Home Theater

In the past, most people only went to the movie theaters because they wanted to watch their favorite movie in the highest quality audio and video format. There was really nothing that could compare to the high-definition video and cinema sound quality you get from the movie theater experience. Today, the high-tech audio and video technology usually only found in the movie theater has now flowed to the home. Televisions are being made better than ever, and the audio equipment available is now matching what you would get when sitting in an actual movie theater. So now that all this high quality audio and video equipment is easily available to the consumer, many home owners are striving to mimic a cinema like experience right in their own home.

Home theater can mean a lot of different things:

Building a home theater system at your home could consist of a couple different strategies. One strategy could be to build a dedicated theater room that includes a huge screen, surround sound system, theater seating, and even a popcorn machine. This is a great option if you have the room and the money to make it happen. The most common strategy for many home owners is to just create the home theater experience right in their own living room. This would mean just upgrading their TV and installing some surround sound speakers so they can enjoy the theater like experience right from their own living room couch. So having a home theater experience at the home can mean a lot of different things for many different people. But for all, it means having the ability to stay home and enjoy their favorite movies with their friends and family.

Regardless of the home theater experience you want to create or can afford, there are many resources out there to assist you. Besides doing your research on the web, there are many online and brick and mortar stores available to help you choose the right products. So the resources are out there to assist you in making your installation the most successful. Many people may choose to hire a local home theater installer or audio video company. It is very common for home owners to hire a professional that can go right to work installing the wiring and components needed to create the ultimate home theater experience. A good installer can get your dream theater completely built, so once it is finished all you need to do is make some popcorn and put in a movie. But for some home owners feel they are up to the challenge to build their own home theater system, so they begin doing the research and buying the products to do it all on their own.

Installing a Home Theater System: Where do I start?

The best way to ensure you make the right decisions about your new home theater system installation is to do the research. Regardless of your strategy, both hiring a professional installer and installing your own system will take some research on your part. This is the best way to evaluate products that not only support your needs, but also your budget. The audio video market is full of 1000’s of manufacturers that tout their products as the best. The key is to get educated so you can easily maneuver through the marketing, and truly figure out which products are the most reliable and best performing. If you are a homeowner that does not have time to do the research, and money is no problem, you can just call a local installer and ask them to come over and give you a quote on the whole installation. The professional installer can recommend you the products they think are best, and you can have them perform the installation from start to finish. But the bottom line is that the more you know, the more successful you will be.

Understanding Home Theater Components:

If you are building a dedicated home theater room in your home the component list can end up being quite extensive. Understanding the components from the wiring, to the devices, and all the way to the furniture can end up being a little over-whelming. But regardless of the size or type of home theater you want to install, you will have to better understand the components you are installing and the environment you want to install them in. The core components of a home theater system are broken down into just a handful of categories: Display, Sound System, Sources, Seating, Infrastructure, Acoustics, and Remote control.

Display:

The most important aspect of a home theater is the display or screen you are going to use to watch your movies on. The display could be an LCD or LED television, or a large projector screen. Although all of them have key benefits and drawbacks, your budget and the size of the area you have to work with may help drive this decision. You will need to choose your display and figure out if you want to put it on a stand or use a TV wall mount bracket to hang it on the wall. But at the end of the day, the display is the biggest key to your entire home theater system.

Sound System:

The surround-sound system you choose is easily the second most important component of your new home theater system. This can be a huge elaborate sound system with high-end speakers installed in the walls and ceilings, or it can be a surround sound system kit where speakers are just placed on the ground or on stands all around the room. You can buy each surround sound component individually or buy a “home theater in a box” which will provide you with all the parts you need for a complete installation.

Sources:

Your home theater sources are the services and devices you use to watch your movies, play ball games, or even watch regular TV. You need to plan your system so it will support sources like a Blu-Ray player, DVD player, gaming console, satellite television, cable television, radio, MP3 player, or a computer. You will have to evaluate your sources and decide which ones are important to you and need to be integrated into your home theater system.

