Choosing Home Theater Systems: Top Tips and Tricks
Does the idea of a cozy home theater sound like you’re perfect in-home “get-away-from-it-all?” You’re far from alone. Countless people are creating home theaters or upgrading their living rooms to enhance their home viewing experience.
But how can you go about choosing home theater systems? Not everyone feels knowledgeable enough to make choices about technology.
How can you ensure the setup you choose will offer the best experience based on your budget and preferences? Continue reading to learn the tops tips and tricks to choosing a theater system for your home.
Decide Between a TV or a Projector
Home theater systems will either use a television or a projector paired with a screen. Each option has a distinct set of benefits and downsides to consider.
A TV will offer more streaming capabilities and is compatible with more external devices (like phones, iPads, or gaming consoles). However, a TV will take up consistent space and may be limited in size options. The largest television sets cost a small fortune, which may or may not be worth it on an individual level.
A projector and screen combination can be hidden when not in use. Screens are also available in larger sizes for lower cost points. The downside is that projectors are limited in what they can do and what they’re able to connect to.
Choosing a TV? Be Smart
If you decide to choose a television for your home theater, be sure to choose a Smart TV. These provide many benefits over traditional televisions and are well worth the slight price increase. Although they used to be a significantly more expensive option, Smart TVs fit almost any budget today.
A Smart TV will be able to connect to everything you need it to with ease. This includes phones, tablets, speakers, gaming consoles, computers, and much more. These televisions also offer the most built-in streaming options for the widest variety of movies and television shows.
Always Go With a Wall Mount When Possible
Use a wall mount your television whenever possible. You can even use wall mounts for speaker systems or as docks for tablets and phones. But why go the extra mile and choose a wall mount?
The primary reason for wall mounts is to save space. A TV wall mount paired with a simple wall-mounted shelf can eradicate the need for a traditional TV stand in most circumstances. Even when it doesn’t, it can reduce the size of TV stand needed.
TV wall mounts can also allow for a better viewing position. The best viewing position is at or slightly above eye level when standing. This ensures everyone in the room can watch without their view being blocked.
Wall mounting your stereos keeps them off the ground, where they’re more prone to damage. It can also offer a better “surround sound” experience.
Consider Room Size When Choosing Speakers
Many people are tempted to choose the biggest speakers in their price range and call it a day. But a lot of thought needs to go into speakers before making a purchase. Primarily, you’ll want to consider the room size of your home theater or living space.
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A small to the medium-sized room will do fine with smaller speakers, while large and extra-large rooms need significantly bigger speakers. A great way to think about it is a small room needs small speakers, a medium room needs medium speakers, and so on.
But what if you like a louder volume or are hard of hearing? In these scenarios, you could upgrade one size. For example, a small room would use medium-sized speakers, while a medium room would use large speakers.
Think About Speaker Aesthetics
You know what size speakers you need, but how can you narrow down the countless choices further? Besides looking for a quality brand, you’ll want to think about speaker aesthetics. Speakers come in a vast array of shapes and colors, with different viewing extras.
To narrow down your choices, ask yourself these questions about speaker aesthetics:
- Do I want my speakers to be bold and stand out?
- Do I need my speakers to be discreet and blend into my room’s theme?
- Do I want plain speakers or those with neon lighting?
Answering these questions should reasonably narrow down your speaker options. You may also want to consider the number of speakers you plan on installing and see if there are kits or bundles with more than one included.
Ensure You’re Comfortable With Setting It up
Whether you’re technologically impaired or an installation genius, consider what home theater systems you’re comfortable setting up. While many places offer professional installation, this can be costly. Being comfortable with the installation process also ensures you can change or move all of the items later if needed.
Some products will include how difficult they are to set up in the product description. If not, a quick search online should help you figure out how hard installation was for others.
More Questions About Choosing Home Theater Systems?
The top tips and tricks above can help you choose the right home theater system for your unique situation. Remember, all elements of your system can be upgraded or replaced later if you ensure you’re comfortable working on the setup.
Do you have more questions about choosing home theater systems?
Check out our other blogs. You’ll find articles on entertainment, home improvement, and other related topics to help you learn more on the subject.