Tell us your Mancave story!

[legal eagle]

As I had to give up my mancave up recently, in favor of an up and coming pocket empying machine, I think it's time to spill the mancave stories. I'll need to live vicariously through other AK members for the foreseeable future:tears:, soo...

The dirt must be included: the obstacles to overcome (including the wife stories), the design, the innovation, the thought behind it, room constraints and so forth.:smoke:

[Face]

The live in girlfriend moved out. The soon to be dining room turned into the man cave. Nuff said!

[ejecta]

Well, once upon a time I had a mancave, when we were looking for houses I especially nudged the wife towards one with a spacious kitchen, large lounge room, big backyard, nice garden *cough*mancave*cough* nice letter box.

Then the little ones came along so the mancave had to go and the room became a nursery and then the bedroom for both the little ones. This left me with only one very crowded garage that barely fits a car (not that we have one, it's just filled with other junk). Being the innovated person that I am I looked up and realised we had a bunch of unused space between our ceiling and the roof tiles: enter the mancave 2 project!

After spending $300 on hardware supplies and picking up a door on the side of the road and invested a couple of weekends I had a brand new room all to myself. Add a second hand ceiling fan, skylight & left over cedar floor boards and it become quite a respectable room.

Up their lives my Philips Hifi Sound Project TA 6000 with Bose ST200 speakers and in the main lounge room resident behind kid-proof beech wood doors is the main "vintage" system.

[dividebytube]

My mancave started in the garage - where I once housed my '86 Monte Carlo SS. I built an 355 engine for it, all while listening to a junk stereo system I put together. Plenty of beer was available and it was a great place to get away from it all. Too bad it wasn't heated in the winter time. I sold the SS and since then I've moved down to the basement - which is unheated but at least is somewhat warmer than the garage. Tubes provide the heat ;)

I have a left over rug over the concrete for the floor and I'm surrounded by my tubes, gear, etc. We currently are planning to move to another house this coming June. I made sure the new house had a big heated basement that I'm officially taking over as the mancave area. Of course this time I'll have a phone, my stereo, a sofa, a fireplace, and plan to buy a couple of rec-room games (fooseball, bubble dome hockey?) for my enjoyment.

[Quint]

My first and only mancave happened when my wife and I bought our first (and only) house five years ago. I made it abundantly clear that I wanted an A/V room, and being the ever-generous (if more than slightly bemused) gal she is, she relented and let me have the whole 24’ x 20’ basement. We had it finished, and even though it’s FAR, FAR from Robb Report quality, it does the job for me, housing close to 5,000 CDs, two smallish systems, my computer, and enough horror-movie figurines to give Elvira an orgasm. :tresbon: It’s packed to the gills, which will be a challenge in upcoming years if we keep the house, but it’s my home within a home, and a refuge from all the world’s BS. Which is good enough.

[ejecta]

it’s my home within a home, and a refuge from all the world’s BS.

Exactly what a mancave is for! That and the throne room. However a mancave allows for far better contemplation & deep thoughts, plus you can add a side of pottering. :yes:

[Fletch]

I have the smallest house on the planet. My mancave is the smallest on the planet.

I dare anyone to show me a smaller one.

It is too small to mention.

Now, putting that aside, I have 4 speakers and a magnavox console. I rock out quite nicely.

[super j]

Exactly what a mancave is for! That and the throne room. However a mancave allows for far better contemplation & deep thoughts, plus you can add a side of pottering. :yes:

When I build my mancave I'm just gonna put a throne in the middle instead of a couch so I can multitask. And it should do a pretty good job of keeping the wife out too.

[stuwee]

As I had to give up my mancave up recently, in favor of an up and coming pocket empying machine, I think it's time to spill the mancave stories. I'll need to live vicariously through other AK members for the foreseeable future:tears:, soo...

The dirt must be included: the obstacles to overcome (including the wife stories), the design, the innovation, the thought behind it, room constraints and so forth.:smoke:

Again, muy contrat's on the new pocket empty'n machine:yes:
:tears:I'm not tryin' to make ya mad, really, but two old spinster-like bachlor's in a 2,500+ square-footer, Man-House:thmbsp: We both love tune's, are best bud's since way back. He plays Alan Parson's (I'm a huge fan) a little to loud and, a little too often, I sneak in another piece of gear:D!!, you can still run out of room in a situation like mine:tears: Poor stuwee! Now the NASCAR/racing/model car thing can be an issue, "There's to much orange!" has been bellowed more than once in my presence:sigh:
So no real innovation, thought, certainly very little constraints, makes me happy:music:, now BajaGringo, that's a Mancave,(I've only seen snipets here and there posted by him, never been there though.
Craig

[ScramMan2]

I have a man-house. I live away from my real home during the week. It's a small 2 BR lakefront home I rent during the off-season. It rents for 750/wk in-season, so this summer I am moving in with a co-worker.

I can crank it as loud and as long as I want during the evening. Golf has cut into my listening time though.

[tcdriver]

How does one define Mancave?

[truetone36]

Mine started out as a 10'X15' shed attached to the rear of the house. It's now grown to 20'X36' with a peaked roof, electrical wiring, and 1930's kerosene burning heater. I'm building a loft above the main floor to store my spare parts and stuff in. My systems, t.v. sets, radios, and workbench are all in there. With a baby on the way, I had to give up the spare room in the house, and since I have access to any building materials I need, I rebuilt the shed. It has also gone from having a dirt floor to having one of 100 yr.-old hardwood flooring I salvaged from an old house My landlord tore down. Outer walls and roof trusses are also from the same old house, as are the windows. I may even build a deck next to it and along the rear of the house if I have time this summer. It's been a lot of work, but it's been worth it.

