Context
The ground floor workshop needs a simple media system for everyday use — web browsing, viewing project documentation, playing music while working, watching YouTube tutorials, and streaming movies from the home Jellyfin server. This is a separate system from the loft home theater, which is a dedicated surround-sound installation. The workshop system prioritizes simplicity, portability, and low cost.
What’s already available:
- Spare NUC PC (Intel NUC with dual video output — HDMI + HDMI/DP)
- Spare PC monitor, keyboard, and mouse
- Jellyfin media server on the home LAN
- Cat6A network drops planned at the workbench area (see Electrical Planning)
- 20A perimeter wall circuits at the workbench (see Electrical Shopping List)
What’s needed:
- Wall-mounted TV for video content
- Audio system — ideally portable (usable in the garage, outside in the driveway/yard, and on vacation)
Display Setup
Two independent displays from the NUC, plus the TV’s built-in smart OS:
| Display | Role | Connection | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| PC Monitor (desk) | Primary display | NUC HDMI/DP output 1 | Web browsing, project documentation, close work |
| 50” TV (wall) | Secondary display | NUC HDMI output 2 | YouTube tutorials, Jellyfin movies, media content |
Input switching: The TV has multiple HDMI inputs plus built-in Roku. Press the TV’s Source/Input button to toggle between:
- HDMI 1 — NUC output (drag a browser or Jellyfin window to the TV in extended desktop mode)
- Roku Home — Standalone streaming when the NUC is off or not needed
No HDMI splitter or switch is required. The NUC’s dual output drives both displays simultaneously, and the TV’s input selector handles the rest.
TV Recommendation: 50” Budget 4K — ~$160-240
A 50” screen is the sweet spot for a 24’×40’ garage — visible from across the shop floor, large enough for tutorials and movies, not so large that it dominates the wall or costs significantly more.
Original Models Discontinued at 50"
The TCL S4 50” and Hisense A6 50” from the original plan are no longer available at normal pricing at major retailers (April 2026). Both have been replaced by 2025 lineup successors — several of which are actually better panels (QLED) at the same price points.
Current models (April 2026 pricing):
| Model | Price | Panel | Smart OS | Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pioneer 50” Roku TV | $159.99 | 4K LED | Roku | 4.6★ (413) | Best Buy — sale pricing, may not last |
| Onn 50” VIZIO SmartCast | $178 | 4K LED | VIZIO | 4.4★ (1,621) | Walmart house brand, cheapest new option |
| Insignia 50” F50 Fire TV | $179.99 | 4K LED | Fire TV | 4.6★ (1,828) | Best Buy house brand, strong review count |
| Hisense 50” QD6 Hi-QLED | $199.99 | QLED | Fire TV | 4.5★ (283) | Best value — QLED panel at same budget |
| Roku 50” 4K HDR LED | $219.99 | 4K LED | Roku | 4.8★ (322) | Highest rated — Roku OS is best-in-class |
| TCL 50” Q51K QLED | $238 | QLED | Google TV | 4.3★ (5,986) | Most reviews, Dolby Vision + Dolby Atmos |
Top picks for this use case:
-
Hisense QD6 at $199.99 — The successor to the Hisense A6. QLED panel at the same price point as the original budget target. Fire TV is adequate for streaming; the QLED picture step-up is real even at garage viewing distances.
-
Roku-branded 50” at $219.99 — Highest-rated option on the list. Roku OS is the simplest, most reliable smart TV platform. Made by a manufacturing partner for Best Buy; 4.8 stars from 322 reviews is unusually strong.
-
TCL Q51K at $238 — If slightly over budget is acceptable, this adds Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos on top of QLED. Has the most reviews of any option (5,986). Google TV is more powerful than Fire TV or Roku if the NUC isn’t always on.
Why budget is the right call:
- Garage environment: dust, temperature swings (unheated overnight in winter before radiant is running), occasional vibration from compressor and power tools. A $200 TV that gets damaged or fails in 5 years is replaceable without regret.
- Viewing distance from workbench to wall-mounted TV will be 8-15 feet — at that range, there’s no visible difference between a 500 one.
- The built-in smart OS (Roku or Google TV) provides standalone streaming capability even when the NUC is off, which adds flexibility at no extra cost.
Mounting: Use a tilting wall mount ($20-35) to angle the screen down slightly if mounted above eye level. Mount above the workbench splash/bump zone. Ensure the mount goes into studs or blocking — a 50” TV weighs 20-25 lbs.
