6 Common Home Theater System Mistakes to Avoid

Choosing the Wrong Screen Size

Your television—or your projection screen—will likely be the star of the show in your new home theater. While you may want to go big and get an extremely large screen, it may not provide the optimal viewing experience for you and your family. Think about the scale of the room and avoid selecting too large of a screen if you’ll be sitting very close to it—you could experience vertigo during fast-paced scenes. 

On the other hand, don’t choose a screen that isn’t large enough for the room. If you go too small, you won’t get that immersive entertainment experience you’re craving. Remember, the right home theater screen should make you feel like you’re right in the action of the movie, without feeling overwhelming or causing dizziness.

Using Reflective Paint or Finishes

You want your home theater to be dark so you can enjoy action-packed entertainment in the perfect environment. According to The Spruce, it’s important to limit any reflective objects in your theater room. Choose dark colors for the walls of your space, since light walls reflect light from your projector or TV, washing out the picture. In addition to choosing a dark paint color, choose a finish that won’t reflect light—matte or flat paint finishes work best.

You should also avoid any potential reflections that could be caused by the finishes and cabinets around your screen. For example, don’t place your TV on a reflective surface—you’ll easily get distracted by the images that are reflected on the surface.

Neglecting Sightline Issues

Sightline issues can seriously interfere with your enjoyment of your favorite movies or shows. Not only do you want everyone in your home theater to be able to see the entire screen with no obstructions, but you also don’t want to be craning your neck to watch a screen that’s too high. As you design your dedicated home theater room, consider adding a riser or two so that the rear row of seats has a great view.

Ignoring Acoustics

As most homeowners design their home theater, they think that investing in an expensive, powerful soundbar and speakers is the best way to enjoy high-quality sound. In reality, they need to pay just as much attention to the acoustics of their space. Rooms with hard, reflective surfaces provide poor acoustics, leading to dialog that’s muffled and unclear. 

This is one area where it pays to work with professional home theater designers as you design your entertainment space. Your room has a huge impact on your sound, and they’ll create an appropriate acoustic plan for your room and install a sound system that delivers crystal-clear audio. Now, you’ll enjoy theater-quality sound from the comfort of your own home.

Failing to Address AC Power Concerns

When it comes to AC power, you need to set the right balance to make the most of your home theater experience. If you’re underpowered and use a breaker that serves other areas of your home, you could blow a breaker when the volume gets loud, and your speakers are working hard. You could also experience grounding problems that occur when one component—like the sound system—of your home theater relies on a different breaker from the rest. In this case, it could lead to bad audio feedback, like humming. 

Again, this is where working with professional home theater designers can help. They understand the electrical concerns that should be addressed to create the best entertainment experience possible for your investment.

Failing to Protect the Equipment

The average homeowner understands that important electronics should be plugged into a surge protector—but there are several wires involved in home theater systems, and any of them can carry a surge to your equipment.

You need to ensure that all potential means of surges are protected. Invest in cable protection for all your cables. Also, make sure your equipment gets the chance to cool down when it’s not in use. Let them run through their cooldown cycle, and make sure you invest in a battery backup that protects them during the cycle.

Conclusion

Installing a home theater system is a fantastic way to bring the excitement of the movies into your own living space. With high-quality sound and crystal-clear visuals, you'll be fully immersed in the films and shows you love. Not to mention, you'll be able to enjoy it all from the comfort of your own home, surrounded by your family and friends. So, whether you're hosting a movie marathon or just looking to enjoy a night in, follow the tips detailed above to design a home theater system that elevates your entertainment experience.

Source

• https://www.thespruce.com/building-the-perfect-home-theater-room-1821298