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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.
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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.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.
