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Home - Home Theater Design

Date: 27th April 2011


Home Theater Pictures Gallery

Show-OFF Your Home Theater - click to submit your home theater picutres to be included in our gallery.

Do not forget to visit our Home Theater Pictures Gallery before leaving out site.

This will help trigger the creative part in you for some great home theater design ideas.

You may also submit pictures of your home theater to be featured on our site. Please refer to our Picture Gallery page for more details.

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KEF KHT5005.2 Home Theater Speaker System

KEF KHT5005.2 Home Theater Speaker System

The KEF comes with 3-driver aluminum satellite speakers and a 250W dual 10-inch powered subwoofer. It is one of the few home theater speaker systems that combine excellent sound with a refreshing design. (Buy from amazon US)

 


Also available from Amazon UK


Fire your system, drop a new DVD, and dim the lights...

Almost instantly, you get immersed into a whole new world! 

It is this home theater magic all of us are after when setting up a home theater - whether that being a dedicated room such as a basement home theater, or using a shared space in the house such as a bedroom or living room home theater.

Getting the home theater magic is not difficult but a correct home theater design is crucial for this immersing experience.

At the same time, it is impossible to be successful in your home theater design efforts unless you have an understanding of the various aspects of home theater, from - AV receivers and speaker systems, speaker placement, projection screen or TV screen size, viewing distance, home theater seating, room decor, etc.

Definitely, some basic technical knowledge on the subject of AV systems would surely be an asset in this high-tech world.

Luckily enough, there is a lot of information - especially on the web - to guide you in your home theater design approach. A word of caution though: When it comes to online content, try to check the website reputation to ensure the validity of the content you are reading.




We are not underestimating that when it comes to a dedicated home theater room design, the whole process may get pretty complex. In such circumstances, a trial and error approach is not the way to go; professional help is therefore advisable to avoid costly mistakes.

Even so, it is always desirable to have an understanding of the concepts surrounding a good home theater design. This applies independent of whether you hire a home theater design expert to help you realize your dream home theater, or decide to take the do-it-yourself route. Both options can be a way forward.

At the same time, we cannot but remark that if you are the DIY type of home theater enthusiast, home theater design represents a most challenging yet welcome task as it brings with it a truly rewarding experience.

Installing a home theater is a big decision and an investment in itself; if planned carefully, it will provide you with years of good quality entertainment.

In the discussions that follow on home theater design, we will not be dealing with equipment selection. This is all covered in detail under the respective sections (accessible through the site navigation on the left) on Practical Home Theater Guide.

Instead, this series of home theater design articles takes a deeper look at the various aspects of home theater room design. Subjects discussed include space and budget requirements, room setup, equipment placement, home theater wiring, room lighting, home theater furniture, home theater seating, and overall home theater room decor.

But our discussions do not stop there; we also cover a number of related topics; these include correct TV viewing distance for your screen size - essential for an immersive movie watching experience inasmuch as is your speaker placement, the use of tactile transducers in home entertainment to better feel the shake, equipment racks to help protect and keep you gear organized, and the use of movie posters to enhance the dedicated home theater room and bring out the Hollywood magic in your home.

We hope the information contained in these guides will help you - through a step-by-step process - achieve a successful DIY home theater design.


 

Home Theater Design Guides - Article Index

Home Theater Design is a vast science. The articles featured below discuss at great length the various aspects of home theater - from initial design up to final implementation.

This information should help you plan the whole process in a structured manner. Plan your home theater carefully before you buy and your choices will become easier. Plan before you start your home theater installation and you will avoid costly mistakes.

Editor's Note: If you are new to home theater, we suggest that you follow through these articles in the order listed below.

Home Theater Design Basics:

Installing a Home Theater: It all starts here...
Independent of the home theater installation you plan to undertake, available space and budget constraints will determine your approach. What can you do with the available space and how much will it cost to transform that space into your dream home theater? Basic information and advice to help you get started.

Home Theater Room Design Basics (1): Room Acoustics and Lighting
A two-part article on home theater design that discusses ways to improve the room acoustic performance and lightning for a more enjoyable home theater experience.

Part 1: Home Theater Acoustics and Soundproofing
Discussing ways to improve the room acoustic performance. Is soundproofing of your walls always necessary?

Part 2: Enhancing Home Theater Lighting
What can you do to enhance the room lighting? What about the use of lighting control systems and X10 devices to control the lighting in your home theater?

Home Theater Room Design Basics (2): How BIG is Your Room?
A small bedroom, a shared living room, or a dedicated room for your home theater? The size and nature of your home theater room play a determining role in your home theater experience.

Home Theater Room Design Basics (3): The Dedicated Home Theater Room
For the ultimate in home theater design - a dedicated home theater room specifically designed for watching moves, videos and TV is the way to go.

Home Theater Room Design Basics (4): Equipment Placement
Just as important as which equipment to buy, is deciding where to put your gear. The correct placement of system components is a major contributor towards that much-desired magical experience in home entertainment.

Speaker Placement

Home Theater Speaker Placement
Correct home theater speaker placement plays a critical role towards achieving that seamless ‘enveloping’ sound so important in the overall home theater experience.

Note: More on Home Theater Sound guides appear on the site can be found under the Home Theater Sound section of the site; these cover Sound Formats, AV Receivers, and Home Theater Speaker.

Guide to Audio Video Equipment Racks
Related to the issue of equipment and speaker placement is the use of equipment racks in home theater installations. These come in all shapes and sizes, and are great to help you keep your gear well organized and safe. Yet there is more to AV racks than a storage space for your home theater gear. More information is available in our guide here.

