I want to get an HD DVD player and have a surround sound home theater w/ wireless speakers. What do I need?
Monday, August 30th, 2010 at 9:48 am
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Custom Home Theater Installation
Monday, August 2nd, 2010 at 12:41 pm
Hayi Mansoor asked:
Home theater installation can be residential or commercial, single room or multiple room installation, and can even be custom installation. The toughest of all is definitely a custom theater installation because for that the installer needs to work out a complete plan for the process with you. First things first, custom installation of home theater is not a DIY job that can be completed in no time; you need to plan well in advance. There are certain factors that you need to take into consideration for a custom installation as they play a crucial role in the planning process.
Some of the factors to be considered for a custom home theater installation include:
1. Room Size: Yes! The size of the room definitely matters and more so if it is small.
2. Furniture and Seating: Next on line is the furniture and seating arrangement. You have to work out the seating arrangement relative to the home theater screen.
3. Acoustics: You need to find out from an expert about the acoustical properties of the room in question.
4. Lighting: You will need to identify the amount of lighting required and how this requirement can be fulfilled. Ambient lighting issues are one of the important factors that majorly affect video display when using a home theater. Hence, the issue of lighting should be taken seriously and solved prior to a custom theater installation.
5. TV or Screen: Once you have identified the room space, seating and lighting, you need to identify whether you need to install a large screen LCD TV, Plasma TV, HDTV, or just a simple projection system.
6. Speakers: Now you need to think about the sound. Since you are buying a home-theater system, it will comprise of surround sound speakers. You have to determine whether you want to keep standalone speakers or in-wall speakers in order to increase the effectiveness of the home theater system.
7. Components: A home theater system comes with a variety of components like cables, speakers, DVD, DVR, satellite box, TV, preamplifier/amplifier, satellite radio, AV receiver, preamp/processor etc. You need to identify the exact location or installation area for each of the theater components. You have to also take into consideration certain technicalities in custom theater installation like positioning of the speakers and amplifiers so that the overall sound is not distorted.
8. Ventilation: Last but not the least; you have to work out how the room is going to be ventilated. After all, you wouldn't want your guests gasping for air or feeling claustrophobic in your specially created home theater room.
Once you have identified all that is required for custom home-theater installation, it is time to look for a good installation company. You can contact CEDIA (Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association) or check their website to find information on some of the licensed installers in your area. CEDIA is basically a worldwide association for custom electronics and theater specialists.
Jesse
Home theater installation can be residential or commercial, single room or multiple room installation, and can even be custom installation. The toughest of all is definitely a custom theater installation because for that the installer needs to work out a complete plan for the process with you. First things first, custom installation of home theater is not a DIY job that can be completed in no time; you need to plan well in advance. There are certain factors that you need to take into consideration for a custom installation as they play a crucial role in the planning process.
Some of the factors to be considered for a custom home theater installation include:
1. Room Size: Yes! The size of the room definitely matters and more so if it is small.
2. Furniture and Seating: Next on line is the furniture and seating arrangement. You have to work out the seating arrangement relative to the home theater screen.
3. Acoustics: You need to find out from an expert about the acoustical properties of the room in question.
4. Lighting: You will need to identify the amount of lighting required and how this requirement can be fulfilled. Ambient lighting issues are one of the important factors that majorly affect video display when using a home theater. Hence, the issue of lighting should be taken seriously and solved prior to a custom theater installation.
5. TV or Screen: Once you have identified the room space, seating and lighting, you need to identify whether you need to install a large screen LCD TV, Plasma TV, HDTV, or just a simple projection system.
6. Speakers: Now you need to think about the sound. Since you are buying a home-theater system, it will comprise of surround sound speakers. You have to determine whether you want to keep standalone speakers or in-wall speakers in order to increase the effectiveness of the home theater system.
7. Components: A home theater system comes with a variety of components like cables, speakers, DVD, DVR, satellite box, TV, preamplifier/amplifier, satellite radio, AV receiver, preamp/processor etc. You need to identify the exact location or installation area for each of the theater components. You have to also take into consideration certain technicalities in custom theater installation like positioning of the speakers and amplifiers so that the overall sound is not distorted.
8. Ventilation: Last but not the least; you have to work out how the room is going to be ventilated. After all, you wouldn't want your guests gasping for air or feeling claustrophobic in your specially created home theater room.
Once you have identified all that is required for custom home-theater installation, it is time to look for a good installation company. You can contact CEDIA (Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association) or check their website to find information on some of the licensed installers in your area. CEDIA is basically a worldwide association for custom electronics and theater specialists.
Jesse
Accessorizing And Decorating Your Home Theater
Thursday, July 22nd, 2010 at 5:08 am
Lee Dobbins asked:
So, you've bought the big screen TV, the surround sound speakers and various home theater equipment and you have them installed and ready to go. But what's missing?
If you're installing a home theater, you need to think beyond the system components and consider the furniture and accessories you want to add to the room to create a really cool environment for your entertainment pleasure.
