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Post by vneal on Aug 6, 2014 8:57:26 GMT -5
I am tweeking and organizing my HT System. Is it ok to zip tie the excess cable or is it better to let it hang down in the back. The WF/wife factor has already commented. Thanks for your views
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Post by Boomzilla on Aug 6, 2014 9:10:57 GMT -5
There's no easy answer. If you neaten them, then every time you want to change anything, you have to redo the bundles. If you let them hang, then they're messy and it's hard to find the cable you're looking for in the mess.
A reasonable compromise is to label both ends of all the cables (making identification easier) and then bundle the mess with wire ties.
Best of luck...
Boomzilla
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kse
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Post by kse on Aug 6, 2014 9:17:23 GMT -5
Use the thin Velcro strips available from Monoprice. Hook on one side, loop on the other, cut to desired length. Better and cleaner looking than zip ties, and you can undo and reuse as necessary.
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Post by rogersch on Aug 6, 2014 9:19:13 GMT -5
Why not zip tie the wife?  |
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Post by brubacca on Aug 6, 2014 9:21:59 GMT -5
Why not zip tie the wife? Depending on where you live there may be laws against this! |
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hemster
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Post by hemster on Aug 6, 2014 9:22:08 GMT -5
Use the thin Velcro strips available from Monoprice. Hook on one side, loop on the other, cut to desired length. Better and cleaner looking than zip ties, and you can undo and reuse as necessary. This is what I do and yes.. it gets annoying to have to undo everything every time I make changes. But OTOH velcro is good for that. |
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Post by vneal on Aug 6, 2014 9:47:44 GMT -5
Emo thanks! I will use your suggestion
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Post by restless on Aug 6, 2014 10:19:11 GMT -5
Order EMO E-connects, and get free cloth velco ties for cables. Normally, two on each cable (larger cables - different sized depending upon cables). Re-purpose them to organize the back of the rack.
Maybe EMO should just sell a dozen or so. Work well and reusable.
Labels on each end, make it simpler to pull one cable out of a bunch and then velcro back again.
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DYohn
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Post by DYohn on Aug 6, 2014 10:22:33 GMT -5
Electrically and sonically it just doesn't matter. Make them look neat in whatever way you think is best.  |
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KeithL
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Post by KeithL on Aug 6, 2014 11:30:44 GMT -5
Absolutely. However, you should avoid bundling interconnects with power cables. It doesn't always make a significant difference, but the "method" preferred by many folks is to bundle the power cables up one side of the rack, and interconnects up the other side - thus keeping them as far apart as possible. (Personally, I must admit to the "drop the wires behind the TV stand" method of organization... which has always worked fine for me.  ) Electrically and sonically it just doesn't matter. Make them look neat in whatever way you think is best. |
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Post by Bonzo on Aug 6, 2014 11:40:05 GMT -5
Just one thing to add what others have said, if you have any optical digital cables (Toslink) in your set up, just make sure not to put any quick bends in them. Rolling them in an 8" diameter circle is fine, but don't squish the roll down flat like a thin "0", leave it perfectly circular.
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Post by djoel on Aug 6, 2014 11:52:31 GMT -5
I use to bundle any excess cables in a clear plastic/sandwich type baggy and then use tape, it looked neat with little clutter, tucked in the rack system.
It was a pain when changing components around thou, I guess it would work for me as I don't change my system up like I use to.
Good luck
Dan
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Post by Loop 7 on Aug 6, 2014 12:28:50 GMT -5
Absolutely. However, you should avoid bundling interconnects with power cables. It doesn't always make a significant difference, but the "method" preferred by many folks is to bundle the power cables up one side of the rack, and interconnects up the other side - thus keeping them as far apart as possible. (Personally, I must admit to the "drop the wires behind the TV stand" method of organization... which has always worked fine for me. ) Electrically and sonically it just doesn't matter. Make them look neat in whatever way you think is best. Bundle speaker cables with interconnects or on their own? Power / interconnects / Speaker Cable |
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DYohn
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Post by DYohn on Aug 6, 2014 12:34:40 GMT -5
Bundle speaker cables with interconnects or on their own? Power / interconnects / Speaker Cable In general it's best to bundle power cables separately, just to be safe. But in most cases even that does not matter. |
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Post by jmilton on Aug 6, 2014 12:45:37 GMT -5
Absolutely. However, you should avoid bundling interconnects with power cables. It doesn't always make a significant difference, but the "method" preferred by many folks is to bundle the power cables up one side of the rack, and interconnects up the other side - thus keeping them as far apart as possible. (Personally, I must admit to the "drop the wires behind the TV stand" method of organization... which has always worked fine for me. ) Electrically and sonically it just doesn't matter. Make them look neat in whatever way you think is best. Perhaps we can start a new photo thread, "What does your rats nest behind your component rack look like?"  The best (worse) one wins a pkg. of sandwich ties... blues ones, of course. |
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DYohn
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Post by DYohn on Aug 6, 2014 12:47:06 GMT -5
Do we have to blow out the dust bunnies first? |
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Post by AudioHTIT on Aug 6, 2014 12:58:32 GMT -5
The best (worse) one wins a pkg. of sandwich ties... blues ones, of course. That's right, no one mentioned using bread bag ties to label cables. I find them too large to use at the back of your processor, but they're very handy for labeling cables temporarily when you're swapping in new gear, or when you have several identical looking cables.  |
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Post by Dark Ranger on Aug 6, 2014 13:05:11 GMT -5
Do we have to blow out the dust bunnies first? Bonus points for dust bunnies.  |
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hemster
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Post by hemster on Aug 6, 2014 13:22:35 GMT -5
The best (worse) one wins a pkg. of sandwich ties... blues ones, of course. That's right, no one mentioned using bread bag ties to label cables. I find them too large to use at the back of your processor, but they're very handy for labeling cables temporarily when you're swapping in new gear, or when you have several identical looking cables. I use masking tape for temporary identification. Write on a piece with a ball-point pen and just stick it on the wire. Easy to remove when needed.   |
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DYohn
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Post by DYohn on Aug 6, 2014 13:25:00 GMT -5
That's right, no one mentioned using bread bag ties to label cables. I find them too large to use at the back of your processor, but they're very handy for labeling cables temporarily when you're swapping in new gear, or when you have several identical looking cables. I use masking tape for temporary identification. Write on a piece with a ball-point pen and just stick it on the wire. Easy to remove when needed. Me too, although I've found that using blue painter's tape is easier to remove without leaving behind sticky residue. |
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