house theater with only RCA wiring in walls

Tonemalone18

Estimable
Nov 30, 2015
5
0
4,510
My new house has the home theater wiring in a different room than the tv and speakers. I can use HDMI for all components but the only way to connect to the tv is using the RCA audio and video cables. (pre wired in the walls) Will this prevent HD or 1080p performance. Is there another solution, i.e. HDMI wireless
thanks
 
Solution
do you mean composite video/audio? https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/91/Composite-cables.jpg

or, did you possibly mean component video/audo? http://www.homewired.com.au/components/com_virtuemart/shop_image/product/High_End_Compone_4d759a0273fbc.jpg

composite video is capable of only 480 lines of resolution so is a no go while component is capable of 1080 or more but still only allows 2.0 audio so would be a no-go in most cases. you may have issues if you intend to play bluerays or games though as HDCP becomes an issue on component as well.

you will want to connect to the tv via hdmi if at all possible even if it means not using any preexisting wiring and putting your components below the tv (or rewiring in a hdmi...
do you mean composite video/audio? https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/91/Composite-cables.jpg

or, did you possibly mean component video/audo? http://www.homewired.com.au/components/com_virtuemart/shop_image/product/High_End_Compone_4d759a0273fbc.jpg

composite video is capable of only 480 lines of resolution so is a no go while component is capable of 1080 or more but still only allows 2.0 audio so would be a no-go in most cases. you may have issues if you intend to play bluerays or games though as HDCP becomes an issue on component as well.

you will want to connect to the tv via hdmi if at all possible even if it means not using any preexisting wiring and putting your components below the tv (or rewiring in a hdmi through the walls). if your house is designed to accommodate it (has access under the wall/floor to run cables between rooms) its not a big issue to run hdmi.

you really do not want to use wireless hdmi unless you have no choice. the signal degrades greatly over distance.
 
Solution

Tonemalone18

Estimable
Nov 30, 2015
5
0
4,510


 

Tonemalone18

Estimable
Nov 30, 2015
5
0
4,510
thank you ssddx,
the wiring is composite video, three wires. the house was wired about 15 years ago. I can stack the components under the tv and only use HDMI. I guess my only option for sound is by purchasing a sound bar. Too bad, the room has four B&W speakers installed into the wall. (these are wired to the other room location where I was considering using in my question)
thanks again
 
you could always do some rewiring or have it done if you arent comfortable with it. getting up to date wiring on such things is going to be easier now in a new house than it will be in the future once everything is hooked up and in the way. provided you have pull space below or above its simple.

or, its possible to rewire the included speakers to your current room even without messing under the walls. you could use flatwire http://cdn.soundandvision.com/images/archivesart/GoRetro10.jpg to run along the walls and just paint over it making it nigh invisible. or you can hide it around chair molding. the only part you would see are the terminator ends which normally get covered by an innocuous looking box.

heres an example that was just painted over http://sewelldirect.com/images/forarticles/GhostWire-Article/21b-ConnectSpeaker.jpg however if you spackle over it and lightly sand before painting its almost completely undetectable.
 

Tonemalone18

Estimable
Nov 30, 2015
5
0
4,510