Quake3World

That has wireless rear channels? I don't mind seeing the power cords, but the signal lines are a big hassle.

none that have excellent latency and sound. If you want a brilliant (hell, even mediocre) theater environment, I wouldn't recommend an emergent solution like that.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00008 ... e&n=172282

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&hs=r ... rs&spell=1

Juggs, you have any idea about possible Wi-Fi interference from these wireless speakers? I've found one or two that are in my price range, but I've read some reviews with complaints about interference issues.

You should really consider fishing the wires down the walls. That way you could spend the money on higher quality speakers instead of the wireless capability.

For high end speakers you could look at.....

Linn
Morell
Anthony Gallo
Acoustic Energy
Sonace

For a high end amp you could look at.....

Sunfire
Pioneer Elete Series
Sony ES series

Nightshade wrote:Juggs, you have any idea about possible Wi-Fi interference from these wireless speakers? I've found one or two that are in my price range, but I've read some reviews with complaints about interference issues.

yes. i've heard and have read the same complaints with some wireless setups (this includes wireless headphones) at a couple of the Audio/Video forums i visit.

note that i was only giving you some suggestions, not necessarily recommendations. i have to agree with Undies and say that going wireless is not a good idea.

Yeah, it's starting to look like wireless is out. I should be able to get more system for a similar price, I'm not looking for anything audiophile-quality, just a decent system. The problem is, I have no real idea how to go about running wires through walls.

Run across any good how-tos?

Going to need some system recommendations, too.

Nightshade wrote:Yeah, it's starting to look like wireless is out. I should be able to get more system for a similar price, I'm not looking for anything audiophile-quality, just a decent system. The problem is, I have no real idea how to go about running wires through walls.

Run across any good how-tos?

i'll shoot you a couple of links when i get home, so expect it at coffee time in the AM.

rgoer wrote:onkyo

edit: is a good mid-range "pro-sumer" brand if you don't feel like blowing audiophile moneyhats but you also don't want something shitty and cheap

yer onkyo's a good choice if you don't want to go with seperates.

The best I ever had was electrostatic headphone by Koss, cost 250$ at the time but no home theatre system can still beat it.
Well, it's not a HTS but if you want quality...

pete wrote:The best I ever had was electrostatic headphone by Koss, cost 250$ at the time but no home theatre system can still beat it.
Well, it's not a HTS but if you want quality...

we don't want to start a headhpone vs. direct radiator debate here. also, it seems you're saying you can't have a quality sounding home theater system compared to top-notch headphones?

Nightshade wrote:Yeah, it's starting to look like wireless is out. I should be able to get more system for a similar price, I'm not looking for anything audiophile-quality, just a decent system. The problem is, I have no real idea how to go about running wires through walls.

Run across any good how-tos?

Do you have wall to wall carpeting?
Where the rear speakers are to be mounted, is it an interior wal or exterior.

Where your speakers are to be mounted on the wall, just drill a small hole to feed the wire through.
Directly below it you can pull of the base board. Cut a small hole like 2" x 2", not anything larger that the baseboard height.
Now you can fish the wire out or it might be just in plain view.
You can also try and pull it up and then let it drop to get it.
The just run it along the baseboard to the reciever.

If it's an outside wall you can basically do the same thing, but due to insulation, it may be a bit harder. If you know someone that has a fishing tape, this would be alot easier, and you'd probably need it anyhow.

Also, is the attic above this room?
Are you in a house or an apartment?
If you have an attic above you, you could fish the wires through the attic.
I imagine that your in something like a town house due to the pic of you and your bike.

Nightshade wrote:Yeah, it's starting to look like wireless is out. I should be able to get more system for a similar price, I'm not looking for anything audiophile-quality, just a decent system. The problem is, I have no real idea how to go about running wires through walls.

Run across any good how-tos?

I can give you all you need to know about pre and post wiring a house....

Do you have block or wood stud walls?

Do you have attic area over the room?

We need to start there...

p.s. go no less than 12gauge all around.

# 12 is a bit much for surround sound speakers. Especially if you are using multi-strand audio cable. I'd understand running #12 to a sub woofer, but nothing else. Besides. #12 may not even fit into the wire connection on the back of the speaker. A #14/2 should be fine. Though the system that NS is building probably won't need anything over a #16 or #18 guage wire.

YourGrandpa wrote:# 12 is a bit much for surround sound speakers. Especially if you are using multi-strand audio cable. I'd understand running #12 to a sub woofer, but nothing else. Besides. #12 may not even fit into the wire connection on the back of the speaker. A #14/2 should be fine. Though the system that NS is building probably won't need anything over a #16 or #18 guage wire.

but if he decides to upgrade later, it will save him loads of hassle. IMO, 12g is never too much.

you even mentioned higher end front ends yet you'd not run 12's to them? that's nuts.

Gauge....5w........10w.......15w.......30w.......50w......100w...200w
16....10,000 ft.7,000 ft..4,600 ft..2,300 ft..1,400 ft..700 ft..350 ft
18....9,000 ft...4,500 ft..2,800 ft..1,400 ft..830 ft.....415 ft..205 ft
20....5,500 ft...2,700 ft..1,800 ft..900 ft.....540 ft.....270 ft..135 ft
22....3,400 ft...1,700 ft..1,100 ft..550 ft.....330 ft.....115 ft..60 ft
24....2,100 ft...1000 ft...700 ft.....350 ft.....210 ft.....105 ft..50 ft


This is based on an 8ohm speaker load at 70vlts

Here's a great little calculator to use for determining wire size.

http://www.wheelockinc.com/speaker_calc/speaker.zip

hehe, i know all about that chart and about speaker impedences and wire resistance. i'm coming from the acoustic side of things, but i'm not going to get into that discussion here because:

1) it'll definitely get off topic
2) it gets old

+JuggerNaut+ wrote:

YourGrandpa wrote:# 12 is a bit much for surround sound speakers. Especially if you are using multi-strand audio cable. I'd understand running #12 to a sub woofer, but nothing else. Besides. #12 may not even fit into the wire connection on the back of the speaker. A #14/2 should be fine. Though the system that NS is building probably won't need anything over a #16 or #18 guage wire.

but if he decides to upgrade later, it will save him loads of hassle. IMO, 12g is never too much.

you even mentioned higher end front ends yet you'd not run 12's to them? that's nuts.

When you build a surround sound system all of the speakers are typically the same, except for the sub woofer/amplifier. Tower speakers are not usually a part of the surround sound environment because they tend to over power and offset the staging of the other surround sound speakers.

So no, I wouldn't think he'd ever need #12 wire to run front surround speakers of any type.

typically if you got a home theater in a box. you're assuming that they'd be the same SIZE, i'm not. you can get the same voicing from different size cabinets as long as the drivers/ribbons/etc are close to the timbre of another given pair or the exact same model. you can have a killer surround system that doesn't audibly differ in timbre from one end of the room to another and yet have a great set of mains for two channel listening.

also, the idea of "overpowering" just because of size is incorrect. if you use a db meter and set them at reference levels, you'll not get that.