Audio video wiring is essential for the modern home with technology changing every year.   Even with change, there are certain things you can count on for the foreseeable future.  TV receivers will most likely use a coaxial cable from the satellite company or cable company, speakers will need wires to connect them and telephones for many people still have a wire attached.  Yes, there are exceptions, wireless speakers, Wireless HDMI (HDTV Cable), VoIP Telephones and the like are already in use, but for the vast majority of people, the standard technology of the last 30 years still applies.  You should plan your home’s AV infrastructure accordingly, with plenty of TV, Phone, Network and other wires already in place in as many rooms as possible.    A central wiring cabinet, like the one in our garage will make upgrading, installing items or re-wiring a cinch and should be a “must have”. 

If you are planning a home theater system, or a theater room like we are,  having 5.1 or even 7.1 channel audio wiring in place will save a lot of effort down the road.   Our home theater is pre-wired for 5.1,  two front speakers, a center speaker, two rear speakers and a subwoofer.   We also opted to run an HDMI cable as well as power outlet in the rear ceiling of the theater room to accommodate a digital projector. 

In home speaker systems are also popular.  As an added measure, we have pre-wired two speaker jacks in the ceiling of the living room / kitchen area with an independent volume knob for indoor music.   We also had two pre-wired speaker terminals placed on the outside of our house at the patio with their own volume control for outdoor music.  All of these wires lead back to the media room so we can hide the audio components away.