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Posted By: zuter cable in wall HT setup - 05/15/08 02:51 PM
I recently built a home theatre room in my basement....not finished but very close! One thing I did was to bury my speaker cables in the wall...very nice and clean, also high in the WAF.

I was looking at the space behind my Plasma and HT receiver and wanted to "clean" up the wiring behind there also. I've located speaker connectors (5 way) in multiple configurations and hunted down an HDMI wall plate. I haven't found a wall plate for toslink (tv has only RCA - sterio and Toslink outputs).

It seems most places I've asked just don't get much demand for this type of wall plate connection. Then I remembered this forum and knew someone must have already addressed this but I couldn't find any related posts. So, if someone could help or point me in the right direction it would be greatly appreciated!

I live in Calgary Alberta and any local info would be great or online sales are ok too!
Posted By: Hutzal Re: cable in wall HT setup - 05/15/08 02:54 PM
instead of using wall plates behind the plasma, just cut a hole big enough to fit all the cables thru, and plug them straight into your display. Your plasma will cover up the hole and no one will be the wiser. Just a thought ;\)
Posted By: Murph Re: cable in wall HT setup - 05/15/08 03:07 PM
I'm sure that this is what he meant but rather than have a bare hole in the drywall that the cables will chafe and produce dust (and a bigger hole), put in a 2 dollar electrical box and use a wall plate with a nice clean opening. Like this one..

Wall Plate
Posted By: Hutzal Re: cable in wall HT setup - 05/15/08 03:15 PM
Ya, I was thinking that really, I just couldn't think of what it was called

Thanks for the help!
Posted By: OhioKyle Re: cable in wall HT setup - 05/15/08 04:29 PM
This is what I tried to do with my system. Sorry for the poor image quality but all I have handy is a cell phone camera. These are Leviton Decora style inserts with keystone connectors.



The 5th insert from the top left (the big black circle) is a toslink insert. Bad news is it is not working. I am using Blue Jeans Cable optical cables. I can get a 4ft cable - insert - 4ft cable to work. But a 4ft cable - insert - 9ft cable will not work. I am not sure if the ends are not finished properly that cause too much attenuation in the insert or if the plastic cables just have too much signal loss. I have thought about using quartz cables with polished ends to see if it fixes the problem but I am not sure how much money I want to throw at this trying to fix it. The safest bet is to go with the above mentioned multi-cable wall plate and use a single optical cable.

Good Luck.
Posted By: jfdawson Re: cable in wall HT setup - 05/15/08 04:43 PM
I did the cheap man's version;

http://www.homeavcables.com/45-0001-wh.html

run all the cables behind the Plasma ( wall mounted ) to another hole ( gang plate ) behind the equipment. I bought 'In wall" rated HDMI cables running from the Amp to the TV.

JD
Posted By: zuter Re: cable in wall HT setup - 05/15/08 05:32 PM
Thanks all for youe responses but OhioKyle has what I'm looking for! I looked at the "gangways" but find the finished look cheap...IMHO. I have to run power up to the plasma anyways so I wanted a similar finished look for the audio/video terminals.

I checked earlier with Leviton for their decora inserts but couldn't find the optical (toslink) insert. I'll check again and see if I can get it locally or order direct from Leviton.
Posted By: Ken.C Re: cable in wall HT setup - 05/15/08 05:42 PM
There's also another company that advertises heavily with audioholics. I don't remember the name at the moment, but going to their site will probably turn up a link or 14.
Posted By: St_PatGuy Re: cable in wall HT setup - 05/15/08 05:51 PM
You might check Pass & Seymour--they'll probably have options as well.
Posted By: OhioKyle Re: cable in wall HT setup - 05/15/08 06:09 PM
FYI, the toslink insert is not made by Leviton. It is made by Calrad. I think I got mine from Techtool Supply.

I am not sure if this is the company kcarlile is thinking of but if you only need a few ports you can have it custom made to your specs by DVI Gear.

http://www.dvigear.com
Posted By: Capn_Pickard Re: cable in wall HT setup - 05/15/08 07:12 PM
If price is no object, then OhioKyle's solution is obviously the cleanest.

However, I will say that, for my money, a hole in the wall with a one gang wall plate is all I needed. two less connections to worry about - not to mention the possibilty that wires get lose or lost behind the wall. Also, if an upgrade is need, not only do you need new wires, but you'll need a new gang-plate.

It's all too much for absolutely no gain, in my book - especailly when the whole mess will be covered by the plasma and the AV cabinet.
Posted By: zuter Re: cable in wall HT setup - 05/15/08 08:49 PM
dvigear, partsexpress and homeavcables all have a wealth of cables and wall plates that should provide me with what I need. I've e-mailed them and asked for pricing and shipping!

Thanks jfdawson, Murph and OhioKyle.
Posted By: zuter Re: cable in wall HT setup - 05/15/08 10:24 PM
 Originally Posted By: Capn_Pickard
If price is no object, then OhioKyle's solution is obviously the cleanest.

However, I will say that, for my money, a hole in the wall with a one gang wall plate is all I needed. two less connections to worry about - not to mention the possibilty that wires get lose or lost behind the wall. Also, if an upgrade is need, not only do you need new wires, but you'll need a new gang-plate.

It's all too much for absolutely no gain, in my book - especailly when the whole mess will be covered by the plasma and the AV cabinet.


Actaully the price isn't all that high for any of the solutions at the 3 sites. And it is how I'm doing the AV rack that'll make a difference. I'm not going with a traditional rack. Instead I've designed a "floating" concept to mimic the display. Everything will appear to float in mid-air on a black wall so the wires/cables cannot be visible. Also this is an outer wall - insulated and vapor barriered. Any holes will have to be filled with expanding foam to seal them! If, down the road, I want to change it the drywall will have to removed anyways!

But you are right I still could use "gangways" even for my solution, it's just personal perference!
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