Audio: JBL PartyBox Club 120
The PartyBox 110 Is Discontinued
The PartyBox 110 (2021) has been replaced by the PartyBox Club 120 (2024). The 110 is only available from third-party sellers at inflated prices ($380+). The Club 120 is the current model with meaningful upgrades.
Selected: JBL PartyBox Club 120 — ~$280-450
The key advantage: take it with you. Use it daily in the garage, drag it to the driveway for outdoor projects, bring it on vacation or to a campsite. When it leaves the garage, the TV falls back to its built-in speakers (adequate for casual background content).
Specs:
- 160W output — fills the 960 sq ft shop floor easily
- 12-hour battery life
- IPX4 splash-proof
- Bluetooth 5.4 with dedicated pairing button (see Bluetooth Security below)
- 3.5mm aux input for wired TV audio
- Dual mic + guitar 1/4” inputs
- Foldable handle + wheels for portability
- Replaceable battery — when the battery dies in 3-5 years, swap it for ~450 speaker
- Fast charging — 10 minutes plugged in gives 80 minutes of playback
- AI Sound Boost — real-time processing that optimizes sound for the environment
- Deeper bass than the 110 (40 Hz vs 45 Hz)
Pricing (April 2026):
| Option | Price | Source | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Club 120 — Renewed | ~$279 | Amazon Renewed | Best value. Certified refurbished with 90-day Amazon guarantee. |
| Club 120 — New | $449.95 | Amazon / Best Buy | Full warranty. |
Bluetooth Security — Pairing Is Controlled
The speaker does not sit in open discoverable mode. Bluetooth connections work like this:
- Press the Bluetooth button on the speaker’s top panel to enter pairing mode (BT indicator blinks)
- Find and pair from your phone or NUC during this window
- Once paired, the speaker remembers your devices and auto-reconnects next power-on — no button press needed
- Only one device connects at a time — if your phone is connected, nobody else can push audio to it
- New devices can only pair when you actively press the Bluetooth button again
The JBL Portable app (iOS/Android) provides additional control over Bluetooth settings, EQ, and the light show.
How It Connects
TV audio (wired — for video content): TV 3.5mm headphone out → 3.5mm aux cable → speaker’s aux input. Zero audio lag. Leave the cable plugged into the TV; plug/unplug at the speaker end as needed.
Verify TV Has 3.5mm Output
Most budget TCL/Hisense TVs include a 3.5mm headphone jack. If the specific model only has optical (TOSLINK) audio out, add a small optical-to-3.5mm DAC adapter (~$10-15) between the TV and the aux cable.
Phone music (Bluetooth — for music while working): Phone connects via Bluetooth — no cable needed. Audio sync doesn’t matter for music, so Bluetooth latency is irrelevant. Auto-reconnects after initial pairing.
Daily workflow:
- Speaker sits near the workbench, 3.5mm aux cable from the TV within reach
- Working on something → phone plays music via Bluetooth through the speaker
- Want to watch a tutorial or movie → plug aux cable into speaker, switch to TV audio
- Heading outside → unplug aux cable, grab the speaker by the handle, roll it out. TV falls back to built-in speakers.
- Vacation/camping → speaker goes with you, garage uses TV speakers until it’s back
Optional Accessory: Wireless Karaoke Microphones
The PartyBox Club 120 has dual 1/4” mic inputs with independent volume control. A wireless mic set turns the speaker into a karaoke/PA system for parties, outdoor gatherings, or just fun in the garage.
Selected: Bietrun UHF Dual Wireless Mic System — $48.99
The most popular budget wireless mic on Amazon — 8,354 reviews at 4.4 stars. Two metal handheld mics with a compact receiver that plugs directly into the PartyBox’s 1/4” mic jack.
- 2 wireless handheld mics (metal construction, cardioid pickup)
- UHF signal, 160 ft range
- Receiver: rechargeable via USB, 6-8 hours per charge
- Mics: 2× AA batteries each (use Eneloop rechargeable AAs)
- Plug-and-play — no pairing/setup, just power on the receiver and mics
- 1/4” to 3.5mm adapter included
The entire system is battery-powered and portable — grab the mics and receiver along with the PartyBox for outdoor karaoke. If the cheap mics prove to be a hit, the upgrade path is the JBL PartyBox Wireless Mic set ($169.95) — rechargeable mics with 20-hour battery life, designed specifically for PartyBox speakers.