[1980'slover]

i think when i move out ill build a big house in my hometown called benton in california. its in the middle of nowhere so if i build a man cave with it i can turn my stereo up loud and no one will be botherd. the houses are far apart in my home town so your neighbors can barely hear it

[1980'slover]

sound like a cool idea?

[AnalogDigit]

My whole house is a mancave! I'm a bachelor and I got a stereo in my bedroom, living room of the house. It's a small 1100 sq ft home, which is very nice since I don't need a huge home. It's more easier to keep clean. Small lot too, I don't have to cut the grass! It does has a spacious bedroom where I keep my main listening room with private bathroom. My brother lives with me, since he got sick and has bad credit, but he has his bedroom on the other side of the house.

[Strawman]

Our last house was 1000 Sq. Ft. on a slab. When we were talking about moving I was told I could have the basement. This one is about 1700 with a full basement. I really need to clean it up though to be able able to enjoy it for the all too short summer. I have my stereo gear, computers, pool table, slot machines, and dart board. The wife just bitches about the mess when she comes down here.

[avionic]

Recenty purchased a house..Informed wife that the basement was mine.Ended up with half of it useable.My audio room is 28' x 12' my shop is 10' x 12'.

[ejecta]

How does one define Mancave?

If your married/married with anklebiters: the room where you can dwell in piece. Also known as the kid-free-fortress.

Mines got a nice latch 1.8 metres up the door that our 3yo can't reach, and also can't bring his chair over to reach, and can't bring his table over, then his chair over placing it on top of the table to reach.

And yes, I measured that before hand, with growth space. He's a smart little guy who can figure out how to open/get in to damn near anything, he's like a little MacGyver.

[motorstereo]

Mine started out as a chicken coop built in the 1940's. When I bought the house in the 80's I knew I could do better. 16'x30', vinyl sided, insulated, heated and air conditioned. Has room for all my tools, excercise equipment, kegerator, neon lights and motorcycle. Course last but not least an ever changing monster stereo. I can crank it till the shingles fly off the roof and it doesn't bother anyone. It's about 75' away from my house so it's my getaway but whenever anyone comes to visit it seems to be the most popular place even for the women folk.

[Dark Knight]

I can relate.

When it was just my wife and I for about 3 years, we had a 2 bedroom apartment. The other bedroom served as the first Bat Cave. Then, our first born came along and that became the baby's room. Moved into a three bedroom townhouse and I got the Bat Cave back. Shortly after that, however, the twins came along and I lost the Bat Cave again for about 10 years.

I now live in a three bedroom bungalo with additional bedrooms in a finished basement. I have had the Bat Cave back now for 5 years. I have also invested in a vasectomy to keep it that way. :D

DK

[tcdriver]

Avionic,

That is one nice setup, a clean workbench and well laid out listening area.

Ejecta,

Thanks for the definition of Mancave. I guess I have two mancaves. One is a dedicated listening room and the other is a smaller room where I have an electronics workshop where I repair and modify audio equipment for fun. The wife pretty much decides what goes on in the rest of our small house.

[1980'slover]

would a 1980's themed room be good for a mancave?

[70salesguy]

would a 1980's themed room be good for a mancave?

Especially so if your wife/girlfriend doesn't like it! :D

[d-ray657]

Hey Stu, you pulled the trigger on the avatar. No booger-pickin' in that. Very dramatic.

My real mancave is about five years away when the HS senior graduates from college, or gets married, whichever comes first. We have about a 22' x 18' dormer room. By that time, maybe I will no longer be paying tuition and might be able to afford something a little more hi-fi (until everything gets spent spoiling grandkids, if they happen).

Currently, I have all of my entry-level receivers and speakers stacked here and there in the basement, and have what might laughingly be called my secondary system set up there too. I have a work table and a desk, so I gotta have some tunes while I flail about trying to learn something.

Regards,

D-Ray

[onwardjames]

My best friend and I built one of the greatest mancaves ever, understanding that we were working with stuff I salvaged from trash cans and from the side of the road.

It started out as a 8X10 metal building. First we wired, then insulated, then drywalled, then painted and decorated, and initially laid down thick carped I got from a mall dumpster, but it held odors, so I put down THIS floor, with scraps from again, the mall dumpster. It had a big Irish theme, and was even air conditioned and heated. Shelves held records and cds, and all was well.....

until.....

he lost his job, and now has to behave.

Yup. He immediately sold his MINT Pioneer SX-1080, and about 4 pair of nice speakers (infinity, realistic, utah..)

But that was a hell of a place to hang. I was sorta in charge of the construction/transformation, and I know BEANS about carpentry. Turned out ok.

That Irish guy is Seamus. Painted by my buddy's talented wife.

[legal eagle]

I can relate.

When it was just my wife and I for about 3 years, we had a 2 bedroom apartment. The other bedroom served as the first Bat Cave. Then, our first born came along and that became the baby's room. Moved into a three bedroom townhouse and I got the Bat Cave back. Shortly after that, however, the twins came along and I lost the Bat Cave again for about 10 years.

I now live in a three bedroom bungalo with additional bedrooms in a finished basement. I have had the Bat Cave back now for 5 years. I have also invested in a vasectomy to keep it that way. :D

DK

:yikes:
Too late, bud...:D:bat:

Guys,
Some of you guys know how to build stuff! I envy...:grnbounce

[onwardjames]

This is a pic of the new wood floor I did.

[Face]

It would help if I added pics. The speakers have since been moved closer together for better imaging.

[d-ray657]

It would help if I added pics. The speakers have since been moved closer together for better imaging.

Nothing like getting intimate with some monster speakers and gorgeous gear. Nice room.

