RE: HC Cabling

["Mick Furlong" <hiltoneltd@xxxxxxx>]

Any particular reason to buy a ready made cable for the sub? I would much
rather run it to a faceplate with a phono socket. What spec cable does it
need?

On the point of location of the AV amp would it be sensible or even
feasible
to run each speaker cable to the AV corner of the living room and terminate
both ends on faceplates with 4mm sockets. Then run a further bundle of x
number of cables (where x is the number of speakers ) from the AV corner to
Node Zero. These would also terminate in 4mm sockets at each end, all of
this wiring would be channeled in the wall.

If the AV amp is in the Living room you just use the speaker sockets and av
corner sockets. If the Amp is in Node Zero you use a short cable with 4mm
plugs at each end to connect the pairs of sockets in the AV corner, this
would provide connection from speaker to the amp in node zero.

This would mean the AV amp could be located in either location.

I guess the extra set of plug/socket connection might degrade the signal
some but is there any reason it wouldnt work?



Thanks
Mick


-----Original Message-----
From: Kenneth Watt [mailto:kwatt@xxxxxxx]
Sent: 08 March 2003 20:46
To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
Subject: RE: [ukha_d] HC Cabling


> I knew it would be a nightmare and although I do have the space I
don't
> really want a dedicated HC room more somewhere to watch films and a
bit of
> sport occasionally. The house is of fairly traditional design and
neither
> of
> us like corner, freestanding or hole in the wall fireplaces so we
decided
> on
> the old style;)

Fair enough, I just think HC...then where to put the furniture &
fittings ;)

>  Your diagram shows pretty much what I wanted to know thank you. Only
> thing
> I am unclear about is the centre speaker or speakers....I seem to
recall
> reading a while back about using two centre speakers and in some cases
two
> subs? It isn't something I intend doing soon but I want to cable for
> everything I can possibly think of.

I would only cable for one centre as the likelihood of needing or
wanting another one is extremely slim for what you say of your use for
it. Basically, two centres are used in some rooms, one above and one
below the display, to reputedly balance the sound. I have tried this on
a couple of occasions and it's a waste of time IMHO a single good centre
is just as good as two if it's set up correctly almost universally
placed below the display.

Two subs, is that all? You can never have enough subs! ;)

I use three in here, but that's a bit extreme TBH, one is fine for most
people and since they are omni-directional situating the sub/s is not
*really* that critical depending on how fussy you want to be and the
subs and room/furnishings. The problem with it is that to do that you
really need to have the sub/s and the room furnished for the ultimate
sound, me I couldn't give a monkey's TBH what the hi-fi guru's prattle
on about. I fired two subs at either side roughly where the one I showed
in the diagram is and then launched a little 'un on the rear pair.

> Another question is on  the location of the AV amp and therefore where
I
> run
> the speaker cables to...do I stick it in Node Zero or do I keep the
amp in
> the room.

Hmm, tough call that one and it is very dependant on what you want
personally. I have all my AV kit in the one room but I know a lot of
people run it to a node 0, personally I don't hold with that but in some
cases there is little option, especially aesthetically. Needless to say
it can be done and fairly easily, I think Graham Howe did that exactly
so maybe best to ask him about how to and the problems involved if any.

> And finally does any of this require non-speaker cable, for example
for
> the
> sub?

If it's a powered sub then normally it's wired with a single phono plug
connection from the amp to the sub you can buy them in various lengths
>from
Powered subs, obviously I suppose from the name, require power for their
internal amps. So basically a long single phono plug lead and a socket
for power and you're good to go.

For a passive sub you need to run the feed off of which you want the sub
to come from, split it and run it back to the speakers. TBH though a
passive sub these days is as rare as rocking horse doo doo and chances
are it'll be powered.

ATEOTD a lot of it comes down to what you want and what you like and
don't let anyone tell you different. ;)

HTH

K.