Tips for Home Theater cables...why are they so expensive???

[Hammer67]

Originally Posted by Buzz05

Thats not a bad idea. I want to do something. I hate when you can see wires. Even though my last place you kinda could. This new place is nicer and I want to keep is looking kinda classy and not like a frat house. That was fine in college but now it just looks tacky. Since I just found out we are getting a dog I am going to have to do somethin, I dont want him eating through my wires.

My dog has left our wires alone....I am lucky in that regard...with my new house, all of our cables are hidden under throw rugs or furniture so it works out nicely. I am finishing the basement and building a 10' x 12' theater room and am going to run all the wire in the walls and floor, including video cables. I want a custom console in between our theater chairs to plug in things like iPods, cameras, etc.

[Buzz05]

Originally Posted by Hammer67

My dog has left our wires alone....I am lucky in that regard...with my new house, all of our cables are hidden under throw rugs or furniture so it works out nicely. I am finishing the basement and building a 10' x 12' theater room and am going to run all the wire in the walls and floor, including video cables. I want a custom console in between our theater chairs to plug in things like iPods, cameras, etc.

That sounds sweet.

[Preacher]

Originally Posted by MACH1

I can't remember where I seen it. But theres a wire hider that looks like a small pvc pipe cut in half, its like 3/8"-1/2" and it has sticky tape on the flat side so you could stick it to a base board or in a corner wheres its not to noticeable and its paintable.

Might be able to make something like that yourself.

That is good stuff. You can go to Home Depot and ask for the "Wiremold Cordmate II"


It comes in 5 foot sections, and you can buy corner as well. It cuts with scissors (not nicely, but all cut pieces can be hidden with the corner pieces). Stick it in a cornerand run it up the wall, just below the ceiling, and down to the speaker. The ONLY problem is that it may pull up part of the rock when you pull it off, so ask your Landlord first.

Or, some people here may have a good idea of how to get the stuff off the wall.

[Buzz05]

So...as of last night my roommate just bought a new 42" Panasonic Plasma. Which I can reap the benefits from. But I do have a question. We know about the cables and allf rom the HD Box to the TV and all that and the special cleaner. But I do have a question. On my surround sound system do I need any special wires to hook it up? All I have are the basic UV cables. My system is about 2 years old and its a Sanyo system 400 Watts. Its not the top of the line but still a pretty good systam that does what I want. Also when I hook it up. And the wire going from the HD Box to the TV has sound and video on it. How will that work with me wanting to hook up my surround? Any information would be great!

P.S. I think we are going to make do for another too weeks with our normal digital box since we are moving Labor Day weekend and will just get everything then.

[Hammer67]

Originally Posted by Buzz05

So...as of last night my roommate just bought a new 42" Panasonic Plasma. Which I can reap the benefits from. But I do have a question. We know about the cables and allf rom the HD Box to the TV and all that and the special cleaner. But I do have a question. On my surround sound system do I need any special wires to hook it up? All I have are the basic UV cables. My system is about 2 years old and its a Sanyo system 400 Watts. Its not the top of the line but still a pretty good systam that does what I want. Also when I hook it up. And the wire going from the HD Box to the TV has sound and video on it. How will that work with me wanting to hook up my surround? Any information would be great!

P.S. I think we are going to make do for another too weeks with our normal digital box since we are moving Labor Day weekend and will just get everything then.

Does your audio receiver have an HDMI port on the back? If it is a home theater type receiver then it should. If so, you only need two cables. 2 HDMI. One from the cable box to the receiver "IN" and one from the receiver "OUT" to the TV.

HDMI cables are great as they carry the video and the audio signal, no need for seperate cables.

If it doesn't, then run one HDMI form the cable box to the TV for video. Then, get an optical cable and run it from the cable box to the receiver for the audio. But, the first scenario is optimal.

[Buzz05]

Originally Posted by Hammer67

Does your audio receiver have an HDMI port on the back? If it is a home theater type receiver then it should. If so, you only need two cables. 2 HDMI. One from the cable box to the receiver "IN" and one from the receiver "OUT" to the TV.

HDMI cables are great as they carry the video and the audio signal, no need for seperate cables.

If it doesn't, then run one HDMI form the cable box to the TV for video. Then, get an optical cable and run it from the cable box to the receiver for the audio. But, the first scenario is optimal.

Alright Ill have to check it out when I get home.

[MACH1]

Originally Posted by Buzz05

So...as of last night my roommate just bought a new 42" Panasonic Plasma. Which I can reap the benefits from. But I do have a question. We know about the cables and allf rom the HD Box to the TV and all that and the special cleaner. But I do have a question. On my surround sound system do I need any special wires to hook it up? All I have are the basic UV cables. My system is about 2 years old and its a Sanyo system 400 Watts. Its not the top of the line but still a pretty good systam that does what I want. Also when I hook it up. And the wire going from the HD Box to the TV has sound and video on it. How will that work with me wanting to hook up my surround? Any information would be great!

P.S. I think we are going to make do for another too weeks with our normal digital box since we are moving Labor Day weekend and will just get everything then.

If you want surround you may have to run an optical from the cable box to your receiver.

I have the 50" panny plasma and the tv's only output 2 channel sound even from its optical out.

[BettisFan]

i have 100 inch its nice

[Hammer67]

Originally Posted by MACH1

If you want surround you may have to run an optical from the cable box to your receiver.

I have the 50" panny plasma and the tv's only output 2 channel sound even from its optical out.

If he runs an HDMI from the cable box to the receiver, then one from the receiver to the TV, he should be set. HDMI passes digital surround channels including DTS and Dolby Digital.\\

[MACH1]

Originally Posted by Hammer67

If he runs an HDMI from the cable box to the receiver, then one from the receiver to the TV, he should be set. HDMI passes digital surround channels including DTS and Dolby Digital.\\

Your right it does.