'm an audio fiend and have a lot of gear around going back more than 50 years now).

 

[Mizman12]

None. Never been an audio person really. I assume those terminals go to the speakers because of the HDMI terminal right next to them that goes to the basement. Like I said im a total newbie to this

 

[lovinthehd]

Lots to ingest ahead of you then Particularly mixing using the video stuff as well. Just what do you want to do as far as use of audio/video goes (disregarding what's already there)?

 

[Mizman12]

Lots to ingest ahead of you then Particularly mixing using the video stuff as well. Just what do you want to do as far as use of audio/video goes (disregarding what's already there)?

Well our basement is going to be our primary hangout area for our friends. We have a nice couch coming, and we have the bar there already. We thought it would be nice to get the speakers set up so we could watch movies with better sound

 

[lovinthehd]

Well our basement is going to be our primary hangout area for our friends. We have a nice couch coming, and we have the bar there already. We thought it would be nice to get the speakers set up so we could watch movies with better sound

So you have a tv and just use its speakers normally? Can we have more pics of the room to see what that wall with four speakers (generally useless) is like otherwise? How much do you want to spend?

 

[Mizman12]

Heres a photo from the Zillow listing. That tv and stand are gone but we will be bringing a new one in. Might wall mount the tv, not sure yet. We plan to add movie posters along the walls aswell

 

[lovinthehd]

They left the vinyl wall of shame? There's speakers for left right and center positioning generally. You would generally only put those three on the same front wall....and the center would be just that, a middle speaker....so gotta wonder just what the four spots are. Plus in order to realistically determine what's needed you'll need to know what's behind those speaker grills....get to it and post some pics!

 

[Mizman12]

They left the vinyl wall of shame? There's speakers for left right and center positioning generally. You would generally only put those three on the same front wall....and the center would be just that, a middle speaker....so gotta wonder just what the four spots are. Plus in order to realistically determine what's needed you'll need to know what's behind those speaker grills....get to it and post some pics!

Sounds good. Ill get some pics tomorrow when im off work and get back to ya. Thanks so much for your help thus far

 

[TLS Guy]

Sounds good. Ill get some pics tomorrow when im off work and get back to ya. Thanks so much for your help thus far

That system is just a total idiotic mess. Do not even bother with it. Start from scratch. You will waste every dollar you spend on that abortion. It is totally unsuitable for AV.

We get these requests from new home owners continually. Those types of useless systems actually are not an asset and decrease the value of a home.