Home Theater 101: Act I - The Room

Our multi-part series on the basics of creating your own special in-home A/V experience.

Going to the theater to watch a movie is an experience. As well as it should be, it's not cheap these days. You know this and the theaters know this. Think about what goes into that experience. There's the movie itself, the reason you're not at home chillaxing to yet another episode of The Office. You saw the previews, the previous movie in a series, or your friends have all talked it up. You're excited and you do not want to be disappointed. The director and staff have labored over this piece of cinematic magic. The script was fine-tuned, the actors meticulously chosen, the camera work second to none, special effects sprinkled in liberal yet tasteful handfuls, and the sound arranged and composed to extract the maximum from every impact and emotion. 

Theaters have tailored their business to create an environment that capitalizes on all this in the hopes that you keep coming back. Pay attention to all they do. The sights, sounds, smells, textures, colors, and on and on. Why did they choose a certain color? How do they control the lighting? How do the seats feel? How does the picture look? What distractions have they tried to eliminate? How does it sound? Do you hear the speakers, or the movie itself? What can you physically feel when things happen on screen? This is the spirit of home theaters. A unique experience that can be duplicated in your home.

Of course, this is also when reality rears its ugly head and says, "Whoa pardner!, we have a mighty need to pay them thar bills." Thus, we must consider how best to jump in and get the most from our every greenback. Hopefully, as we journey along, you'll learn a few tricks to keep up your sleeves.

Act I - The Room (location, location, location)

Before you head out and buy the latest and greatest stuff, let's be mindful of our surroundings.

The Room - Some things to consider:

* Overall size & shape of room

Big rooms may require more powerful systems. Some surround setups can make use of flat ceilings and parallel walls to reflect sound. Depending on the room, it may be more lively, full of hard surfaces (windows, hardwood floors, brick walls) that could require some acoustical attention. 

*Space and location for A/V equipment

Where will you hang the TV or projector screen? Can you place speakers in roughly a symmetrical layout in the room? Can you fit a center channel under the screen? Like big bangs and explosions? A hefty subwoofer will need some real estate in your room. 

*Lighting

Rooms that let in a lot of natural light are great in almost every scenario, except for mimicking a theater setup. If you cannot control the lighting, a projector screen may be less practical than a bright LCD. Thinking on your last trip to the big commercial theater, did you notice the colors inside are dark colors? Reds, browns, blacks, and grays. These reduce light reflections, especially useful with projectors.

*Seating

Will seating be in the center, more toward one side? Will the angle and type of furniture be comfortable for long viewing sessions? Do you plan on rearranging the setup in the near future or can you be okay with a long-term commitment?

*Alterations 

Are you willing, or even able to, modify the space by cutting holes and hanging equipment? The best looking installations typically look clean because all the guts, the wires etc. are well hidden after much work to make it look just so. If that doesn't appeal to you, what adaptations can you use as a work around? Look at where you will have to run the wires. If there is no practical way to get from here to there, is there another solution, perhaps some way to go wireless? If so, this may affect your budget and limit your choices.

*Sound level and Noise Cancellation

Big epic actions movies are thrilling with the volume up to 11! But poor Mrs Grufflefluff next door may disagree, especially at 10pm. With great sound comes great responsibility, and so keeping the sound within the walls of your room and home should also be considered. It could be as simple as isolating speakers from resting directly on the floor to reduce vibrations. Extreme measures would include remodeling the entire room down to its bare bones construction to create a space where no sound dare escape. Some products may feature nighttime listening modes to reduce angering your family and neighbors. 

*Acoustics

Hard surfaces and parallel walls reflect sound and alter how you experience it all through your hearing. Corners can amplify lower frequencies. Many speakers (especially the main right and left speakers) benefit from being spaced away from walls. If you plan to use it for music listening as well, are your speakers and placements up to recreating convincing stereo (two channel) sound? Small satellite speakers may leave you underwhelmed while attempting to rock out to Taylor Swift's latest hits (c'mon it's not like it isn't your little guilty pleasure. Besides, your secret is safe with us).

*Kids and Pet Friendly

Kids and pets can present unique challenges in some situations. Speakers resting on stands may not be the best option in these situations. Keeping wires and especially shiny buttons away from the curious would be a wise precaution. Get down to their level (as in physically you heartless monster) and see what items may need special attention. 

*The Spouse Approval Factor

Commonly known as the WAF (wife acceptance or approval factor) or SAF for the more universal approach, is quite possibly the most critical element of all. Even the budget must cede its power to the WAF. Not all appreciate a myriad of speakers all over the walls, or painting a room in bold colors. The theater space should be one of enjoyment for the whole family, not a point of contention. There are so many ways to create an amazing place to experience all things A and V, a solution is out there!

In Summary - Your room is a big player in the role of bringing the theater experience home. Each will have advantages and disadvantages. Be sure and consider as much as you can about the space and locations and discuss them with your loved ones. Take your time and don't be afraid to experiment a little. 

Let's move on to TVs and Projectors!

Next: Home Theater 101: TVs and Projectors - Act II