Setting up your home theater isn’t rocket science. But that doesn’t mean you don’t need to properly plan it out. In order to get the most out of your home theater, you need to plan the overall layout and a few other things to ensure you get the best video and audio experience from the system.
Image via Seatup
Picking the wrong room
The room you select can have a significant impact on the performance of your home theater system. When it comes to selecting a room you want to consider the following:
- Dimensions: you want a room that is rectangular in shape rather than square
- Flooring: For optimal audio experience you want a room with carpets
- Windows: Limited number to no windows which ensures no light comes through and sound doesn’t bounce back
- Walls: The wall paints should be darker shades so light from the screen doesn’t reflect off it
Placing seats either too close or too far from the screen
image via The Theater Store
Similar to speaker placement, there is actually science behind the placement of seats. It all depends on the size of your screen. The bigger the screen, the further back the seating should start. For a screen that ranges from 60-70 inches, you need to ensure seating starts at least 12-13 feet away. Any closer and there is a good chance you may end up hurting your neck, due to the fact you will be looking up. Any further, you will lose out on the visual appeal of a big screen.
Poor speaker placement
image via Seatup
What is the purpose of purchasing a 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound system if you do not position the speaker properly? A lot of homeowners do not know the science behind speaker placement so they have a tendency to put them wherever it appeals to them aesthetically. Rather than going for aesthetical appeal, you want optimal sound experience. So speaker placement should be as follows:
5.1 Channel System
7.1 Channel System
Also, make sure to distance furniture or any other object from the speaker, otherwise they will interfere with the speaker output.
Overcrowding the room with furniture
When it comes to furniture, you want to limit it as much as you can in your home theater. Why? Sound reflects from furniture, which means you will not get optimal sound performance if you crowd the room with furniture.
Not getting the right equipment based on size of the room
When it comes to equipment like screen and speakers, you need to ensure you keep the size of the room in mind. You don’t want a screen that is too small for a larger room or speakers that are too big for a smaller room. These will ruin the whole home theater experience.
image via Seatup
So make sure you don’t make the above mistakes and properly plan your home theater system before you set it up. This will ensure you get the most out of your system.
About the author
Katie Porter is an aspiring writer, movie lover, and part of the team at Seatup. In her free time, she enjoys exploring her home state Colorado and plays in women’s amateur rugby league.
Looking for Home Theater vendors in The Triangle? Check out these awesome selections:
Intelligent Electronics, Audio Advice, and Elite Sight and Sound.