Regards,

D-Ray

[1980'slover]

hey onwardjames your mancave looks like my 1980'sbedroom because we almost have the exact same tv

[onwardjames]

That's actually my friend's tv and mancave, a place I pretty much built for him so he'd have somewhere to escape. Alas, wife and kids pretty much trumps that....:tears:

That tv could NOT be killed. We tried.:yes:

[NOHDjunkie]

My Mancave - Click the "My Stuff" link in my sig to see more.

It started out as our master bedroom. I easily convinced my wife we needed a dedicated theater/media room. She's fantastic.

$70 in blood red paint and a spray gun = theater cave

$50 in stretchy spandex material

$150 in lumber (for the riser and the screen wall)

$1000 for the IB sub system (if you haven't heard an IB sub... :thmbsp:)

$600 for the speakers

$40 for the screen

$1000 for the electronics

$700 for the couch and chairs

$1000 for the projector

$200 for misc (cables wires lighting)

total = $5000 give or take.

mancave enjoyment = priceless :D


http://www.nightskyscopes.com/site/miscimages/keepwide/screen3.jpg

My shopcave - Click the "My Stuff" link in my sig to see more

http://www.nightskyscopes.com/site/miscimages/keepwide/wallofspeak.jpg

[tcdriver]

My Mancave - Jim, That is one nice looking setup. :thmbsp:

[NOHDjunkie]

Jim, That is one nice looking setup. :thmbsp:

Thanks, I like the fact that I did it all myself. Makes it more enjoyable/satisfying.

you did mean the shop... right? :D

[BajaGringo]

So no real innovtion, thought, certainly very little constraints, makes me happy:music:, now BajaGringo, that's a Mancave,(I've only seen snipets here and there posted by him, never been there though.
Craig

You are welcome to come down and enjoy it for yourself. Such fun is surely meant to be shared...

:music:

[240sx4u]

I am closing on the new house in an hour and a half... I stole the largest lower floor room for my mancave.

Ill update after its inhabitable.

Evan

[NOHDjunkie]

I am closing on the new house in an hour and a half... I stole the largest lower floor room for my mancave.

Ill update after its inhabitable.

Evan

Congrats on the new house. It's a buyers market.

[greenmark59]

I have slowly been taking over a room in my basement of my 3 story 100 year old house and my wife actually believes its a good place for me to play with my "stereo stuff" and "play records" because the sound doesn't carry so well to the 2nd story or to our family room in the back of the house. BTW the missus has her own hobby room with 100's of rubber stamps on the first floor. I am just starting to imagine and plan out how I want to make it more soundproof so that I can shut the door (which it doesn't yet have) and just sit down in a fine leather chair and drink some Scottish ale and listen to some fine vinyl without disturbing the rest of the house at 2 AM in the morning.

Anyone have any IDEAS about inexpensive ways to soundproof a room (keep the sound in and not going out)?

[NOHDjunkie]

Anyone have any IDEAS about inexpensive ways to soundproof a room (keep the sound in and not going out)?

Cheapest way = Headphones :D

That's what I use at 2am. (If my wife is sleeping)

[greenmark59]

Yeah that's why I have a pair of Sennheiser HD280 Pro's, but nothing compares to some loud open-air volume. Besides I listen to Sennheiser PX100's at work for 5-6 hrs per day and I just want to listen to BIG speakers that are not so close to my eardrums.

[1980'slover]

yeah since im kinda going back to using 1980's gear i might as well put my pioneer stereo, sony record player,denon cassette deck back to use

[Blast]

My best friend and I built one of the greatest mancaves ever, understanding that we were working with stuff I salvaged from trash cans and from the side of the road.

It started out as a 8X10 metal building. First we wired, then insulated, then drywalled, then painted and decorated, and initially laid down thick carped I got from a mall dumpster, but it held odors, so I put down THIS floor, with scraps from again, the mall dumpster. It had a big Irish theme, and was even air conditioned and heated. Shelves held records and cds, and all was well.....

until.....

he lost his job, and now has to behave.

Yup. He immediately sold his MINT Pioneer SX-1080, and about 4 pair of nice speakers (infinity, realistic, utah..)

But that was a hell of a place to hang. I was sorta in charge of the construction/transformation, and I know BEANS about carpentry. Turned out ok.

That Irish guy is Seamus. Painted by my buddy's talented wife.

I like the Bud Light "curtains"! Sweet... Nice vertical integration, too- I'm envious!

[Zeromancer]

Mine is a an above ground 2nd story man cave - it's above my 2 car garage.
Well basically it is my bedroom with alot of stereo equipment, dvd's, and records.

[Zeromancer]

My Mancave - Click the "My Stuff" link in my sig to see more.

It started out as our master bedroom. I easily convinced my wife we needed a dedicated theater/media room. She's fantastic.

$70 in blood red paint and a spray gun = theater cave

$50 in stretchy spandex material

$150 in lumber (for the riser and the screen wall)

$1000 for the IB sub system (if you haven't heard an IB sub... :thmbsp:)

$600 for the speakers

$40 for the screen

$1000 for the electronics

$700 for the couch and chairs

$1000 for the projector

$200 for misc (cables wires lighting)

total = $5000 give or take.

mancave enjoyment = priceless :D



I wish I had a room set aside directly for a projector HT setup.
Nice looking HT setup :thmbsp::banana::banana:

[Blast]

Well, once upon a time I had a mancave, when we were looking for houses I especially nudged the wife towards one with a spacious kitchen, large lounge room, big backyard, nice garden *cough*mancave*cough* nice letter box.

Then the little ones came along so the mancave had to go and the room became a nursery and then the bedroom for both the little ones. This left me with only one very crowded garage that barely fits a car (not that we have one, it's just filled with other junk). Being the innovated person that I am I looked up and realised we had a bunch of unused space between our ceiling and the roof tiles: enter the mancave 2 project!.

This sounds just like my story- except I sent our car to live on the driveway. Wasn't able to get around to Mancave II before the divorce, though... Now the whole house is a mancave!