In the process, we also discuss AV Rack Solutions such as the AVRAK rotating rack system, and home theater furniture such as the Maria Yee line of media cabinets for that unique finishing touch in the home theater.

A Guide to Home Theater Seats
Do not underestimate the importance of proper home theater seating in your home theater design - the design and layout of home theater seats play a determining role in your home theater experience.

Home Theater Decor Ideas for a Great Home Theater Ambience
Would you like to capture the Hollywood magic and enjoy your home theater in style? Details are what make the difference. The overall home theater decor plays a determining role towards achieving an enjoyable cinematic experience.

 

Miscellaneous Home Theater Guides:

Home Theater Pictures - A Visitor's Gallery
Let see what others have done! This is not a guide but surely, having a look at what others have done to build their home theater masterpiece will help trigger the creative part in you when it comes to designing and building your own home theater.

Movie Posters - a great way to relive the movie magic in your home
Related to your home theater decor is the use of movie posters to decorate the walls of your home theater room. Movie posters do provide a great way to relive the movie magic in your home. However, the fascinating world of movie posters is more than just a beautiful picture hanging on your home theater wall promoting a favorite film. Discover more in our Movie Poster Guide.

Feel the shake! Tactile Transducers in Home Entertainment
Add the sensation of tactile sound and discover a totally new dimension in your home theater experience with the use of tactile transducers!

Home Theater Wiring - A step-by-step approach
A correct home theater wiring approach is important for a successful home theater installation. In this guide, we discuss the basics of home theater wiring - from planning to implementation; in the process, we also look at speaker wiring and in-wall wiring requirements.

TV Viewing Distance
How does your TV or projection screen size and image resolution relate to your viewing distance for a truly immersive viewing experience?  Discover more in this detailed TV viewing distance guide here.

Note: This guide deals with 2D TV viewing; for 3D HDTVs, please refer to our article 3D TV Viewing Explained.

 


 

Home Theater Design e-book

 

by Duncan McClelland
More information HERE.

 
 

Complement the information in this series of home theater design guides with a good home theater book to serve as a valid reference during your design stage.

A relatively inexpensive e-book is Home Theater Design; this is an easy-to-follow e-book on how to research, design, and build your own home theater.

Another great resource for anyone interested in creating a beautiful home theater is the book by Tina Skinner - Entertainment Rooms: Home Theaters, Bars, and Game Rooms.


 

Home Theater Design

Articles covered under this section 

Home Theater Design Basics:

Installing a Home Theater:
It all starts here...

Room Acoustics and soundproofing

Home Theater Lighting for an enhanced home theater experience

How BIG is Your Room? Shared space home theaters

Dedicated Home Theater Room design considerations

Equipment Placement in the home theater

Speaker Placement in movie watching and music listening

Equipment Racks:
There is more to equipment racks than a storage space for your gear. Discover more in this home theater guide.

Guide to Home Theater Seats: Proper seating in your home theater design

Home Theater Decor and the movie experience

 

Miscellaneous Guides

Home Theater Pictures: Get inspired by seeing what others have done to make their dream come true.

Poster Light Boxes:
A way to bring the Hollywood magic in your home.

1-Sheet poster light box at amazon

Feel the shake! Use of Tactile transducers in home entertainment

Guide to Home Theater Wiring A step-by-step guide towards a successful wiring installation

TV Viewing Distance: How to relate the viewing distance to your TV or projection screen size. For 3D TV viewing, please refer to our article 3D TV Viewing Explained.

 

 Home Theater Guides:

More Information on Practical Home Theater Guide

Buyer's Guide to Home Theater Receivers: What to look for when planning an AV receiver purchase.

Tips for Better Sound: Simple steps you can take to a better sound.

THX Home Cinema - An Overview: This short guide to THX explains this certification system, together with the different certification logos, and related technology.

Surround Sound Formats
The never ending list of terms and brand names - Dolby, DTS, THX - associated with surround systems is starting to get a bit too complicated...

Choosing a Plasma Television
Features to look for when choosing a flat-panel Plasma TV Set

The Complete LCD TV Guide
Discover all you need to know about LCD TV sets.

Projection Television
A complete guide to front and rear projection TV systems.

The Contrast Ratio Game - Playing with Numbers!
To what extent high contrast ratios affect the performance of a video display device?

HDMI Cable Guide
To many, HDMI is still an unfamiliar term. This easy-to follow home theater guide explains all you need to know about HDMI.


Would you like to get the best picture out of your new HDTV?

There is no better way to squeeze a lot more of of your HDTV then to invest in a set-up DVD.

A great calibration disc is the Avia II Home Theater Set-up DVD, an exceptional AV calibration tool for both the novice and the expert.

Other interesting calibration discs worth considering include Digital Video Essentials HD Basics and Spears & Munsil High-Definition Benchmark, both of which come in Blu-ray edition.

For more information, please check our Guide to HT Set-Up DVDs.


 

 HT Books and Magazines

Recommended Home Theater Reading

Home Theater
comes with loads of useful information from equipment centered reviews to buyer's guides and useful tips. Lots of useful content to help you get the most out of an existing system.

 


Sound & Vision
 A good source of product reviews on the latest home theater gear - maintaining the right balance between high-end equipment and budget-priced products.


Great Escapes
A unique source of ideas, and interesting designs illustrated with over one hundred color photos.


Home Theater
Well-written home theater guide - a useful reference to anyone interested in home theater.


Home Theater Hacks
Great for anyone who wants to setup their own home theater. This is an easy-to-follow book that covers everything from TV's to receivers, amps and speakers.


Entertainment Rooms
comes with loads of great pictures - mainly of home theaters - to help you create a beautiful and comfortable entertainment space in your house.

 








 





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