A home theater system would bring you a complete cinematic experience in the comfort of your own home. However, the idea of setting it up on your own may prove to be overwhelming because of all the components that you need to connect together. Nevertheless, read on the brief guide below to assist you in how you can successfully set up your own home theater system.
Decide on Where to Set Up Your Home Theater System
The first thing that you need to think about is the most suitable location or room where you can set up your home theater system. Once you decide on a particular place where you will set everything up, then you will have a good idea of the size of everything that needs to fit in that room. For instance, if you intend to purchase a La-Z-Boy, but there is only a limited room, then you may only be able to fit in a couple of these recliners. Likewise, it can be rather easy to get carried away when you are shopping for the equipment you need, only to find out that everything may not fit in all together in the room you dedicated to your system.
After having a good idea of the dimensions of the room for your theater system, the next thing that you need is to get to know which components you need. At the very least, your system should be composed of a TV, a video input, some speakers, and a receiver. You have the option of getting individual components to be assembled together or purchasing a complete package. The former can guarantee that you have all the features you need. On the other hand, the latter can definitely cost you more, but you are sure that all the components are compatible and will work together as you have intended.
Install Your TV
The perfect TV size depends on the size of your room, which means that a larger screen is not automatically the best option. As a general rule, the ideal distance between the TV and your couch is twice the size of the TV. For instance, if you have a 40-inch TV, then you should be seated at least six feet away from it for an ideal vision. For the best viewing experience, it will also help to have a TV with optimum resolution.
Decide on Your Input Devices
You have a variety of options when it comes to the input devices that you can install in your system. For instance, your video input system can be a DVD player or a Blu-Ray player, which can already be outdated. It can also be the more contemporary alternatives such as a game console or a smart TV adapter.
Set Up Your Speakers
In setting up the speakers of your home theater system, consider whether you intend to do more. Would you rather watch movies or listen to music? If you are more fond of watching movies or shows, then you would benefit more from five to seven small speakers, which will pave the way for a more immersive movie experience. On the other hand, if you are one of the audiophiles who are keener on enjoying your playlists, then better invest in a couple of Hi-Fi speakers to get the best quality of sound for your music. Rest assured that there are a number of types of speakers for you to choose from such as floor standing column speakers, bookshelf speakers, or even satellite speakers to name a few.
Nevertheless, the number of speakers you need still depends on the size of the room where you are setting up your system. For a smaller room of about 20 square meters, a soundbar will already do you good. For a larger room, you might need a multi-speaker set. Multi speaker sets usually come in a package that consists of five or seven speakers, with a subwoofer. For the best sound effect, position two speakers in front of you, another two behind you, and one on the center, alongside with the subwoofer. The two side speakers are actually optional, but these can be beneficial for larger rooms.
Consider a Receiver
With all the components that you need to get together, using a receiver can be advantageous. The receiver acts as a hub for all of your components, such that your TV can use all the connected components without having to switch inputs. If you intend to utilize only single video input, then a receiver may no longer be necessary. But if otherwise, then make sure to choose a receiver that will be able to accommodate all your video inputs. At the very least, it should be able to cater to four HDMI inputs with one HDMI output port.
Put Everything Together
Once you have all the components you need in the room and they are properly positioned, then it is time to put everything together. Using the HDMI cable, connect your receiver to your TV and to your video input. When these connections are already working, it is time to turn your attention to your speakers. Connect your front speakers to the receiver first and test its functionality before connecting your rear speakers. Make sure to connect the right speakers to the dedicated input ports in the receiver to achieve an optimum surround sound.
While it is true that thinking about setting up your own home theater system can be daunting, the actual process may prove to be quite simple. Once you have decided on where you will set up your system, make sure that you get all the components that you need. At the very least, you need to install your TV in the most ideal position, together with your input devices, as well as your speakers. You can even go with a receiver to ensure that everything in your home theater system is organized. When everything is done, all that is left for you to do is to put your feet up, have some popcorn, and enjoy the show.
