Wiring rear channels?

[insbordnat]

This seems like a basic question, and I am new to these forums (and the site) so I didn't see it elsewhere.

I'm living in an apartment for the short-term (possibly only 1 more year max). I'm planning on an HT system, however I can't possibly think of how to run wires from the rear channels to the front where the receiver/amp is going to be.

I have carpet, and it doesn't seem that easy to lift.

Baseboards don't seem like an option because of a carpeted pathway (I can't follow them all the way around to the receiver), and drilling holes seems a little much...how would one go up the wall, over the ceiling, and drop back down?

Okay, these may seem like basic questions, but I'd like some advice or at least a direction. I've gone to lsdinc.com and other sites, but I'm thinking of more of a step-by-step so I know what I'm in for...

Any help/advice is appreciated.

 

[Buckle-meister]

...I can't possibly think of how to run wires from the rear channels to the front where the receiver/amp is going to be.

Hello Insbordnat. Welcome to the Forum.

I also live in a flat. I rent, so I also have to view it as short term. At the moment, I simply run the cables around the skirting-board. It does require longer runs of cable and isn't as pretty as hidden would be, but what's stopping you doing the same?

Regards

 

[mulester7]

I can't possibly think of how to run wires from the rear channels to the front where the receiver/amp is going to be

.....Insobordnat, welcome, and we all have faced your dilemma....unless you go up into and across attic space and then back down to speakers, you have to stay within the room unless you can go under the room's floor if your building is on piers....if your building is on a poured slab, it's room or attic....you can run wire under the carpet if you choose, but that's tough....I have gone under carpet across doorways, by making a small slit in the carpet on both sides of the doorway, and running a straightened-out coathanger with small loop on one end under the carpet and pulling wire through to be hidden across the doorway....you can also paint wire a blending color that must be run around the room's baseboards....hey, it's a small price for good sounds....

 

[supervij]

Well, here's something NOT to do. I live in an apartment too, and I found a little gadget that I figured would work great for rear surrounds, and it's the reason I finally decided to take the plunge into the world of home theatre. You can see it in my sig, it's the Kenwood Wireless RFU-6100. It consists of a transmitter, which is hooked into your amp, and a receiver, which is hooked into the rear speaker(s). It boasts 50 watts of amplification power for each channel, and it relays the sound information by radio frequency. Sounds great in theory, but the RF signal gets interference way too easily, and doesn't output much sound out of the speaker(s). I also get occasional bursts of static out of the speaker when the unit is plugged in. Do yourself a favour and don't even consider this unit for easy rear speaker hookup.

What I did with side surrounds was to line the speaker wire on top of the bottom "bump" of the baseboards. I hammered a small nail roughly every two to three feet into the "bump" of the baseboard, angled so that it keeps the speaker wire in place. You can still see it, yes, but it's completely out of the way, and totally easy to remove if needed.

Good luck!

cheers,
supervij

 

[Snap]

Welcome to the Forum!

Here are several ideas, and expound on some of the above.

If you want to go super nice. You can hide the wires behind Crown molding, or trim. But that is if you want to spend the time to do that. Other than that, you are going to have to tuck the wires like the guys said above under the base boards. Do one wire per side wall. Left surround run the wire on the left wall etc. Another option.....

.....will cost you about 200 bucks. You are going to need a "flat Fish" and some Flat speaker wire. Monster makes such wire. The fish will enable you to pull a string under your carpet, and then pull the speaker wire under your carpet with the string. You can get the Flat wire fish from a lot of places on line, or an electrical supply store. Lowes and such will NOT have the flat fish. You can try a regular fish but it might get snagged in the pad if you have an open end hook on it. You will have to use a fish that has a closed eye. Cut a small hole in one end of the carpet, or go in right at the base board. Run your fish to the area that you want the speaker wire to come out. Attach the string..pull the fish back out.

Now you have the string under your carpet. Then attach the "Flat Speaker wire" to the end of the string and pull the wire under your carpet. This will only work if you are planning on having your speakers on stands in the back. If you are planning on mounting the speakers on the wall, you are going to have the wires going up the wall and that will not look nice.

Other than the already mentioned options in the above post and mine...you are looking at cutting sheet rock, and having it repaired. Not something you want to do if you are not planning on living there for a while.

Blessed,
Jim

 

[insbordnat]

Much appreciated

Thanks for all that replied.

I have a feeling I'm going to do the fish number. I'm not planning on being at this apartment long enough to justify putting up crown mouldings or cutting sheet rock, and the wire will really only have to go 11' or so if I go from back of the room to the front. I could go around, but I have a patio door on the right and a hallway on the left. Can't go all the way around.

I'm going to put the speakers on stands, so the install should look relatively clean. I'm all for putting in some blood, sweat, and tears into this to get it look neat...I just don't want to go down a road that becomes an impossiblity halfway through the project.

Thanks again - hope to see y'all around the boards.