[legal eagle]

I am closing on the new house in an hour and a half... I stole the largest lower floor room for my mancave.

Ill update after its inhabitable.

Evan

Cool man,
Best! :thmbsp:

[onwardjames]

I like the Bud Light "curtains"! Sweet... Nice vertical integration, too- I'm envious!


I tried to find the newer photos I took. Before it all went to hell, we had 4 pair of speakers in that tiny place! I built a huge shelf across the two walls, and that held all the components, while speakers went underneath.

Some pair of two way infinity's, some Realistic 8b Nova's, TWO pair of Utahs, the ubiquitous HPM-100's, and, oh yeah, some Marantz Imperial 6's. Only one pair of the Utah's weren't wired.

Black lights, goofy things on the wall. Yep, I spent many a nite in there, workin' off a buzz. Truth is, it was super-cozy.

I guess all things come to an end. :tears::tears::tears::tears:

[Beechwoods]

I had to give up my mancave for a year when our second little one arrived. I ended up underneath the stairs with no hifi or anything... I was lucky to have a computer there! My oldest (2 yrs old) thought it was fantastic that there was a big (on/off) switch on the front of that :-)

Lucky though, we agreed to get the loft converted, and I bagged it for my playroom. 3 months of the time under the stairs was spent dodging plaster and other detritus from the work above. But it was all worth it. I now have a room pretty much the width of the house, excluding the stairway... just smaller than the main living room. Superb! But probably the most expensive mancave ever, excluding all the stuff inside it!

The best bit is we're on a hill and I've got the best views for miles around. Uninterrupted for 20 miles! So when I ain't listening, I'm gazing!

[opt80]

hey onwardjames your mancave looks like my 1980'sbedroom because we almost have the exact same tv


Huh:scratch2:

[Blast]

Huh:scratch2:

I'm still working on that one, myself. It's the same thing, :scratch2: only different...

[Raymond23]

The Man-Cave process. Where to begin...

At my previous house, the basement had a bedroom which was my home office. Also had a rec room which I used for home theater. There was also a side room that I used for exercise equipment. When we decided to build a new house, it was agreed that the basement (all 1450+ feet of it) was mine to do as I pleased.

Unfirtunately, bugetary constrants prevented me from doing the man cave right away (translation: old house wasn't selling and money was tight). We did have 2 bedrooms completed right away (one for my home office, one for my exercise room). The remaining 950 feet had to wait.

My wife was very supportive of the idea. She more or less let me do what I wanted, but there were a few conditions.

1) Needed a decent sized TV (minimum 42"). Yes, this is my wife talking.

2) Needed to be high quality. Had to match the quality of the main floor. Nothing cheep. No cutting corners.

3) Had to be a space that we could use to entertain our friends (not just my friends).

There were typical problems with the basement spaces, but it was prefitted so that there would be a bathroom and a wetbar. The ceilings were 8 foor ceilings with no soffits (unless I wanted some-see below). But the room was long and narrow. This made some things difficult. Especially since I did want more then a media room. I wanted a party room with a ton of goodies.

First desire was a pool table. This got killed quickly. Basically, the footprint is huge, and it just didn't make sense. This got replaced by an 18 foot long bar with a full sized fridge, microwave and sink. Got the decorative soffit and panneled ceiling to define the space. This also broke up the room into 3 zones. On one side, I placed the home theater, 42" plasma, fireplace (need this in Minnesota) and was able to pack in a pinball machine and a cocktail table arcade game (it's a 70 in 1 unit with all the old 80's classics-PacMan, Space Invaders, Donkey Kong, etc). Got a speaker system wired into the ceiling for home theater and it can also be used for music throughout the space.

On the other side of the space is a custom made poker/game table. I have a popcorm machine coming to put in the corner at the base of the stairs.

The look I was going for is fun, relaxed and a little rustic. But I didn't want it to look like you are in an arcade. I decorated almost everything in the room. The sectional came from upstairs (was a little small for up there , but fits great in this space-but I'm gonna have to do something about the ottoman and the floral pillows). The only thing the wife objected to is the 4 autographed guitars on the wall (gives the bar area a "Hard Rock Cafe" feel I think).

Also have a 3/4 bathroom right next to the bar.

Here are some pictures. Enjoy...

http://scripps-content.communicationsmgr.com/pcsupload/a61f4391-e9ae-41b0-84db-c636385cc2bb_player.jpg

http://scripps-content.communicationsmgr.com/pcsupload/69e0baa8-7229-4f39-a227-89032d73b492_player.jpg

http://scripps-content.communicationsmgr.com/pcsupload/50487550-9f54-4821-9713-76e22b63da88_player.jpg

[avionic]

The Man-Cave process. Where to begin...

At my previous house, the basement had a bedroom which was my home office. Also had a rec room which I used for home theater. There was also a side room that I used for exercise equipment. When we decided to build a new house, it was agreed that the basement (all 1450+ feet of it) was mine to do as I pleased.

Unfirtunately, bugetary constrants prevented me from doing the man cave right away (translation: old house wasn't selling and money was tight). We did have 2 bedrooms completed right away (one for my home office, one for my exercise room). The remaining 950 feet had to wait.

My wife was very supportive of the idea. She more or less let me do what I wanted, but there were a few conditions.

1) Needed a decent sized TV (minimum 42"). Yes, this is my wife talking.

2) Needed to be high quality. Had to match the quality of the main floor. Nothing cheep. No cutting corners.

3) Had to be a space that we could use to entertain our friends (not just my friends).

There were typical problems with the basement spaces, but it was prefitted so that there would be a bathroom and a wetbar. The ceilings were 8 foor ceilings with no soffits (unless I wanted some-see below). But the room was long and narrow. This made some things difficult. Especially since I did want more then a media room. I wanted a party room with a ton of goodies.

