Are Home Theaters Worth It?

• Television set with large flat screen
• DVD player
• Blu Ray, DVR, or VCR unit
• Surround Sound 
• Speakers

Along with all of those components there is the storage for all along with the cables, connectors, wiring, surge protectors, etc.  Then there is the consideration of how to connect and hook up all of this equipment, without any wires showing. So, do you need an electrician or a home theater installation professional? 

Who does home theater installation?

In addition to determining what equipment is needed and what are the must-have components for a home theater installation, there is the actual installation. Here are 7 areas to think it through before deciding this is a great DIY project: 

1. Attic or Crawl Space

You’ll need to run cabling and wiring for the television, speakers, surround sound, and more. For that, do you have access to your attic or crawl space, or do you have crown molding in the room? Attic and crawl space will make the job easier and faster, but the addition of crown molding will work for hiding the audio and video cables and wiring. For the video portion, you’ll HDMI, and a cable that is long enough run between the AV receiver to the television. Then there is the wiring for the audio portion, will you have speakers in the walls or the ceiling?  

2. First Home Theater Installation or Expanding A Current One

If you haven’t ever assembled a home theater installation, you may find yourself getting overwhelmed. However, if you currently have a home theater, installation of more speakers or other new hardware won’t be as confusing. 

3. Home Renovation Experience

Installing and setting up a home theater installation will require some basic  home construction. You’re going to be cutting holes and setting up low voltage boxes, locating wiring, and then there are the tools you’ll need.  

4. The Required Tools

For a successful home theater installation, you’ll need some specific tools and the knowledge how to use them. Among those tools are: 

• Cordless drill
• Keyhole saw
• Stud finder
• Hammer
• Fish Rods
• Box knife
• Wire cutters/strippers
• Tape measure
• Paddle bits
• Low voltage boxes and kit

If your home theater installation is going to require a room being built, or you’re planning on finishing out the attic, basement, or garage, you’re going to need some addition tools. These addition tools are needed for building walls, closing off doors, etc. The basic tools for this home construction includes: 

• Cordless circular saw
• Cordless reciprocating saw
• Level
• Pneumatic nail gun
• Electrical box
• Electrical outlets
• Electrical cable

5. The Time

This is going to be more than one day project, and if you’re finishing out or building a room, it is definitely more than a weekend DIY project. So, make sure you aren’t taking on too much. You don’t want to get started then have a business trip that takes you away for 10 days. Of if you have young children or active teens in the house, do you have spare time for a project this entailed? 

6. Budgeting 

The budget for a home theater installation may be more than you’re thinking. Beyond the components, there is the furnishing, lumber, tools, etc. Yes furnishing – you’re going to want comfortable seating once that home theater installation is complete. 

7. Soundproofing

Soundproofing a home theater installation can be difficult, but so necessary. If the walls are down to the studs, soundproofing won’t be as difficult. You need to consider not just the theater sound escaping into the rest of the house, but the other sounds of your house getting into the home theater, like the kitchen, laundry room, bathroom, and the HVAC system. 

Should I get a home theater system or a soundbar?

It depends on what you prefer.  A soundbar is going to deliver the audio “AT” you from the front. A home theater system will surround you in sound like the theater. 

What is the ideal size for a home theater room?

Use your own eyes and ears to determine what is best for your home theater installation. If you follow all the marketing hype and suggestions, you could get more than you need or will ever use.  Things you need to consider are: 

• The television and speakers need to fit the room size. 
• The angle and distance of the seating in relation to the screen and speakers. 
• The acoustics are affected by the furnishings, materials, and shape of the room. 
• Consider the exterior windows and the interior lighting of the room when positioning the television. 
• Make sure you have adequate ventilation for the room to keep viewers comfortable. 

How do I know what size my home theater screen is?

If you have a projector screen currently and need to replace it, grab your tape measure, and see what you have. The most common measurement of screens and televisions is diagonal. Measure the screen length from the top-left to the bottom-right for the diagonal screen size.

How far should you sit from a 120 inch screen?

It will depend on the size of your home theater and where your 120-inch screen is installed in that room.  For a cinema at home setup, the formula that most audio-visual companies use is a ratio for seat-to-screen distance is 100.8 inches back from a 120-inch screen.