Just like decorating any other room, the accessories are what will make your home theater stand out from the crowd. Here's some things to think about when considering your home theater decor:
1. Think about what kind of look you want in your home theater. If the room is a dedicated home theater, you can pretty much pick whatever look you want. If you want to go with a movie theme, you can do that. If you want Old World elegant with a big screen and speakers thrown in, you can do that too. If the room is serving a double purpose, such as an office/home theater or living room/home theater, then you need to keep that in mind when decorating. Most people wouldn't want giant, framed movie posters for horror flicks within eyesight of their dining room. And if the room is also used for children's play, safety considerations might dictate decorating.
2. Choose your theme first - maybe you already have a collection of old movie posters and you want to work around that. Or perhaps, you always wanted an indoor garden of sorts. Either way, picking your theme should be the first thing you do before you rush out to the store to buy accessories. Knowing the theme in advance will help guide the rest of your decisions from colors and wall hangings to furniture and lighting.
3. Start a collection. A popular theme for decorating home theaters is to fill it with old movie memorabilia. This can be really fun to collect and it could even be considered an investment as the items you use may well go up in value. Some things you can collect for your home theater include: movie posters, autographed photos of movie stars, an old fashioned movie popcorn maker, movie props and other memorabilia from old movie ticket stubs to real movie theater seats. One thing to keep in mind when collecting anything is that condition is of the utmost importance so buy the best condition items you can afford. It is better to get 1 item in excellent condition, then to get 10 that are in fair condition.
4. Don't forget the rooms real purpose when selecting furniture and lighting. Make sure lighting enhances the movie experience. If the room is used for another purpose too, think about a combination of lights to make it work for both instances. Low lighting is ideal for movies, but it's not so hot for kids trying to do homework on a coffee table. You also want your furniture to be of the utmost in comfort. It wouldn't be much fun to watch a movie on your expensive new home theater system if you are not comfortable, would it? Luckily, with the selections today, you can get both comfort and style in your home theater furniture.
5. Make your home theater feng shui friendly. Keeping some basic principals of feng shui in mind when designing your room can help you attain a relaxing atmosphere. Don't put seating with the backs to the doors. Try to set the room up with a nice flow and workable space for walking. Don't try to cram things into the room that won't fit properly. Make sure to keep your home theater organized, a room that is filled with piles of junk and a mess will not create a relaxing atmosphere. Instead, it will serve to remind viewers who live in the home of any and all work and projects they need to do. Keep the room decorated and nice, but don't over pack it with junk. Make sure you hide the wires and have plenty of storage cabinets to put your DVD's in.
Wilma
So, you've bought the big screen TV, the surround sound speakers and various home theater equipment and you have them installed and ready to go. But what's missing?
If you're installing a home theater, you need to think beyond the system components and consider the furniture and accessories you want to add to the room to create a really cool environment for your entertainment pleasure.
Just like decorating any other room, the accessories are what will make your home theater stand out from the crowd. Here's some things to think about when considering your home theater decor:
1. Think about what kind of look you want in your home theater. If the room is a dedicated home theater, you can pretty much pick whatever look you want. If you want to go with a movie theme, you can do that. If you want Old World elegant with a big screen and speakers thrown in, you can do that too. If the room is serving a double purpose, such as an office/home theater or living room/home theater, then you need to keep that in mind when decorating. Most people wouldn't want giant, framed movie posters for horror flicks within eyesight of their dining room. And if the room is also used for children's play, safety considerations might dictate decorating.
2. Choose your theme first - maybe you already have a collection of old movie posters and you want to work around that. Or perhaps, you always wanted an indoor garden of sorts. Either way, picking your theme should be the first thing you do before you rush out to the store to buy accessories. Knowing the theme in advance will help guide the rest of your decisions from colors and wall hangings to furniture and lighting.
3. Start a collection. A popular theme for decorating home theaters is to fill it with old movie memorabilia. This can be really fun to collect and it could even be considered an investment as the items you use may well go up in value. Some things you can collect for your home theater include: movie posters, autographed photos of movie stars, an old fashioned movie popcorn maker, movie props and other memorabilia from old movie ticket stubs to real movie theater seats. One thing to keep in mind when collecting anything is that condition is of the utmost importance so buy the best condition items you can afford. It is better to get 1 item in excellent condition, then to get 10 that are in fair condition.
4. Don't forget the rooms real purpose when selecting furniture and lighting. Make sure lighting enhances the movie experience. If the room is used for another purpose too, think about a combination of lights to make it work for both instances. Low lighting is ideal for movies, but it's not so hot for kids trying to do homework on a coffee table. You also want your furniture to be of the utmost in comfort. It wouldn't be much fun to watch a movie on your expensive new home theater system if you are not comfortable, would it? Luckily, with the selections today, you can get both comfort and style in your home theater furniture.
5. Make your home theater feng shui friendly. Keeping some basic principals of feng shui in mind when designing your room can help you attain a relaxing atmosphere. Don't put seating with the backs to the doors. Try to set the room up with a nice flow and workable space for walking. Don't try to cram things into the room that won't fit properly. Make sure to keep your home theater organized, a room that is filled with piles of junk and a mess will not create a relaxing atmosphere. Instead, it will serve to remind viewers who live in the home of any and all work and projects they need to do. Keep the room decorated and nice, but don't over pack it with junk. Make sure you hide the wires and have plenty of storage cabinets to put your DVD's in.
Wilma