For example, if you have a decent set of modern speakers and a TV with which they’re compatible, you really only need the receiver (mandatory) and the video input (optional). It’s generally advisable to use products which are all roughly the same age (e. g. , you’ll want a modern TV to match modern speakers).
All-in-one packages rarely come with televisions, so you’ll still need to buy a new one or adjust the one that you have. While you can’t expect the same level of sound quality from an all-in-one package as you might expect from individually purchased components, all-in-one home theater systems are perfect for beginners.
You may discover halfway through staging your home theater that your selected room is too small to accommodate your preferred components.
Budget - Home theater setups can cost anywhere from sub-$500 to well over $10,000. Establishing a hard budget before you purchase anything will help narrow your search. Noise - Setting up a home theater’s speakers will vary wildly depending on how close your neighbors are; additionally, your home’s acoustics will play a part in determining which speakers best fit your needs. Space - As mentioned in the last step, your home’s size will limit things like TV screen size, speaker strength, and more.
The power strips should go in the same general location as your TV. Depending on the location of your room’s electrical outlets, you may need to use an extension cord as well.
In general, you should be sitting 1 ½ - 2 ½ times the screen size away from the TV; for example, if you want a 70" TV screen, you should have between 9 and 15 feet of room between the TV and your closest couch. [2] X Research source TV sizes are measured diagonally, from the top-left corner of the screen to the bottom-right corner of the screen. Projectors allow you to adjust the size of the screen as long as you have a large blank wall on which to project the video. You generally need 12-15 feet between the projector and the wall to get the best results. [3] X Research source
The “p” stands for the number of pixels on the vertical edge (going downward) of the screen. More pixels give the picture better clarity and color. Some systems are labeled with an “i. ” such as 1080i. This stands for “interlaced” pixels, which broadcast slightly differently. While most TV manufacturers have moved past 1080i, you should know that the picture quality is roughly the same, though 1080p has “won” the battle with consumers. [4] X Research source Certain video inputs, such as the Xbox One, do not support 1080i and will instead default to 720p on such TVs.
Feel free to skip this step if you already have a video source, or if you’re going to use a cable box instead. Ideally, you’ll choose an entertainment system (e. g. , a console) or a Blu-Ray player for your TV; DVD players and VCR boxes are relatively outdated at this point.
Leave plenty of space between your entertainment center and the wall until you’ve finished setting up the entire entertainment center. If you plan on mounting your TV, hold off on doing so until you’ve purchased and set up the speakers and other components.
This seating will also serve as a reference for the point toward which your speakers will aim. If you plan on using full surround sound, leave a few feet between the back of your couch and the wall (if possible) for the speakers to sit.
Movies and TV - Most movies are multi-track (sounds come from many different speakers), meaning 5 or 7 smaller speakers will create a more immersive movie watching experience than 2-3 expensive, large speakers. This helps you create realistic surround sound. Music - Speaker quality is more important than quantity. Invest in a good receiver and purchase 2 hi-fi speakers to get the best quality sound you can. [6] X Research source
5. 1-channel and 7. 1-channel are the two most popular speaker packages, offering a subwoofer, two speakers in front of you, two behind you, one in the center, and one on either side (for 7. 1). [7] X Research source
Again, consider also the proximity of neighbors and your home’s ambient noise levels. You don’t need a 7. 1 stereo system if you’re renting in a small complex, but you might need one for a larger home in a noisy or sparsely populated area.
Sound bar - Sound bars often have two main speakers and one subwoofer, making them 2. 1 stereo systems. While they lack the depth of true surround sound, they fit in with smaller home theaters or areas in which you can’t make much noise. [9] X Research source Component surround sound - Often sold as pre-matched package deals, these speakers are ideal for people who want surround sound but lack the technological know-how for setting it up with 5, 6, or 7 distinct speakers. These systems are also often wireless.
Two raised, front facing speakers Two rear speakers at the back of the room One subwoofer, usually tucked in the corner One small center speaker (optional) Two side speakers (optional)
Make a simple drawing of your room highlighting where you are sitting and where your TV is placed. Make notes of your furniture, doors, and windows so that you can accurately plan out your system.
If you were to draw lines coming from the speakers, they should meet at ear level in the center of the room.
Many people mount this speaker just above the TV if they have room. This is where you’ll place a soundbar if applicable to you.
If you are using only 5 speakers, prioritize side-facing speakers before rear speakers.
Bare walls and floors cause sound to bounce around, so you can improve your acoustics with rugs or furniture along the walls. [14] X Research source
If this doesn’t work, you may need to buy longer cables for your speakers.
Make sure that your speaker wire is not attached to anything when you do this.
Receivers aren’t strictly necessary if you only plan on using one input, but they will help organize your
HDMI inputs resemble trapezoids, while DisplayPort inputs look like HDMI ports with one straightened corner. Both HDMI and DisplayPort are comparable to one another, so it may come down to the type of cable that you have on-hand.
A good rule of thumb for receivers is that you should have one HDMI port per connected item. This means that if you have a set of speakers, an Xbox, a Blu-Ray player, and your TV, you should allow for at least 4 HDMI input ports and at least one HDMI output port.
Again, the size of receiver that you buy will depend on the number of components that you have to hook up to it. Don’t feel like you need to buy a huge, expensive receiver with more inputs and outputs than you need.
Overcrowding your components can lead to overheating, which can be the death of things like game consoles and DVD players.
In particular, make sure your TV and speakers are off.
All HDMI cables are built identically, so do not be fooled into buying a $50 cable when a $5 HDMI will work exactly the same way. [16] X Research source
Virtually all modern video components will connect to your receiver via an HDMI cable.
Check all of the inputs for loose connections. Attach the media player (output) directly to the TV (input), skipping the receiver, to make sure that the media player works. Check that you have the right signal flow. Things should go “out” from the media player and “in” to the TV.
Some modern speakers have plugs instead of speaker wiring. In this case, the wires are color coded for easy access. Most speaker wire is covered in a wax sheath to protect it. You must use scissors or wire cutters to trim this sheath and pull it off, exposing the bright copper wire inside. This wire makes the connection, not the sheath, so you must remove the wax to get your speakers working.
If you’re using a soundbar, you’ll most likely use an optical cable to connect your speaker to your receiver. This will conclude your home theater’s speaker setup.
Some pre-packaged systems have label ports while high-end systems can automatically detect which speaker goes where, allowing you to plug them all in anywhere. If there are no labels on the back of the receiver, simply plug them all into the “audio output. ” The subwoofer is usually labeled as a “sub out” or “sub pre-out,” and may need a specific subwoofer cable. [17] X Research source
There are a variety of services, including teams at Best Buy or Geek Squad, that will run your wires for you for a fee.
Check the channel on your receiver. When you plug in your speakers to the receiver, you’ll often see them categorized as “audio output, channel 1. ” This means your receiver can handle multiple speaker formats. Make sure the channel on the front of the receiver matches the channel you plugged yours speakers into. Check the inputs. They should be firmly attached. Make sure that the same wire connects the red end of the speaker to the red end of the receiver or they won’t work. Test your speaker by plugging in an iPod or music player and testing that before trying a DVD.
