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#1
Posted to rec.audio.tech
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I want to wire my house for speakers but don't know what I'm doing :)
OK, I know this is probably the most asked question but after getting
a professional quote of $75/hour to do the wiring I figure I'd give it a shot myself... Details: -I'd like to have my PC as the source of music (mp3's baby!) -I'd like wire speakers to 3 locations in the house (basement den, family room, outside deck) -I'd like individual volume controls for each location Now what? I'm about a week away from drywalling my house and would like to wire the walls ASAP. Besides my PC & stereo receiver what do I need? My understanding right now is that I have to wire my PC's sound card to the stereo receiver. With what kind of wire? What's the minimum sound card requirements? What about from the receiver to the speakers? Will my current receiver be able to wire 3 sets of speakers? What kind of wire should I use? (all sets of speakers are under 50 feet away, I've been reading 16 gauge, is this OK?). What about volume control? I know this is long winded...but my initial search of the internet gave me so many options! What I'm looking for is a low cost solution that I can easily install with a friend or two over some beers. Thanks in advance, The Choker |
#2
Posted to rec.audio.tech
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I want to wire my house for speakers but don't know what I'm doing :)
"The Choker" wrote ...
OK, I know this is probably the most asked question but after getting a professional quote of $75/hour to do the wiring I figure I'd give it a shot myself... Details: -I'd like to have my PC as the source of music (mp3's baby!) -I'd like wire speakers to 3 locations in the house (basement den, family room, outside deck) -I'd like individual volume controls for each location Now what? I'm about a week away from drywalling my house and would like to wire the walls ASAP. In each room I thought I might want to have music, I would... 1) Put in a 4x4 (square) wall-box next to the light switch box. This would be for the volume-control (and/or what- ever other remote control kinds of gadgets you might want.) 2) Put in standard single-gang wall boxes (at outlet height) at each place in the wall where you may want places to connect any conventional (box) speakers. 3) Put in a 4x4 square wall-box at outlet height at the source location (where your computer, amplifier, etc are located) I would run 1/2-inch (or 3/4-inch) cheap plastic conduit from each of these boxes either up to the crawl-space attic or the basement (depending on which is more convienent) to allow you to pull in whatever kind of wiring you finally decide on (or even to change it in the future to something different). I might run 1-inch to (#3) if you anticipate many wires from different rooms. You might also want to think about additional similar wall boxes for TV, etc. This method lets you... 1) Get stuff into the wall quickly before the drywall. 2) Leaves your options open if you don't know what you will use right now (or in the future for that matter!) 3) Is easy to pull wires into without special equipment (assuming acccess to the attic or basement). 4) Is cheap (especially compared to running wires after the drywall is in). 5) It is easy to install (BEFORE the drywall) with minimal tools, even with a beer or two (but not 6 if you are using sharp tools!) I have done this in houses even when I didn't have the drywall deadline next week. It allows maximum flexibility at minimum price. Can't hardly beat that. Besides my PC & stereo receiver what do I need? Depends on what exactly you want to do? Particularly, do you want to have any additonal controls except volume in each room? My understanding right now is that I have to wire my PC's sound card to the stereo receiver. With what kind of wire? Ordinary audio cable. You can buy one with a 1/8-inch stereo mini-phone connector (likely what your sound card uses, since you didn't tell us) and two RCA jacks on the other end to plug into your stereo. This assumes you have your stereo at the same location as your computer. If not, that is annother question for which you must provide better details. What's the minimum sound card requirements? Any sound card ever made. Unless you had some other requirements you forgot to mention? What about from the receiver to the speakers? Will my current receiver be able to wire 3 sets of speakers? We have no idea since you didn't mention what the specifications of your receiver are. What is its power rating, per channel? Does it have provision to handle more than one pair of speakers? (Switches on the front, additional connection on the back, etc. etc.) What kind of wire should I use? (all sets of speakers are under 50 feet away, I've been reading 16 gauge, is this OK?). Probably for background music it is OK. For reasonably loud (party-time) levels, perhaps not big enough. What about volume control? Depends on many things you didn't disclose. The expected operating volumes and number of concurrent rooms and power rating of your amp are all factors. I know this is long winded...but my initial search of the internet gave me so many options! What I'm looking for is a low cost solution that I can easily install with a friend or two over some beers. My first preference for parts for this kind of exercise is www.partsexpress.com for the wall-mount volume controls, wall plates, etc. etc. |
#3
Posted to rec.audio.tech
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I want to wire my house for speakers but don't know what I'm doing :)
The Choker wrote: OK, I know this is probably the most asked question but after getting a professional quote of $75/hour to do the wiring I figure I'd give it a shot myself... Details: -I'd like to have my PC as the source of music (mp3's baby!) -I'd like wire speakers to 3 locations in the house (basement den, family room, outside deck) -I'd like individual volume controls for each location Now what? I'm about a week away from drywalling my house and would like to wire the walls ASAP. Besides my PC & stereo receiver what do I need? My understanding right now is that I have to wire my PC's sound card to the stereo receiver. With what kind of wire? What's the minimum sound card requirements? What about from the receiver to the speakers? Will my current receiver be able to wire 3 sets of speakers? What kind of wire should I use? (all sets of speakers are under 50 feet away, I've been reading 16 gauge, is this OK?). What about volume control? I know this is long winded...but my initial search of the internet gave me so many options! What I'm looking for is a low cost solution that I can easily install with a friend or two over some beers. Thanks in advance, The Choker I'd second everything Richard has told you, PVC conduit is inexpensive and easy to work with. Go to the library and look at the NEC book they have if your in the US. You may have to comply with some local codes/ inspections depending on where you live. My locale West Penn 225 would be an appropriate cable to do the speaker runs. Shop vac some string through the conduit and pull wire. Wall plates with connectors to make the job neat. Good luck, Good thinking before the drywall goes up!! |
#4
Posted to rec.audio.tech
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I want to wire my house for speakers but don't know what I'm doing :)
Great stuff, thanks!
