Need some help with home theatre.

[tp500]

So, I moved into a new house that happened to have 4 built-in ceiling speakers. I see two wall plates, I'll post the pics, one with 2 inputs, and the other with 4. I need to know what the hell I have to do to get them working. I've got a working receiver, but I don't know what kind of cords I need, and if the wall plates even are all wired behind the wall.

Here's the speaker.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b395/tp500/IMG00266.jpg

The first wall plate.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b395/tp500/IMG00268.jpg

And the second located behind the bar and my little Leatherface toy hehe
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b395/tp500/IMG00269.jpg

[UKMD Elmo]

My job involves helping people get their system set up, so I 'might' be able to help. Any chance of posting a clearer picture? I can't see what ports you're using there. Also which country are you in? If it's USA a lot of the cables/ports you use might be different from the UK

[tp500]

Canada, so same as US. How much clearer do you need them? Just so I can take a better picture.

[UKMD Elmo]

Well it looks like they might be standard audio cables but theres always the chance they're an integral part of a much larger system including a sub, amp, other speakers etc etc which means it's unlikely you'll be able to use them.

On the panel with the 2 ports, is one white and the other red?

[tp500]

Nah, they're all just a white colour. Im sure all I need to do is hook them up to a receiver and finito, but I don't know what cords to use.

[UKMD Elmo]

I'm assuming theres an amp board in there meaning you're just feeding in audio cables and it should translate direct to the speakers. Not sure about USA/Canadian systems but most amps/dvd players have audio-out ports on the rear, in the UK they are red and white ports. With any luck both ports should be compatible and connect to eachother via a double wire audio cable.

Again, I'm a UK hifi guy, not sure about what you got there. If all else fails unscrew one of the wall speakers and find a model number and make on the inside (be careful in case it's powered). Google the model number and you should find the manufacturers site that has a free downloadable instruction book for that model. That should explain what cables and setup type you need.

Good luck man and dont get electrocuted :D

[tp500]

I already got zapped once toying with the plate haha. Thanks a lot, hopefully I can figure this shit out. It's like someone left a stash of treasure in the house, but the key is nowhere to be found.

[UKMD Elmo]

Haha I know what you mean man. Okay if you got zapped by the baseplate best leave it alone. The speakers should be safeish though and have a better chance of showing you what model and make they are on the rear. Good luck man, and I'll try not to be envious of a decent looking surround in-wall system (they're usualy pretty damn expensive).

In fact let me know what you find out. I'm curious just how much of an expensive system you got for free there :D

[tp500]

There's no model or anything on the back of the wall plates. Nor is there anything on the speaker plates. Sigh, nothing is easy. Well, I took some more pictures, of the actual speakers, and the wall plates and the wiring of them. Maybe it will point me in the right direction.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b395/tp500/IMG00271.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b395/tp500/IMG00274.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b395/tp500/IMG00275.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b395/tp500/IMG00276.jpg

[UKMD Elmo]

Okay I've been looking about. Looks like you have standard possitive/negative connection there. Check the back of whatever you want to plug into the wall and the audio out should be the same kind of port as the one on the wall. You should have an audio cable hanging about (one cable, two ports on both ends, one red and one white) then plu gthem on and you should get sound playing through.

Sucks theres no model make or serial number though. Not even a manufacturer on the front of the speaker anywhere?

Good luck.

[tp500]

I know, it sucks, all the speaker plate says is "Digital Ready", but I don't know if that's the maker or just a little thing saying it is digital ready.

Ok so let me see if I get this. If I wanted to hook up say my xbox to these speakers, I would have to run a cable from the receiver to the wall outlet, and then from the receiver to the xbox red and white cables? And the wall cable would be output, and xbox the input?

[UKMD Elmo]

You should do it as follows:

- From the xbox output to the receiver input
- From the receiver output to the wall

Make sure the receiver's function/input is on whatever port you've plugged the xbox into (the name of the input should be listed on the port).

[tp500]

It looks fail so far. I just dont understand why there's one wall plate with 2 inputs, and then another with 4. There's only 4 speakers. Im thinking I have to use the 4 input one. Anyway, here's pics of what I hooked up.

Here's the wii input:http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b395/tp500/IMG00281.jpg

Then the audio cable going from the output on the receiver to the wall:
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b395/tp500/IMG00282.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b395/tp500/IMG00283.jpg

[UKMD Elmo]

Yeah looks like you're using the right cables there. Don't worry about the loose yellow cable that looks like an s-video lead so leave it unplugged. At least the cables fit.

To be honest is is odd to have more than one audio cable input for one set of speakers.... but there is a possibility one of the ports plugs into the entire speaker system so you may only need one.

You appear to be doing it right though. Keep playing about and see if you can get any sound at all and work from there. Just remember to make sure the cables going to the wall are outputs and from the x-box it is an input and you have that input selected on your amp.

P.S is that amp an Onkyo? Looks damn familiar.

[tp500]

Thanks, I'm posting on a Canadian hardware forum to see if I can get some really specific help. As for the amp, it's an old Kenwood my dad has had for awhile, it's pretty dated, we'll be replacing it eventually. Might get a 52 inch LCD next week :)

[UKMD Elmo]

No problem man, and nice with the tv. When it gets to that kind of size i'd go with a plasma personally though :P

Let us know how you get on.

[tp500]

I always am iffy about plasma, my aunt has one and the colours like red and green are always messed up on xbox and they seem to die pretty quickly.

[UKMD Elmo]

Hmm, might be you got a dodgy one there. Thing is with plasma even on digital channels on a 50" look great close up while with an lcd you get minor pixelation and trailing artefacts behind moving objects. Add a High definition receiver/channel to the plasma mix and you have one sweet looking picture.

By the way you got it working yet?