how do i build a good home theater

^{How to Build a Home Theater}

1. Choose a Location The ideal space for a home theater is 20 feet long by 13 feet wide and relatively isolated from the rest of the house. ...
2. Frame and Insulate prev next Building Home Theater Shell Building the shell of a home theater is similar to building any other addition to your home – with ...
3. Pre-Wire Surround Sound Most home theaters use a 7.1 surround sound system. ...
4. Pre-Wire a Video Projector For a realistic, large-screen theater experience, you'll need to pre-wire a projector system. ...
Pre-Wire Lighting Appropriate lighting is essential for creating a movie theater atmosphere. This includes recessed lighting in the ceiling and sconces along the side walls. ...
Install Drywall and Sound Barriers When hanging the drywall, make careful incisions through which you’ll route all of your pre-wired electrical and audio cables. ...
Set Up Video and Sound Systems Once your drywall is painted, you can hang your speakers, projector, and screen. ...
Install Theater-Style Seating

What do you need to build a home theater?

7 Gadgets to Help You Build the Coziest Home Theater System

1. Epson EpiqVision Ultra Short Throw LS300 3LCD Smart Laser Projector. ...
2. Sony X900H 65” TV. If you prefer a good quality TV instead of a projector, you're at the right place; and if you are asking which one stands out ...
3. Sony HT-G700 Soundbar. ...
4. Roku Express Streaming Media Player. ...
5. Govee Immersion TV LED Backlights with Camera. ...

More items...

How to install the perfect home theater?

We Install The Perfect Home Theater Setup, You Make the Popcorn

• TV, Screen, and Projector Installation. Viewing quality is everything in a theater. ...
• Audio System Installation. Audio and visual go hand-in-hand while watching a movie, and if just one of these elements isn’t the best quality, it can ruin the entire movie.
• Chair Installation. ...
• Wiring Installation. ...
• Create the Perfect Home Theater With Revelation Services®! ...

What do you need for a basic home theater?

What do I need for the best home theater system?

1. TV or projector with screen. Without the right picture, you are going to miss out on a lot of the action. ...
2. Surround sound speakers. The picture is just half of the equation for a complete home theater system. ...
3. Surround Receiver. ...
4. HDMI cables. ...
5. HD sources. ...
6. A programmable remote. ...
7. Surge protection. ...

How to design and plan a home theater room?

• Room shape. Square rooms tend to produce odd harmonic distortions. ...
• Windows. The fewer, the better. ...
• Walls. If you're tempted to staple inverted egg cartons all over your walls to muffle sound, relax. ...
• Flooring. ...
• Wall/room color. ...
• Speaker placement. ...
• Ideal distance. ...
• Playing center field. ...
• Woof, woof. ...

How do you make a good home theater?

If you're thinking about building a home theater, let HGTV walk you through the steps.Step 1: Choose a Location. ... Step 2: Frame and Insulate. ... Step 3: Pre-Wire Surround Sound. ... Step 4: Pre-Wire a Video Projector. ... Step 5: Pre-Wire Lighting. ... Step 6: Install Drywall and Sound Barriers. ... Step 7: Set Up Video and Sound Systems.More items...

What are the 3 major components of a home theater systems?

Typically, a home theater system includes the following components:A TV or projector and screen.A video source. ... A home theater receiver.More items...

How do you build a home theater sound system?

0:4914:30Building a Home Theater from Scratch: 4K, 7.2.2, Dolby Atmos - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIn planning for the home theater we had to think about things as far back as the stage of framing.MoreIn planning for the home theater we had to think about things as far back as the stage of framing. So in the framing. We wanted to make sure to run enough speaker wire in all of the locations.

How expensive is it to build a home theater?

As a starting point, you can expect to spend $10,000 on a private home theater room. At Audio Advice, we have designed award-winning, high-end theaters in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, but most of the custom theaters we build range from $10,000 to $50,000.

How many watts is a good home theater system?

How Many Watts Home Theater Do I Need? The more wattage power you have under the hood, the better your theater will sound. And, odd but true, a high-power theater actually seems louder at lower volumes. 125 watts per channel is the ideal amount of power to have without fear of ever running out.

What are the most important speakers in a home theater?

