Hello
I really need some help as I am getting all sorts of contradictory recommendations around how to wire my system. I have an electrician coming this weekend to complete all of the wiring and electrical work for my project before the Mason starts next week. At a point where I really need to get my arms around this as I learned a lot of new information today to my surprise.
Project Overview:
We have a very large 30 by 30 living room with 20 foot high ceilings. At a Macro level our project entails a mason installing stone around our fireplace and all the way up to the ceiling. In short he will be installing a new limestone hearth and fabricated stone around our fireplace which will net out to 6 feet wide and 20 feet high stone wall. Before the Mason begins his work we have our electrician coming in to prepare for the addition of an OLED 4K TV and Atmos Soundbar above the mantle. This is where we are looking for some guidance.
Situation:
We purchased CNET's TV of the year (LG 65 inch OLED 4k HDR Smart TV C7 Series).
Our Spectrum Cable Box And Blue Ray Player will need to be connected to the TV. However, these 2 devices will be 50 feet away in our media cabinet. Also coming to find out that our Blue Ray will not work with the LG OLED and that we need to buy a 4K Blue Ray for compatibility purposes.
In addition, we will have an Atmosphere Sound Bar sitting on the mantle right below the TV that we need to connect along with an Apple TV which will sit on our mantle as well.
Problem:
We thought we were making the right decision to future proof our investment with the OLED but are quickly coming to find out that we need to re-invest in cabling at a premium and additional hardware that is compatible with the OLED. None of this was shared with us during the sales process. Regardless, I am over it and we are trying to solve for a specific problem as follows: The Spectrum Cable Box AND Blue Ray Player are 50 feet of cable away from the OLED TV. In other words, we need to solve for the best way (highest quality and most cost efficient) to connect the TV to these 2 units that will be in our media center roughly 50 feet away.
Implication:
We are considering several approaches to solve for this in the most meaningful way as 3 approaches have been presented to us, all of which carry a large cost and frankly, I have yet to hear a plan that I am comfortable with. This is what we are hearing. Please review and let us know if anyone has any suggestions.
Option #1:
Solution for Cable Box and 4K Blue Ray - Run a single 50 foot Premium HDMI cable from the TV to the Cable Box ($400 - $500) and Run a second 50 foot Premium HDMI cable from the TV to the 4K Blue Ray (Another $400-$500).
Solution for the 4K Apple TV and the Atmos Sound Bar that will be under the TV on the mantle - Run a single 3 foot Premium HDMI from the TV behind the wall to the Soundbar and Run a single 3 foot Premium HDMI behind the wall to the 4K Apple TV.
Option #2:
Solution for Cable Box and 4K Blue Ray - Run a single 50 foot Cat6 from the TV to the media center with an HDMI Balun on both ends. The media center Balun would have 2 HDMI slots for the cable box and the Blue Ray to tie into and the TV side end would have a Balun with an HDMI port that connects HDMI to the TV.
Solution for the 4K Apple TV and the Atmos Sound Bar that will be under the TV on the mantle - Run a single 3 foot Premium HDMI from the TV behind the wall to the Soundbar and Run a single 3 foot Premium HDMI behind the wall to the 4K Apple TV.
Option #3:
Solution for the Cable box and 4K Blue Ray - Connect the Blue Ray to the Spectrum Cable Box via HDMI and the Run a singe HDMI cable from the Spectrum cable box 50 feet to an HDMI switch that gets installed by the TV. This switch has a single HDMI that feeds into the OLED. The Sound Bar and 4K Apple TV that are on the mantle tie into the switch as well. In short, the Switch is the central point where all devices meet with a single HDMI feeding up into the TV.
As I look at this, I am starting to feel like I paid a premium for a viewing experience that is way ahead of its time. From what I understand the only thing we will actually truly be able to leverage this awesome TV's picture quality for is some streaming scenarios (Netflix, etc.) and when watching 4K blue ray. Anything we watch via the cable box will be converted as best as possible but will not get to true OLED 4K quality due to the fact that TV stations are not delivering 4K content today. Further more I am starting to understand that I cannot make any mistakes as it relates to the HDMI line runs as degradation can occur at 50 feet. A lot going on here and really need some assistance from some Pros.
Open to ideas. Thanks in advance for any guidance and support you might be able to offer.
