Electrical – the best option for hiding wires to wall mounted TV

cable-managementelectricalhome-theater

This is similar to this question, but in my case I'm not looking for the easiest solution but the most professional solution.

I am torn between modular wall plates, and the type that just have a hole and let you feed the cables through.

What is the preferred method the pros use? Is there a solution I have not thought of yet?

alt text

alt text

Best Answer

In general I think the pros prefer the wall plates. It gives it a cleaner look especially when nothing is attached (no components are installed yet).

I know some audio/video-phile types actually prefer "big hole" method as it cuts down on the number of connections. Imagine 1 cable (2 connections, 1 at the cable box and 1 at the TV) compared to 2 cables (4 connections, 1 at the cable box and 1 at the wall, then on the other end of the wall and at the TV). If you do modular plates behind the TV too you are now talking about 3 cables. Of course the overall length of the run will be about the same.

I too am torn about this, I think if I am just doing it for me I would go with the big hole approach. If I was planning on reselling the house and I want the room to reallly look "finished" without my AV equipment installed I would do the wall plates.

EDIT - It looks like you already found www.monoprice.com so you have the best source for these things figured out :)