movie theater

If you have been looking for a great way to spend some family time together but not sure how, you may want to consider turning your den into a home theater room with all the added features of a movie theater and a place to hang out. If you didn’t have much to talk about before you will now.

To get the best sound from a home theater depends on the quality of the equipment and the size of the room. You may have to do some measuring to decide what home theater system will be right for your home. You don’t need to use your home theater all the time but it is great to have when you are watching a movie or your favorite television show. It allows you to hear every detailed noise in that movie and enhances the sound quality to the way that the producers wanted the viewers to hear it. The sound is crystal clear and your family will spend more time together enjoying the home theater sound.

As your family grows, they become less talkative and try to be on their own instead of with a family. The one thing that families have in common is their love for movies. They may have a variety of likes and dislikes but in the end a movie is a movie as long as you can watch it with those you love. In order to do that you will need to set the atmosphere and then be prepared for the instant family bonding that may occur. You may even end up with some extra guests at your home during family movie night.

The first thing to consider when building a home theater is the television. You may have a big screen television or a thirteen inch screen, but either way you can make this work for your home theater. What makes a theater is the theater sound anyway. You will need to invest in a home theater surround sound system that will improve the sound of the movie. Generally these sound systems range in price of $50.00 to $900.00 so it just depends on your budget. Let’s say you put in the $50.00 one. If you have never had a home theater surround sound in your home before your family is going to think you have paid a lot of money for that system. It will give you the sound that you are wanting. Usually home theater surround systems come with about six different size speakers. You can place these speakers at every chair or on the table between two chairs. You will have the surround sound all over the room. Next is the lighting. You can add the touch lights on the floor in the design of a path that will lead your family members into their seats. The main light will be off when the movie starts but the touch lights will help them find their way in and out of the room. You will need to find a great movie that will combine everyone’s interest in one. This may take a little time but you can find a movie that everyone can agree on.

Last but not least you will need movie time snacks and drinks. You can make them yourself or buy them. What ever you choose your family will love the idea of a movie night on the new home theater. You can personalize movie night anyway you want to and the great thing about this night is that everyone is spending time together.

In the past, one of the major reasons to go to the local movie theater was the theater’s sound system and its ability to immerse you in the action through sound. As home theater technology has progressed, many home owners find that they can match or exceed the local movie theater’s sound through their own home theater system.

Although you can certainly have a more advanced speaker setup, a typical home theater will have a 5.1 speaker setup which includes a left and right front main speaker, a center channel speaker and two surround speakers, plus a dedicated subwoofer channel (the .1).

The following simple speaker placement tips will help you experience the magic of the theater in the comfort of your own home.

1. Make sure the center channel is “anchored” to the screen. The role of the center channel is to communicate the dialog of the movie. If the person’s mouth is moving on the screen, but the sound is coming from off to the side the dialog will seem unnatural. A center channel speaker will be shielded so that you can place it near or directly on top of your tv.

2. Your front main speakers should have their tweeters located at ear level when sitting in the optimum listening position. It is important to invest in a quality pair of speaker stands so that you can make sure your speakers can be placed at the proper listening height.

3. The front main speakers and center channel should all be placed at an equal distance from the main listening position pointed towards the listener. The speakers will have a slight natural arc when placed in this fashion. They generally should be placed between 22 – 30 degrees from the main listening position.

4. Surround sound speakers should be placed directly to the left and right or slightly behind the main listening position and should be located about two feet above ear level. In a 6.1 system a third surround speaker is added behind the listener, but it is important to note that it is best for that speaker not to be in line with the center channel. A 7.1 system adds a rear left and a rear right full range surround channel that should be placed behind the listening position.

5. From my experience, the addition of a quality subwoofer to your setup will do wonders for your movie watching experience. Since deep bass is non directional, you have more options with where to place your subwoofer. Many people will place it in the front corner, but some prefer it in the back or hidden along the side. It is important to note that generally bass will be enhanced by being placed next to the wall and especially if placed in the corner.

These are some simple tips to get you started. Every speaker and room have their own unique qualities so use this information as a guide, but experiment further with speaker placement in your own home. Even moving a speaker a few inches can make a dramatic impact on the quality of the sound.

Although the new flat screen tvs are what are catching people’s attention, a quality sound system with properly placed speakers are what helps transform regular television viewing into a true cinematic experience.