If you’ve been dreaming of a high-definition movie theater in your home but don’t know where to begin, you may wish to consider hiring a professional home theater installation company. While it is possible to install a home theater system yourself, professional installers are skilled in matching the components and integrating technology into the property.
They also develop customized solutions to fit the specific needs of your space. Read on to learn more about the benefits of hiring a professional home theater installation company.
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Speaker Configurations
Several different speaker configurations are available for home theater installation. Generally, you can have up to six speakers. These are called surround sound system configurations. Each speaker has a specific function in the surround sound system.
The left/right channel speakers produce most movie soundtracks. These speakers give the front sound effects and dialogue a way to move left and right. The right/left channel speakers work similarly to two-channel stereo systems.
Whether you want to choose seven, nine, or ten channels for your home theater is up to you. The best placement for your speakers depends on the size of your room.
A small room should have fewer speaker channels than a large one. If you have a small room, consider placing your speakers in the front, side, back, and ceiling. Larger rooms should have more channels for a better sound.
Projectors
There are a number of factors to consider when purchasing a projector for your home theater installation. The image projection distance needs to be at least 2-3 feet and the height of the ceiling should be within reason
. The type of projection surface you have will determine how high the projector needs to be, but some models have lens shift or upwards throw. This can help you determine the best placement for your speakers and projector. A higher-end model can have more features for adjusting image placement.
A smart projector may come with a screen. If not, you can always make your own. But it’s important to remember that a projector’s speakers cannot replace the sound provided by a good soundbar or receiver.
Unless you’re aiming to use your home theater in a dark room, you should always keep the room well-lit. Make sure your room is well-ventilated to prevent light from polluting the image.
Screens
When installing a screen in your home theater, you’ll want to be sure to pick one with the appropriate brightness. The brighter the room is, the more light that will be reflected off of it, which will ruin the quality of the image.
Ambient light has an even larger effect on the image, washing out color and contrast. To overcome this problem, you can purchase a screen with a high eq and other settings that reject uncontrolled ambient light.
In addition to choosing the correct color and material for your home theater installation, you should also consider the aspect ratio of your screen. The aspect ratio refers to the proportion of the width and height of the screen.
For example, a 4:3 aspect ratio is better for most televisions and movies, while 16:9 is best for home theaters and PC projection in business settings. A projection screen will give your home theater installation a more dramatic feel.
Speaker Wire
The AWG standard, otherwise known as Brown & Sharpe wire gauge, was not specifically designed for speaker wire. It specifies a wide variety of sizes. Generally, you’ll use 12, 14, or 16-gauge wire for your average home theater installation, although there are other standards in use throughout the world.
These wires are great for the majority of the wiring duties of an average stereo music system. But for your speaker wire installation, you’ll want to consider C&E or similar high-end audiophile speaker wire.
When buying speaker wire for your home theater installation, make sure to choose a speaker wire that is solid and continuous. It will last longer and sound installation better if the wire is connected to a solid, continuous connection.
Some speaker wires feature soldering terminals, but you should know your soldering skills before attempting this type of connection. If you’re not confident in your soldering skills, you can always purchase a banana plug that has a screw-in connection.
