Hometheatre speaker set up - 2 Displays

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510 posts

Ultimate Geek

#541927 7-Nov-2011 10:24

ushare: The speaker cable has a connector on one end for the amp/ bluray player, and the speaker side of it has plain wire. i guess will will extend the plain wire side.

Can someone recommend where and what type of speaker wire i should buy. Like the gauge.. and also, can anyone tell me how i could join the 2 cables? i dont want to just twist and tape..

there is going to be an hdmi cable running out from the amp to the projector. The amp/player will be my receiver basically.

The speaker cables provided are 3m. i am plan to add another 7m for each speaker..

thanks for the help guys. it is greatly appreciated

For the speaker cable I wouldn't try and make any connections to extend it. Buy a single length of cable
12 or 14 AWG twisted pair would be fine. (Jaycar should have something) also buy some connectors from
Jaycar as well.

"In the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years." -
-- Abraham lincoln

Dunnersfella

4086 posts

Uber Geek

#541948 7-Nov-2011 11:00

The connectors found on the Sony home theatre system won't necessarily be available after market... I'd have thought?

Jaxson

8043 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#541958 7-Nov-2011 11:32

Dunnersfella: The connectors found on the Sony home theatre system won't necessarily be available after market... I'd have thought?

Nah doubt they would be available either. Perhaps you can crack them open though and redo new wire from there?

ushare: can anyone tell me how i could join the 2 cables? i dont want to just twist and tape..

Just cut them, twist together, solder and cover in heat shrink.
Or use the terminal connector strips, or use a plug and socket combo from Jaycar etc etc etc.

As above, basic cheap speaker wire will do to get you started. dicksmith have stuff like this

The thickness of the existing speaker wire is not likely very big to start with. It's over to you where you attach the new cable, either on the end of the existing one, or cut the existing one closer to the connector and re do the entire length if you're feeling keen.

You'll have 2 display devices, the TV and projector. If you're hoping to use devices on both, like show a bluray on the TV and projector or freeview on both etc. then you'll need to consider splitting the output of the bluray player with an hdmi splitter. Personally I'd just use the TV for TV only and anything else would go through the bluray player onto the projector.

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#541969 7-Nov-2011 11:54

Dunnersfella: The connectors found on the Sony home theatre system won't necessarily be available after market... I'd have thought?

+1
Just had a look at the setup manual online and they are special connectors which no doubt are not available.
However the speaker connections are press and push (el cheapo) so just use chocolate block connectors to add whatever length of speaker cable is needed.
Biggest problem is that the first Diagram is fine for TV but not Projector and 2nd diag fine for Projector but not TV.
IMO only 2 solutions.
Either rearrange the speakers each time you change from Tv to Projector and back (big hassle here), or move the TV under the big screen.
I'd opt for moving the TV. It surely must be possible?

trig42

5814 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#541975 7-Nov-2011 12:04

B1GGLZ:
Dunnersfella: The connectors found on the Sony home theatre system won't necessarily be available after market... I'd have thought?

+1
Just had a look at the setup manual online and they are special connectors which no doubt are not available.
However the speaker connections are press and push (el cheapo) so just use chocolate block connectors to add whatever length of speaker cable is needed.
Biggest problem is that the first Diagram is fine for TV but not Projector and 2nd diag fine for Projector but not TV.
IMO only 2 solutions.
Either rearrange the speakers each time you change from Tv to Projector and back (big hassle here), or move the TV under the big screen.
I'd opt for moving the TV. It surely must be possible?

I'd do this. It should not be a problem mounting your TV on a concrete wall and having the projector screen slide down in front of it. That would be an elegant solution (unless of course you are renting, but that would preclude you hanging a massive projector screen and a projector too I suppose).
You still have to get a video signal from the HT/Bluray to the projector, and that will need a decent length of HDMI cable.

ushare

483 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#542016 7-Nov-2011 13:43

Yea. so i am going to buy 30m of 14awg speaker wire. i am going to attach the new wire on the speaker side, where the wire is plain.

My next question, i dont kno how soilder. Is there anything i can use to connect? I am going to buy seaker wire from jaycar, so something from there maybe..

