Cross posted in Home Improvement.
We are finishing basement and will have a tv wall with a built in electric fire place below it. Then a built in seating/bench below that.

Something like this, but no upper mantle/shelf.. and the full wall will be flush not bumped out.


We want it to be ultra clean/modern, with no cables or equipment and a flush tv. TV will be a fire tv, so it won't even need a dongle, but what other considerations/equipment should I be thinking about?
Maybe an HDMI plug in the wall for game consoles or whatever else to temporarily plug in?

Also want suggestions for recessed tv box. Conduit from tv to anywhere? I want to wire for in ceiling speakers.. where should all the wire go? Or is a sound bar/sub just as good at this point?

I have an unfinished storage area directly down the wall from where this tv is, so I threw a 2" pvc back there thinking I can use it to run any cables.. but I don't even know what?? lol.

See pic for reference.
Black storage area will be unfinished, so i have that conduit running to that area if needed.. is this the right idea?? or do components need to be below tv on the bench?
Where can a sub go if we just go sound bar route?




I know nothing about all this, but want to make it have a bit of wow and want to have everything thought of before we drywall it all up.

Some real pics for more reference.
Here is the wall, the opening is for fireplace, bench below it, tv above it.




And the electrical room where the conduit can terminate (I haven't cut the pvc yet so it's longer than necessary)
I will likely build some shelves on this wall.

If you ware wanting the TV to be flush with the wall you are going to have to frame out a cavity for it to go in like you did the fireplace except it will also have to have studs so you have something to mount the tv to.

The components don't have to be directly below the tv they can be in the storage area and running the conduit is a smart idea, you just have to get cables long enough to run from the tv to that area (monoprice.com has a huge selection in varying lengths for not a ton of money) and no need for an extra hdmi in the room for temporary game set up, just have an extra in the storage area or get an HDMI switch that plugs multiple components in to one switch with only one cable running to one input on the tv.

I long ago ditched the full surround sound set up with the amp, all the speakers and the countless wire running. Went to a sound bar with a wireless sub and haven't turned back. The sub can go anywhere just needs power. Unless you are wanting the "full movie theatre" experience, sound bars can be sufficient and a lot less wiring.

A-A Ron said:

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If you ware wanting the TV to be flush with the wall you are going to have to frame out a cavity for it to go in like you did the fireplace except it will also have to have studs so you have something to mount the tv to.

The components don't have to be directly below the tv they can be in the storage area and running the conduit is a smart idea, you just have to get cables long enough to run from the tv to that area (monoprice.com has a huge selection in varying lengths for not a ton of money) and no need for an extra hdmi in the room for temporary game set up, just have an extra in the storage area or get an HDMI switch that plugs multiple components in to one switch with only one cable running to one input on the tv.

I long ago ditched the full surround sound set up with the amp, all the speakers and the countless wire running. Went to a sound bar with a wireless sub and haven't turned back. The sub can go anywhere just needs power. Unless you are wanting the "full movie theatre" experience, sound bars can be sufficient and a lot less wiring.

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I guess I don't mean front of tv flush with wall.. just not a huge tv mount that ends up with a 6" gap behind tv. I want to mount it on a low profile mount with a minimal gap. No need for swivel and/or tilt.

Yeh I'm thinking more and more a soundbar/sub should be fine. But I also think it might be dumb to not take this opportunity to at least pre wire for surround.

I like the idea of the conduit so you can run HDMI eARC to/from a receiver in the closet .But i would also run a separate conduit for ethernet so you can hardwire your TV/streaming devices as well. if you go the soundbar route it is much simpler as mentioned. if you want more of a home theater feel run all that speaker wire to the closet where the receiver will sit. speaker wire is cheap. you can frame out speaker areas and run the wire and just cover with blanks and choose to do it after the fact if you want. i would definitely prep for it in case you change your mind

Every Firetv i've used has been slow and annoying at best to just awful. I would suggest a different platform or better yet, get an appletv 4k and run that via HDMI/ethernet and then get the best TV you want. Apple TV also has a great screensaver mode that would probably look amazing with a framed out recessed look you are going for so that when you are paused you have some "artwork" and "4k photography" to look at.

With the walls empty, i'd consider running power for wall sconces to add mood lighting for a more cozy softer feel than overhead lights.

also - r/tvtoohigh - if this is a basement and tv watching room I would have preferred a Tv more at eye level. but that ship looks to have sailed and it is one's opinion.

FightinTAC08 said:

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also - r/tvtoohigh - if this is a basement and tv watching room I would have preferred a Tv more at eye level. but that ship looks to have sailed and it is one's opinion.

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was just discussing this with my brother.

That ship hasn't sailed, I'm going to shorten the hearth about 3" and also reduce gap between fireplace and hearth about 4".. so in effect I can lower the fireplace frame about 7".. that puts bottom of tv about 35" or so instead of the current 42"ish.

gabehcoud said:

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tv mounts flush against wall
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/lg-77-class-g4-series-oled-evo-4k-uhd-smart-webos-tv-with-one-wall-design-2024/6578047.p?skuId=6578047

btw if you have to tilt your tv, your tv is too high. pic in the OP is trash

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yeh it was just a visual example of hearth/fireplace/tv.. our tv is way lower.. and read my post above. I'm going to lower it even a bit more.

FightinTAC08 said:

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I like the idea of the conduit so you can run HDMI eARC to/from a receiver in the closet .But i would also run a separate conduit for ethernet so you can hardwire your TV/streaming devices as well.

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Why can't I run the ethernet in this same conduit?

62strat said:

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FightinTAC08 said:

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I like the idea of the conduit so you can run HDMI eARC to/from a receiver in the closet .But i would also run a separate conduit for ethernet so you can hardwire your TV/streaming devices as well.

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Why can't I run the ethernet in this same conduit?

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you can run them together without issues. but the cost of running a second conduit would give you piece of mind as to limiting any potential interference and future proofing.

just make sure to keep any power cables/romex in a separate run but you may not have any power to worry about.

Try again, Neo. You are definitely not THE ONE.

FightinTAC08 said:

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62strat said:

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FightinTAC08 said:

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I like the idea of the conduit so you can run HDMI eARC to/from a receiver in the closet .But i would also run a separate conduit for ethernet so you can hardwire your TV/streaming devices as well.

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Why can't I run the ethernet in this same conduit?

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you can run them together without issues. but the cost of running a second conduit would give you piece of mind as to limiting any potential interference and future proofing.

just make sure to keep any power cables/romex in a separate run but you may not have any power to worry about.

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you're right.. why not do it now?

I have a long piece of 1" the plumber left, so I'll throw it back there.

I'm not saying your TV will fail, but it is definitely going to get VERY hot. My parents have their TV mounted above an electric fireplace with no mantel. Their old Vizio had a good run until the backlights finally bit the dust. When we swapped it out, all of the plastic on the back of the TV was warped from the heat of the fireplace.

Just something to be aware of when you do get everything up and running.

Is there an attic above this space? If so run the wire for an HDMI antenna and out that in your attic so you get all the OTA local channels for free. Helps with sports on some occasions, but I don't have any tv streaming or subscriptions and don't plan on it so this is my workaround for that.

Sea Speed said:

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Is there an attic above this space? If so run the wire for an HDMI antenna and out that in your attic so you get all the OTA local channels for free. Helps with sports on some occasions, but I don't have any tv streaming or subscriptions and don't plan on it so this is my workaround for that.

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This is also nice if the power is out and you have a generator.