A center channel speaker is the most important speaker in a surround sound setup because it does most of the work. Most of the action, and conversation, in a movie, happens front and center on your screen, meaning that the center channel is the one reproducing it.

How do you make a Dolby Atmos home theater?

0:5513:01How To SETUP DOLBY ATMOS Home Theater - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSetup you need seven total speakers two left and right main speakers a center speaker left and rightMoreSetup you need seven total speakers two left and right main speakers a center speaker left and right surrounds. And a pair of dolby atmos enabled speakers to cover that dot one in our setup.

How do you make a 3d home theater?

0:283:12DIY 3D Home Cinema with RealD glasses - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe first thing you're gonna need is a 3d screen you can't use a regular projection screen becauseMoreThe first thing you're gonna need is a 3d screen you can't use a regular projection screen because 3d use is polarized light to deliver a different video signal to each eye.

What do you need for a surround sound system?

What You Need to Access Surround Sound. You need a compatible home theater receiver supporting a minimum 5.1 channel speaker system, an AV preamp/processor paired with multi-channel amplifier and speakers, a home-theater-in-a-box system, or a soundbar to experience surround sound.

Does a theater room add value?

Home theaters are generally thought to return you around 65% of their original cost. So, if you have spent $20,000 on a home theater, expect it to add around $13,000 to the value of your home. So, yes, it adds value, but a loss in terms of return.

How big does a home theater room need to be?

Choose a room that's at least 15 feet wide and 20 feet long and you should have a good basis to start building your home theater. You may be a bit cramped if you opt to go smaller than this minimum home theater room size.

Where do Dolby Atmos speakers go?

For optimal effect and to minimize direct radiating audio at listener level, place Dolby Atmos enabled speakers at or slightly above the height of your ears when seated. Avoid placing the Dolby Atmos enabled speakers higher than one-half the height of your wall.

What components do you need for a home theater?

The most basic components for a home theater system would consist of a video display (a standard TV, a plasma or LCD TV, a projector, etc), a surround sound A/V receiver, and a video source (DVD or Blu-ray player, cable or satellite box). When creating more elaborate home.

What is the most important component in a home theater system?

The Receiver. Your receiver connects your speakers, video input, and the display device. It is the central hub of your home theater system. Many receivers include their own speakers while others will have inputs that allow for any speakers to be used.

What does a home Theatre system consists of?

HTIB systems typically include a DVD or Blu-ray player, a surround sound amplifier, five surround speakers, a subwoofer cabinet, cables and a remote.

What components do I need for home entertainment system?

Must-Have Home Theater ComponentsVideo Sources. A video source is the part of the home theater system that supplies media to a display device, such as a television. ... Receivers. The receiver component is the piece that handles the sound for your home theater. ... Surge Protectors. ... Audio Systems. ... Connection Cables. ... Display Devices.

What is the core of a home theater?

At the core of every home theater is the desire to recreate the cinematic experience of the movie theater in your home. And while you're entirely free to replicate everything from the smell of popcorn to the velvet upholstered theater seating, the essential pieces are far more basic.

How big is a commercial theater screen?

In a commercial theater, you'll usually be watching on a screen that's anywhere from 30 to 90 feet wide by 10 to 30 feet tall. You're not going to find any options that big for your home (none that are affordable, anyway), but the size isn't the real question here.

What is the best TV for under $2,000?

TCL 6-Series Roku TV (75R635) One of the best big-screens you can get for under $2,000, the TCL 6-Series Roku TV 75R635 offers a big, beautiful 75-inch screen that combines QLED brightness and color with the superb backlighting offered by mini-LED. There are better TVs out there, but nothing comes close to the combination of size, performance and price.

How much does a Sony 4K projector cost?

There are plenty of options for 4K home theater projectors, and you can easily spend a lot of money — the Sony VPL-VW1025ES 4K SXRD Home Cinema Projector sells for $39,999, for example — but we want to keep a budget similar to our TV picks.

Is a home theater a hobby?

With a huge range of products (some necessary, some not), a dizzying array of technical details and formats, and an endless number of aesthetic options for optimizing your theater space, a good home theater is as much a hobby for some as the movie watching that happens inside.

Can a sound bar be connected to a TV?

But a basic soundbar doesn't do enough; we need those extra speakers and subwoofer.

