new build first fix wiring options

esox28

Hey guys,
Wondering if anyone could hhelp me sort out a wiring configuration for speakers for our new build?

I am looking at running a hifi set up in main bed for the moment but would like to have speakers in both ensuite and main bath, but don't know how best to achieve this as I would need to be able to switch from both independently just on off really. also do you need two speakers min per room for left right? Ive seen some speaker switches on net but am unsure if tjey will fit to standard electrical back boxes!


Also wanted to include some speaker in main bed for future install of amp maybe, are insert speakers as good as the ones that come with a standard hifi?
Or what small or descrete speakers for a bedroom recommendation?

Any taughts would be greatly appreciated.

vintagevrs

What are you planning on using to run the speakers, and where do you plan to put this? If above these rooms is attic space this is straight forward, if not, you need to plan it out as once the plastering is done things get tricky. We have a flush speaker mounted in our ensuite, but it its a stereo speaker, takes both left and right input as it has two tweeters. Its a monitor audio speaker, richer sounds supplied mine, best price I could find at the time. As it is going to be used in a bathroom I think ceiling mounted is fine as it won't be audiophile quality you will need. We finished our build this year too,I would recommend running speaker cable in all rooms where there is a remote chance you may want to put audio in future.

vintagevrs

https://www.richersounds.ie/asp/product.asp?ObjectID=930&Mode=0&productid=1343&Results=true&keys=ceiling

esox28

I have a service cavity at ceiling level of 100mm... I plan to run off my old hifi stereo for the moment, it has a left-right output set up.
You can get a twin speaker flush mounted i.e. it takes 4 wires?

I've used clear coated copper oxygen free cabling one wire has a red fleck running through to donate live I'm guessing.
If you run cabling to rooms that you want radio or music where and how do U therminate at source?

vintagevrs

Ok,I have similar set up downstairs with the service cavity. That speaker I linked to should fit in there. Yes, it takes 4 cables to give stereo out put from one speaker. This is ideal in an ensuite. For your bedroom youmay want to use two separate mono speakers at different sides of the room to give a better soundand more defined stereo effect. I will post a picture of how it looks

esox28

Cool yea had a look at tweeters.

Any ideas... Id like to be able to switch off the speaker in an accessible area, want to be able to switch sneaker off when im not using bathroom would a double pole light switch do the job or would running through light switch reck the sound.

vintagevrs

If I were in your situation what I would do is run speaker cable from the spot in the ensuite where you would put the single stereo speaker I linked back to where you plan to put your stereo/amp (which I assume is in bed room). I would run this down a wall though so it passes a convenient location for a switch to switch between the ensuite and bedroom sound. I would then run speaker cable from the speaker locations in the bedroom back to where this switch will be.

Initially I would not go out and buy three (one stereo for ensuite, 2 mono for bedroom) speakers though. I would just put sound in one of the rooms. If you have it wired as I described you can then add the speakers later if you think it is needed.

Our bedroom/ensuite is wired this way, but we have not put the second set of speakers in as we rarely need to listen to music in the bedroom, and when we do the ensuite speaker meets our needs.


By the way, that speaker I linked to is great quality. It is a lot heavier than I expected. We never have it up loud but if needed it can handle it. You can buy ceiling speakers for 20 quid if you wanted, but forbuild quality and ease of installation I would recommend that one.

vintagevrs

http://www.cyberselect.co.uk/category/8


That link has some switches that may be useful.

I do not think there are any quality issues running the speakers through a switch. The pictures I took are not great and are taking an age to upload so will give them a miss.

esox28

Yea they look the business what sort or money would you be looking at for the tweeters? Music will be last thing have to scrap together for kitchen first as you can appreciate.
Want to get the wiring in place cost is minimum .

So let me get this right if I run six pair back to my stereo hifi

4 x ensuite
4 x bathoom
4 x bedroom

If I run the ensuite /bathroom through a light switch breaking the positive (red) this will break the signal to the speakers right?

esox28

That qed is what im looking for, looks like they would fix to single back boxes, pricey though.

vintagevrs

esox28 wrote: »

Yea they look the business what sort or money would you be looking at for the tweeters? Music will be last thing have to scrap together for kitchen first as you can appreciate.
Want to get the wiring in place cost is minimum .

