Home Theater 101

Basic answers to basic questions - about TVs, speakers and everything A/V.


Do you have a general question about home theater that you’ve been too embarrassed to ask? No problem; we’ve all been there. The following is a list of FAQs about home theater basics. Scan through them, and stop on the one(s) you’re wondering about. And the best part: No one’s looking. No one’s judging you. If someone peeks over your shoulder, you can casually click to another page. And remember: Technical people don’t know everything either.



What is home theater?
Home theater can be a lot of different things. But we generally regard it to be an audio/video system with a 32-inch display screen or larger and a surround-sound system.

What’s a surround-sound system?
A surround-sound system is an audio setup designed to envelop you in sounds from movies, TV shows, even music. A typical surround-sound system has five main speakers, or channels, plus a subwoofer. The five main speakers consist of the three front ones placed near the screen and facing the audience—these are called the front left, center and right channels—plus two surround speakers positioned along the sides or in the back (to the sides is recommended). A subwoofer plays only low bass for thundering booms, explosions and deep tones in music.

If you’re just starting out, you can find more useful info at [Link: electronichouse.com]

I think the term "Home Theater" is used too loosely. I wish it would be replaced with "Media Room". I think it does require a projection system and good surround system to be classified as a home theater. I've never seen anyone in our store move to what is happening on a flat panel or RPTV, but sit them down in the theater room and they actually get involved with the movie. That is what home theater is all about.

In my opinion, a "home theater" must:

-Be it's own dedicated room. This is the biggest thing. If it's just a living room then it's a "media room".

-Have a good quality, widescreen, HD display of over 50". Most likely in a dedicated room a front projector will be used, however I think plasmas (I guess LCD's too) of a larger size can be used in smaller rooms.

-If a front projector is used, a good quality screen must be present. Not screen goo or any of that junk.

-Have a good quality DVD player for watching standard definition movies.

-Have an HD broadcast source such as cable, satellite, or OTA.

-Have some sort of lighting control.

-Be fully automated and have some sort of automation/integration system.

-Have a dedicated home theater receiver of good quality.

-In most cases, have amplifiers (not the receiver) powering the speakers.

-Feature at least 5 speakers of good quality. They must all have at least one 4" driver or larger, and a tweeter. They all must be matched and generally should not be paper.

-Have at least one powered subwoofer designed to match the speakers.

I agree, that definitely is not an HT for me.


Definition of an HT

Screen must be big enough (let's say closest seat must be <=2x screen width - to be extremely inclusive)

there must be a proper surround setup (min 5.1, properly calibrated and set up, just buying a 5.1 system and placing all 5 speakers on the TV does not count)

All seating in the room must face the screen (i.e. this removes most living rooms that would look like this) i.e.

all seating must be in rows (rows don't need to be straight, they can be curved)

each consecutive row must be higher then the previous one.

All things in the room (lighting....) must be designed around the concept of the best movie watching experience.

OTAHD: I don’t like the term dedicated because in the end I don’t think what else they use it for is important. If they use the proscenium (stage) for their kids performances, does it matter? If they use the speakers to listen to music as concert hall, does it matter? If they have a sofa bed or a Murphy bed and use it as a spare bedroom when not watching a movie or if they have a small desk in the back and use it as an office some times, does it matter?

OK...I do agree with your definition more, Anthony.

If all seats face the front, that's good. Theater seating is nice, but if you like couches better, so be it.

Certainly it can be used for those other purposes. A spare bedroom is actually not a bad way to use the space.

However, I don't agree with people who call their living rooms with an LCD over the fireplace a home theater. If it's a living room, then it's a living room, not a home theater.

agree


agree, if it does not have the look and feal of a theatre then it is not an HT


they were just some examples to explain why I like the term design over dedicated.

As for the bedroom (obviously a spare) I had a friend that had a large room in the basement (can't remember exactly but something like 12x30 give or take a few feet in each direction) of the new house they bought. He was going to divide it and make a small guest bedroom and play room. Eventually I helped them change their mind, they could not be happier. What they did is end up with a room that is a bit narrower closer to the screen and about two/three feet before the first row. On the left side (looking at the screen) there is a Murphy bed that can be pulled down. On the right side the bottom cupboards are for toys, then above there is some drawers and an armoir for the guests clothes and some place for their disks. There is a lot of room between the first row and the screen/proscenium that can be used

Well, I'd definitely be sleeping in that room!

Not often one gets to fall asleep right in front of a 110" screen!

cool, my Den is now my Home Theatre room!

actually, IMO, a home theatre should have a front projector that completely overwelms your viewing area. i dont think the average person would have any desire to watch TV or play video games (not for long anyway) on such a screen. also the average HT seems to be in the basement for easy lighting adjustment purposes, and again i dont think the average person wants to spend hours in a dark enviroment with little natural light.

Why not just a room in where it's intended purpose is to watch some form of display, and utilizes an adequate sound system to simulate a theater surround effect?

Who cares what the source is, and why does it matter what quality of equipment is being used? Sure you can dress it all up with automated lighting but that certainly can't be a requirement.

For all the possible set ups and available equipment, you could spend the rest of the year coming up with different versions what a HT is supposed to be and/or have, and each would be just as correct as the first few hundred.

I think this subject is too easily converted into what you believe a home theater should have and not necessarily what it should be by definition. With that being said...lol, I would never consider a room with any natural light source a HT.

I am not sure that I would even begin to categorize a "home theater". I believe that any room which has a decent-sized TV or projector should automatically be a home theater, for purposes of definition.

It does not have to be a room dedicated and should not have to meet any specific requirements, size, useage, etc.

Anyone can can have a home theater, provided they have the basic components. That is all in my mind.

Anything larger or more complex is still a Home Theater just more complex or with more equipment.

Dave

Depends. In a small room, a larger plasma often will be adequate.

I don't use a HT for casual TV watching...but for those shows that you really like, even if you DVR them, it's nice to watch them there.

And hockey games.

all good points. but i really think a HT has to be somewhat like a real movie theatre...

-overwhelming screen that takes up your peripheral vision

-surround sound (properly set up, of course)

-no natural light

-sometimes i'll even get one of my kids to sit behind my lazy boy to talk on his cel phone and kick the back of my seat... oh wait thats why i NEVER go to the real theatre!!! haha

so honestly i dont think my den, albeit a big screen in a small room, classifies as a HT as the screen is not overwhelming enough.

Ok i will ad my $.02 cents.

A home theater in my eyes is as followed.

A display apropriate for the size room it is in.( not a 32" crt or lcd) greater than 50"
A surround processor minimum 5.1 but prefer 6.1 or 7.1
At least 150 watts a channel
At least 1 sub
Some kind of sound proofing/accoutic treatment
Ambiate lighting control
Internal lighting control of lights automated or manual.
Comfy couch or theater seats.
The rooms sole function is to watch some kind of programming or dvd or gaming .

Any thing else would be a media room or family room. It is a dual purpose room.

Anything from CC or BB or any other big box store does not constitute a home theater. Period, end of story.

If it says Sony or Bose it is in now way shape or form a theater. (G90 projo and other high quality projo's excluded)