Odd Layout Request

[ydnarb]

I am just trying to purchase a home theater setup but I have a layout problem.

My 50 inch plasma is on an island wall with no way to run wires to my rear or side walls. (no basement).
On a 5.1 is it feasible to put all speakers in the front or does this just make a mess??
Any other options.

Thanks

[McLoki]

Any chance we could get a wide angle picture or drawing of your setup? I am sure someone here will come up with something....

(ranch house? can you go up and run though the ceiling?)

Michael

[BlueMDPicker]

Hi, and welcome to the forum.

If your room is carpeted, you may be able to place flat profile wiring under the carpet. The rears could be placed on floor stands. Obviously, you're not going to get a surround sound with everything up front.

Mike

[ydnarb]

Thanks for the help so far.
The room is about 20 feet long by 12 feet wide.
Unfortunately the island has no ceiling access and the carpeting is already down and wall to wall. Part of my problem is that I might be relocating in the next few months or I guess I could just rip up the carpet and place the flat cable in place.
I am trying to come up wih something that makes sense for a big improvement over the panasonic plasma speakers and maybe something I can build on when I move.
As I mentioned the island is free standing in the exact center of the 20 foot long side of the rectangular side of the wall. The island is about 9 feet wide and the 50 inch plasma leaves about 2 feet on each side of wall space.
Can't get to the ceiling. No basement. Makes a great setup for the plasma but I forgot that the speaker wires would be a problem.
Should I just go simple and pick up a Bose accoustimas 5 type setup?

Thanks again for the suggestions

[ydnarb]

Thanks BlueMD......Can i just spin around every once in awhile to get the sensation of the speakers from the front wall!!!!??

[McLoki]

You could put a small hole in the wall behind your speakers and another hole just above the baseboard. Run your speaker wire through the hole. Then run it under the baseboard around to your AVR. (you should only see the wire as it crosses the baseboard.) I have used this method in apartments and with a minimum of spackling, you can get things back to normal when you are ready to move out.

Michael

[ydnarb]

Thanks again. There is no baseboard anywhere once it gets to the edge of the island. It is really just a free standing island that separates the living room from a dining and kitchen area.
Picture just a 9 foot wide wall with openings left and right and the island does not go to the ceiling.

To make matters worse the sides of the island are tiled and there is no carpet going to the sides.


open ************** open
TV ISLAND

[BlueMDPicker]

Originally posted by McLoki
You could put a small hole in the wall behind your speakers and another hole just above the baseboard. Run your speaker wire through the hole. Then run it under the baseboard around to your AVR. (you should only see the wire as it crosses the baseboard.) I have used this method in apartments and with a minimum of spackling, you can get things back to normal when you are ready to move out.

Michael

I think the island wall has him screwed on getting back to the AVR via the baseboard. An electricians fishtape could be worked under the carpet only requiring the carpet to be pulled up from the tack strip at both ends. Or, he can just go with the spinning chair idea.

[McLoki]

have you thought about a nice set of wireless headphones?

:D

Michael

[ydnarb]

Are the systems any good with just front two or three speakers plus a subwoofer???

The chair doesn't spin by the way......only me!!!!!

[ydnarb]

Now that you mention it...will wireless rear speaker systems work for me?????

[Vr3MxStyler2k3]

get thin strips of wood, a finish nailer - cut them bout 1" wide each, and run this and nail them together to make a L shape along the edge of the wall (paint it the color of your wall if you want) and put your wire under it...

This way, if you move or w/e - you just lift it up, easy access. Looks good, hides the wire...

As for going up the wall...

HD or Lowes sells corner pieces that dont attach all the way to the corner...well you can figure out the rest

For more ideas/projects - check this out

http://www.cableorganizer.com/home-theater/

[McLoki]

Originally posted by ydnarb
Now that you mention it...will wireless rear speaker systems work for me?????

I would think so. I don't really know of any I can recommend though....

[Vr3MxStyler2k3]

wireless speakers suck

[McLoki]

Originally posted by Vr3MxStyler2k3
wireless speakers suck

That may be true, but for HT it should work. (as rears only). SACD may blow, but where you just want some surround, it can't be much worse than the 6600 surrounds I am currently using. (roll off at 150hz)

[ydnarb]

Wireless is now out based on your decisive response!!!!
Headphones might work as it will drown out my wife!!!!