How big is a home theater?

The ideal space for a home theater is 20 feet long by 13 feet wide and relatively isolated from the rest of the house. "It has to be in a place that does not interrupt the business of the home," says Rob Rickel, president of RSR Custom Renovations and Additions. "You don't want the sound disturbing everyone."

How to connect a projector to a theater?

This involves just two cables: An HDMI cable to carry high-definition video to the projector A CAT5 control wire for accessing the projector with a radiofrequency (RF) remote. This will let you start your movies without pointing at the projector. One end of these cables should extend from the ceiling at the rear of the theater, where the projector will hang. The other end should connect to your equipment hub. Be sure to pre-wire the hub with your cable or satellite feed, as well as high-speed Internet for streaming video.

What is the insulation rating for a home theater?

You'll want to pay special attention to insulation. A rating of R30 is standard for the floor, ceiling, and exterior wall insulation, but don't neglect the interior walls. Loosely packed R11 can help keep the sound of movie explosions from rocking the rest of your home. It won't block the noise completely, though. You'll need to add additional sound barriers after you pre-wire the room.

What color seats are best for a home theater?

Comfy brown leather seats offer prime viewing of the screen in this stylish home theater. The seats complement the room's neutral palette, which is a perfect backdrop for enjoying favorite movies with family and friends.

How big is a projection screen for a theater?

Once your drywall is painted, you can hang your speakers, projector, and screen. In a theater of 20 by 13 feet, the ideal screen size is 110-120 inches. For a professional feel, frame the screen with a proscenium – a set of black acoustic panels that hide the left, right, and center speakers. Camouflage the remaining speakers with acoustic panels that double as artwork. These panels can be printed with custom designs, including family photos or favorite movie posters.

How many speakers are in a 7.1 surround sound system?

Most home theaters use a 7.1 surround sound system. This includes one subwoofer and seven channel speakers – left, right, center, two side surrounds, and two rear surrounds. To pre-wire a 7.1 system, follow these steps: Mark the location where each speaker will go: Center – just above or below the viewing screen.

Where should the projector cables be?

One end of these cables should extend from the ceiling at the rear of the theater, where the projector will hang . The other end should connect to your equipment hub. Be sure to pre-wire the hub with your cable or satellite feed, as well as high-speed Internet for streaming video.

How much does it cost to build a home theater system?

You can build a home theater system with a big-screen 4K TV, surround sound, an Ultra HD Blu-ray player, and even a game console, for less than $1,000. Here's how to do it.

Do you need Dolby Atmos for home theater?

You might not get Dolby Atmos or an OLED panel, but you'll have everything you really need for a good home theater experience: a quality picture, solid surround sound, and lots of ways to play audio and video.

Can you use a Roku TV as a surround sound system?

You can also go with Roku, which doesn’t offer a single surround system but has three inexpensive speakers that work very well together. The Roku Smart Soundbar, Roku TV Wireless Speakers, and Roku Wireless Subwoofer can all combine into a single surround sound system, with the wireless speakers serving as rear channels. It’s easy to set up, and surprisingly powerful for its size and price.

Do TVs have soundbars?

Most TVs have mediocre speakers, so at the very least you want a soundbar to dramatically improve volume and audio quality. The problem with a single soundbar is that it only offers stereo, or at best simulated surround on its own. It might be able to do some acoustic tricks to sound bigger, but you won’t get the same surround sound effect as if you had rear satellite speakers. So the natural answer is to get a soundbar with rear satellites, and throw a subwoofer in for good measure.

Step 1: Picking the Room or Not

For me the choice of which room and how big it was, was not really much of a choice. The room I had to work with had been an extra bedroom in the basement.

Step 2: Modifying the Room

The room was originally 11.5' X 13' with a closet and one basement window. The first thing I decided to do was to eliminate the closet and extend the room 3' making the room 11.5' X 16'. This would allow for better acoustics and make having two rows of recliners a better fit. There was also an issue with a duct in the room that could not be moved.

Step 3: Creating a Raised Seating Area

I wanted the people sitting in the back of the room to have a good view, so I acquired some oak pallets and some other reclaimed wood. I managed to find everything I needed except for the face board for the new raised area which I bought from the local lumber yard.