Connection Diagram
NUC PC (at workbench desk)
├── HDMI/DP 1 → PC Monitor (desk — primary display, always on)
├── HDMI 2 → TV HDMI input (secondary display — video content)
├── Ethernet → Cat6A drop → LAN → Jellyfin server
└── Bluetooth → PartyBox Club 120 (music while working)
50" TV (wall-mounted near workbench)
├── HDMI 1 ← NUC (switch to this input for PC content)
├── Built-in Roku (switch to Home for standalone streaming)
└── 3.5mm aux out → PartyBox Club 120 (wired for video audio sync)
JBL PartyBox Club 120 (near workbench, portable)
├── Bluetooth ← Phone (music — auto-reconnects, pairing button controlled)
├── 3.5mm aux ← TV (video watching — plug in for zero-lag audio)
├── 1/4" mic input ← Bietrun wireless receiver (karaoke/PA, optional)
└── Grab and go → driveway, yard, vacation, camping
TV falls back to built-in speakers when speaker is away
Electrical & Network Requirements
Power: The TV, NUC, and monitor draw minimal power (collectively under 200W). They’ll run from the perimeter workbench circuit — no dedicated circuit needed. One duplex outlet behind the TV (for TV + HDMI cable run) and one at the desk (NUC + monitor) covers it.
Network: The NUC connects via Ethernet to a Cat6A drop at the workbench. Wired connection ensures reliable Jellyfin streaming (no buffering, no WiFi interference from shop tools). The TV’s built-in Roku can use WiFi for standalone streaming, or an Ethernet adapter if WiFi is unreliable in the metal building.
HDMI run: The NUC-to-TV HDMI cable will be 15-25 feet depending on desk and TV placement. Use a certified Premium High Speed HDMI cable (supports 4K@60Hz) — available for $10-15 in this length. Avoid the cheapest no-name cables; a bad HDMI cable causes intermittent signal dropouts that are maddening to diagnose.
Budget Summary
| Item | Est. Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 50” 4K TV (Hisense QD6, Roku 50”, or TCL Q51K) | $200-240 | See TV section for current model comparison |
| JBL PartyBox Club 120 | $279-450 | 450 new |
| HDMI cable (15-25’ NUC → TV) | $10-15 | Premium High Speed, certified |
| TV wall mount (tilting) | $20-35 | |
| 3.5mm aux cable (TV → speaker) | $5-10 | |
| Bietrun wireless mic set (optional) | $49 | Amazon |
| Eneloop AA rechargeable batteries 4-pack (for mics) | $15-18 | |
| Total | $514-760 | Without mics |
| Total with mics | $578-828 |
Everything else (NUC, PC monitor, keyboard, mouse, network drops) is already owned or covered by existing plans.
Actions
Planning Phase
- Confirm NUC model has dual video output (HDMI + HDMI or HDMI + DP) — stage:: 6
- Measure workbench wall for TV mounting location and HDMI cable run length — stage:: 6
- Verify stud or blocking locations at planned TV mount position — stage:: 6
Procurement
- Purchase 50” 4K TV (Hisense QD6 220, or TCL Q51K $238) — stage:: 6
- Purchase tilting TV wall mount — stage:: 6
- Purchase Premium High Speed HDMI cable (length based on measurement) — stage:: 6
- Purchase JBL PartyBox Club 120 (renewed 450) — stage:: 6
- Purchase 3.5mm male-to-male aux cable (length to match TV-to-speaker distance) — stage:: 6
- Purchase Bietrun wireless mic set (optional) — stage:: 6
- Purchase Eneloop AA rechargeable batteries for mics (if buying mic set) — stage:: 6
Installation
- Mount TV on wall above workbench — stage:: 6
- Run HDMI cable from desk to TV (cable management along wall or through studs) — stage:: 6
- Set up NUC at desk with monitor, keyboard, mouse — stage:: 6
- Connect NUC HDMI 1 to monitor, HDMI 2 to TV — stage:: 6
- Configure NUC for extended desktop (TV as secondary display) — stage:: 6
- Connect NUC to Ethernet drop — stage:: 6
- Pair PartyBox Club 120 to phone via Bluetooth (press BT button → pair) — stage:: 6
- Connect 3.5mm aux cable from TV headphone out to speaker aux input — stage:: 6
- Test Jellyfin streaming on TV via NUC — stage:: 6
- Test Roku standalone streaming on TV — stage:: 6
- Test aux cable audio from TV to speaker (verify no lag) — stage:: 6
- Test Bluetooth music from phone through speaker — stage:: 6
References
- Loft home theater (separate system): Home Theater Plan
- Electrical planning and network drops: Electrical Planning
- Electrical shopping list (workbench circuits): Electrical Shopping List
- Tool purchasing philosophy: Tool Purchasing Philosophy
- Sound containment options: Acoustic Strategy