Seating:

Seating is always important but does not apply to everyone. But if you want to sit through a couple of movies you will want to make sure you are comfortable. High-end luxury seating is available or you may just want to buy yourself a couple new recliners. The size of your room and your budget will of course drive the decision making process in the seating area.

Infrastructure:

The wire and cable infrastructure of your home theater system is nothing to be over-looked. The wire and cables you use could include HDMI Cables, Speaker Wire, Cat5e Cable, Cat 6 Cable, Coaxial Cable, Component Video Cables, and many more. Using good quality wire and cable products will ensure your system performs to its highest potential.

Acoustics:

If you are building a home theater system in a dedicated theater room you may want to research acoustics. There are many products you can use on the walls, ceilings, and even the floor that will enhance the sound quality and prevent unwanted echoes.

Remote control:

The remote control you use to control all your home theater devices and components is important. The last think you want is to have are 10 different remotes lying all over your home theater. A good quality universal remote will give you full control!

Putting it all together!

Whether you are hiring a professional installer or installing your own home theater, the end result is numerous components and devices working together to give you theater quality video and cinema like sound. At Cabling Plus we offer numerous audio video products that will help you reach your goals. Call us today and let one of our experts assist you in making your audio video system a complete success.

What speaker wire should I use for my home theater speakers?

In a standard home theater speaker installation you will most likely home run wire from the speaker’s right back to the amplifier/receiver. In this case you will only need a 2 conductor speaker wire. Although a 16 gauge speaker wire will do the job perfectly, many high powered speakers require a thicker gauge cable. In this case a 14 gauge speaker wire may be perfect for wiring in-ceiling speakers, in-wall speakers, and stand-alone speakers. Most professional installers also choose to use a 12 gauge speaker wire to wire subwoofers. The 12 gauge speaker wire will create a larger highway for the powerful sound that is usually delivered from a subwoofer.

Does cable quality really matter in a home theater?

Of course! The quality of the cables you use can easily make or break the performance of your entire system. This does not mean you have to go out and buy those over-priced cables you see at your local retail store. This means that you should buy them from a reputable source. Plus it will help if you do the research and evaluate the cables construction methods and specifications. At Cabling Plus we only offer audio video cables that are manufactured to the highest standards by the best manufacturers. We just don’t mark them up a 1000% like you would find at a local retail store.

What can I do to just enhance the sound coming from my TV?

There are numerous options ranging from installing a single speaker to a complete home theater surround sound system. There are many options out there to support your needs. You just have to evaluate things like your budget, size of your room, how much enhancement you really want, and if you want to do it all on your own or hire a professional installer.

Why kind of budget do I need for a home theater installation?

The truth is you can spend thousands or hundreds of dollars. It all comes down to the size of the system you install and the products you use. The great thing about the home theater industry is that there are products to support any project type on any budget. Do your research and figure out what you can afford, and which products best support your needs!

How do I find a local home theater installer to hire?

The best way is to ask family, friends, and co-workers for a referral. This is the best strategy in finding someone you can trust. If you can’t get a referral, you can look online or call a local audio video retail store and ask them if they could recommend someone. It is always best to invite 2 or 3 installers to your home and ask all to provide you with quotes. This way you can meet them face to face, while asking them the crucial questions that you need answered. Meeting multiple installers will also allow you to compare quotes and compare suggestions. After meeting a few installers you should be able to gain the valuable information you need to make the best buying decision.

Do I really need a subwoofer in my surround sound system?

The subwoofer is a valuable part of the sound experience of a movie. There are many parts of a movie and regular TV show where a subwoofer just makes the sound experience complete. Although a subwoofer is not mandatory, once you listen to your sound system with it and then without it, you may find out that you need it or you would be really missing out. Assuming you will also be using your speakers to watch ball games and play music, you may end up not being able to be without it. Subwoofers are also large and take up a lot of room. So you will have to evaluate if have the space for a stand-alone subwoofer.