Introducing the man cave in Hyvinkää: a five-star leisure center

The man-made cave, completed alongside other works by its builder Timo Moision a few years ago, began by renovating the floor of the premises and proceeded through surface work to the placement and measurement of loudspeakers.

While the other end of the room is dedicated to enjoying high-quality sound and image reproduction in the embrace of a soft leather sofa, there is something completely different on the other side: two shelves filled with sharp-looking drinks and weapons, as well as film memorabilia from around the world, including the Alien movie series' Xenomorph in a mold of melted metal and the real-size head of the Predator. Although there are many details and objects, the decor is done in a restrained manner and aims to create a good atmosphere.

But let’s go back a few years. Timo, how did the Manluola project get started?
– It all started in 2013 when I was offered the opportunity to take over a space that had been used as a garage and storage room in the past. The space itself was in pretty poor condition; the floor had an old, rusty plastic mat, and the concrete beneath it required repainting on two occasions. A couple of years passed while I worked on fixing the floor, sanding the walls, and other tasks alongside my own work. When these were finally completed, the construction of the manhole began in earnest.

The home theater facility on Moision had good prerequisites thanks to its background as well. He is a trained electrician and telecommunications technician, has been into car audio and has even competed in it, and works for the Hifi system company AH-Hifi in Hyvinkää. Still, the project presented a challenge for a professional, who was responsible for practically the entire project except for the floor work himself:
– The most difficult part was being able to build and measure everything carefully, as sometimes I just wanted to get everything done alongside my own work. Another challenging thing was how to concretely implement the vision for the space. Where to put the kitchen, where to put the bed, where to put the subwoofers and so on. The placement of the fabric was known from the beginning, but the unnecessary relocation of the 140-pound subwoofer cabinets didn’t really appeal to me.

The two 18-inch subwoofers form the cornerstone of the men's restroom sound system. Massive closed enclosures were built by Moisio himself, and he also spent a long time considering the placement of the speakers:

– According to the original plan, both subwoofers were supposed to be hidden behind the screen, but measurements and ear impressions showed that the solution did not work. The standing waves left in the space were so loud that the second enclosure had to be placed behind the sofa. The measured and corrected DSP sound field is now in place, with the subwoofer operating in the range of approximately 18 Hz to 80–90 Hz within ±3 dB.

The sound system is driven by NAD’s pre- and main amplifiers, which, like other equipment, rest on their own panels. The power cables and the electrical wiring for the synchronizing current control system were made by Moisio himself, who received training from an electrician.

According to Moision, the slightly underpowered two-kilowatt power amplifiers are, however, enough to bring the set to life, so that the playback already feels more moderate even at lower volume levels. A benchmark can be the Japanese cars that Timo also enjoys playing with:
– When there’s enough power reserve in the set, the torque feels even more pronounced when driving quietly. It’s a bit the same when you can let the tires of a Japanese car squeak at low revs without the engine screaming like in a Ferrari.

Musically speaking, Moisio says that in the realization of his man cave he came close to his long-standing passion. When he previously had his own set for the two-channel hi-fi system and another for the multi-channel movie sound, the qualities of both schools come together in the man cave. The characteristics of the space and, especially, the acoustics also play a big role in this.
– I first thought of making the diffusers myself from the leftover cake mix, but when I calculated how much wood and time it would take, it was ultimately easier to just order ready-made acoustic elements and customize them accordingly. I made the bass traps myself instead.

The main speakers, the center speaker and the second subwoofer are hidden behind the velvet curtain, embedded within ten wool balls. Although the solution is familiar from real movie theaters, the effect of the 18-inch subwoofer element installed in a closed enclosure directly behind the velvet curtain still needed to be considered a little more in a smaller space:

– I researched the matter online, and apparently the people who are familiar with the subject said that there is no problem with the investment. Apparently, you can test the matter by placing a candle directly in front of the bass element and watching how hard you have to play before the candle goes out. I haven’t tested this myself, but I guess it’s pretty loud! With the wired fabric, of course, things are completely different compared to a candle. It’s likely that the projector will start flickering in the ceiling before the fabric is laid down.

Screen Research's 140-inch screen was selected for the men's room after a thorough consideration. In addition to its excellent soundproofing properties, the fabric also looks great.

The biggest success that cannot be proven or bought with measurements is, of course, the feeling of being in a man's hole. Moisio is also satisfied with the topic:

– This is my own place, where the atmosphere is just right. Even though a hi-fi enthusiast never aims for the perfect sound, given the characteristics of this space, the result is nevertheless to my taste. The overall experience is suitable for both listening to music and watching movies, and above all, for general enjoyment.

The man cave is more than just advanced image and audio reproduction technology. It also tells about the other hobbies and interests of its owner. The details are both decorative and functional, such as the remote controls and the coffee table that hides the rest of the equipment inside, or the computer’s genuine passive water cooling system.

The project that took quite a lot of time and money has now been put into use and is ready – at least almost. A toilet and a kitchenette are also being built next to the manhole, to maximize comfort. Investing in one’s own time and space is also worth it, in Timon’s opinion:

– People who have the potential and even the ability to build have empty basements that are not in use in this way. However, I encourage everyone to try!

AVPlus recommends the same and thanks Timo for his visit.