Whole House Audio Wiring

Gathering information regarding Whole House Wiring can be a bit tricky. Lets get to the bottom of this issue. Most will advise you to wire a certain way only to sell you a product that will only work with that wiring method.

May 4, 2009 | Filed Under Whole House Audio Wiring 

Comments

6 Responses to “Whole House Audio Wiring”

  1. John on May 4th, 2009 6:24 pm

    Can you please confirm the whole house audio wiring for single source and multi source audio systems? I have been told several methods; though I am not sure what system I want to go with.

  2. admin on May 5th, 2009 9:55 am

    Wiring a 16/4 (16guage 4 conductor) Speaker Wire or 14/4 if pushing well over 100’ & a CAT5/or better to every keypad/volume control location. This wiring method will allow you to choose any system you wish. Run the Speaker and cat5 wire to the volume/keypad location then run the speaker wire from the keypad to the speaker’s location, typically one pair per keypad. The wires Demarcation or distribution point is the key. Lets say you run 4 or 8 cat5 & speaker wires from the volume/keypad to a structural wiring panel though you only have one cat 5 and one 16/4 speaker wire from the music location to the panel, you cannot utilize a multi-room system, you will be limited to a single source system, one music source at a time at all keypad/volume control locations.
    Yes you can run the 4 or 8 cat5 and speaker wires from the panel back to the music location though why run them into the panel at all? You will now have to splice all those wires! Less splices, less problems. Take the wiring to the music sources and call it a day. Wire to a logical location. New Build or Retrofit, You must confirm were your Music will be located.

  3. John on May 5th, 2009 9:59 am

    I was told not to run the speaker wire into the keypad,only the cat 5 because a multi room system dedicated the speakers from the matrix or amp instead of the keypad.

  4. admin on May 5th, 2009 10:19 am

    It is true that the speakers are dedicated. Keep in mind that once you run the wire you are locked into that system. The point is to wire for convenience, you may move and want to take your system with you though you can’t install volume control because you do not have speaker wire in the box. The speaker wire in the keypad/volume control location also makes it easy to trouble shoot if needed. More options equal more flexibility

  5. John on May 5th, 2009 10:21 am

    Couldn’t I simply install a speaker selector with volume controls if I don’t want a multi room system?

  6. admin on May 5th, 2009 10:35 am

    Sure you can install a speaker selector with volume controls if the wire is already in and you cannot rewire, though we throw convenience out the window. Do you really want to run back to the speaker selector every time you want to adjust the volume? The Point is to make your life a bit easier not more complicated. The wire runs near the volume control anyway so you might as well drop it in the volume control gang box.