Home Theater Forum - View Single Post - Finishing my basement, any help would be great

AcerFC · 04-10-2008, 08:29 AM

I am brand new here and first want to thank all of the people who help the new guys. Just reading some of your responses has been instrumental already.

A little background info: I bought my house 3.5 years ago and the basement was not finished. My wife and I bought the house with the idea that I would finish the basement for my mancave. As you all know, things happen and we are first getting around to the basement now. We now have a child so money was an issue for me. My wife said not to worry about it (I know-she is great), but I cant strap my family for a HT so I tried to be economical.

Here is what I bought in the past two weeks. (I had links but because I am new, I can not add them.

Go to Raymour and Flanningan and type in theater chairs

I got the three in the link and another two. I plan on putting the two on the floor and building a riser for the three chairs behind it (stadium seating)

Soho 4Pc Wall Unit - Entertainment Centers - Home Entertainment Furniture at Raymour & Flanigan:I got the two side pieces and the bottom piece. Left off the top piece and plan on mounting the TV between the two side pieces.

Raymour and Flannigan had a great no interest for 5 years promo

TV
Samsung 52" LCD LNT5265F- I know its last years model and does not have the 120HZ but this was the best bang for the buck. The reviews are awesome so I went with it

Onkyo 7.1- I know from reading thru the forums that people are down on HTIB systems for a number of reasons but I thought that this was a great product at a reasonable price for me. I can always upgrade but for now this should work (I hope)

DVD- PS3. I went with PS3 because there was not a Blu-Ray that stood out and here, I get to play games as well for the same price. I know that I lose something with sound but I conceded that with the purchase. I also got the remote to go with it since no other remotes will work with it.

So I have all of this stuff right now with an unfinished basement. I plan on framing the basement tomorrow. I also want to get a carpet (not thick, thin).

Now to my questions: They are elementary and simple but I really know 0 about this stuff

1) When I am framing the basement, is there anything that I should focus on or make sure I do. I plan on hiding the wires in the wall. Should I put in boxes or close the wall up. Also, should I run the speaker wire behind the walls as well

2) Where should I place the speakers. I know absolutely nothing about it. The TV is not going in the center of the room because I have poles that block off a part of the room. It will go in the center of the space that I am using

3) How many HDMI cables do I need based on the equipment I got?

4) What kind of lights should I get? I am having an elctrician come to wire the basement because believe it or not, there is only 1 outlet down there now.

5) How many outlets should I have the electrician put in and where should the outlets go? (that was a question from a HT standpoint, not a general question. I can figure out how many outlets a normal room needs)

6) Is there anything else that I am overlooking or that you want to share.

Any help/advice is welcome, even if you think I did something wrong with my purchases. Thats why I came here.

04-10-2008, 08:29 AM	#1 of 7
AcerFC *Russell* Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Local Time: 03:30 AM Local Date: 08-30-2008 Posts: 2	Finishing my basement, any help would be great I am brand new here and first want to thank all of the people who help the new guys. Just reading some of your responses has been instrumental already. A little background info: I bought my house 3.5 years ago and the basement was not finished. My wife and I bought the house with the idea that I would finish the basement for my mancave. As you all know, things happen and we are first getting around to the basement now. We now have a child so money was an issue for me. My wife said not to worry about it (I know-she is great), but I cant strap my family for a HT so I tried to be economical. Here is what I bought in the past two weeks. (I had links but because I am new, I can not add them. Go to Raymour and Flanningan and type in theater chairs I got the three in the link and another two. I plan on putting the two on the floor and building a riser for the three chairs behind it (stadium seating) Soho 4Pc Wall Unit - Entertainment Centers - Home Entertainment Furniture at Raymour & Flanigan:I got the two side pieces and the bottom piece. Left off the top piece and plan on mounting the TV between the two side pieces. Raymour and Flannigan had a great no interest for 5 years promo TV Samsung 52" LCD LNT5265F- I know its last years model and does not have the 120HZ but this was the best bang for the buck. The reviews are awesome so I went with it Onkyo 7.1- I know from reading thru the forums that people are down on HTIB systems for a number of reasons but I thought that this was a great product at a reasonable price for me. I can always upgrade but for now this should work (I hope) DVD- PS3. I went with PS3 because there was not a Blu-Ray that stood out and here, I get to play games as well for the same price. I know that I lose something with sound but I conceded that with the purchase. I also got the remote to go with it since no other remotes will work with it. So I have all of this stuff right now with an unfinished basement. I plan on framing the basement tomorrow. I also want to get a carpet (not thick, thin). Now to my questions: They are elementary and simple but I really know 0 about this stuff 1) When I am framing the basement, is there anything that I should focus on or make sure I do. I plan on hiding the wires in the wall. Should I put in boxes or close the wall up. Also, should I run the speaker wire behind the walls as well 2) Where should I place the speakers. I know absolutely nothing about it. The TV is not going in the center of the room because I have poles that block off a part of the room. It will go in the center of the space that I am using 3) How many HDMI cables do I need based on the equipment I got? 4) What kind of lights should I get? I am having an elctrician come to wire the basement because believe it or not, there is only 1 outlet down there now. 5) How many outlets should I have the electrician put in and where should the outlets go? (that was a question from a HT standpoint, not a general question. I can figure out how many outlets a normal room needs) 6) Is there anything else that I am overlooking or that you want to share. Any help/advice is welcome, even if you think I did something wrong with my purchases. Thats why I came here.