Home theater cables: how to better hide speaker cables

For most people with a home theater installed in their home, cables are one of the biggest logistical challenges. The cables and wires of all the components inevitably get tangled and tangled, making it nearly impossible to change your system configuration or any of the components. Most families don’t spend time organizing and hiding their cables to improve the aesthetics and safety of the home theater room. With just a few simple changes, your home theater’s wiring clutter can be easily cleaned up and brought under control.

All home theater components have a power cord that must reach a wall outlet, surge protector, or power strip. To keep power cords neat and tidy, use a label maker to identify the cord before plugging in home theater components. This will help you when you need to know which plug to pull out to move your speaker system or replace your DVD player.

To clean up the knots and clutter caused by the constant winding and unwinding of cables around each other, start by unplugging everything, including the cables that connect each component to the others, and separate them. Figure out exactly where you want each component to go, and then set them back up and route the wires neatly without crimping each other. You may need to write reminders of where everything is going if you’re not used to setting up theater. Use twist ties or cable ties every foot or so when there is more than one cable running in the same direction to prevent tangling and getting out of control. This same organization can be applied to power cords that lead to the same outlet.

If your home theater system is configured in such a way that some of the wiring must exit behind an entertainment cabinet or floorstanding speakers, it is recommended that you use some type of cable concealment to ensure that these cables do not get caught on the wires. people walking past. or picked up by small children or pets. To keep power cords out of sight and safe from tampering, use a cord protector designed to run the length of the wall to keep cords protected and covered. These cable protectors can be great for anywhere cables hang out in the open. If you’re building your home theater from scratch, you can ask the installer to build the wiring into the wall or trim in the room the same way. You won’t have to worry about tripping hazards or your new pup chewing on power cords if the cords are well hidden and out of the way.

Your home theater speakers provide another potential problem as you may want the speakers around the room with speaker wires becoming a big problem. To avoid this problem, the best, albeit complicated, option is to run the speaker wiring through the walls. This keeps them from dangling or getting in the way, and if you have the right tools and skills, you can place your speakers pretty much anywhere in the room.

Cleaning your home theater wiring doesn’t have to be a chore. With a few simple changes and proper storage, you can have a safe and clean-looking home theater for your family.

~Ben Anton, 2007