A great picture and real sound start behind the drywall. We handle the electrical side of home theaters and media rooms in Winston-Salem and across the Triad: dedicated circuits for the equipment, recessed power behind a wall-mounted screen, in-wall runs to surround, in-ceiling, and projector locations, and lighting you can dim from your seat. Whether it is a finished basement theater or a living room TV wall, the goal is the same: clean walls, no visible cords, and power you can count on.
- PowerDedicated circuits to the equipment location
- TV WallRecessed receptacle and cable path behind the screen
- Pre-WireIn-wall runs to speakers and projector locations
- LightingDimmable recessed lighting and scene control
Dedicated Circuits for the Equipment
A receiver, an amplifier, and a powered subwoofer pull real current. When that equipment shares a circuit with the room’s lights, a space heater, or a vacuum, you get tripped breakers mid-movie and, sometimes, audible hum. We run dedicated circuits to the equipment location so your system is not sharing a breaker with the rest of the room.
For larger setups with separate amplification, we can provide more than one dedicated circuit and place receptacles where the rack or console actually sits. If your panel is short on space, we will tell you before the walls close up, and our panel upgrade page explains the options.
Recessed Power Behind the Screen
A recessed receptacle box lets a wall-mounted TV sit tight against the wall, with the power and signal cables hidden inside it instead of hanging down the front. Paired with a low-voltage pass-through to the console or equipment closet, it gives you a clean wall with nothing showing between the TV and the cabinet below.
Code does not allow a TV’s power cord to be run inside the wall, so the right solution is a proper in-wall receptacle behind the screen, not a cord stuffed through drywall. We locate it relative to your mount and screen size so it is hidden once the TV is on the wall.
In-Wall Speaker and Projector Runs
Surround and in-ceiling speakers, a projector, and a powered screen all need wiring routed to the right spots. We run in-wall paths to your surround, in-ceiling, and projector locations, plus power at the projector and any motorized screen, so the room is ready for your AV installer or for you to connect the equipment yourself.
The best time to do this is during a basement finish or renovation, when walls and ceilings are open. In existing rooms we fish runs through finished walls and ceilings with minimal disturbance, the same approach we use for adding outlets.
Lighting and Protection to Match
Theater lighting should dim smoothly and stay out of the way of the screen. We install recessed and accent lighting on dimmers suited to the fixtures, and can set up scene control through a Lutron system so one button takes the room from “lights up” to “movie.”
A home theater represents a real investment in electronics. Whole-home surge protection at the panel, layered with quality point-of-use protection at the equipment, protects it from the surges that follow storms and utility switching. Adding a quiet ceiling fan to a media room is another common request.
Planning Your Media Room Wiring
The easiest theater to wire is the one that is planned before drywall. Start with the screen: wall-mounted TV or projector and screen, and its size. That sets the location of the recessed receptacle and signal pass-through, or the projector power and ceiling run. Next, place the equipment: a console under the screen, a cabinet off to the side, or a closet in the next room. Equipment in a closed cabinet or closet also needs ventilation, so plan for it early. Each needs its own power and a path back to the screen and speakers.
Then mark the seating and speakers. Surround and in-ceiling speaker locations depend on where people sit, so it pays to decide on the seating layout first. Finally, plan the lighting: recessed lights on dimmers, perhaps a step or accent light so people can move around during a movie, and a control at the seating or by the door.
If you are working with an AV installer, we coordinate with them on box locations and cable paths so the electrical and low-voltage work fit together. If you are doing the AV yourself, we leave the runs labelled and ready. Planning a basement finish? Call us early in the project so the theater rough-in is scheduled alongside the rest of the wiring, before insulation and drywall. Either way, the result is the same: power where the equipment needs it, and clean walls everywhere else.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a home theater need a dedicated circuit?
It is strongly recommended. Receivers, amplifiers, and powered subwoofers pull real current, and a dedicated circuit keeps them from sharing a breaker with lights and other loads in the room.
Can you hide the wires behind my wall-mounted TV?
Yes. We install a recessed receptacle behind the screen plus a low-voltage pass-through for signal cables, so nothing hangs below the TV. Running the TV's power cord inside the wall is not allowed by code.
Do you install speakers and projectors?
We handle the electrical side: in-wall runs to your speaker and projector locations, and power for the projector and any motorized screen. That leaves the room ready for your AV equipment or installer.
Can you wire a home theater in an existing finished room?
Yes. We fish wiring through finished walls and ceilings with minimal disturbance. If you are finishing a basement, pre-wiring before drywall is the easiest and cleanest option.
Can I control the theater lighting from my seat?
Yes. We install dimmable lighting and can set up Lutron scene control so a single button or app sets the room for viewing.
Other Services We Provide
Areas We Serve
We provide home theater wiring in Winston-Salem and across the Triad. See what we do in your town:
Request a Free Quote
Call 336-283-6290, email ampedupinfo@yahoo.com, or send the form below. We respond fast, usually the same day.