Home Theater Design: Look Out for These 5 Mistakes!

Get the Best Audio & Video Experience by Avoiding These Blunders 

In our humble opinion, there’s never been a better time to install a private home cinema. More movies and shows are being produced in 4K and Dolby Atmos format, and new movies like Oppenheimer are ready to stream soon after their release dates. 

But building a home theater requires much more than plugging in speakers and mounting a large TV. Home theater design is both a science and an art that requires careful attention to detail. 

At Comware AV, we provide home theater design services to homeowners in Southlake, TX, and surrounding areas. We’ve helped many homeowners fix their DIY mistakes and have seen our fair share of outdated, underwhelming entertainment systems. 

If you’re planning to install a home theater soon, watch out for these common mistakes. 

SEE ALSO: Home Automation: Why Everything Should Be on One System 

Mistake 1: Skipping or Skimping on Surround Sound 

You know that feeling when you leave the movie theater, and it feels like you’ve woken up from a dream? To create that sensation in your home theater, you’ll need an immersive audio system. 

There are soundbars and TVs on the market that advertise ‘3D surround sound,’ but there’s no shortcut to real surround sound. You’ll need a series of speakers and a subwoofer to experience all-encompassing audio like you hear in professional theaters. 

 

Mistake 2: Not Treating the Room for Acoustics & Soundproofing

Just because you’re in the mood to watch Lord of the Rings in the home theater, that doesn’t mean the rest of your family wants to, too. And if there’s a lot of commotion happening upstairs, you don’t want it to distract from movie time, either. 

Thankfully, soundproofing treatments on doors and walls ensure everyone enjoys the home cinema in peace. Even if your kids are sleeping, you can watch late-night movies without waking the entire house. 

And to get the best sound quality out of your surround sound speakers, be sure to treat the room for acoustics. Acoustic panels on walls and ceilings will absorb excessive sound waves, so you’ll minimize sound reflections that can tarnish sound quality. 

 

Mistake 3: Putting Speakers Inside Cabinets 

If you dislike the appearance of bulky speaker systems, don’t be tempted to hide them inside cabinets, bookshelves, or furniture. Putting a speaker inside a box will ruin the sound quality, negating all the effort you put into installing a sound system. 

If you still want to hide audio equipment, you can! Instead, opt for hidden in-wall or in-ceiling speakers that blend into the room’s interior. 

 

Mistake 4: Installing a Screen That’s Too Large/Small 

It’s exciting purchasing and installing a new projector screen or TV. But make sure you’ve measured the room's dimensions and consider how it will feel to watch from the seats. Ideally, there should be a 15-degree sightline angle from the screen to the seating.  

Bigger may sound better, but if the display is too large, visuals may be overwhelming and cause headaches or motion sickness. But choose a screen too small, and it won’t feel like a home theater. Try to place seats at a distance three times the length of the screen’s height. That way, it’s comfortable for every seat in the room. 

 

Mistake 5: Not Hiring a Professional Installer 

If you enjoy taking the DIY route, you might be tempted to tackle the installation yourself. But have you considered the intricacies of AV and seating ratios? Or the complexities of soundproofing and acoustic panel placement? And what about the integration of smart lighting and shading systems into a seamless control system? 

Rather than navigating these hurdles on your own, a seasoned home theater professional can take care of it all for you. With their expertise, you can sit back, relax, and bask in the results, knowing that every detail has been meticulously handled for you. 

Ready to get started with your new home theater system? Contact Comware AV to discuss our home theater design and installation services today!