Step 4: Painting

On the wall that would house the TV, and on the recessed part of the ceiling, I decided to go with a flat black since it wouldn't reflect other light in the room and distract from the screen. On the other walls I went with a classic maroon satin finish. I wanted it to be easy to clean but still not reflect light.

Step 5: Selecting a Carpet

When shopping for the carpet, this is what I had in mind. 1. Low pile 2. Easy to keep clean and hide stains 3. Low cost 4. Fitting for a movie theater I went to the local carpet / remnant outlet store and walked in on the right day. I was able to find a remnant that just fit the room and fit my color choices perfectly.

Step 6: Decorating and Furnishing

Kirkland's and Hobby Lobby have some very nice home theater accessories at a relatively low cost. We first used some low end recliners in the room but later upgraded to a set of electric recliners. I used black shears in front of the shelf unit to reduce the visibility of the electronics while still being able to shoot a remote through it.

Step 7: Closing Off the Window

I used a left over piece of plywood and a remnant of carpet to make a cover for the window. Is fits snugly in place but could be removed if needed.

LG G1 Series 77-Inch OLED TV

The centerpiece of any home theater will always be the screen you watch and play everything on. Today's high-end televisions are massive, gorgeous, and offer a fantastic experience no matter what you're viewing on it.

Hisense H9 Quantum Series 55-Inch TV

If you can afford it, an OLED will give you the most premium home-theater experience, but it isn't the only option. If your have a more modest budget, or want to go with a traditional LED TV to avoid the potential for burn-in, the Hisense H9 is an awesome TV that starts well below $1,000 and has a fantastic picture.

Sony VW325ES 4K HDR Home Theater Projector

If the TVs above aren't big enough or movie theater-like enough, then you can always build your own projector screen for your ultimate home theater experience. The high-end ones are expensive, but there's no real substitute for the absolutely enormous size of these kinds of display setups, and it's a more authentic cinema experience because of it.

Optoma UHD38 4K Projector

If you're a gamer or working on a tighter budget, the Optoma UHD38 is an excellent alternative. It's still 4K and supports up to 240Hz refresh rates, giving it low input lag and making it a much more responsive display for any home theater.

Elite Screens VMAX2

If you're spending a lot on a projector, you should get a good screen too. The Elite Screens VMax2 is beloved by cinema aficionados for its wide range of size options (up to 135-inches), high-quality materials and wide viewing angles. It's also super easy to install compared to some of its contemporaries.

Vamvo 120-Inch Projector Screen

The Vamvo portable projection screen is a great budget alternative, as it's not only much more affordable, but can also be setup with ease outside. This can also be a great option if you're looking to configure your home theater before setting up a permanent screen, as it can be easily moved around to try different setups.

Denon AVR-X3700H AV Receiver

You can buy all the fancy speakers you want, but without a decent AV receiver to plug it into, you're going to struggle to find the connections, and you won't have the deep support and sound customization that only a great AV receiver can offer.

What is a home theater room?

But a home theater room is more than just a sofa and a screen. Certain requirements, like controlling outside light and the ability to cast a large enough picture, should be met in order to call this a proper home movie theater. Requirements apply both to video projectors and screens as well as to large, flat-screen TVs.

What is a dedicated home theater?

A dedicated home theater room is a room solely dedicated to watching videos on a big screen. This means that little else happens in that home theater except for screening-related activities. And today, screening means far more than it ever did, with streaming services like Amazon Prime, Netflix, and Hulu, BluRay movies, video gaming, and conventional cable TV.

How far away from the screen do you need to be from a projector?

This is especially important with video projectors. At the extreme end, a projector needs roughly a 14-foot throw distance in order to cast a 150-inch diagonal picture, though short-throw projectors are available.

What is a cinema light control?

Cinema light control means the ability to turn lights on and off or to graduate that light within the cinema space. Soffits, rope lights, dimmers, and recessed lights form the backbone of many owner-built home theaters. Soffits are long trays near the ceiling that run around the room's perimeter and are often inlaid with rope lights. Additionally, small recessed lights may be added to the bottoms of the soffits or in the ceiling to shine downward to form the classic home theater look. Try to keep the majority of these lights behind the viewer to avoid degrading the viewing experience.

What happens when a home theater shares space?