First desire was a pool table. This got killed quickly. Basically, the footprint is huge, and it just didn't make sense. This got replaced by an 18 foot long bar with a full sized fridge, microwave and sink. Got the decorative soffit and panneled ceiling to define the space. This also broke up the room into 3 zones. On one side, I placed the home theater, 42" plasma, fireplace (need this in Minnesota) and was able to pack in a pinball machine and a cocktail table arcade game (it's a 70 in 1 unit with all the old 80's classics-PacMan, Space Invaders, Donkey Kong, etc). Got a speaker system wired into the ceiling for home theater and it can also be used for music throughout the space.

On the other side of the space is a custom made poker/game table. I have a popcorm machine coming to put in the corner at the base of the stairs.

The look I was going for is fun, relaxed and a little rustic. But I didn't want it to look like you are in an arcade. I decorated almost everything in the room. The sectional came from upstairs (was a little small for up there , but fits great in this space-but I'm gonna have to do something about the ottoman and the floral pillows). The only thing the wife objected to is the 4 autographed guitars on the wall (gives the bar area a "Hard Rock Cafe" feel I think).

Also have a 3/4 bathroom right next to the bar.

Here are some pictures. Enjoy...

http://scripps-content.communicationsmgr.com/pcsupload/a61f4391-e9ae-41b0-84db-c636385cc2bb_player.jpg

http://scripps-content.communicationsmgr.com/pcsupload/69e0baa8-7229-4f39-a227-89032d73b492_player.jpg

http://scripps-content.communicationsmgr.com/pcsupload/50487550-9f54-4821-9713-76e22b63da88_player.jpg

Every mancave should have a stocked bar...:thmbsp: I don't see a beer tap ..better get that on your "to do list":D

[legal eagle]

Raymond23,
that's not a mancave - that's a man's castle!:yes::D
You don't qualify - sorry...:smoke:

[Raymond23]

Every mancave should have a stocked bar...:thmbsp: I don't see a beer tap ..better get that on your "to do list":D

Wanted to do that. But the reality of lugging a keg around the back of the house and down the stairs in winter...so I got the fridge instead. The only thing in the fridge is booze (or things to mix with booze). The only things in the freezer is frozen pizza...

[thymanst]

My mancave has even more equip than this image - I added a Meridian system(dsp-5000's,5000c,m60c's) and a pair of Mirage fs v2's - the deals have been to good to pass up, but the herd will start to pared down over summer...

[Blast]

Raymond23,
that's not a mancave - that's a man's castle!:yes::D
You don't qualify - sorry...:smoke:

LOL. That IS a nice basement!

Go ahead and get the keg! We'll all help you empty it every year before the snow flies! :beer:

[BajaGringo]

My mancave has even more equip than this image - I added a Meridian system(dsp-5000's,5000c,m60c's) and a pair of Mirage fs v2's - the deals have been to good to pass up, but the herd will start to pared down over summer...

I would get nervous if someone had a transmitter that could inadvertently open that garage door! Bye Bye Mancave...

:sigh:

[Laemmle]

Recenty purchased a house..Informed wife that the basement was mine.Ended up with half of it useable.My audio room is 28' x 12' my shop is 10' x 12'.

Love the Teac!

I have an A3300SX and a 2000X.

Love the analog waveform!

[jjohnson]

We had a fourth bedroom upstairs that was my 8 year old daughter's playroom. She never used it and I slowly took it over. (Yes I know that I'm evil) We still call it the playroom.:D My daughter spends more time in it now than she did. We watch movies and she loves America's Funniest Home Video reruns. We watch it together most nights, but when she goes to bed, it's all mine. The playroom is my signature.

[thymanst]

Garage door disconnected and unpluged - In a gated community and my sons are 6"8 and 6'9" ~260lbs (Hes going D1 B-Ball in the fall) - I'm 6'8", 250 and a card carrying member of the NRA - (O.K. all but the last part is true..)

[BajaGringo]

Garage door disconnected and unpluged - In a gated community and my sons are 6"8 and 6'9" ~260lbs (Hes going D1 B-Ball in the fall) - I'm 6'8", 250 and a card carrying member of the NRA - (O.K. all but the last part is true..)

So what you are saying is you have unregistered firearms...

:music:

[Tapehead47]

Some really 'high-end Caves'! And some homey, humble ones, too. Good stuff.

For 10 years I had a garage-cave. When my wife got a new car I had to figure out how to fit it in the garage! I had $1000 worth of junk and she had a brand new Volvo C-70 convertable....

So we decided to have a 12' x 30' shed delivered in the back yard. I would dedicate a 12' section of it to my mini-mancave, the rest for storage and the John Deere riding mower.

So we had it wired, divided, insulated, sheet rocked and air-conditioned. I have my main system and computer in here, along with cable tv (a 13"). A friend gave me a nice sofa bed and matching chair. Other than the sound of the A/C in the background, it's a great place for music!

And my wife has her garage back.

I have a small fridge stocked with beer and water, and a little liquor cabinet. It's a heavenly little room and I even spend some nights out here. My dog loves it, too.

I've moved things around since these photos, but you get the idea. A great place to escape to! And I can crank it loud whenever I want.

Rick

[BajaGringo]

The story is half the experience!

:music:

[Snade]

So we decided to have a 12' x 30' shed delivered in the back yard. I would dedicate a 12' section of it to my mini-mancave, the rest for storage and the John Deere riding mower.

So we had it wired, divided, insulated, sheet rocked and air-conditioned. I have my main system and computer in here, along with cable tv (a 13"). A friend gave me a nice sofa bed and matching chair. Other than the sound of the A/C in the background, it's a great place for music!

Rick

Rick, that is a perfect mancave. :thmbsp:

You are living well, my friend.

