Your home is your sanctuary.; a place of peace and tranquility to share with friends, family, and even a place to get lost in fantasy.
When you turn on your TV, it’s always nice to experience a movie as if you were in the theatre but still conveniently cozy in your own home.
Why not install an entire room of theatre quality sound! At USA Electric, we can do it all for you.
There are three basic kinds of equipment that need to be worked into the room: video gear, audio gear, and control equipment.
Video
You might think of the largest screen possible to enjoy that nice view, and it’s not a bad idea to put in a large screen. Getting the biggest TV in the store is tempting; however, bigger isn’t always better. The distance from the couch to the screen matters most for a truly immersive experience. Professional installers recommend a seating distance 2 to 2-1/2 times the screen’s width. For example, if a screen is 27 inches wide, the couch should be 54 to 68 inches away. To comfortably view a 120-inch screen requires a large enough room to push the seats back at least 20 feet from the screen.
A front projection system, consisting of a separate screen and video projector, offers the biggest picture (up to 200 diagonal inches) and lends the feel of an actual movie theater; however, it requires that a room be completely dark for a good picture. On the other hand, rear projection systems, Plasma, LCD, LED, and OLED televisions look as good with the lights on as they do with the lights off. However, you may want a darker room for a good HDR experience when using an OLED television. They don’t get as bright (not necessarily a bad trade-off for those pure, true blacks). You can also add some lighting to give the room more of a theater feel. USA Electric can handle all of your electrical needs.
Audio
Next, you’ll need at least five speakers to create the full surround sound effect (and more than 7 for Dolby Atmos and other object-based sound formats that allow for above-head channels). The speakers create a sense of movement and sound localization that links a movie’s visual cues with the soundtrack. For example, when a jet flies right across the screen, the engine’s roar “moves” left to right through the speakers in a surround-sound system.
To create this effect, place one speaker on each side of the TV screen, two behind the couch, and one on top of or below the TV (you can even place speakers behind specific projector screens for an even more seamless look). The two stationed at the sides of the screen should sit about level with your ears (when you’re seated) and about 3 feet away from the side walls. Next, place the center speaker, which distributes the movie’s dialogue, smack dab in the center between the front left and right speakers. Finally, plant the two rear speakers on the wall behind the couch, 6 to 8 feet above the floor. Space them at least as wide apart as the front left and right speakers. You may need to install a speaker mount for proper positioning on the wall. Fortunately, most modern AV receivers and processors have built-in room calibration technology to help you calibrate your sound to your unique room setup.
Action-movie buffs will want a subwoofer. This component intensifies the bass of a movie soundtrack, so those big booms sound more dramatic.
The Rest of the Gear for Entertainment Done Right
The rest of the equipment — audio-video receiver, VCR, direct satellite receiver, DVD player, Blu-Ray player, Ultra HD 4K Blu-Ray player, etc. — can be stowed inside a cabinet or even in a well-ventilated closet in another room. For the latter option, be sure there’s enough cabling to make the connections to the TV.
Control Equipment
Lastly, the remote. A man’s dream! Pick up a universal remote control. Available at your local electronics stores. Universal remote systems do the job of every clicker except, of course, if it’s hiding in the sofa. Additionally, even more, advanced universal control systems allow for use with things like Google Home and the Apple equivalent. They’re more complicated, but if you want a great way to control your home theater with your voice, they’re the best.
If you want your installation done and done correctly with optimum results, call AVE Electric, your Hudson Valley Electrician, today! 845-679-9473.
