If you’re building a home theater, you want to do it right, considering all possibilities and exploring alternate angles. If you want a fine experience, don’t lift a finger until you’ve put a handle on the following information.

Acoustics

To start, consider sound quality and acoustics. A large-screen television is not put to full use if you don’t buy quality speakers to produce surround sound. Also, purchase a receiver that acts as an audio/visual ‘mixing board,’ letting you DJ the quality of sound, balancing front and rear speakers, sound bars, etc.

True home entertainment stimulates all the senses; a quality system does not feature a large TV alone. Purchase a receiver, rear speakers, game consoles, and more to enhance the at-home entertainment. Surround sound speakers should be placed to the front side, above and a bit to the rear of listeners. Don’t aim speakers at peoples’ ears but rather position the components at a 45 to 60-degree angle spread (High dispersion speakers help disseminate sound out of the speakers into the room.)

Size

The room’s size matters; a 60-inch television will look out of place in a cramped studio apartment. Entertainment and quality is the foremost attribute you want in a home center, and bigger is not always better.

Select a television that fits the size of the room. The television also influences subsequent A/V purchases. Rear speakers and sound bars would appear oddly paired with a 19-inch television. Similarly, a pricy receiver is unneeded if you have no added speakers. Consider size and build your theater to proper scale.

Price

You can spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on a home theater. Similar to size, expense does not guarantee supremacy. Place an intrinsic value on entertainment, considering habits of family members. How often will the theater be used? If your family stays indoors often, or lives in extreme climates, you may prefer to invest more in a home theater.

If you’re worried that spending a few hundred dollars won’t get you a quality home theater, you’re wrong. Name-brand large-screen televisions are relatively cheap in today’s market, and you can build your theater at a leisurely pace your wallet can handle.

Help

For those who get ‘the works,’ investing thousands in speakers, a television, receiver, etc, it’s suggested to get the help of an electrician. Electricians drill holes, place wires behind walls, add extra wall sockets, and ensure the safety of your family and integrity of your home when away (Damaged power cords can create fires.)

Extras

A video game console makes for a great addition to a home theater, but what about other extras like a popcorn machine, wet bar, or massaging chairs to enhance the theater’s ambiance? Get an interior designer to create a theme (horror films, Hollywood in the 1920s, etc) for the room, adding to its allure and distinguishing it from the rest of the home.

Lighting

Choose a dark corner of the home or the basement to host the theater. If you do choose rooms that receive sunlight, position the television as not to create glare or overheat electrical components.
If you have lamps, shade them with a thin cloth or place them elsewhere. A lighting professional can add dimming fixtures or reconfigure the room to accommodate a home theater.

Minimalism

Technically, if you own an iPad or laptop, old stereo speakers, and an A/V receiver, you own a minimalistic theater. Even if you don’t have cable TV, any newer television can connect to a computer to stream free YouTube content. Or, purchase Netflix for less than $10 per month.

Also, using a Slingshot device, view what’s on your home theater television via a laptop in an entirely different room, creating two places to watch cable or streamed, online content.

TV-Free

You may opt for a projector rather than a traditional large-screen television for home entertainment. Such an arrangement works great for those who do not want a clunky television taking up space or those with limited space.

You’ll have to familiarize yourself with the differences in technology (Choose between a DLP, LCD, or LCOS model.)

Cables

Monster cables work well with modern-day A/V equipment, but that doesn’t stop suppliers from producing ‘better’ options. Be careful as to how much you spend on required cables. Yes, there is a difference between cheap and quality cables, but Monster cables should do fine. If you’ve invested in quality equipment, $1,000 cables aren’t going to transform the experience too much.

Now that you know more about arranging the room and a variety of A/V components, create a home theater that’s aligned with your preferences, in-home habits, and wallet.

Robert Anderson is a tech researcher that knows a thing or two about entertainment technology. He shares his research and finding online through article writing.