There’s No Single Way to Build a Custom Home Theater
Make It Your Own with These Home Theater Ideas
When we say the phrase ‘home theater,’ many people think of an over-the-top luxurious room separated from the rest of the house. And that’s certainly one way to approach the home cinema. Others may think of their DIY home theater setup in the living room, with a large flatscreen and floor-standing speakers surrounding the listener.
There’s no single, correct way to approach the home theater. Some home cinemas are used for one purpose only: to watch films in an immersive atmosphere. Others are more versatile, leaving space to play games, entertain, and use the room for other activities.
In this blog, we’ll talk about the basics of home cinemas and different approaches you can take to build yours. So, when you’re ready to kick back and relax in your Quad Cities home, you’ll have a custom home theater that perfectly suits your needs.
SEE ALSO: How Every Member of Your Family Will Use Multi-Room Audio
What Makes a Home Theater?
How do we distinguish a home theater from a regular home entertainment system?
‘Home theater’ is a vague term, but we define it as recreating the movie theater experience with immersive visuals and audio.
One of the most significant differences between a theater and living room setup is the sound experience. A home theater should include immersive high-fidelity audio. The second difference is a large screen that takes up most of your field of view, allowing you to get lost in a movie.
Getting Started: The Basics
First, you’ll need that immersive visual display. Projectors used to be your only option for size, but Sony now offers a 100-inch 4K TV that impresses in both stunning quality and width. MicroLED panels can also be mounted together to create a TV screen of any size you’d like. And today’s projectors are better than ever, shining in ultra-clear 4K. Laser projectors produce the brightest image possible, and in smaller rooms, opt for a short-throw projector that sits below the screen and against the wall.
For audio, surround sound is a must. You may be tempted to purchase a soundbar that promises ‘3D’ sound, but the truth is, you can only experience surround sound with a series of speakers and a subwoofer. To start, you’ll need a center channel speaker, left and right speakers, and a subwoofer for low-end frequencies.
Dedicated Theater vs. Multipurpose Media Room
The furniture and technology you choose will largely depend on how you’d like to use the space. Would you rather create a versatile media room for gaming and entertaining? Perhaps you’d do best with a short-throw projector, a large TV screen, or a projector screen that retracts when not in use. Maybe you’d like in-wall speakers to make room for other activities.
Or do you prefer a more classic approach with a traditional movie theater setup? Imagine a projector screen that lowers in one press of a button and rows of seats in any style you’d like, whether that’s an Old Hollywood or modern aesthetic.
How to Beautifully Deliver a Theater
If you’d like your home theater to work flawlessly with a clean, finished interior, we recommend partnering with a home theater company. Yes, we exist! We’ll source the equipment for you, install it, and program it all into one easy-to-use system.
Reference Audio Video & Security is your local theater expert for custom home theaters in the Quad Cities area. Contact us here to get started on your private cinema today!
