This modern man cave dates back to the day of our house-building. I was deemed worthy by my merciful wife that I would be allowed one room to do with as I pleased. Working tirelessly to beat the drywalling deadline, I wired in my home theatre room. The entire journey of building our home was nothing short of an nightmare. It was filled with unexpected twists and turns, and lots of 3 am naps in a lawn chair in whatever room I was working in at that time.
The Plan
When my wife granted me the opportunity to bring my vision to fruition, I dove back into the planning process. Naturally, this led to a reevaluation of my initial ideas, prompting me to revisit the wiring strategy. First, I wanted to lay down ample wiring which is the cornerstone of avoiding regrets and ensuring future possibilities remain open. I also left access to areas if I need to pull more wire for upgrades. Second, I ran Core Line which is a flexible electrical material you can run through walls and fish wire later on if needed. This is usually available at electrical wholesale like www.bartlegibson.com.
Third, speakers, grand and floor-standing, became the focal point of the auditory experience. My wife actually got these sponsored at the time so that was a big expense off the budget. I have the room wired for Dobly ATMOS if I ever have the option to get the hardware and speakers. It is easy to look up speaker placement for any sound system you are thinking of and then wiring to those locations. Wire, while not as cheap as it once was, is still cheaper than cutting and repainting drywall when you want those ceiling speakers later on. A good way is to wire everything you think you would possibly and take a picture before covering up.
The Bar
Navigating the labyrinth of cables, I ensured that everything ran smoothly into cabinets beneath the TV. Not just speaker wires, but 120v circuits for the receiver and TV, coax cables for satellite or antenna, and a network backbone of Cat 6. The planning extended to the bar, where circuits were dedicated to the fridge and popcorn maker – necessities for any home theater aficionado.
Furthermore there are plans for LED lighting and accents. Running wiring into the upper and lower cabinets to run any power bars I will need and low voltage wiring for led lighting control if ever needed. I have built in aluminum LED profile tracks with diffusing covers.
Final Results
The final result is a haven where I spend countless hours gaming, enjoying movie nights with the family, and revel in the immersive sound experience. The foresight in wiring allows for potential upgrades, should I choose to enhance the system further.
In reflection, I am genuinely happy with the outcome, except for the constant ideas to upgrade. But that is another post. Using my man cave daily after everyone is in bed to game, watch tv and wind down. I am truly thankful that I have a wife that accepts my room.
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