Home Theater: Contractor Basics

How many times have you heard a client say, “I want a home theater?” Over the last few years, this area has become common in both remodeling projects and initial home designs.

But what exactly is home theater?

Simply defined, a home theater is an audio and video system where the speakers are not part of the video display, but rather are separate components. That’s a lot of latitude, since it can encompass anything from a small TV hooked up to a stereo all the way up to a dedicated room with seating for 40 with a very large projection system, multiple surround-speakers, racks of equipment, and a large touch panel control system.

So the first thing you need to do is learn exactly what a client wants when they say “home theater." Here are a few basic categories to help get you started.

Small Bedroom or Living Room System with Stereo
The simplest home theater has a small (by today’s standards!) flat panel TV mounted either on a stand or on the wall (over a fireplace is common), connected to a small stereo receiver and a pair of wall-mounted (in-wall or on-wall) or free-standing speakers. “Small” typically means under 40” diagonal.

If your client wants this, make sure you know if the TV will be wall- or stand-mounted (provide power and a cable chase if wall-mounted), and whether the speakers will be wall-mounted or free standing (if in-wall or on-wall, you’ll need to pre-wire with good-quality in-wall speaker wire – typically 16/2).

The client will probably also need a place to put the DVD or Blu-Ray player, the cable or satellite receiver, and the stereo receiver. A properly-sized nook or an equipment stand are the best options for this.

The wiring chase to the TV location can have an HDMI cable, Component Video cables, or other video cables pulled as needed. We like 2” flexible raceways to give enough room for the cable heads to get through.

Living room surround-sound system
The next level up typically incorporates a larger video display and surround-sound instead of stereo speakers. You still have to worry about power for the TV if it’s wall-mounted and pre-wiring for five speakers plus the subwoofer.

You’ll still need a place for the equipment to reside, so make sure to ask the client whether they want a built-in nook or if they’ll be putting in some furniture. Don’t forget to account for space for a gaming system and a way to dissipate heat! You need a way to get video up to the TV, so that cable chase is still important.

A new component you need to consider is the subwoofer. Surround-sound speakers generally require a separate subwoofer to handle the low frequencies. Don’t put the subwoofer in a nook, because the enclosure will further focus and amplify the bass frequencies. If the client wants to hide the sub, there are in-wall subwoofers available. These need to be preplanned, since there are enclosures that need to be built into the wall.

Media Rooms
Media rooms are one of the most common forms of home theater that people think of when building an addition or finishing a basement.

These frequently have a partially separated room for the video display and surround-sound, which joins into another entertaining space. There are a couple of major “gotcha’s” with media rooms.

First, you’re usually missing a wall. This has a big impact on the audio design, and means the client probably can’t watch one thing in the theater part while watching or listening to something else in the main entertaining area.

Second, some clients will want projectors, while others will want a very large flat panel display. It’s important to ferret this out at the beginning, since it impacts power needs and video cabling.

Third, many clients will want multiple video screens. This may mean they need a video distribution system, additional speakers and amplification, and the ability to control it all. They may also have enough equipment at this point to warrant a dedicated space for an equipment rack. Be sure to learn whether the client likes to see the equipment, or would like it hidden.

Finally, the seating becomes very important. This level is where many clients want “seat shakers” (requires power at the seats and low voltage cabling to control the actuators) and multiple seating rows (requires careful attention to sight lines, audio placement, and tiered seating).

Dedicated Cinema Rooms
I use the term Cinema Room to differentiate a higher-end dedicated theater. Your high-end clients will probably prefer this term, since it offers a bit more prestige than the lower-end living room systems and more generic media rooms.

Cinema rooms can have from 4 to 40 or more seating locations, will likely have tiered seating, and will almost always be front-projection systems with a large screen. Multiple subwoofers are common, as are equipment racks. A standard 15-amp circuit may not provide enough power, but you still have to get everything on a single circuit if possible to prevent ground-loop issues.

You may also need to worry about sound isolation in a cinema room. First, you need to isolate any outside sounds such as HVAC, footsteps overhead, traffic outside, etc. This enables the theater to more accurately re-create very low volume sounds. Second, your client is likely to want to keep the theater sounds away from the rest of the house. They don’t want to have to turn down the volume on their favorite action movie so they don’t disturb the kids after bedtime!

Where to get help
For any electronic system, it’s important to bring in a CE pro (custom electronics professional). The CE pro will be able to help design the electronics, in conjunction with the architect, builder, and interior designer, in order to deliver the perfect experience for the client. That same CE pro will be able to recommend and provide the right mix of equipment and control systems for the client, staying within the client’s budget, and finally install and calibrate the equipment to ensure the best experience possible.

If you’re looking for a CE pro that you can trust to work with you (not against you) and deliver the best results for your clients, call the experts at Inspired Electronics, Inc. We are a local, family-run company that specializes in residential and commercial audio, video, and control systems. Call Keith Rose at 847.471.420 or email at keith@inspired-electronics.com.

For more information about Inspired Electronics, Inc., visit our website at http://www.inspired-electronics.com/.