Regards,
Mike
I really need some help as I am getting all sorts of contradictory recommendations around how to wire my system. I have an electrician coming this weekend to complete all of the wiring and electrical work for my project before the Mason starts next week. At a point where I really need to get my arms around this as I learned a lot of new information today to my surprise.
Project Overview:
We have a very large 30 by 30 living room with 20 foot high ceilings. At a Macro level our project entails a mason installing stone around our fireplace and all the way up to the ceiling. In short he will be installing a new limestone hearth and fabricated stone around our fireplace which will net out to 6 feet wide and 20 feet high stone wall. Before the Mason begins his work we have our electrician coming in to prepare for the addition of an OLED 4K TV and Atmos Soundbar above the mantle. This is where we are looking for some guidance.
Situation:
We purchased CNET's TV of the year (LG 65 inch OLED 4k HDR Smart TV C7 Series).
Our Spectrum Cable Box And Blue Ray Player will need to be connected to the TV. However, these 2 devices will be 50 feet away in our media cabinet. Also coming to find out that our Blue Ray will not work with the LG OLED and that we need to buy a 4K Blue Ray for compatibility purposes.
In addition, we will have an Atmosphere Sound Bar sitting on the mantle right below the TV that we need to connect along with an Apple TV which will sit on our mantle as well.
Problem:
We thought we were making the right decision to future proof our investment with the OLED but are quickly coming to find out that we need to re-invest in cabling at a premium and additional hardware that is compatible with the OLED. None of this was shared with us during the sales process. Regardless, I am over it and we are trying to solve for a specific problem as follows: The Spectrum Cable Box AND Blue Ray Player are 50 feet of cable away from the OLED TV. In other words, we need to solve for the best way (highest quality and most cost efficient) to connect the TV to these 2 units that will be in our media center roughly 50 feet away.
Implication:
We are considering several approaches to solve for this in the most meaningful way as 3 approaches have been presented to us, all of which carry a large cost and frankly, I have yet to hear a plan that I am comfortable with. This is what we are hearing. Please review and let us know if anyone has any suggestions.
Option #1:
Solution for Cable Box and 4K Blue Ray - Run a single 50 foot Premium HDMI cable from the TV to the Cable Box ($400 - $500) and Run a second 50 foot Premium HDMI cable from the TV to the 4K Blue Ray (Another $400-$500).
Solution for the 4K Apple TV and the Atmos Sound Bar that will be under the TV on the mantle - Run a single 3 foot Premium HDMI from the TV behind the wall to the Soundbar and Run a single 3 foot Premium HDMI behind the wall to the 4K Apple TV.
Option #2:
Solution for Cable Box and 4K Blue Ray - Run a single 50 foot Cat6 from the TV to the media center with an HDMI Balun on both ends. The media center Balun would have 2 HDMI slots for the cable box and the Blue Ray to tie into and the TV side end would have a Balun with an HDMI port that connects HDMI to the TV.
Solution for the 4K Apple TV and the Atmos Sound Bar that will be under the TV on the mantle - Run a single 3 foot Premium HDMI from the TV behind the wall to the Soundbar and Run a single 3 foot Premium HDMI behind the wall to the 4K Apple TV.
Option #3:
Solution for the Cable box and 4K Blue Ray - Connect the Blue Ray to the Spectrum Cable Box via HDMI and the Run a singe HDMI cable from the Spectrum cable box 50 feet to an HDMI switch that gets installed by the TV. This switch has a single HDMI that feeds into the OLED. The Sound Bar and 4K Apple TV that are on the mantle tie into the switch as well. In short, the Switch is the central point where all devices meet with a single HDMI feeding up into the TV.
As I look at this, I am starting to feel like I paid a premium for a viewing experience that is way ahead of its time. From what I understand the only thing we will actually truly be able to leverage this awesome TV's picture quality for is some streaming scenarios (Netflix, etc.) and when watching 4K blue ray. Anything we watch via the cable box will be converted as best as possible but will not get to true OLED 4K quality due to the fact that TV stations are not delivering 4K content today. Further more I am starting to understand that I cannot make any mistakes as it relates to the HDMI line runs as degradation can occur at 50 feet. A lot going on here and really need some assistance from some Pros.
Open to ideas. Thanks in advance for any guidance and support you might be able to offer.
Regards,
Mike