Learn about home theater setups, including room considerations, choosing between TV & projector, integration with smart home devices & maintenance tips.
With four in 10 US homes boasting a home theater, immersive viewing has never been more popular. This growing home entertainment trend features large screens with high resolution displays and surround sound. How you set up your home theatre comes down to personal preferences, from mobile speakers and projector screens to hidden audio solutions.
Here you’ll find all the answers to your home theater questions, from costs to setup and installation.
A strong home theater setup relies on innovative technology and an appropriate space. The technology required to play your media is known as ‘source components’. These include streaming boxes, cable or satellite, smart TVs, disc players and turntables.
For the display, you’ll choose either a projector or a fixed screen, using high-definition OLED or LCD resolutions. Speaker setups can range from soundbars to surround sound systems or hidden in-ceiling or wall speakers. All of this is linked with an AV receiver, which helps to play sound and images from various sources.
Once a CEDIA integrator has recommended all the appropriate tech, you can think about other room considerations such as seating.
Home theaters work by connecting audio and visual components, such as a wall screen or rear projector, amplifiers, subwoofers, and multiple speakers. All of these are controlled by an AV receiver, which decodes audio formats and distributes signals. The result is immersive surrond sound that mimics a commercial cinema experience.
Yes, home theater systems can integrate seamlessly with smart home devices. Professional integrators can connect your cinema to smart lighting, motorized curtains, climate control, and voice assistants. This allows you to create custom scenes - like 'Movie Time' - that automatically dims lights, closes curtains, and sets the perfect temperature with a single command.
There are several room considerations for a home theater, starting with the room size and layout. This will affect the screen size you need as well as the speaker placement. For example, smaller spaces may be better suited to projector screens rather than fixed wall screens.
You’ll need to think about lighting controls and how they’re impacted by windows and natural light. There’s also the proximity to other rooms in the house, for example:
Part of this comes down to whether yours is a home theater/media room or a fully designated cinema space.
The choice between TV and projector depends on your room and preferences. TVs offer bright, sharp images ideal for well-lit rooms and are easier to set up. Projectors provide larger screen sizes for a true theater feel, work best in dark rooms, and require more installation planning. Consider your room size, ambient light, and desired screen size when making your decision.
The best seating balances comfort with optimal viewing angles. Options include dedicated theater recliners with built-in cup holders and storage, modular sectional sofas for flexibility, tiered seating for multiple rows, and ergonomic chairs for proper neck and back support. Position seating at the right distance from the screen - typically 1.5 to 2.5 times the screen diagonal for the best viewing experience.
A soundbar is a single speaker unit that sits below your TV, offering improved audio over TV speakers in a compact form. A surround sound system uses multiple speakers placed around the room (typically 5.1 or 7.1 configurations) to create immersive, directional audio. Surround systems provide true theater-quality sound but require more space and installation, while soundbars offer convenience and easier setup.
Improve acoustics through strategic placement and treatment. Add acoustic panels to walls and ceilings to absorb sound reflections, use thick curtains or acoustic curtains on windows, install carpet or rugs to reduce floor reflections, and position bass traps in corners to control low-frequency resonance. Professional acoustic analysis can optimise speaker placement and room treatment for the best sound quality.
Home theater costs vary widely based on room size, equipment quality, and complexity. A basic setup with a quality TV, soundbar, and streaming device might start around $1,000-$7,000. Mid-range systems with projectors and 5.1 surround sound typically run $13,000-$32,000. High-end custom installations with premium equipment, acoustic treatments, and professional calibration can exceed $65,000 or more.
Regular maintenance keeps your system performing optimally. Clean screens and projector lenses gently with appropriate cleaning solutions, dust speakers and components regularly, ensure proper ventilation to prevent overheating, update firmware for smart components, check and tighten cable connections periodically, and have professional calibration done annually for the best picture and sound quality.
While basic setups can be DIY, professional installation is highly recommended for optimal results. CEDIA-certified integrators bring expertise in room acoustics, equipment selection, proper calibration, cable management, and smart home integration. They ensure your investment delivers the best possible performance and can troubleshoot issues that might not be apparent to inexperienced installers.
