Hiding speaker wire tricks? (1 Viewer)

Besides the obvious of running the wire through the walls, what are some other tricks you have used to hide the speaker wire as best as possible so people don't notice it? Running along the floor isn't an option as its hardwood floors. any pictures of what others have done would be great. I was thinking like some 1/4 pcv pipe painted to blend in but this might be tacky.

any pics or ideas would be great.

I used flat, adhesive backed, paintable speaker wire for my rental apartment. If I remember correctly, it only cost like $.18/sq. ft more.

If anyone can help give tips here that would help me out as well. I especially would like to know, how to hide it when it has to cross a walkway, like a hallway space. I have carpet and was thinking about a floor rug, but maybe someone else has a brighter idea. Thanks

You can run it in corners, and paint it to match the wall, or cover it with moulding. Run it along the edge of the doorjam instead of right across the threshold... Or get creative and put a little head and tail on it and everyone will think its an artisitic rendering of a snake.

Or you could run them directly from amp to speakers, I mean in a straight line, pulled tight, suspended in the air. It might look cool on Halloween.

- Cryo

Here is alink to what I did. Basically cut my own base molding to provide a hidden route for cables and wires. Mine was a cinch since the walls are fabric and I could adhere the Base Molding with Velcro. However, some regular Base molding could be held in place with nails.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...ghlight=secret

Darren,
That looks interesting. Is the baseboard done in the same method all the way around the room, or is it just that section to allow you to pull the wires out if need be?

hey, Wayne, yes wall to wall. Thanks for your help.

Wires/cables running on the outside of a wall,column or floor just don't look professional to me. I once helped a friend with hiding speaker wires when he mounted a speaker on a drywall covered column. We used a router and routed a channel on the drywall, then lay a speaker wire in it and fill it with tape and spackle. It looks and works great.

I have the same problem. I found some interesting flat cable at Smarthome.com that might work, but I have no idea how it compares to other speaker cables. You can check it out at

http://smarthome.com/8470.html

Thank you everyone for the replies, you got the hamster turning now! I got a few ideas from this.

Wires/cables running on the outside of a wall,column or floor just don't look professional to me.

I agree 110%

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Mathew,

I used this accessable moulding on both walls perpendicular to the screen. The wall left of the screen only hides an extension cable, where as the right side conceals the Bass cable to the Bass Shaker amp and SVS Subwoofer, the 65ft component cable to the projector, an extension cord for rope lighting and a pair of speaker wire runs to the rear center channel speakers.

This is totally undetectable and makes access a snap. Actually a easy modification to one's exsisting base moulding would prove similar results:

1.) Carefully remove exsisting base moulding using small pry tool.

2.) Once moulding is removed this will reveal the sheetrock underneath. Using a drywall knife/razor knife cut away approx. 1" of sheetrock running parallel to floor.

3.) Remove cut sheetrock strip. This now give you a 1" wide and 1/2 deep (dependent on actual drywall thickness) channel in which to run your speaker cable/wires.

4.) Using nail brads or plastic cable guides attach the wires to the revealed 2X4 stud.

5.) Replace moulding.

Wayne, and Darren, thanks for your suggestions.. If I can manage to do so without the little lady finding out, both used in conjuction will be what I do.

One more question Wayne... How hard is it to pull carpet off the tack strip on a corner... I will have to run across a hallway where the walls are like this..

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Lowes home improvement has etched molding that stealths wire:
http://www.lowes.com/lkn?action=howT...c=howToLibrary

www.lsdinc.com has Glow-rods to pull wire under carpet. They also have several other to die for specialty tools for prewire and retrotfit.

I ran Home Depot 12 gauge speaker wire between my baseboard and carpet, I just pushed it in their with a flat head screw driver. I did this until I was right underneath my surrounds. I then connected it to Acoustic Research Speaker Micro Flat speaker wire which runs up the wall (it's sticky on one side and only .5mm thick). I put tape over it, spackled, sanded, and repainted. I'm very pleased with the clean look. I just hate the look of wires.

Click below for larger picture:

[url=http://members.cox.net/frankcarter/hiddenwire%20(WinCE).jpeg] [/url]

What do you think?

Thanks. I'm going to be doing it again soon with a pair of those Wharfedale picture frame speakers I'm putting in our pool room.