Building A Home Theater

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Not really home recording related, but what audiophile would like a great sounding home theater? Learn the basics of doing just that right here.

I have almost completed my fifth "listening room", which happens to be a home theater. I have setup two of these right now and have learned a few things in doing so that I would like to share with the reading audience. A home theater sound system adds so much to the pleasure of watching movies at home, as well as basic television since many shows are broadcast in Dolby Surround now, that anyone who rents a couple movies a month or more should strongly consider setting one up. The money spent to do it does not have to be great, nor does the technical prowess of the consumer. As a matter of fact, you might well have some of the equipment already.

Good Books on the subject...
Home Theater for Everyone
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Home Theater Systems
Home Theater in a Weekend

Necessary Equipment:

Most stereo receivers today come with a Digital Signal Processor (DSP) called Dolby Pro-Logic Surround or Dolby Digital Surround. These two DSP's are what turns properly encoded sound-tracks into surround sound, meaning, it sends the assigned signals to the center, left, right or rear speakers in a sound system. In the case of Dolby Digital, the left and right rear speakers are separated as well, and usually, with Dolby Digital, a sub-woofer out is built into the receiver as well, so the sound is much more full and powerful. If you don't already have this type of receiver, they can be bought from any electronics store from about $300 up to as much as you wish to spend.

These receivers generally come with five or six speakers as well, two main speakers for the left and right front, a short and wide speaker for the center channel, two matching smaller speakers for the rear, and, if applicable, a sub-woofer as well. The included rear speakers are usually cheaply made and easily upgraded, so for great surround effects such as explosions in action movies, these speakers may well be the first upgrade you make. Also, you need a playback device for you movies, commonly a VCR is used, or, now making it's way into the mainstream, DVD is also available. If you have, or, plan to buy a VCR, the only feature you NEED to have is HiFi stereo output, which most new VCR's are, but there are many mono VCR selling for very attractive prices, so beware, make sure you buy HiFi stereo. As far as DVD goes, they are getting cheaper everyday, and produce great sound and picture, the only drawback is that not all movies are available on DVD as of yet. If you plan to have a Dolby Digital system, go with the DVD, most recievers will broadcast any source coming from an analog input (such as a VCR) in Pro-Logic format, regardless of the encoding of the sound on the tape.

One of things to pay special attention to when buying your gear, or, evaluating the gear you have is the types of ins and outs. New stereo amplifiers, TV's, VCR's and DVD's have a vast array of possiblities. The key is to make sure your have at least one in common on all components. For video, there is the typical coaxial jack like most any TV has, plus there is also S-Video (which looks kinda like a PC mouse plug) that gives a bit better picture than coaxial, and there is also composite which consists of multiple cables and by reputation gives the best picture, but I don't know personally.

For the sound there is always the typical RCA jacks like all stereos have. This type will play Dolby ProLogic at best. In order to play Dolby Digital your need to use an optical interface that most new equipment has. This actually transmits the signal on a fiber optic cable and produces awesome sound.

Speaker Placement:

For the most part, speaker placement is quite logical, the center channel should go right over the TV, this channel produces all the front and center sound such as actors dialog and the like. The left and right speakers are set up in front to the left and right of the TV, these speakers play the sound-track music and some stereo effects that add to the spaceousness of the movie, such as off-screen sounds and dialog. The rear speaker go...guess where...behind you. They provide a depth to the sound during "fly-bys" like a plane in "Top Gun" that soars from behind you into your field of vision. These speakers add a tremendous power and fullness to the movie and give an emmersion into the environment that really...well, cool, for lack of a better word:-)

All of these speakers should directly, or, near directly, aim at what we in the recording studio business, refer to as the "Sweet Spot". This is the optimal listen position in the room, the rear speaker should be equa-distant from the listeners ears, as well as the front stereo speakers, and the center channel and the TV should be directly in front.

Adjusting the volume of each speaker is tedious if done right. Take a seat in your listening chair, grab the remote control, and carefully listen to each speaker and pan and equalize the sound so you can hear each speaker equally. This will provide you with the best sound you can get.

If you are using a subwoofer, it is best to have all the other speakers be the same make and model to generate the same sound all around you. If you are not using a sub, you should put bigger speakers on the front left and right channels to handle the very low frequencies. SO consider this when buying speakers.

The Room Itself:

Don't leave your theater baren except for the TV and sound system, keep your bookshelf full of books and the pictures on the wall. These provide sound deflection that will keep sound haves from bouncing over and into each other, causing what is called "phase cancelation", which has a horrible effect on sound from even the best speakers. This occures when sound is bounced straight back and forth on parallel walls. And this adds another good reason to angle your speaker toward a central listening location, they are then aimed more toward the opposite corner of the room, rather than right against the back wall.

If you are as lucky as myself with this last project, you can build your own room. I have just finished a basement room to be a theater, therefore, I had the advantage of being able to mount the speakers in the wall itself.

For the rear channel speakers, I made the top twelve inches or so of my back wall at a 45 degree angle and mounted the speakers in it equal distances in from the side walls, and the left and right front speakers I ran wires in the wall to either side of the room to a wall jack (push-pin style) and mounted my satelite speakers there, the center speaker is right above the TV and two ten-inch sub-woofers are mounted under the TV.

I have read people that recommend many different places as the best place for a sub. Some say behind the couch (then you feel the sound too) I have done that and it is cool, but not that much cooler to warrant me recommending it. Also, it can be advisable to have a couple subs at different places in the room. This will give a more even bass response. You will still hear great bass, but your neighbors won't hate you so much:-).

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