http://ask.metafilter.com/tags/surroundwiring Questions tagged with 'surroundwiring' at Ask MetaFilter. Mon, 26 Jun 2006 20:32:20 -0800 Mon, 26 Jun 2006 20:32:20 -0800 en-us http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 60 http://ask.metafilter.com/40992/Help%2Dme%2Dwire%2Dthis%2Dcrazyass%2Dlayout%2Dfor%2Dsurround%2Dsound Help me inexpensively and at least somewhat discreetly wire my place for surround. The problem: Really challenging room layout and a tight budget. The short version of what I'm looking for is:<br> - Recommendations of quality but affordable speaker cable (please, no Monster)<br> - Ideas on how to find out if/how I can drill into the soffit safely (if you need pics, I can put some up)<br> - Ballpark figures on having a room wired for surround if you've had it done<br> - Creative ideas for semi-attractively achieving this wiring without going into the wall<br> - Or .. point me to a magical tool that will let me go through the wall with minimal damage and easy/inexpensive repairs?<br> - I already have the surround system, and I'm house-poor - please do not recommend I purchase wireless speakers<br> <br> The more detailed notes with regard to this challenge:<br> - Floors are hardwood, I can't tuck wiring under baseboards or carpet, unfortunately<br> - It shouldn't make a huge difference, but the system I have is 6.1 surround (3 rears), not just 5.1<br> - Ceilings are somewhat high (9 feet). There is a soffit running around the perimeter (from the left of the entertainment center toward right, all the way around the wall with the balcony doors, and over to the kitchen), but it is unclear if I can drill into this soffit safely. Ductwork definitely runs through it, but it seems awfully big for all of that space to be air duct. Is there a safe way to find out if/how/where I can drill in and pull cables?<br> - Note all the doorways / hallways in the floorplan below. I was going to buy that white conduit-type tubing you can run along your trim, but it seems like it'd look awfully goofy going around so many doors or hallway openings. Please excuse my really crappy and not at all to scale MS Paint mockup of the room's floorplan:<br> <br> <img src="http://www.honestbleeps.com/images/floorplan.gif"><br> <br> - I'm very house-poor having just spent most of my savings on this condo, so I'm afraid spending several hundred dollars having an electrician pull cables is probably out of the question, though I don't know how much that costs.<br> <br> I fully understand that waiting until I have the money to have a professional run cables is an option. However, I have 2 cats and leaving the wiring running all over the floor temporarily is not really an option as they like to muck with things once in a while, so right now I can't hook up the speakers at all. I'm really really missing the ability to listen to music and watch movies with decent sound. tag:ask.metafilter.com,2006:site.40992 Mon, 26 Jun 2006 20:32:20 -0800 audio cable soffit speakers stereo surround surroundsound surroundwiring wiring twiggy