Home theaters allow you to experience movies, TV shows, music, and games like never before, fully immersing you in incredible sights and sounds from the comfort of your home. If you want the best home theater possible, follow the tips we’ll outline in this article to design an exceptional audiovisual space.
If you’re worried about a mess of cables and how you’ll hide them, we’ve covered you in our DIY home theater installation guide.
The first thing that comes to most people’s minds is screen selection, which is critical. When selecting a screen, consider its size, aspect ratio, gain, and material. Read on for screen selection pointers and tips on choosing speakers, receivers, acoustic treatments, and control systems to create your ideal home theater.
Choose the Right Screen
The screen is one of the most important components of any home theater, so take the time to select the right screen for your space. A good rule of thumb for screen size is to multiply your seating distance by 0.875. For example, if your seating is 10 feet from the screen, aim for roughly an 87-inch screen.
The aspect ratio depends on the content you plan to watch. A widescreen 16:9 aspect ratio is ideal for HD movies and streaming content. For older films, a traditional 4:3 aspect ratio is better.
Screen gain measures how much light the screen reflects. Higher-gain screens reflect more ambient light but have a narrower viewing angle. Lower-gain screens have a wider viewing angle but don’t reflect as much light.
Standard screen materials include matte white, woven acoustic, gray, and ambient light rejecting. Matte white works well for dedicated, light-controlled home theater spaces. Woven acoustic material is ideal for more casual viewing environments.
Select Speakers Strategically
Surround sound is vital to an immersive audio experience. Choose speakers strategically based on your priorities — music or home theater.
For listening to music, bookshelf and tower speakers provide clear stereo sound. Larger subwoofers will bring richer bass.
A true home theater requires more speakers — a center channel for clear dialogue, left and right front speakers, and surrounds for ambient audio effects. Ceiling speakers can add overhead sound in Dolby Atmos systems for total immersion.
The speakers must be able to handle the power output from your AV (audio/video) receiver. Check each speaker’s power handling and impedance and match those to your receiver’s specifications.
Proper placement is also crucial. Left, right, and center speakers should be at ear level relative to the seats. Surround speakers can be placed slightly behind the seating area. Bass shakers under seats provide tactile feedback during loud movie sequences.
Select the Right AV Receiver
The AV receiver is the brains of your home theater, powering all of your speakers and sources.
When selecting one, ensure it has enough HDMI inputs and outputs to connect your playback sources and display. Look for HDMI 2.1 specifications for the latest 8K video and HDR signals.
Match the receiver’s wattage per channel to your speakers’ power handling ratings. More watts provide volume headroom and let speakers play cleanly without distortion.
Consider models with pre-outs for adding external amplifiers later for more power. The receiver’s suite of room correction technologies is also essential for proper acoustic calibration.
Place the receiver near your equipment rack or cabinet for short cable runs. An infrared repeater lets you hide the receiver in a cabinet while maintaining remote control.
Treat Room Acoustics
Without acoustic treatment, your home theater may experience distracting echo, muddy bass, and poor sweet spot coverage. Broadband acoustic panels help absorb midrange and high frequencies to reduce reverberation and echo. Place panels strategically on the front and side walls, using at least 20% wall surface coverage.
Bass traps counteract problematic low-frequency room modes that cause “boomy” bass. Corner traps and panel resonators with air gaps help absorb and diffuse deep bass, smoothing out the room’s bass response.
Add sound absorption behind the screen to reduce reflective surfaces. Avoid other early reflections with additional absorption panels at key first reflection points. Materials like rigid fiberglass, acoustic cotton, or poly fiber work well for DIY panels. Commercial products from Auralex, GIK Acoustics, and others also offer excellent performance.
Design Intuitive Control
Tying everything together with intuitive, centralized control makes using your home theater a breeze. A universal remote with custom macros can control your AV system, lighting, HVAC, and motorized shades with one button press. Program personalized scenes for daytime TV viewing, nighttime movie watching, and background music listening. These will configure all your gear for specific tasks automatically.
Install in-wall tablets for system control via apps in multiple zones. Tablets provide status information and media playback control. Motion sensors can automatically dim lights when a movie starts and raise them when it finishes. Smart plugs provide automated power control as well. A multi-zone control app accessible throughout your home lets everyone change scenes, route audio, and view system status from their device. Voice assistants provide convenient, hands-free operation.
So, Is Creating a Home Theater Worth It?
Designing the ultimate home theater requires careful consideration of many interconnected elements. However, the payoff is an exceptional entertainment space that makes enjoying movies, TV, games, and music incredibly immersive and fun. With strategic planning and quality equipment chosen for your specific room, building a home theater that equals or surpasses many commercial cinemas is possible. The ability to recreate that immersive theater experience right in your own home makes developing a home theater an incredibly rewarding project for any movie and music lover.
FAQs About Creating a Home Theater
What's the ideal screen size for a home theater?
The recommended screen size depends on the seating distance. As a general rule, multiply the seating distance by 0.875 to get your ideal screen size. For example, with 12-foot seating, aim for around a 105-inch screen.
How do you set up surround sound speakers?
Front left, right, and center channels place dialogue and on-screen effects directly in front. Surrounds to the sides and rear add ambient audio. Place surrounds just behind the seating. For immersive sound, overhead speakers play height-based effects.
How much does a high-end home theater cost?
Home theaters range dramatically in cost depending on room size, equipment, and construction. You can build a dedicated theater for $5,000 to $10,000 on the more affordable end. High-end custom installations with premium gear can cost $50,000 to $100,000 or even more.
What acoustic treatments work best?
Strategically placed broadband absorption panels make the most significant difference. Prioritize the front wall first using rigid fiberglass or acoustic cotton panels. Corner bass traps and boards at reflection points also help optimize the acoustics.
Do you need a professional to set up a home theater?
You can self-install a home theater with some DIY skills, but professional help makes the process easier. Electricians can neatly run wiring through walls, while installers have specialized tools and knowledge for optimal gear placement and calibration. Consider hiring pros for at least part of the installation and setup.
