Surround sound for new build

Ri_Nollaig

Hi,

I know this has probably been asked several times on this forum and I have already been looking through some of the older threads.

I am currently building my own house, self build, and during the planning phase I asked the builder to include surround sound wiring for the sitting room. Now I haven't followed up on that yet as no electrics have been installed so I am just doing some homework on what I should ask for exactly when it comes it.

The room itself is 5m x 4.8m with a stove offset in the centre. I was planning on putting a ~50" mounted above the mantle [would also love to hear opinions on doing that].

I was considering, going for a standard enough [500-600€] home cinema system as of now, considering there is plenty of other things needed before I can spend 2k+ on a speaker/amp setup.

I was thinking if the builder just included the wiring in the necessary spots and if the times comes later I can upgrade to a higher quality/new system? Is there much difference in the wiring used for a cheapo 100eur all-in-one system versus a high end one? When ever I have setup ones in the past they have always had the little clamps to connect the raw wires used in each speaker so am I wrong in assuming I can just get the wires put in place now and get any system that the budget can cover now and upgrade as a I go later?

Would love to hear from someone who has done a similar setup.

akaSol

The TV over the mantel -
If it's an active fire smoke/soot this will make a mess of the inner workings of the TV . I have seen this more than once,so its not an opinion. Secondly - even with a tilted bracket you will looking up at the panel and your neck won't thank you. My personal gauge : if the top of the TV is higher than your head ( standing up ) it's to high.

On the speaker side-
A 5.1 or 7.1 over such a large area will result in the loss of the rear channels or make them abnormally loud for anyone close when in use (using the classic and ridiculous speaker in every corner approach) . It also puts a question of where the center is going to be placed?
Ideally for quick connection Banana wall plates LINK so the speaers can be moved for cleaing and then would be interchangeable LINK. Also in this way you can wire together a "One-box" home cinema and have the room to upgrade an AV Amp.

If your planing to put a couch half way between the room and the TV "boxing" off the TV part, perhaps look to use celling speakers above it as your rears. This is a clever way of hiding them and losing very little sound .

As this is a new build a couple words of advice -
Conduit!!!
Every cable in conduit, not sunk in fresh plaster (I've seen that "genius" idea to often). The why : if a cable breaks all you do is tie the new one to the broken cable and pull it through.
HDMI
Remember two HDMi's minimum to every TV , not bloody SCART! Or if your looking at an AV receiver they all now repeat the signal through them ie multiple HDMI inputs to one back out to the TV.
Network Cable
Most smart TV's are wifi but will always work better when wired. One for the back of the TV and one where your going to put your AV amp (for spotify / smart control)
If your looking at a "coms room" or central location for all the equipment definitely lots of network cable , this can carry HDMI signal to (and sound very,very poorly so dont )

>Sol

Ri_Nollaig

Thanks for that!

As for the mantle idea, I wasn't sure either to be honest and I had my doubts, mainly due to height. As it will be a stove so I don't think smoke/soot will be much of an issue. Its just if its not going to be over the mantle, it will have to be in the corner. Will this create a funny setup for the speakers? Like I can't have them centred to anything as a result.

You are dead right about the conduits, and was going to ask for all the cables used here to be put into ducts. It will have a cat6 cable as well.

akaSol

Ri_Nollaig wrote: »

Thanks for that!

As for the mantle idea, I wasn't sure either to be honest and I had my doubts, mainly due to height. As it will be a stove so I don't think smoke/soot will be much of an issue. Its just if its not going to be over the mantle, it will have to be in the corner. Will this create a funny setup for the speakers? Like I can't have them centred to anything as a result.

You are dead right about the conduits, and was going to ask for all the cables used here to be put into ducts. It will have a cat6 cable as well.

Corner's are fine for the TV (mines currently there, hung on an L shaped bracket) and so is the surround. Best thing to do is make a rectangle in your head to position the speakers. Front three in or around the TV , then draw a line to the back ones.

One question , down the bottom of the picture there are two windows? Is there enough room there for a TV and is it north / south facing? If yes then that's ideal.

>Sol

Ri_Nollaig

Thanks again akaSol.

Do you mean you have your tv in the corner but still mounted to the wall? Would have assumed if you had it in the corner you would put it on a stand?

The corner I assumed I would go with, if not mounted above the fireplace, would have been the bottom right in the above picture. You think between the two windows instead? Those windows would face south by the way.

akaSol

Ri_Nollaig wrote: »

Thanks again akaSol.

Do you mean you have your tv in the corner but still mounted to the wall? Would have assumed if you had it in the corner you would put it on a stand?

The corner I assumed I would go with, if not mounted above the fireplace, would have been the bottom right in the above picture. You think between the two windows instead? Those windows would face south by the way.

It's hung with somthing like one of these LINK
Into that corner is fine, like I said my setup is similar but in a smaller room. The window is an option because it's not exposed to direct sun. (East/West). Like this LINK it becomes a more presentation piece which would give you the option of nice florstanders as fronts and the ability to push back the couch / chair's if your having a party.

>Sol

darrenheaphy

akaSol wrote: »

The TV over the mantel -
If it's an active fire smoke/soot this will make a mess of the inner workings of the TV . I have seen this more than once,so its not an opinion. Secondly - even with a tilted bracket you will looking up at the panel and your neck won't thank you. My personal gauge : if the top of the TV is higher than your head ( standing up ) it's to high.

On the speaker side-
A 5.1 or 7.1 over such a large area will result in the loss of the rear channels or make them abnormally loud for anyone close when in use (using the classic and ridiculous speaker in every corner approach) . It also puts a question of where the center is going to be placed?
Ideally for quick connection Banana wall plates LINK so the speaers can be moved for cleaing and then would be interchangeable LINK. Also in this way you can wire together a "One-box" home cinema and have the room to upgrade an AV Amp.

If your planing to put a couch half way between the room and the TV "boxing" off the TV part, perhaps look to use celling speakers above it as your rears. This is a clever way of hiding them and losing very little sound .

As this is a new build a couple words of advice -
Conduit!!!
Every cable in conduit, not sunk in fresh plaster (I've seen that "genius" idea to often). The why : if a cable breaks all you do is tie the new one to the broken cable and pull it through.
HDMI
Remember two HDMi's minimum to every TV , not bloody SCART! Or if your looking at an AV receiver they all now repeat the signal through them ie multiple HDMI inputs to one back out to the TV.
Network Cable
Most smart TV's are wifi but will always work better when wired. One for the back of the TV and one where your going to put your AV amp (for spotify / smart control)
If your looking at a "coms room" or central location for all the equipment definitely lots of network cable , this can carry HDMI signal to (and sound very,very poorly so dont )

>Sol

I was going to write that too, I came here from your RicherSounds thread. Definitely go with separates rather than an all-in-one system. Wire your room now and buy or upgrade equipment later. Even with your budget you'll get a pretty decent system (if you're interested AVForums have a good second hand classifieds thread).

Ceiling speakers are excellent you can also get decent wall mounted speakers in the future. I have ceiling speakers in our kitchen and they're very discreet and no less effective (Monitor Audio's).