A few more questions & comments... -The only device (besides speakers) in each room I would like is a volume control. What's a good recommendation for a volume control? Do I just 'crank' my amplifier to full volume and adust at the knob? When I purchase the volume control does it come with a schematic with how to wire it to speakers & amplifier? -My PC & amplifier will be about 20 feet apart. Can I use a 3.5mm stereo mini phone plug to RCA jack adapter cable? What is it's maximum length? If not, then what? At this point, my sound card is pretty run of the mill. -At this point I'm checking over my amplifier to see exactly how many pairs of speakers I can wire (remember, I'm a newbie!) and I'll decide whether to use my existing or buy a new one. -Is it reasonably safe to just go with 12 gauge for the wiring? I definitely won't be blasting the music. I'm looking more for ambient music. -As for wiring speakers for the back patio, any special considerations regarding wires? Speakers? Again, thanks a lot. I can't wait to get started this weekend. This is my first time ever posting a question in a usenet forum and it's been awesome. It's inspired me to answer people's questions regarding a topic I acutally know... The Choker |
#5
Posted to rec.audio.tech
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I want to wire my house for speakers but don't know what I'm doing :)
"The Choker" wrote ...
-The only device (besides speakers) in each room I would like is a volume control. What's a good recommendation for a volume control? www.partsexpress.com sells several different kinds at various price levels. Pick your price/quality. Do I just 'crank' my amplifier to full volume and adust at the knob? We don't even know if speaker-level pads (volume controls) at the far ends will work with your amplifier yet. Still waiting for the particulars? When I purchase the volume control does it come with a schematic with how to wire it to speakers & amplifier? Most likely. If not, it is simple (and standardized) enough that we can talk you through it. -My PC & amplifier will be about 20 feet apart. Can I use a 3.5mm stereo mini phone plug to RCA jack adapter cable? What is it's maximum length? You could probably get away with 20 ft. I suppose it is too much to ask if they are both plugged into the same power branch circuit? You may have more problem with ground loop between the two devices far apart (computer & amp) than with merely the length of the line-level wiring. If not, then what? You may have to use balanced lines and/or isolation transformers to mitigate any noise pickup along the way and/or ground loops. You may find it cheaper to move the computer and amp closer together. At this point, my sound card is pretty run of the mill. Not very much depends on the sound card itself. -At this point I'm checking over my amplifier to see exactly how many pairs of speakers I can wire (remember, I'm a newbie!) and I'll decide whether to use my existing or buy a new one. -Is it reasonably safe to just go with 12 gauge for the wiring? I definitely won't be blasting the music. I'm looking more for ambient music. 12ga should be fine. -As for wiring speakers for the back patio, any special considerations regarding wires? Speakers? If they are going to be left out in the weather, you will need the outdoor kind. www.partsexpress.com has lots of varieties from wall-mount boxes, to speakers hidden in plastic "rocks". |
#6
Posted to rec.audio.tech
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I want to wire my house for speakers but don't know what I'm
The Choker wrote:
Great stuff, thanks! A few more questions & comments... -The only device (besides speakers) in each room I would like is a volume control. What's a good recommendation for a volume control? Do I just 'crank' my amplifier to full volume and adust at the knob? When I purchase the volume control does it come with a schematic with how to wire it to speakers & amplifier? -My PC & amplifier will be about 20 feet apart. Can I use a 3.5mm stereo mini phone plug to RCA jack adapter cable? What is it's maximum length? If not, then what? At this point, my sound card is pretty run of the mill. -At this point I'm checking over my amplifier to see exactly how many pairs of speakers I can wire (remember, I'm a newbie!) and I'll decide whether to use my existing or buy a new one. -Is it reasonably safe to just go with 12 gauge for the wiring? I definitely won't be blasting the music. I'm looking more for ambient music. -As for wiring speakers for the back patio, any special considerations regarding wires? Speakers? Again, thanks a lot. I can't wait to get started this weekend. This is my first time ever posting a question in a usenet forum and it's been awesome. It's inspired me to answer people's questions regarding a topic I acutally know... The Choker Just put in the boxes and conduit now. Worry about what kind of cables are going to go in them later. Put in additional boxes for telephones, computer data ports, cable TV connections, satellite TV connections, and everything else you haven't thought of yet. The beauty of empty boxes with conduit up to the crawl space or basement is that you can put *anything* in them later. If you change your mind, you can pull out the wire and put in something else. --Dale |