Snade

[1980'slover]

Some really 'high-end Caves'! And some homey, humble ones, too. Good stuff.

For 10 years I had a garage-cave. When my wife got a new car I had to figure out how to fit it in the garage! I had $1000 worth of junk and she had a brand new Volvo C-70 convertable....

So we decided to have a 12' x 30' shed delivered in the back yard. I would dedicate a 12' section of it to my mini-mancave, the rest for storage and the John Deere riding mower.

So we had it wired, divided, insulated, sheet rocked and air-conditioned. I have my main system and computer in here, along with cable tv (a 13"). A friend gave me a nice sofa bed and matching chair. Other than the sound of the A/C in the background, it's a great place for music!

And my wife has her garage back.

I have a small fridge stocked with beer and water, and a little liquor cabinet. It's a heavenly little room and I even spend some nights out here. My dog loves it, too.

I've moved things around since these photos, but you get the idea. A great place to escape to! And I can crank it loud whenever I want.

Rick

thats one sick man cave!

[Tapehead47]

I think you're saying 'sick' is good...

Thanks, Snade. You gotta do what you gotta do...and it's not always so neat. Kinda messy right now after last nights music fest!

There's my Allison/Luxman system in the storage area, then my old garage-cave system (ta-ta!), and the Hafler DH-110 in the third pic.

Getting a new rack soon for everything. Any suggestions? Ikea? Target? Ethan Allen (choke choke)....

[guptonr]

I'm about to put the finishing touches on my man cave, or as the wife calls it, Man Town. I've been working on it since early Feb. It's become a 14x32 piece of the basement that I've finished. I also put in another bedroom w/large walk-in closet and 3/4 bath, but that part is not "Man Town." The front half is basically the home theater and music area with bigger open area to the rear (with wet bar). I put the flooring down last week and when I get home next week, the base moldings go down and I'll be done. I'll post some pictures once I get the gear set up. Before the drywall went up I wired in a bunch of speaker outlets (but with multiple location options so I can paly with placement. I must have used about 300' of wire. Any way it's set for my Yam CR 2020 to run the HPM 100s, Bose 901 IVs, and as yet un-purchased out door speakers on the deck, and the option of running out and back to the powered sub speaker level inputs if I want to try that. Also pre-wired is a full up 7.1 in wall JBL HTi with multiple sub outlets. I have an Onkyo SR 705 that I've had for a couple of months and haven't even opened the box yet to run those. The 901s are wired and hanging from the ceiling on the opposite wall of the room. They can't be beat for party speakers They give decent sound through out the room without discernable sweet spots.

One of the compromises I had to make was in room accoustics. I don't think I'll be able to put in much in the way accoustic treatments and I'll have a bunch of aviation stuff on the walls. The room will probably be pretty bright. I'm hoping the drywall and insulation will take care of some of the wall issues, the ceiling is suspend drywall with about 12" insullation and the floor is a concrete slab. Over the floor I installed some laminate flooring with a high end pad underneath. It's better than it was and I'm hoping some furniture and rugs will help matters. If it's too bright, I might be looking to trade my HPMs for some Advents.

Anyway, I have AK to thank for a lot of my inspiration, where to get parts and considerations on it's construction.

I'll post some pictures soon.

[Chuck M]

So we had it wired, divided, insulated, sheet rocked and air-conditioned. I have my main system and computer in here, along with cable tv (a 13"). A friend gave me a nice sofa bed and matching chair. Other than the sound of the A/C in the background, it's a great place for music!

I have a small fridge stocked with beer and water, and a little liquor cabinet. It's a heavenly little room and I even spend some nights out here. My dog loves it, too.

Now if you had a girlfriend in there you'd have it all. But then if your wife found out about the girlfriend, she would "have it all." So your cave looks great just the way it is! :thmbsp:

[Tapehead47]

Sounds like a good plan! Having a bathroom would be great. I gotta go back to the house! (only on 'certain occasions')

My brother calls his place 'Man Town', too. My place is 'ManShun'. Friends of ours named our getaways.

Can't wait to see the pix.

Rick

[Gohan]

Nice Mancave Tapehead47 :music:

Gohan

[Raymond23]

Wife: We don't need speakers in every room of the house!
Me: Why not?

Love the sig. My wife objected at first to my putting speakers through the house. But I go them in the living room, formal living room, dining room, kitchen, rec room (2 sets at either end), deck, and wired to the patio for future instalation (won't happen, we never sit there...to many bugs).

Only place that didn't get it were the bedrooms and bathrooms. She thinks I'm nuts. But then she insisted on a 42" TV in the master bedroom...

[ablethevoice]

Well, mine didn't start as a mancave but it certainly mutated into one:yes: Our house is a 100+ year old farmhouse. My wife and I essentially took over the living room as our bedroom which left the smallest room in the house empty. The first thing that went in there was my computer on a crappy rickety kitchen table. Got a decent-looking office desk so the table got relegated to the back porch where it serves as a cat perch.

A chance encounter with a full Kenwood system went in next, followed closely by one then another synthesizer and a small mixing board and before I knew it, I had a fully functioning office/studio/computer room which now serves as my getaway as well as my workspace (I do voiceover work). The door leads directly to the kitchen which once seemed to be an open invitation to the kids until I made it very plain that this one room in the house was totally off-limits to them both under any circumstances whatsoever:nono:
I also have a generic 1990's era TV with a VCR, DVD and satellite in here so I can watch what I want when the kids (and/or my wife) have taken over the other one. There's a 12000 BTU AC installed in the wall because without it, this room can easily reach 105 degrees by 10 AM on a high summer day. I'm the only smoker in the house as well so I have a small exhaust fan installed in the window near my right hand and that's where the ashtray rests. Keeps the room fairly smoke-free. The walls are covered with (I guess pretty cheesy-looking) egg crates which may not be pretty, but does an admirable job of killing room echo so I can do any mic work fairly quietly (but I do have to kill the AC while the mic is open)

What small amounts of booze I consume stay in here (I rarely drink; my wife doesn't at all. My Glenlivet fifth bought in February is still over half-full). It's very humble, but it's all mine:music:

I'm about to re-arrange the whole deal and when I do, I'll post some pix. Right now the place is an unholy mess and I won't inflict that on your eyes:D

[Raymond23]

It's very humble, but it's all mine:music:



That is the key. To have your own space and retreat where you can get away and just unwind...

