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Creating the Perfect Home Theater System

For serious movie fans, dedicate an entire room to movie viewing, preferably, one that isn’t subjected to household distractions.  Install proper high-capacity, high-grade wiring, and cable, paint the walls, set up the big screen and sound system, arrange comfortable furnishings, and you have got the perfect place to spend time with family and friends.  Here is what you need to create home theater experience.

• The room:  According to audio-video experts, a movie soundtrack sounds richer and more realistic in a rectangular room than in a square room.  Hang draperies on windows.  Install large area rugs over hard wood or tiled floors because hard surfaces can distort sound and fabric lessen distortion.  Replace your regular light switches with dimmer switches.

• The right entertainment appliance equipment:  The three basic types of equipment need to be worked into the room; video; audio; and control equipment.

• The screen:  Bigger isn’t always better.  The distance from the couch to the screen matters most.  Professional installer recommends a seating distance that is 2 to 21/2 times the width of the screen.  If a screen is 27 inches wide, the couch should be 54 to 68 inches away.  To comfortably view a movie on a 120-inch-screen, the seating needs to be at least 20 feet from the screen.

• The speakers:  You will need at least five speakers to create the full surround-sound effect.  Together, the speakers create the sense of movement and sound localization that links movie visual cues with the sound track.  To create the sound effect, place one speaker on each side of the TV screen, two behind the seat and one on top of the TV.  The two stationed at the sides of the screen should sit level with your ears (when you are seated) and about 3 feet away from the side walls.  Place the center speaker, which distributes the dialog of the movie, in the center between the front left and right speakers.  Then, place the two rear speakers on the wall behind the seating 6 to 8 feet above the floor.  Space them at least as wide apart as the front left and right speakers.  You may need to install a speaker mount for proper positioning on the wall.  Action movie buffs will want a subwoofer.  This component intensifies the bass of a movie soundtrack so those big booms sound all the more dramatic.

• The accessories:  The rest of the equipment such as audio-video receiver, DVD player, and direct satellite receiver can be stowed inside a cabinet in a well ventilated closet or shelves.  Electronic equipment accumulates heat; keeping the surrounding space open helps to dissipate the heat.

• Store CDs and DVDs in dust-and-scratch resistant –see-through sleeve that stand vertically in plastic bases on shelves so that you can see the titles and that can be flipped through in alphabetical order such as Action, Comedy, Drama, or Romance, etc.

• Get a universal remote control, available at home improvement and electronics stores, to replace all of your others.  Operating one takes time to learn, but the convenience of having all the controls in one remote makes it all worthwhile. 

Leisure is a fundamental component of a good life and watching a good movie is a form of leisure activity and a great way to unwind at the end of the day.  Create a family movie night ritual.  Keep a list of must-see movies in your wallet to avoid spending hours in the video stores.  Pop a bowl of popcorn, and settle in for a family movie night.  Go ahead, make my day.