You might be excited to design your home theater, but once you realize that there are so many components and factors to consider alongside your custom home theater company, it can be overwhelming. There are several factors that can impact your home theater installation, so before you start, be sure to pay attention to them so you can create your ideal home theater that’s functional and enjoyable.
Factors To Consider For Your Home Theater Installation
Your Room
Before getting started, you need to consider the space and layout that you’ll be installing your home theater in. The size of the room is a very crucial factor to consider as it will affect how many seats you get to have, the screen size, speaker placement, and more.
Your room size also has an impact on the seating distance. While the optimal distance between the screen and the viewer depends on the screen size and resolution, as a general rule, the viewer should sit at a distance that is 1.5 to 2.5 times the diagonal screen size. For example, if the screen is 100 inches, the viewer should sit between 150 to 250 inches away from the screen.
Placement of Speakers
Speaker placement is a critical factor to the sound quality and overall audio experience. For the best audio experience, we recommend a 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound system for your home theater. Also, the speakers should be placed in a way that creates an immersive sound experience. The front speakers should be placed at ear level, while the center speaker should be placed above or below the screen.
Screen Size
Your TV or projector screen is so crucial to your cinematic experience. We recommend a minimum of 65 inches for a TV or 100 inches for a projector, so you can truly immerse yourself in whichever entertainment you’re enjoying. It’s also important to consider the aspect ratio of the screen. The most common aspect ratio is 16:9, but some movies are filmed in wider aspect ratios, such as 2.35:1. To accommodate these wider aspect ratios, some home theaters use anamorphic lenses or masking systems.
Lighting and Ambience
Most people don’t realize it, but the amount of light in your room can affect your home theater experience. Too much light can cause glare on the screen, while too little light can make it difficult to navigate the room. Dimmable lights are great, so you can adjust the brightness of the lights to your liking.
Also, consider installing accent lighting to create a more cinematic atmosphere. Wall sconces, for example, can provide a soft, ambient light, while fiber optic ceilings can provide a starry-night effect in your home theater. Be aware that accent lighting shouldn’t be too bright as it can interfere with the movie-watching experience.
Let Home Theater Pros Help You With Your Home Theater Design
There are many essential features that make up your home theater, and you need to carefully consider various factors that will affect how your entire room comes together. Don’t rush into your home theater design and instead, be sure to plan carefully. If you’re unsure of where to start, know that you don’t have to design your home theater alone. Call us today and let our home theater experts help you with designing the home theater of your dreams!