As I began furnishing my man cave, I had a hard time figuring out what type of sound system I wanted to use. As I looked around, I realized there are different categories to consider.
Each category is best for different people and has its own best options. This article will break down the categories, describe which category might be right for you, and suggest the best sound system options for you in that category.
The best man cave sound systems can be broken into four different categories, surround sound, soundbar only, soundbar and speaker combo, and music-centric. The best sound system options for each category (in that same order) are the Enclave Audio CineHome HD 5.1 wireless home theater system, the Samsung Bluetooth Smart Sound Soundbar with an active subwoofer, a combination of the Samsung Bluetooth Smart Sound Soundbar with two Samsung rear speakers, and the Bose SoundTouch 30.
So what options are out there for you? The four options that I feel are going to be most relevant for the widest range of man caves are:
- A Full-Blown Surround Sound System
- Sound Bar Only
- Sound Bar and Speaker Combo
- Music Sound System
The Full Blown Surround Sound System (Home Theater) Option:
Important Features Of A Full Surround Sound System And Who It’s For:
A surround sound system is a network or setup of multiple speakers. They are set up so they… well… surround you. With a properly set up sound system, you will have sound coming at you from all directions. This leaves you feeling completely immersed in your favorite show.
What sets a good surround sound system apart from others is its accuracy. If you are watching a movie and there is a sound coming from behind the character and to the right, you will hear it there as well. With sensitive speakers, you will also get a sense of proximity to the sound as well.
All systems are different, but you can typically expect to get at least two rear speakers, two front speakers, and a subwoofer. With all of these speakers, it becomes really important to find a wireless set up. Finding a wireless home theater sound system can be pretty tough.
This option is for those of you who are serious about your TV or movie experience and who want nothing but the best. From my experiences, this option is usually the most expensive. But to get the best viewing and listening experience, you will usually need a large number of speakers. So it makes sense they are more expensive.
My Surround Sound Suggestions:
My suggestion would be the Enclave Audio CineHome HD 5.1 Wireless home theater system. It has everything you need for a sweet, 360-degree, home theater set up. At the same time, it is wireless and surprisingly affordable. This is one of the best wireless home-theater-in-a-box setups you can buy.
It also has Bluetooth capability. This lets you connect to it with an app and play your music. Honestly, this checks all of the boxes you want when searching for a home theater. It is affordable, reliable, has good ratings, and is easy to set up and use.
The Sound Bar Only Option:
Important Features Of Sound Bars And Who It’s For:
I am guessing you probably already know what a soundbar is. But, in case you don’t, it is essentially a speaker that is designed to be placed or mounted underneath your TV. The basic idea of a soundbar is it improves the sound quality of your TV. The new ones (like the one I will suggest) are smart and can adjust in real-time to what you are listening to.
Because of where the soundbar is mounted, its purpose isn’t to immerse you in what you are watching. Instead, its purpose is to increase the clarity and quality of what you are listening to.
If you are looking for a soundbar, I would suggest you find one that adds some extra functionality to your room. Some can switch and fulfill different roles. A soundbar can be flexible, so look for one with those flexible features. Those features are things like Bluetooth connectivity, Alexa enabled, or sports mode (where crowd noise is enhanced).
This option is for those of you who want something more than just a TV speaker, but are more interested in convenience and affordability… This option is also for you if your TV isn’t always the center of attention, and you want to add some flexibility to your space. Maybe you are playing cards or pool away from your TV, use a Bluetooth soundbar to fill your room with music.
My Soundbar Suggestions:
If you are looking to buy a soundbar, keep your eyes peeled for a good quality one. In my opinion, if we are spending money on a soundbar it should loud enough to not need any extra help. It should also actively improve the sound quality of your set up. If it wasn’t doing that, then what’s the point?
From my personal experience, Samsung makes some fantastic soundbars. The one I would suggest is the Samsung Bluetooth Smart Sound Soundbar With Active Subwoofer.
I have an older version of this set up in my man cave, and wow is it good. It has massive sound, is packed with features, and is affordable. This newer version is nice because it is Bluetooth compatible. So you can use it as a Bluetooth speaker for your music. Check it out.
The Sound Bar And Two Rear Speakers Option:
Important Features Of A Sound Bar and Speaker Combo And Who It’s For:
A soundbar and speaker combo are exactly what it sounds like, a combination of speakers and a soundbar. This is the set up I have in my man cave. I have the soundbar mounted under the TV, and then I have the speaker behind each side of the couch. This rear-speaker is going to be connected to the TV/soundbar in some way. Mine a wired, and I have run that wire under a space rug.
For my taste, this is the best way to go. It feels like the best of both worlds. If you get a good quality soundbar and the right speakers, you are assembling your surround sound. But you get the bonus of saving money and not having to deal with all of those extra speakers.
This option is for those of you who do want an immersive experience but don’t want to pay for a full-fledged surround sound home entertainment system. A decent surround sound system will cost you upwards of $600. Instead, I opted for a $200 soundbar, and a pair of $500 speakers. Just being realistic here, the sound quality won’t blow you away. But it is 100% worth the price you are paying. I have no regrets in this direction.
My Soundbar And Rear Speaker Suggestions:
If you are feeling like you want a little more than just a soundbar, I am right there with you. If you plan on having a combo set up, I will still suggest using the soundbar I mentioned earlier. I’ve found it to be a great addition.
For speakers, I would suggest you get some Samsung rear speakers that are compatible with the bar you get. The newer models are even wiresless! They are super easy to set up. This is the combination I have in my man cave. I like to think of it as a set it and forget it a combination. I have it set to turn on when the TV turns on, and that’s that. After I set it up, I haven’t had to mess with it at all.
The Sound System For Music (Not Surround Sound) Option:
Important Features Of A Music Sound System And Who It’s For:
The final option you have for your man cave is a sound system that is more geared towards music. Unlike the other options, the emphasis is going to be placed on the quality of the sound not how the sound is delivered.
You can expect these to be a single high-quality speaker. These probably will not be connected to your TV at all. So they can go wherever you want them to in your man cave. These also usually feature Bluetooth or wireless connection. These features make it an awesome choice for the man cavers out there who are going to be entertaining a bunch of people.
Better yet, I have seen options available that use an app. If you have guests download the app, they can add songs to the music queue. This turns the speaker into a jukebox. That’s an awesome feature to have in your man cave. To the unknowing eye, these may seem expensive for what you are getting. Quantity is more important than quality, right? Wrong! If the majority of what you will be doing is listening to music while doing other activities in your man cave, this one speaker is going to kick the crap out of the surround sound system with seven sources of sound.
My Music Focused Suggestions:
When looking for a music-centric sound system, an awesome wireless option for you is the Bose SoundTouch 30. A cool and unique feature it has is it’s Alexa compatible. This thing is the beefy-est wireless speaker Bose offers. It has some massive punch…
This option is for you if your man cave is on the bigger side. Because it is Alexa compatible, you can use it to start creating a home network of speakers and other smart devices. This is something I am a huge fan of if you are looking for ways to futureproof your man cave. If you need any extra ideas, check this article out where I talk extensively about the different options you have.
Final Thoughts:
Sometimes it can feel like there are way too many options out there for sound systems. During my search for my setup, I realized there were four different categories, surround sound, soundbar only, soundbar and speaker combo, and music-focused.
Each category has its benefits. So by looking at what you are looking to add to your man cave, you will be able to figure out what option is right for you. I hope that this article helped you do just that. I also hope my suggestions get you looking in the right places for your new sound system.
Until next time,