#7
Posted to rec.audio.tech
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I want to wire my house for speakers but don't know what I'm doing :)
"The Choker" writes:
OK, I know this is probably the most asked question but after getting a professional quote of $75/hour to do the wiring I figure I'd give it a shot myself... Details: -I'd like to have my PC as the source of music (mp3's baby!) -I'd like wire speakers to 3 locations in the house (basement den, family room, outside deck) -I'd like individual volume controls for each location Do you want the volume control to be for all speakers be at central location or at the location where speakers are ? For central location control one option is to have separate amplifiers for all speakers at one place. Every one of them getting the same signal form sound cards, and each of them having separate volume controls. Then speaker wires from the central location to speakers. Volume control from amplifier fron panels or using suitable multi output sound mixer. Approach used in restaurants, arena PA etc.. Approaches with local sound level controls: 1. One amplifier on the central location distributing 70V or 100V audio signals. At the listening location you have 70/100V line speakers with local volume controls (usually rotatable switches that switch the different settings on 70/100V to 8 ohm speaker adapting transformer inside speaker case) + can cover easily long ditances with thin wire + proven long time used technology on for example to play background audio on shops and other places - this kind of systems are not usually "hifi" quality - expensive ? (price of amplifiers and speakers, electrical installation) 2. One or several amplifiers on one location supplying speaker level signals to the cables. The speakers on the rooms are wired through speaker level volume controls. (depending on amplifier and speakers you could need from one to three amplifiers to drive three speaker sets) + can use normal hifi speakers, amplifiers and speaker wire - long distances need quite thick wire - suitable potentimeter can be expensive, limited on power handling and can affect sound quality (adds easily considerable resistance to speaker wiring that can affect more or less sound quality depending on speakers used) 3. Active speakers with local volume controls on all locations and line level audio distribution to them using balanced signals + proven and well working technology + audio need just this wires (preferably shielded twisted pair microphone cable or similar, but CAT5 UTP will also usually work acceptaly) + excellent sound quality possible when good speakers are selected + distance from central location to speakers can be long (100-200 meters no problems) - cost of active speakers with balanced inputs are not cheap - you will need to invest to audio distribution amplifier with several balanced outputs (also audio mixer with balanced out will work) 4. Active PC speakers with local volume controls on all locations and sound distributing using "RCA cables" (unbalanced signals) + the speakers are very cheap + wiring can be made with normal ready made cables if wanted, just use an "Y" splitters on soundcard out and feed cables from it to all places - sound quality is limited with PC multimedia speakers - system can be sensitive to to noise pickup (hum, switching noise from electrical network), at some locations things work and at some other places not useable (can't know for sure in advance before installation) Now what? I'm about a week away from drywalling my house and would like to wire the walls ASAP. How about pulling installation electrical wire tubes from the central location to the places you will need now before the walls are ready. Intall thick enough tubes, and you can freely pull the needed cable type there later without touching the drywall construction. Besides my PC & stereo receiver what do I need? Depends on the system you choose. My understanding right now is that I have to wire my PC's sound card to the stereo receiver. With what kind of wire? Normal 3.5 mm stereo plug to RCA audio cable is the right cable type in most cases (when PC soundcard has 3.5 mm jack sound out and stereo receiver has line level input with RCA connectors). What's the minimum sound card requirements? Depdens on your preferences on the sound quality. Any PC sound card that you are happy with the sound quality should do. What about from the receiver to the speakers? Will my current receiver be able to wire 3 sets of speakers? In most cases normal average stereo hifi amplifier/receiver is not designed to drive three sets of speakers at the same time. What kind of wire should I use? Depends on the system you selected to do this. (all sets of speakers are under 50 feet away, I've been reading 16 gauge, is this OK?). What about volume control? I know this is long winded...but my initial search of the internet gave me so many options! What I'm looking for is a low cost solution that I can easily install with a friend or two over some beers. Thanks in advance, The Choker -- Tomi Engdahl (http://www.iki.fi/then/) Take a look at my electronics web links and documents at http://www.epanorama.net/ |
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