What is a home cinema system?
Home cinema system is an audiovisual system with different layouts that strive to reproduce the atmosphere of a cinema hall at home. Typically, the system includes the following components:
- TV or projector with screen
- Video source
- Receiver
- Acoustics package (including surround speakers and subwoofer)
Choosing a room
Ideally, it is better to give the cinema a separate spacious room. However, you can’t always afford this, so the living room (also known as the “hall”) is suitable, since it is the largest room in the house. It is advisable that the space is not blocked by interior walls, columns or other large reflective surfaces.
We will proceed from the rectangular shape of the room – in this case we install a rack with equipment and a screen along the long side. This will create the optimal space between the viewer, the screen and the acoustics. If it is possible to acoustically treat the room, then it is better to do it.
Sound-absorbing panels of Home Cinema System on the walls absorb sound waves of different frequencies, eliminating the hum from the room. Acoustic treatment will remove excess reverberation in the room, make the bass deeper and reduce the harshness of high frequencies. Don’t forget to put carpet on the floor – this will significantly improve the acoustic properties of the room, the sound of the subwoofer will seem deeper.
It is better to cover the windows in the room with heavy curtains – this way we will not only create the atmosphere of a dark cinema hall, but also cover the large reflective surface of the glass, which creates unnecessary overtones.
TV or projector?
The screen most often begins to assemble a home theatre. If you are planning to create a full-fledged home cinema, then give preference to projectors, as they convey a large size of the projected image. The common diagonal for TVs is 55 inches, and for a projector screen this value increases to 200-300 inches.
Everything is limited only by the distance from the screen or wall to the projector. Current models are capable of working with 4K images, but they are quite expensive. The projector will require high-quality darkening of the space, selection of a screen or a free, plain white wall.
A TV is a more versatile option; it’s easy to watch regardless of the lighting and is much easier to install. 4K TVs are now common, and they are significantly cheaper than projectors of equal resolution. Between LED and OLED displays, choose the second option, as it provides greater image contrast.
A fairly new solution is a laser TV (projection TV), which is a short throw laser projector and a special screen. The projector is installed at a short distance from the screen and projects a high-definition image onto it using a system of laser beams and lenses. Unlike a projector, a projection TV has a fixed focus, designed for a specific screen size.
Projection TVs are superior to most video conferencing equipment in terms of contrast and colour depth, and they can also be viewed without darkening the space, as the screen absorbs external light and the image does not fade.
Multi-channel speaker system or soundbar?
Buying a soundbar is tempting due to its ease of installation and use. There are many wired and wireless models on the market, and they often include a subwoofer and a pair of satellites for surround sound. The sound quality of modern soundbars is quite high, but it is still a compromise solution compared to a full-fledged multi-channel audio system. As a “third way”, you can choose active speakers with an HDMI ARC connection and a subwoofer output.
A multi-channel speaker system is definitely capable of immersing the viewer deeper into what is happening on the screen. It requires thoughtful selection of the speaker system and its correct placement in the space. You need to decide on the number of channels: the starting point for modern cinemas is a 5.1 system with five speakers (two front, centre and two rear) and one subwoofer. There are also more exotic layout options, for example, 9.1.2 (two front channels, centre, two wide front channels, two surround speakers, as well as two ceiling speakers + subwoofer).
We recommend the popular 7.2.1 configuration (three channels in the front, two on the sides, two in the back of the room and a pair in the ceiling, plus a subwoofer). This configuration gives you access to full 3D audio with amazing Dolby Atmos capabilities.
Blu-ray and media players or smart TV?
Now interest in Blu-ray is growing again. The source is experiencing a rebirth. Blu-ray players are affordable and capable of transmitting images in 4K resolution, but there are limitations in working with formats; you will need to buy branded discs. Media players are “omnivorous” when it comes to transmitting and playing formats; they have great capabilities in signal processing. However, the cost of media players is still quite high.
A smart TV is the easiest solution to play movies. It gives access to unlimited media space through a subscription to online cinemas and streaming platforms. Most modern TVs use Android OS, so they are quite easy to control.
Choosing a receiver
An AV receiver is the core of a home theatre, through which decoders pass image and sound. The receiver receives audio and video signals from multiple sources, then processes and amplifies them to send to the speakers and screen. An AV receiver is needed to create a multi-channel cinema.
The receiver must have several HDMI inputs and HDMI ARC for connecting a laptop, TV, media player and other devices. Also note support for surround sound formats and wireless connections via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The most important thing is that the receiver has all the necessary outputs for the selected speaker configuration.
Look at the quality of the terminals for connecting speakers – it is better to give preference to screw terminals over clamp terminals, as they are more reliable. Selecting a receiver is the topic of a separate article; here we have reflected only the key points.
Choosing a speaker system
When composing acoustics for a home theatre, it is better to use components from the same brand, since the speakers are optimally matched to each other in terms of characteristics. Many audio brands have multi-channel speaker systems.
However, there is nothing wrong with “miscellaneous” acoustics in one setup – the main thing is that it is in the same price and quality segment.
Cinema layout
At home, it is not always possible to acoustically treat a room, so the location of the speaker system will greatly determine the sound of the cinema. Follow simple rules that will have a positive effect on the sound: do not place the speaker system close to the wall or in the corners of the room (if it is not intended for this), this will avoid low-frequency hum.
The centre channel should be at ear level, as should the rear speakers. The listening position should be at the vertex of an equilateral triangle, where the other two vertices are the front speakers. This will create a natural stereo space.
The location of the subwoofer does not have a decisive influence on the sound, so it can be placed slightly to the side of the system, but also not directly against the wall or corner of the room. We recommend using stands for bookshelf speakers, and if they are not available, then do not place the speakers on the same surface as the TV without damping stands. Under ideal conditions, there should be at least 30 cm of space behind each channel, with the exception of Dolby Atmos speakers.
Use quality cables
If you have built a classic wired cinema, then it is better not to skimp on connecting the channels to each other, since cables can significantly reduce the sound quality. If possible, try to shorten the length of the speaker cable and do not lay it together with power cords, as this will cause interference. Use a specialised speaker cable with good insulation and a large cross-section.
When creating a cinema, you need to take into account many parameters, from the size of the room and the number of channels to audio and video formats. Our guide will help you not get lost and build your own home system, and Orient AV will be happy to select the appropriate equipment.
