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A Beginner's Q&A on Home Theaters: What You Need to Know

Find Out More About the Basics and Best Aspects of Home Theater Systems

Do you know much about home theater design and technology?

If your answer is “not a lot,” that’s OK.

You probably clicked on this blog because you want to learn more about them. Below, we answer some of the most common home theater questions that we encounter.

Home theater systems can be a stunning addition to any property. When they’re installed properly, the result is a room in which you can simulate – if not exceed – a commercial cinema experience.

Although the following four questions are ones we commonly face at Sound and Theater, we realize you might have more to ask. We encourage you to reach out to us if that’s the case.

Here are some of the basics of home theaters that you’ll want to know about: 

What Goes Into a Great Home Theater System?

The best home theaters are ones in which every piece of technology works cohesively and in agreement with the design of the room.

What does that mean, exactly?

It means your speakers calibrate with one another and with your audio/video receiver. It means you select a screen size that fits the dimensions of your room. It means you choose a seating option that gives everyone a great view of the screen, no matter where they’re watching from.

If your home theater design makes sense and your devices work in unison, you will have a positive viewing and listening experience.

What Are The Best Home Theater Technologies?

Some of the best home cinema devices on today’s market easily can compete with the best commercial theater options available.

You can use a 4K Ultra HD projector, for example, which will show content in a resolution that has four times as many pixels as a typical 1080p HD image. Most commercial cinemas use projectors that aren’t even 4K quality.

For a truly immersive listening experience, we recommend a Dolby Atmos speaker arrangement – with ones in front of you, to the sides of you, behind you and overhead.

What separates Dolby Atmos from any typical arrangement, though, is how each speaker can play dedicated audio. Once you listen to Dolby Atmos sound, you instantly will notice the improved audio quality.

If you want the ultimate home theater experience, though, we can merge every piece of technology in your cinema – from your projector to your Blu-Ray player to even the lights – and integrate them onto a control system.

You can manage your entire theater from the convenience of a touchscreen or a smartphone application.

SEE ALSO: Choosing The Right Speakers For Your Whole Home Audio System

What Are Some Common Home Theater Mistakes?

One issue we often encounter is that people don’t factor the size of their theater into their design decisions.

We find that people might be enamored with a large projection screen only to realize later that they have to crane their necks to follow the action.

Some other issues we often encounter: Speakers aren’t attuned to where your seating is, meaning the sound you experience is uneven; and glare isn’t accounted for in your screen selection, whether it’s from outdoor light or ceiling reflection.

There are plenty more problems we commonly see in home theaters. But those are just a few.

Why Should You Have a Professional Installation?

We understand why you might want to install a home theater as a DIY project. It’s an appealing thought.

But if you want to get the most out of your home theater from the moment you first step into the finished room, it’s best you work with a professional.

We at Sound and Theater are proud home theater system installation experts serving the Clarence, New York area and beyond.

We can ensure every device in your home theater not only is wired and installed correctly but also works cohesively with one another.

If you want an easy-to-maneuver control system, we can provide an integrated solution for you.

Best of all, if anything ever goes wrong, we can provide ongoing technology maintenance and support for your theater.

We realize this blog is just a starting point. If you want to learn more about home theater systems, we are excited to answer any questions you might have.

All you need to do is call us at (716) 632-2790, click on the “Let’s talk!” button at the bottom-right corner of your screen or fill out a short form on the page linked below. We look forward to assisting you!

Explore your home theater options here

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