Planning is the key to any successful
project, and we step you through the process of designing an
incredible home theater.
Where should you place the big screen?
Where should you mount the surround-sound speakers?
And what
about the seating positions? You may not realize it, but the
middle or back of the room is the worst place for chairs and
sofas. We'll show you how to determine the right seating location
for your home theater. |
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But what's the difference between a simple, well-equipped
family room with a home-theater system and a true media room or dedicated
home theater that would make any audiophile or film buff truly happy?
Movies are the best reason to invest in a home theater,
say both homeowners and installers. The arrival of the DVD player,
which plays digitally recorded material on compact disc, has brought
cinema-quality video into the home. When it's combined with surround
sound and other high-grade audio technology, a home theater's got
everything but gum under the seats.
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Sports and most other television broadcasts look great on the
large screen, but not as sharp as movies on DVD. For that
kind of digital quality, you need high-definition television,
the latest advance in television technology. An HDTV picture
has up to 1,080 interlaced lines of horizontal resolution
vs. 230-280 lines for a traditional analog signal or cable
TV.
Soon, some satellite outfits are expected to
begin airing high-definition signals , but to get them, subscribers
will have to get a new dish and receiver. TV networks , meanwhile,
are only beginning to air programs in the digital format. To
see them , you have to buy an HDTV set or an antenna and special
receiver, now priced between $500 and $2,000. |
A Big Screen
For true immersion in the theater experience, it all starts with
a big screen. About six feet wide is a pretty good size,.
For larger rooms, 80 or 90 inches are usually the smallest sizes
that justify a dedicated home theater. Ten-foot screens are about
the maximum, as you would have to sit about 15 feet from the screen
for optimal viewing.
Surround Sound
A home theater needs at least
a 5.1 system (five full-range speakers and one subwoofer) for total
immersion in theater-like sound, where dialog, sound effects, background
music and low-frequency (bass) emanate from specific speakers placed
carefully about the room.
Amplification
An A/V receiver with the proper decoder is required for multichannel
audio formats (such as Dolby Digital EX 6.1 or THX Surround EX).
Some of these receivers have integrated amplifiers and equalizers;
others house those components separately. Most manufacturers package
their components together--a convenience for the consumer. You need
to make sure all the components complement each other, and that there's
enough amplification to drive the sound.
Control System
Most people are going for touchpad controls that
integrate many systems. People like to be able to enter their home
theater, turn on the components, set the room temperature, dim the
lights and close their shades all from one controller.
The Backbones
Home theaters need substantial wiring, and structured wiring (Category
5 or better for voice and data, and RG6 coaxial cable for video)
is a must. Some upper-end rooms even require fiber-optic wiring.
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Something to Watch
The whole point of a home theater is that people will be able
to watch something. This is where the DVD player and even the
trusty VCR retain their place as must-haves. And don't forget
the TV signal, which most often comes from satellite dishes
or through digital cable.
Satellite is becoming more popular
because they carry a lot more high-definition broadcasts, many
people have both satellite and cable nowadays."
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So those are the basics that turn a regular room into a spectacular
media room or home theater, but what about the bells and whistles?
To provide our clients with a media experience they'll remember,
we suggest these popular items:
Media servers (often simply a powerful PC)
allow users to store multiple entertainment formats (video, audio,
photographs, etc.) and enjoy them through their television, computer
or stereo system.
Digital video recorders (such as TiVo) allow
for easier recording of television programs and storing them
on a hard drive--no tapes, CDs or DVDs. However, such recorders
also involve a subscription service.
Professional home theater designers optimize acoustics by properly
sizing the room and placing materials that properly absorb, reflect
or diffuse sound. They also optimize sightlines by placing seating
in an amphitheater style and at the proper distance from the screen
Seamless integration of the electronics into the design of the
room by placing components behind a wall or cabinet with hidden
access and placing speakers in the ceiling or wall provides a clean,
sleek look to the home theater..
Some pretty spectacular seating is available, such as recliners
with massage and heat that are styled after true theater seats
(only more plush). There are also specialized home theater seats
with speakers and subwoofers hidden within.
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