Finishing Basement - video / audio help

[Oz]

So not that I am starting the finishing off of the basement - I am about ready for the electrical / video / audio portion of the wiring. I have the wiring and electrical section down to what I need (separate dedicated circuit for my tv and components), can lighting with dimmer switch, etc... but I am looking for ideas on what other ideas I need to throw in the walls before insulation and drywall (yes, speaker wire will be ran to location).

Thoughts or web sites to go to?

Thanks,

[Doctor_XXX]

Whatever you do, be sure to "over do" it. You don't wanna rip into the walls 5 years from now because you ran cheap speaker wire (or whatever) the first time.

[I'm watching this space for thoughts, too! Sounds like a good thread!!!]

[Oz]

Whatever you do, be sure to "over do" it. You don't wanna rip into the walls 5 years from now because you ran cheap speaker wire (or whatever) the first time.

[I'm watching this space for thoughts, too! Sounds like a good thread!!!]

Hence the reason for the post.

My neighbor is a techie - and was talking about all his wiring he's getting ready to put in for his computers and shit, which got me thinking about my video setup along with all the nicknacks.

When I finished my last house (actually before I put it on the market) I ran speaker wire with speakers, about 6 cat5 runs to the TV area from the DVD/stereo location - all of which was high end wiring. I don't like going with cheap shit for sound / video / computer stuff.

[Quads]

Speaker wire, pull a few strands of cat5, cable, and power.

[huge1s]

Some tips from when i finished my basement (well...3/4 of it)...

Pull lots of wire. Think of every possible configuration where you would want to have speakers and run the wire. For mine, i ran wires to power speakers above the bar (from anywhere i set up my tv/stereo) and also ran wires for the surround speakers and left/right channels (in every spot). You won't be sorry you spent an extra $50 on wire. Oh, also...don't forget wiring for your sub....I almost forgot about doing it and would have had to put the sub right next to the stereo.

Make a map of all your wiring (including measurements (don't forget height) so you can find it again.

I bought one of those AV wiring boxes (Leviton) to tidy up all my wires and have them all terminate in the same spot. One mistake I made was that I wish i put the box in a spot where I could put my stereo/dvd out of site. It would be nice to ONLY have my flatscreen hanging on the wall with no equipment below it.

If you are hanging a flatscreen, run the electrical wire up the wall so you can get to it. You don't have to connect it, but have it there so when you decide on where to hang the flatscreen you can add an electrical outlet that doesn't show.

I am no AV expert, but doing those things definately made life easier for my AV stuff.

[SevenDeuceOffsuit]

HDMI from wherever you want your component rack to wherever you want your TV.

In-wall HDMI would be the nuts.

[dermaestro]

HDMI from wherever you want your component rack to wherever you want your TV.

In-wall HDMI would be the nuts.

Make sure your cables are v1.3 (latest version).

[Oz]

Wires heading from location to location:

Audio to TV (approx 30' of wiring)
- 2" flex conduit for future (HDMI or whatever)
- 4 runs of Cat5
- 2 runs of Coax Cable

Audio to Speakers
16 gauge heavy duty speaker wire


Speakers are uncertain at this point - in wall vs wall mounted satellites.

Due to limitations of rear speakers - they will be placed in ceiling behind theater seats (ya, that's how we're gonna do it :) ) - so I figured satellite cubes could be angled towards the seating area like wall mounts would be.

I did frame a section behind the wall mount tv for a recessed wall support so the tv will be a little more flush with the wall. Inside that I have 3 electrical boxes for cat5, hdmi, coax and power.

[zathras]

Depending on where your AV equipment is going, you may want an IR repeater mounted in the wall. If it's not right up front with the TV then this is a slick way to capture the various remote signals and send them to wherever the equipment is.

Also you can put wall plates in for computer video (svga 15 pin), Xbox/ps3 component or hdmi, etc.

Make sure you use separate boxes for the HV power and the LV stuff.

I would also make sure you go with RG6QS for your coax.