The Perfect Home Theater
Once you have a good idea how you’re going to use your home theater, start planning what you need to make it that perfect space. There are three primary things that make a room a great home
theater: the TV, the sound system and the seating.
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A Big Screen
A flat screen, wall mounted HD TV is a great way to watch movies, concerts or sporting events. A 35 inch to 50 inch screen is a good size for a small to mid-sized home theater. A wall
mounted model gives you more flexibility with the height. Having the screen a little above eye-level creates the true theater impression.
Your choice will be plasma, LCD, or LED. Plasma historically has been more expensive, but has a clearer picture on larger screens. You’ll want 1080 pixel resolution (1920 x 1080) with a 16:9 aspect ratio to make
sure the wide format movies fill the screen.
A Big Sound
You’ll want sound that surrounds the audience in your home theater without drowning out dialog and low tones. Your sound system in a basic home theater setup is made
up of a receiver/amplifier and the speakers.
Your TV may have a decent sound system but you may want an amplifier or preamp if you want to hear the subtleties of an orchestra performing on your TV.
A Dolby Digital sound system comes in 5.1 channel to support 6 speakers or 7.1 to support 8 speakers. The basic 6 speaker set up has right front and rear speakers, left front and rear
speakers, a center speaker, and a subwoofer for base tones. The 7.1 channel system adds two more speakers in the rear.
Mount the speakers on stands instead of placing them on the floor or on a bookcase. Make sure each speaker is position properly. Have a friend help you by sitting in your theater as you
get the speaker positions just right.
Buy speakers from the same manufacturer to make sure they are balanced with each other. Matching speakers is certainly important, but the subwoofer can be from a
purchased from a different manufacturer without sacrificing balance.
A Comfortable Space
The best option for your home theater seating is traditional tiered seats to make sure everyone has a great view. A single line of seats or a slight semi-circle works for a small space.
Reclining or rocking style seats are not recommended. They can be distracting to others watching the TV.
Make sure your seats have stain resistant material for the inevitable spills. Dark colors are preferred in this room. Tall seat backs so people can rest their heads and get comfortable
are a nice touch. Make sure you can get around the chairs to clean.
Other Touches for a Home Theater
If you spent your time and money on those three areas, you’ll have a great home theater. Here are a few extras to make your basic home theater setup
even more enjoyable.
Blu-Ray/DVD Player
You’ll be able to watch all of the latest movies on Blu-Ray or DVD with this. Many have great sound support. And you’ll be able to watch shows from Internet streaming services like Netflix
and Amazon. Review both DirecTV and Cable options to see where you can get access to the channels you want the most. If you are interested in signing up for DirecTV,
SaveonTVDirect.com can save you a few dollars on your new service. Check your local cable company to compare how services and coverage compares.
Headphones
If you want to relax in your home theater while others are watching TV in the family room, you’ll want a good set of headphones. A set of studio grade headphones with cushioned ear cups are
comfortable and bring in a wide range of sounds.
Tables
A variety of tables that can be moved around the room to accommodate drinks and snacks are useful. Make sure they are sturdy and won’t tip. Look for table finishes that won’t stain and can
be cleaned easily.
A Note for the Large Home Theater Owner
If you are planning a large home theater to accommodate twenty people or more, you may want to consider projection TV instead of a large screen TV. An 80 inch flat panel TV is very expensive
and suffers in resolution. A projection TV may serve you better and it will give you more input options in case you want to display video from a computer or camera.
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