I can only put the projector screen where it is. But the seating cannot be permanently moved. which means when watching tv, heads have to be Turned.

I quite like the second setup. i have already bought long hdmi cables.

The projector screen comes two metres down. if anyone couls recommend a really low corner cabinet, then i could have the tv in thw corner. if i did this, would the surround sound be fine for both devices? if not i am going to go with the second setup.

Can anyone recommend how i could get the hdmi cables to the projector?

ushare

483 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#542019 7-Nov-2011 13:43

Sharesies

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#542048 7-Nov-2011 14:47

ushare:
My next question, i dont kno how soilder. Is there anything i can use to connect? I am going to buy seaker wire from jaycar, so something from there maybe..

Use these screw terminals (used to be called chocolate block connectors) from Jaycar. No soldering needed.

http://www.jaycar.co.nz/productView.asp?ID=HM3196&form=CAT2&SUBCATID=991#1

They're also available at many $2 shops. Some may also have speaker wire.

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#542054 7-Nov-2011 14:54

ushare:
Can anyone recommend how i could get the hdmi cables to the projector and make it look good at the same time? it really sucks to have concrete walls

Bunnings and Electrical suppliers sell plastic ducting for electrical cables which can be attached to the wall. I use it to conceal co-ax cables running down the outside wall of the house. Rectangular in shape and can carry 3 or 4 coax with ease. Hides the cables nicely. Basically a u shaped trough 2400mm long with snap in cover. Also paintable. Sorry but don't have a stock number or description handy. Used by sparkies for cable runs on conrete walls.

ushare

483 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#542100 7-Nov-2011 16:59

Do you think the speaker wire below is good? Will it do the for what i need?

http://www.trademe.co.nz/electronics-photography/home-audio/cables/auction-420884939.htm

Yea, so now I have the cable cover sussed. :)

The second setup will be fine right?

SepticSceptic

2193 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#542111 7-Nov-2011 17:12

ushare:
My next question, i dont kno how soilder. Is there anything i can use to connect? I am going to buy seaker wire from jaycar, so something from there maybe..

Jaycar have solder sleeves - basically a short section of heatshrink with a glob of solder on the inside. Basically the idea is when joining the two wires together, you slip this sleeve over one end, twist the wires together, slide the sleeve over the join. Heat the sleeve until the solder melts, and in the process the heatshrink will also shrink to cover the join.

http://www.jaycar.co.nz/productResults.asp?keywords=solder+splice&keyform=KEYWORD

As for your setup, I feel your pain - very similar, but my projector screen and TV are on opposite sides of the room. My amp has Zone 2 output, so I use Zone 2 for the TV viewing ( but not in 5.x - only in stereo, or simulated surround), and Zone 1 (5.1) for when I am watching the projector. I also have to spin the lazy boy around 180deg to watch when using the PJ. The couch is perpendicular ( 90 deg) to both the TV and the PJ Screen, so not really a hassle to watch either screen when I'm stretched out :-)

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#542195 7-Nov-2011 19:32

ushare: Do you think the speaker wire below is good? Will it do the for what i need?

Probably overkill given the wire connected to your speakers now.
This would do the jpb and much cheaper.
http://www.jaycar.co.nz/productView.asp?ID=WB1709&form=CAT2&SUBCATID=992#1

ushare

483 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#542204 7-Nov-2011 19:51

The one ur showing me doesnt even have a awg?

Http://www.jaycar.co.nz/productView.asp?ID=WB1709&form=CAT2&SUBCATID=992#1

can someone show me what wires i should buy, along with a heatshrink splice thing thats in stock??

This will be much appreciated. thanks for all your help guys

wmoore

510 posts

Ultimate Geek

#542251 7-Nov-2011 21:41

Ushare

Why can't you move the seating ? Is it screwed down to the floor ? or do you have a Wife ?
For speaker cable just some cheap 12 AWG would be fine. (Don't worry too much about cable)

"In the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years." -
-- Abraham lincoln

ushare

483 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#542297 7-Nov-2011 23:05

I have a wife. :p and even if i was allowed there are doors on every wall. this makes seating look nice only in one place.

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