We are now getting somewhere.

What about three speaker plus subwoofer systems in just the front.

Oh for the good old days with the RCA 27 inch tv and a single speaker!!!!

[Vr3MxStyler2k3]

I'd rather go without surrounds...imo

3 speakers will do, you can even try front surrounds - will give off a nice 'ambience'

Would need a SPL meter, of course

[ydnarb]

What do you mean by "front surrounds"? With a subwoofer also?
I have a good receiver but nowhere to hook it to. That is why I was thinking of just the Bose or Polk fronts and a subwoofer system of some sort.
Are the "Niro" units any good??

Thanks again

PE

[Vr3MxStyler2k3]

Bascially instead of mounting ur surrounds in the back, mount them in the front...

[ydnarb]

Thanks VR.... That was really my original question but response from others was rather cool to say the least. Have you tried this?

The good thing about it if it works is the simplicity and I can easily pull it apart when I relocate shortly.

I can also wait I suppose but I am basically an impatient person and want to do something now to improve from the basics on the plasma

[Vr3MxStyler2k3]

LoL,
Must say that I have...

Keep in mind, my room is 10.5x10.5x8 - hehe

The front surrounds are better than no surrounds for movies, IMO... gives off a nice 'ambience'

[ydnarb]

Do you use a powered subwoofer also????
All speakers at same height?
Spaced high / low??
Inside and outside front??



Thanks again.

[Vr3MxStyler2k3]

http://www.eandr.biz/Vr3_HT_Pictures_HT.html

Take a look for yourself, Im to lazy to type

And you would put the surrounds higher than the mains, by 3 feet or so

[ydnarb]

You must vibrate within that "headphone"!!!!

Thanks for your help. Sounds like my best, simple approach as long as I keep the speakers small (that is one of the many penances I have to pay for being married!!!!), except for the subwoofer.

The worst that can happen is I have a powerfull "murky" sound coming from in front of me I guess.

Thanks
PE

[Vr3MxStyler2k3]

Check out Polks RM system and a SVS subwoofer...

[TheReaper]

Cord Covers: http://cableorganizer.com/cord-covers/

[ntculenuff]

since the room is carpet you could put a small hole in the carpet behind your system run spkr wire through the crawl space and pop it up through a small hole where you are placing each of your rears. this way you have essentially no visible wire mess and when you leave you can just pull the wire back through and just rub your hand over the carpet where the hole is and the hole is covered.
just another thought to add to the many:)

[ydnarb]

There is no crawlspace either. It is a concrete floor under the carpeting.

Also my wife would not appreciate a cord cover/runner across the living room for the other suggestion.

This "island" is a real island with no place to go up, down or sideways.

Thanks Phil

[Vr3MxStyler2k3]

I think you need some His & Her headphones...

Wireless headphones, at that...

[ydnarb]

Might be my last resort.
One set of noise deadening headphones might be the fix for everything!!!!

[jarros]

If you're thinking about getting headphones, why not just set up all five channels at the front (or even 3 channels, front L+R and Center)? Using a pair of wireless headphones will only give you stereo sound, so you'd be getting more of a surround sound effect even using 3 channels. Add surrounds on stands that are higher than your front channels, and you're a big step above headphones. That way more people can listen if you want to have a few friends over.

[ydnarb]

Thanks for the suggestion.

I am leaning towards a full system from ORB and trying the rears on a wireless basis. Reviews all sound good anyway

Any suggestions or advice???? (Sort of like asking a shark to comment on the blood in the water!!!!)

PE

[Mjr7531]

Originally posted by ydnarb
Might be my last resort.
One set of noise deadening headphones might be the fix for everything!!!!

I would definately prioritize the wireless surrounds before I would use headphones, When it comes to wireless headphones, its the same deal with wireless surrounds, same limits, except, you can listen to the wireless surrounds much longer than headphones. Headphones use your head as a sounding board, everything resonates in there, it fatigues you before you finish the movie. Plus IMHO, its safer (I get my headphones much louder than I should.)

You can find interesting stuff here,
http://www.jazzspeakers.com/
Pioneer also makes something with wireless surrounds.