Image via Complex Original
Every man needs a room to call their own. A place where they can go to decompress, chill, and engage in typical male extracurricular activities: watch sports, play games, listen to music, and get twisted. This place of refuge we speak of is known as the man cave. Some dudes have gone overboard and dropped over five figures to deck out their basements, installing a full-length bar, premium entertainment center, and even movie theater seating. But not every guy is balling like that.
Truth is you can build a dope man cave with some of the coolest gadgets and high-tech furnishings for less than five stacks. So, if creating your own "mantuary," if you will, on a budget is on the bucket list, we got a number of recommendations for you. From multi-purpose gaming chairs to universal grills, here are some affordable tech essentials to consider when building your man cave.
Whynter BR-125SD Beverage Refrigerator
Price: $300
According to the unofficial Man Cave Commandments, thou shalt not own a fridge incapable of storing more than one case of beer. Here's one that holds over 18 six-packs or up to 117 standard 12 oz. cans to be exact. Imagine what your beer pong tournaments will turn out like. You can also store other non-alcoholic beverages and foods, but what fun is that?
X Rocker Pro Series H3 4.1 Video Gaming Chair
Price: $170
Every man needs a throne kick back on while engaging in some Madden '13. Peep the X Rocker Pro Series. Connect your Xbox 360, PS3, Blu-ray, or any compatible media device and take in high-quality audio directly from the chair’s built-in sound system. Lazy lifters can also use the side control panel to power the seat and manage volume.
Apple TV
Price: $100
Apple’s media streamer plays 1080p HD videos from any iTunes library and several third-party content providers such as Netflix, Vimeo, Hulu Plus, and more. AirPlay integration makes it easy to stream music and photos from any iOS device onto your widescreen television. It even does the thinking for you by offering TV, movie, and sports recommendations from the Genius menu.
KRUPS Universal Grill and Panini Maker
Price: $80
Takeout is overrated and, on the whole, unhealthy. Instead, close the Seamless app, grab a few burgers, some steaks, or some chicken and get your grill on with this universal cooker. Think of it as an adult version of the Foreman grill. The floating-hinge system easily adjusts food thickness, plus its non-stick surface releases food without adding any grease or oil to the meal. That's good eating right there.
LG 42CS560 42-Inch LCD HDTV
Price: $450
It aint Sharp’s 95-inch LED beast, but at less than $500, LG’s 42-inch set is a dope investment. Take in full HD 1080p visuals and configure picture quality elements such as tint and sharpness through the manufacturer's easy-to-use Picture Wizard II menu. And with 20W of audio blasting through the speakers, expect to hear those bone-crushing sacks Tom Brady's been eating on a weekly basis at a higher volume.
The BeerTender
Price: $150
A full beer tap setup isn’t necessary to enjoy the true bar experience. The Krups BeerTender will do the trick. Compatible with the DraughtKeg system, Heineken lovers can keep their beer cooled at 37.4 degrees °F and fresh for 30 days. Simply run the keg’s plastic tube through the tap and pour the crew some brewskis in bartender fashion. Just remember these six steps when pouring.
Trademark Games 3-in-1 Rotating Table Game
Price: $255
No man cave is official without some sort of game table. Fortunately for you, Trademark put together this rotating 3-in-1 combo to get in some pool, foosball, or air hockey right before kickoff.
Beacon Smartphone Universal Remote
Price: $70
Couch potatoes can put their smartphone to use in a more proactive manner by transforming it into a universal remote control. Pair Beacon's wireless control system with any iOS or Android device and manage every major entertainment device in your room. Change channels, set up your DVR, and play music from any sound system: straight from your mobile's touchscreen.
Energy Take Classic 5.1 Home Theater Speaker System
Price: $400
High-performance audio at an unbeatable value, Energy compacts incredible sound quality into its gorgeous surround-sound speaker system. The six-piece set produces stellar midrange and bass levels, and delivers clear vocals and sound effects. Wondering where to position the entire system? No sweat. Feel free to set up the four satellites across the main hub or mount them to the wall and spread audio across the entire room.
Xbox 360 Racing Bundle
Price: $300
Sports gamers can scoop up this limited edition 360 bundle, which includes a copy of Forza Motorsport 4, wireless speed wheel, and 250GB of storage. More than enough memory to juggle Black Ops 2, NBA 2K13, and Xbox LIVE Marketplace purchases.
Viper Neptune Electronic Dart Board with Cabinet
Price: $165
Add some traditional flavor to your dwelling zone with this electronic dartboard. Features include missed dart detection, auto player change, and game keys for 301 and Cricket. Get up to 16 people playing and monitor scores on the 6.5-inch LCD display below. Once the games are over, shut the gorgeous wood cabinet and crash on the couch.
Beats Boombox Portable
Price: $400
If the budget doesn’t allow for a jukebox, Beats's portable bass blaster will surely keep the party bumpin'. The redesigned Beatbox tackles the same ear-piercing and effective sound found on its larger predecessor, streaming music from any Bluetooth-enabled device (smartphone, iPod, laptop, tablet, etc.) in the process. Tear the roof off.
Fitness Multi-Purpose MF 2000 Bench
Price: $250
Sometimes you need to take a break from the book tube and burn off those bags of Cheetos and six-packs of Guinness. Get some exercise in on this multi-purpose bench that supports both upper and lower body lifting routines. Your wifey will thank you.