Question on home pre-wiring

[Bruce Parker]

When my home was built in 2008 I had it pre-wired for home theater. I'd assumed (bad thing to do) it would be wired with HDMI but it was done for component video. I've lived it but would like to up grade to a Samsung UHD Curved TV and realize the full benefits of the system. I've always believed the component video wiring restricted the quality of the video and audio. Is there anyway to get HDMI quality with the type of pre-wiring I have? I should also add I'm using an old Onkyo tuner that doesn't have HDMI but I'm very willing to replace it. Advice appreciated.

Thanks,

Bruce

 

[TLS Guy]

When my home was built in 2008 I had it pre-wired for home theater. I'd assumed (bad thing to do) it would be wired with HDMI but it was done for component video. I've lived it but would like to up grade to a Samsung UHD Curved TV and realize the full benefits of the system. I've always believed the component video wiring restricted the quality of the video and audio. Is there anyway to get HDMI quality with the type of pre-wiring I have? I should also add I'm using an old Onkyo tuner that doesn't have HDMI but I'm very willing to replace it. Advice appreciated.

Thanks,

Bruce

Unfortunately we are now past the analog sunset. Your current cabling is now as good as useless.

I have a golden rule. You never run any wiring for a HT without it being on conduit, because you get yourself up the creek without a paddle as technology evolves.

If you want in wall wiring, you will have to attempt to pull HDMi cabling with the old component cabling.

If that does not work you might as well have it up straight, you need to forget in wall cabling, or open up the walls.

Because of changes in rules and law related to DRM, you have to live with what ever it takes to move to HDMI. Don't forget HDMI will not be around for ever, so make sure you can change cabling in future without opening walls.

 

[Bruce Parker]

Unfortunately we are now past the analog sunset. Your current cabling is now as good as useless.

I have a golden rule. You never run any wiring for a HT without it being on conduit, because you get yourself up the creek without a paddle as technology evolves.

If you want in wall wiring, you will have to attempt to pull HDMi cabling with the old component cabling.

If that does not work you might as well have it up straight, you need to forget in wall cabling, or open up the walls.

Because of changes in rules and law related to DRM, you have to live with what ever it takes to move to HDMI. Don't forget HDMI will not be around for ever, so make sure you can change cabling in future without opening walls.

Thanks for the response. Not what I wanted to hear but glad to here a straight answer. I'll be looking into having someone do a rewire.

 

[TLS Guy]

Thanks for the response. Not what I wanted to hear but glad to here a straight answer. I'll be looking into having someone do a rewire.

Make good and sure you use conduit. You can use metal electric pipe or plastic waste pipe.

The plastic is harder to pull, so it should be larger with gentle curves.

I used metal, but it takes a guy with a pipe bender.

Good luck!

 

[BMXTRIX]

Carlon actually makes conduit designed for in-wall use. Their RiserGard is riser rated. It's an orange (low-voltage) variant on what some people call smurf tube. 3/4" is available in Home Depot, but it is easy to order sizes of 1", 1.25", 1.5" and 2" online. It is flexible, so it is very easy to put in place, relatively speaking, since it's not like solid PVC tubing. It also handles gentle turns quite naturally.

Anyway, more on topic:

WHAT CABLES DO YOU CURRENTLY HAVE?

Is it just the red/green/blue wires of component video, or is actually a full set of five wires... or actually four wires? Can you take a photo of it and post it?

The reason I ask, is because if you have 4 (or more) wires at your TV, or if they pulled cat-5e wire, then you have options.

If you have 4 wires (red/green/blue/yellow) or more:
http://www.compunetworkinc.com/Store_CompuNetwork/08_Other_Products/01_Audio_Video/03_AV_Accessories/08.html

It's pricey, but gives you 1080p video over the wiring you have in place. No walls to repair, no wires to pull.

If you have cat-5e, then that's far easier...
http://www.monoprice.com/Product?c_id=109&cp_id=10914&cs_id=1091401&p_id=10225&seq=1&format=2

Yes, your component video cabling is not what you want by itself in the wall, but there are solutions to get around it.

Also, UHD is stupid. Sorry, but there is no real source content for UHD at this time. Most UHD inputs aren't fully UHD compliant. Also, depending on the display size, and your viewing distance, you may never come close to seeing the benefits of UHD at all. About a 80" display you view from 8' away, you will see benefits, but at 12' across a room from a 55" display? Forget UHD and stick with 1080p. Forgetting the curved marketing BS.