[70salesguy]

The Man-Cave process.

Here are some pictures. Enjoy...

http://scripps-content.communicationsmgr.com/pcsupload/a61f4391-e9ae-41b0-84db-c636385cc2bb_player.jpg

http://scripps-content.communicationsmgr.com/pcsupload/69e0baa8-7229-4f39-a227-89032d73b492_player.jpg

http://scripps-content.communicationsmgr.com/pcsupload/50487550-9f54-4821-9713-76e22b63da88_player.jpg

That's a fabulous den or party-room, the workmanship looks great, and the style and design is very tasteful.

Here's my question. Where's the stereo? Is it hidden behind the cabinets? If so, please add a few pictures where we can see it!

[Tapehead47]

Same here, Raymond. Where's the system in that beautiful cave?

Rick

[Raymond23]

That's a fabulous den or party-room, the workmanship looks great, and the style and design is very tasteful.

Here's my question. Where's the stereo? Is it hidden behind the cabinets? If so, please add a few pictures where we can see it!

Thanks!

The workmanship is top notch. It was all custom built and I designed the bar and entertainment cabinets and they did a great job. Apparently, the odd angles on the bar caused quite a bit of "frustration" at the cabinet shop (especially with overhanging soffit!).

The entertainment cabinet was designed to maximize the usable space, but to hide everything if desired.

Here it is closed:
http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/7058/ent1qd9.jpg


Here it is opened:
http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/8318/ent2yj4.jpg

Here's a close up:
http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/7660/ent3dq0.jpg

There really isn't anything exciting here. The TV is a 42" Panosonic Plasma. The receiver and DVD player are Sony. There is a Wii and a MP3 hooked up for music. The dish receiver is also there. The upper right cubbie hole below the TV is the center spaker by Summit. The black box in the lowest left corner is the mini subwoofer (also by summit). The speakers are decent, and were selected mostly to fit the space limitations.

The doors are pocket doors and the shelf for the TV pulls out and swiwels. The rest of the speakers are in the ceiling. You can see one just where the fireplace meets the entertainment cabinet in the first picture. There are 2 fronts and 2 rears behind the sectional. There are also to fronts in the poker table area so I can play music through the whole room.

The doors beneath the main cabinet have drawers built in for CD's, DVD's, and video games. The door in front of the subwoofer has an alternate front that is a frame with speaker mech in front so I can use it with the door closed.

[legal eagle]

Thanks!

The workmanship is top notch. It was all custom built and I designed the bar and entertainment cabinets and they did a great job. Apparently, the odd angles on the bar caused quite a bit of "frustration" at the cabinet shop (especially with overhanging soffit!).

The entertainment cabinet was designed to maximize the usable space, but to hide everything if desired.

Here it is closed:
http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/7058/ent1qd9.jpg


Here it is opened:
http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/8318/ent2yj4.jpg

Here's a close up:
http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/7660/ent3dq0.jpg

There really isn't anything exciting here. The TV is a 42" Panosonic Plasma. The receiver and DVD player are Sony. There is a Wii and a MP3 hooked up for music. The dish receiver is also there. The upper right cubbie hole below the TV is the center spaker by Summit. The black box in the lowest left corner is the mini subwoofer (also by summit). The speakers are decent, and were selected mostly to fit the space limitations.

The doors are pocket doors and the shelf for the TV pulls out and swiwels. The rest of the speakers are in the ceiling. You can see one just where the fireplace meets the entertainment cabinet in the first picture. There are 2 fronts and 2 rears behind the sectional. There are also to fronts in the poker table area so I can play music through the whole room.

The doors beneath the main cabinet have drawers built in for CD's, DVD's, and video games. The door in front of the subwoofer has an alternate front that is a frame with speaker mech in front so I can use it with the door closed.

Now you are just rubbing it in...:yes:

[legal eagle]

I'm about to put the finishing touches on my man cave, or as the wife calls it, Man Town. ...I'll post some pictures soon.

You owe us pics, and we won't forget :nono:

[70salesguy]

At great risk here, I'm going to say this.

Raymond23's den and bar is terrific! Most any Aker would love to have one like it! It's well-crafted and beautiful. It must be a terrific place to entertain friends ! Even though I have a "storage area" in my basement, it has been "stubbed out" for plumbing to facilitate the conversion to a bar or kitchenette in the future, if desired. I would love to have a "den" as stylish and well-crafted as Raymond23's! :yes:

But it doesn't really seem to be a "mancave". :sigh:

The emphasis on the audio is minimal, and the design and furnishings have an astronomically high WAF! :yes:

It would seem that the term "den" is more appropriate here.

I'm not saying that a "mancave" has to be tacky, cluttered or claustrophobic, but that one of the main functions of the mancave is to provide a space that allows for unfettered pursuit of the audio hobby with no concession to WAF.

I fear that Raymond23's "den" is so nice, one would have a difficult time having it to yourself!

[Tapehead47]

It's not a 'cave' at all. Not even a niche or a cubby. Nor a 'hole' (manhole?, let's not go there!).

I think it's a TeeVee Room. A very nice room, but not an "Audio" room.

