Home Theater Room Setup
The size of the room determines the size and type of video display device (TV or projector) that would be best. Whether your room is large or small, additional questions to consider include:
How much ambient light is present? For TVs, ambient light can result in screen glare or screen surface reflection. For video projectors, ambient light can result in a washed-out image. Is the room carpeted or not carpeted? This affects how sound, especially bass, is distributed throughout the listening area. Hard floors are more reflective, which can result in unwanted echoes and uneven bass. Carpeted floors help in the absorption of unwanted audio artifacts. What type of wall construction do you have? Drywall is better than wood paneling as it is less reflective, but it can still generate unwanted vibration. To tame vibrations, you may need to use acoustic treatments. Will you be placing your home theater system components in a cabinet or closet? How you want the room to look determines where and how you place your components. Will you be placing speakers within the room, in the wall, or on the ceiling? Whether ceiling or in-wall speakers are more practical depends on room acoustics and what surround sound formats will be most commonly used. Where will you be sitting in relation to the screen? This determines the optimal screen size for the best visual experience.
TV or Video Projector
The most important element of the home theater experience is the screen. Here are your choices:
An LED/LCD or OLED TV. You have a choice of TVs that can display 720p, 1080p, or 4K Ultra HD resolution images. However, 720p and 1080p TVs are rarely available in screen sizes above 40-inches. 4K Ultra HD is the most commonly available option above that size. A video projector/screen combination. Video projectors can deliver a truly big-screen viewing experience. Just as with TVs, you have the choice of 720p, 1080p, and 4K options. There are also short-throw projectors that are optimized for small rooms. Setting up a projector comes with special lighting considerations, so you should be able to make the room as dark as possible.
Your screen should be placed at a good eye level; projectors obviously display largely on a wall screen but televisions can be placed on a variety of stands. Those can weigh up to 130 pounds and stand as wide as 48 inches (sometimes more). Most come at heights compatible with couch-level seating.
Home Theater Receiver or Preamp/Amp Combination
An essential component of surround sound systems is a home theater receiver. Home theater receivers combine the following functions:
A radio tuner for AM/FM, HD, and satellite radio. A preamplifier that controls which audio and video source is selected. It then processes the incoming sound signals and distributes the signals to the correct amplifier channels and the subwoofer output. The preamp in an AV receiver can also route video signals coming from source components (such as a DVD player) and direct the video signal to the TV. A built-in multi-channel amplifier (5.1, 6.1, 7.1, or more channels) that sends the surround sound signals to the speaker system.
In many higher-end home theater systems, the functions of a receiver are provided by separate components. A preamplifier/amplifier combination provides more flexibility, and it helps to isolate any interference caused by having all these functions sharing the same box and power supply. However, for most users, a home theater receiver will work just fine.
Loudspeakers
The next thing to consider is speakers. Before you buy, listen to several types of speakers and setups. For a five-channel setup, you need front-left/right, center-channel, and left/right surround speakers. Try to buy the same brand and related model speakers for your home theater to provide a better acoustical match between components.
The Subwoofer
A subwoofer is a specialized loudspeaker that reproduces the extreme low frequencies present in movies or music. The size of the room, and whether the room is carpeted or not, determines which subwoofer is right for you. Once you have your audio equipment, you’ll need to carefully position your speakers and subwoofer.
Source Components
What good is a home theater if you can’t watch movies or listen to music? Here’s a checklist of the source components you’ll need:
Surge Protector or Power Conditioner
Surge protectors are the unsung heroes of a home theater system. Although these devices aren’t foolproof, providing your system with some sort of surge protection is a good idea. You never know when there might be a sudden power outage or brownout that may affect your system. If you want to monitor and regulate your power usage, consider a power conditioner.
Connection Cables and Speaker Wire
You can’t have a home theater system unless everything is connected. Each cable must be the right type and length. If connections are color-coded, make sure the colors on the cable ends match the connections on your components. For speaker wire, the gauge can be a factor, depending on the distance between the speakers and the amplifier or AV receiver. It’s best to use 16 or 14 gauge speaker wire; 18 gauge is very thin and should not be used for longer distances.
Remote Control Options
Home Theater Furniture
Now that you have a fancy home theater system, you need a place to put your components. You might also want to invest in some comfortable home theater seating.
Install It Yourself or Call a Professional?
There are some common mistakes to avoid when planning a home theater. When you build a home theater with separate components, make sure the components are compatible. You should also measure your room in advance to make sure you have enough space for everything you need. If you think the room needs structural adjustments, carefully research how much it will cost before you get started. If you find yourself getting too far over your head, or you are planning a high-end custom home theater, consider enlisting the aid of a professional home theater installer. The installer can make useful suggestions on components or installation options that will work best in your room environment, keeping in mind your budgetary considerations.