When the home theater shares space with other activities, the cinematic experience is lessened. When the non-dedicated home theater shares open floor plan space with the kitchen, cooking sounds and smells invade. When the theater is the living room, kids run around and light is difficult to control.

Can you manually raise a movie screen?

Movie screens can be manually lowered and raised. Or you can invest in an electric movie screen that lowers and raises at the touch of a button.

Can you hide wires in a home theater?

Still, more and more entertainment is delivered ​through hard-wired connections and wi-fi signals. Wires need to be hidden as much as possible. Wires that extend to the front and sides of the home theater can be hidden in the soffits. Some home theater audio systems throw signals to the speakers wirelessly.

What do I need for a home theater?

Any home theater will include the obvious components: an HDTV or a screen/projector combination, an audio receiver or a preamplifier/amplifier, and home theater speakers. There are, of course, many other pieces of equipment you can add to the mix, and you’ll need the right audio, Internet and HDMI cables to connect everything. Here’s a closer look at each of the basic components.

How big should a home theater be?

It makes no sense to run out and start buying gorgeous HDTVs, projectors or speakers until you know the size of the room you want to use and whether you want a theater for primarily to screen movies, watch TV or listen to music. Experts say the ideal room for a home theater is about 20 feet long and 15 feet wide, but chances are that you don’t have an empty room that size just waiting for you to do an installation. Figure out where you’ll be putting the theater and visualize what you want it to look like; even better, diagram it on paper so you have a firm plan. Then decide the most important function your theater will serve: watching films, binging on Netflix or enjoying fine audio. That will be a great help as you discuss your needs with sales consultants or sift through equipment specifications and details online.

What is the best aspect ratio for a home theater?

You can choose a screen with either a 4x3 or 16x9 aspect ratio, but you’ll do better with a widescreen 16x9 if movies are your thing. The central components in most home theaters are either a home theater receiver, or a combination of a preamp and amplifier – and they do much more than just send audio to the speakers.

What are the advantages of projectors?

The huge advantage of a projector and screen is that in a big room, the experience really is immersive; Hollywood movies simply look better. You’ll also find that a projector system is usually a bit less expensive. There are downsides, though.

Is a wide screen TV better than a projection?

Most home theater owners choose a wide-screen HDTV for their video display, particularly if they watch a lot of television or streaming video. A high-def TV is familiar and easier to control, and the brightness, contrast, color and video resolution are almost always better than with a projected image. With prices coming down and the technology improving rapidly, it’s easy to find models of any size that deliver outstanding video, whether you’re looking for a standard 1080p display or opt for a more modern 4K display.

Is there an unlimited selection of home theater components?

There’s not an unlimited selection of home theater components – it just seems like there are. Blu-ray and DVD players, turntables and CD players, streaming video boxes and dongles, even video servers that can store your movies are all options. The choices don’t end there, either.

Do preamps have more power?

Preamps and amplifiers might boast greater power output, but for the most part they just give picky audiophiles the ability to make adjustments based on their personal preferences. Speaking of power output, the raw numbers you’ll see quoted in receiver specs don’t mean all that much.

What software should I use for streaming?

After building a HTPC, you should consider what HTPC software you should use for home streaming. In general, you can consider using some popular options like Kodi, Plex, Windows Media Center, etc.

What motherboard should I use for my HTPC?

To make sure the HTPC is not too big, Mini-ATX (ITX) and M-ATX motherboards are recommended.

How big should a HTPC be?

In addition, many Mini PCs can serve as HTPC. So, I think the HTPC form factor should be 10-30cm long, 10-20cm wide, and 4-10cm high.

How many FPS can I get on a 4k TV?

Note: To play 4K videos, you should make sure both the HTPC and the TV have HDMI 2.0a/DP1.4 ports, so that you can play 4K videos at 60 fps and it has nice HDR support.

Can you use a 4k video card on a HTPC?

The above configuration is offered by a netizen named mlknez. This configuration can be used to play 4K videos. If you don't use the HTPC to play games or edit videos, you can remove the GPU, and replace the NVMe SSD with a common one.

Do you need a dedicated GPU for HTPC?

But if your CPU has GPU integrated, the integrated GPU is also capable of decoding 4K videos. Therefore, in most cases, the HTPC doesn't need a dedicated GPU card.