If my ManShun looked like that my wife would be hanging around too much. Not that it would be a 'bad thing'. We spend a lot of time together. But too much of a good thing is bad for the psyche. How do you say it....'absence makes the heart grow fonder'? Yeah, that's the ticket! "Honey, I want to be more fond of you so would you please....." :lmao:

Rick

[tomt]

http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/2557/20a00006gu9.jpg

can't git out

[Tapehead47]

http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/2557/20a00006gu9.jpg

can't git out:lmao::lmao:

That's a "ManHole", I think...

[Raymond23]

But it doesn't really seem to be a "mancave". :sigh:

The emphasis on the audio is minimal, and the design and furnishings have an astronomically high WAF! :yes:

It would seem that the term "den" is more appropriate here.

I'm not saying that a "mancave" has to be tacky, cluttered or claustrophobic, but that one of the main functions of the mancave is to provide a space that allows for unfettered pursuit of the audio hobby with no concession to WAF.




Well, the topic was "Mancave", not "Audio Room". But I can certainly understand what there would be that particular bias on this site (just like the AV sites would feel that a mancave is a home theater room, others would feel it's a pool room etc. I don't even want to think about what a "Mancave" is to a Trekkie...Yikes!)

But, I would argue that a "Mancave" is a retreat for the male, where he can have all of his little toys and interests. This one is multi-funtional. Audio (8 speakers, CD player, MP3 and receiver...I think I at least have the basic audio basis covered), home theater, bar, pinball, poker, arcade). The decor is my aesthetic as well-the wife is not happy with some of the choices (ie: autographed guitars on the wall).

I thought that this thread was about such retreats, as opposed to a retreat for audio purest only. The thread was about mancaves in general, and this is something that I have spent a lot of time in planning and executing and wanted to share when I saw this thread...

[Tapehead47]

Not to be picky, but this was posted in the 'General audio discussion' forum. I think that's why I mentioned it wasn't a true Mancave.

But I'd swap rooms with you in a NY Minute!

My audio stuff would be very conspicuous. And I would have Un- autographed guitars hanging up. And a Playboy calendar. :D And outside the door I'd have a sign: "Manly Women Haters Club".

My wife likes to play pool, so I wouldn't have a pool table.

Rick

[70salesguy]

Well, the topic was "Mancave", not "Audio Room". But I can certainly understand what there would be that particular bias on this site (just like the AV sites would feel that a mancave is a home theater room, others would feel it's a pool room etc. I don't even want to think about what a "Mancave" is to a Trekkie...Yikes!)

But, I would argue that a "Mancave" is a retreat for the male, where he can have all of his little toys and interests. This one is multi-funtional. Audio (8 speakers, CD player, MP3 and receiver...I think I at least have the basic audio basis covered), home theater, bar, pinball, poker, arcade). The decor is my aesthetic as well-the wife is not happy with some of the choices (ie: autographed guitars on the wall).

I thought that this thread was about such retreats, as opposed to a retreat for audio purest only. The thread was about mancaves in general, and this is something that I have spent a lot of time in planning and executing and wanted to share when I saw this thread...



Don't read this wrong! :no:

We all LOVE your room - it's gorgeous!

Maybe you just need to add some MORE stuff your wife doesn't like! :D

[Tapehead47]

Exactly!:yes:

[Raymond23]

Don't read this wrong! :no:

We all LOVE your room - it's gorgeous!

Maybe you just need to add some MORE stuff your wife doesn't like! :D

Maybe I'll put a stripper pole next to the bar...

[BajaGringo]

I like how you think...

[70salesguy]

Maybe I'll put a stripper pole next to the bar...

I think he's really starting to get on board now! :)

But seriously folks, it seems that one of the requirements for a "mancave" would be to have more audio gear than your wife thinks is necessary!

You have just enough to get the job done.

Are the autographed guitars the only thing your wife doesn't like?

The more I think about it, I believe you have a valid point. If this was VideoKarma, people would expect a heavy emphasis on video gear, or if it was StreetrodKarma, people would expect a heavy emphasis on Street Rod Automobilia and decor.

Do you find you "get away" to your mancave often by yourself? Do your male friends often gather there? If the answer is yes, then you are right, you have a "mancave". Congratulations! :thmbsp:

Either way, you have a beautiful place there and I for one, CONGRATULATE you for what you have achieved! You have been a real sport about this!

Now, if I could just add a few Crown amps and some JBLs in there, it would be perfect! :D

[BajaGringo]

A principal element to the "decor" of my mancave is that when somebody enters for the first time they can't help but notice my audio gear. It is the major "theme" to my space...

:music:

[vinyldavid]

A principal element to the "decor" of my mancave is that when somebody enters for the first time they can't help but notice my audio gear. It is the major "theme" to my space...

:music:

Like my room!

I gotta get some pics up ASAP. It has not changed much, but it is cleaner than it was.

I also have Advents in here now. :music:

Dulcimerlex's father walked in and just stopped and said WHOA! :D

[rek100]

Started off with the family room in AZ, had a separate "TV room" in those days.

I have the bonus room over the garage now. The ceiling is angled IAW the roof, which gave me some concern at first. I prefer slab foundations, but this works ok. The Rega is on it's wall mount.

But, the imaging is really fine, maybe the best I've ever had. :music:

It's also the home theatre room with the Sony HDTV and surround stuff. I can't really take a picture of everything since something is always blocked by the Mirages. Maybe when I get my second MC 2100 back... :scratch2:

[BajaGringo]

I can't really take a picture of everything since something is always blocked by the Mirages. Maybe when I get my second MC 2100 back... :scratch2:

You POOR guy...

:music:

[rek100]

Hey,

After 6 decades on planet earth :drool:, 4 decades married to the same person, you figure out how to get what you want. :naughty:

Something for everyone to look forward to...