So let me get this right if I run six pair back to my stereo hifi

4 x ensuite
4 x bathoom
4 x bedroom

If I run the ensuite /bathroom through a light switch breaking the positive (red) this will break the signal to the speakers right?

Yes I think you have it. You asked about the price of the tweeters, I think you may have picked me up wrong but that speaker I linked to earlier is a stereo speaker with two tweeters built in. It takes 2 pairs as to run it. It is effectively two speakers in one.See below




Below is the mono version with only one tweeter. This is the speaker that you would need two of to create a stereo area. Eg left side of bedroom/right side of bedroom. Each one of these speakers takes one pair.




Hope that helps, I went through all this with my own so happy to help. Richersounds are on boards as well, you could ask them for advice/price. They gave me loads of advice when I was planning and I found them the most competitive too. Just a happy customer, not linked to their business.

Tully1986

Hi Esox28,

I have seen a few different set ups regarding this:

1. Hi-Fi amp with speaker A,B,A+B switching main room. Switch A connected to main room speakers. Switch B connected to speaker switch (2 way or 3 way) depending on the amount of rooms your running to. This will be your cheapest option, but you will have to operate everything from the one room. just be careful with the ohms on the speakers, most amps will specify if you are running to more than one set the ohms tend to be greater. Also if you are running speaker cable, don't run this parallel to electrical cable as you will more than likely get a lot of interference. The Monitor Audio speakers are good, better would be the Bose 791 or if your looking for cheap and cheerful AVuno. This all depends on what your standard of listening to Hi-Fi is, most people are happy with cheap and cheerful, where as audiophiles or people more into there Hi-Fi will go for a richer more detailed speaker. Depends on whether you want background music or full sound.

2. I have also seen the wireless option of using Sonos. Put a Zp-120 for each room, wired to each room set of speakers. If you have an existing Hi-Fi you can hook a Zp-90 to this. The Zp-120 will act as a zone and you can program a name to the room using the Download app. This set up is totally network based so you will require Lan connection to one Sonos device and a Ios or Android device to operate it. The advantage to this is you can be sitting in the loo with your Iphone and have the world of music at your fingertips with spotify, internet radio, nas stored music and music on the device. you can control the volume from wherever you are, and you can also sync up zones so if you want to play the same music or different tracks in different rooms. Great set up and probably the best control your going to get but is going to cost you much more than a speaker switch option and relying on internet connection

3. Also something like the Nuvo simplese with 4 zones of audio, 4 sources of audio. You will have control switches in each room i.e. Like the light switch idea and there is a remote also for easier control. This is the most professional looking way Ive seen of setting up multi-room audio, wouldn't work out as expensive as the Sonos option either. You will have to wire Cat5 cable wired to each room switches and back to main device.

I wouldn't worry about having two speakers in each room sometimes one speaker will do depending on the size of the room and how you wire it. What I would recommend is that if you do have two ceiling speakers, try place yourself in the room and wire them to the left and right of your head where you would be in the room. you don't want to be ling in bed with one speaker above your head and the other at the end of the room. A lot of common sense but worth the mention.

esox28

great reply tully thanks for all the advice, speaker location and rest.

Had a look at the nuvo website yesterday, am very impressed.

As I have said I want to get the ground work wiring right so best to leave options open for future works.

Tully1986

Id say you would be safe wiring speaker cable and cat5 cable to each room you want to use as a zone. Run all this back to a room, like a closet or or coat room and this is where your source equipment will be. you leave options open once its wired like this.

Why I would recommend a closet or Coat room is you will have a lot of cables coming into one point. If you have kids, this isn't ideal, and just aesthetically in a living space it may be the best option.

There is a home automation company in limerick, they have been helpful any time i have had questions on this sort of thing.

http://www.savins.ie/