Enjoying movies and the ‘big game’ at home has been the past time of millions, and perhaps you have a audio video setup at home. How though, can you take your home entertainment experience to the next level in the Austin and Houston Texas area? Custom home theater systems are the ticket to making your home entertainment experience better than in the movie theater! In this article, we will outline everything that you need to know to get you off to the best start.

Your Custom Home Theater - What Do You Need?

It may seem obvious to say that you need somewhere to install your custom home theater. However, there is more to it than just having space. You must have adequate space. There are a few elements that you should look for in a good area for your custom home theater. Not every room in the house will work.

Proper screen-to-seating distance

Enough space should be present to maintain an appropriate distance between the surface of the projector screen or 4k TV and the seating. Since it is common to have multiple rows of seats in your custom home theater or media room to seat you and all of your friends, there is a formula to optimize the spacing of your rows of seats.

Width of your display (Not the diagonal length) X 2 = minimum distance
Width of your display (Not the diagonal length) X 5 = maximum distance

Speaker Arrangements

For any modern custom home theater, it is recommended to take advantage of the most up-to-date Dolby standards. At the time of writing this article, it is recommended to use the Dolby Atmos® specifications. With a Dolby Atmos system, it is required that your speakers and receiver/surround processor is compatible with Dolby Atmos soundtracks.

Dolby Atmos speaker arrangements include:

• 5.1.2 - [5] refers to the number of traditional surround speakers (front, center, surround), [.1] refers to how many powered subwoofers you can connect to your receiver, [.2] refers to how many in-ceiling or upward-firing speakers are in your Dolby Atmos® setup. *
• 7.1.2 - [7] refers to the number of traditional surround speakers (front, center, surround), [.1] refers to how many powered subwoofers you can connect to your receiver, [.2] refers to how many in-ceiling or upward-firing speakers are in your Dolby Atmos® setup.*
• 5.1.4 - [5] refers to the number of traditional surround speakers (front, center, and surround), [.1] refers to how many powered subwoofers you can connect to your receiver, [.4] refers to how many in-ceiling or upward-firing speakers are in your Dolby Atmos® setup.*
• 7.1.4 - [7] refers to the number of traditional surround speakers (front, center, and surround), [.1] refers to how many powered subwoofers you can connect to your receiver, [.4] refers to how many in-ceiling or upward-firing speakers are in your Dolby Atmos® setup.*
• 9.1.2 - [9] refers to the number of traditional surround speakers (front, center, surround), [.1] refers to how many powered subwoofers you can connect to your receiver, [.2] refers to how many in-ceiling or upward-firing speakers are in your Dolby Atmos® setup.*

The speaker configuration that you choose depends on the space that you have available. For example, 5.1.2 and 5.1.4 configurations are for smaller rooms, 7.1.2 and 7.1.4 configurations are for larger rooms and for an even larger space, Dolby Atmos systems can support the 9.1.2 configuration. The more speakers that are in your custom home theater, the more immersive and three dimensional the sound will be to ensure that you are maximizing the use of your space.

Screen Size

We recommend that no matter the size of the room, it is critical to ensure that you purchase a display that has the maximum pixel density. Note that we are not talking screen size, we are talking about the number of pixels on the surface, or the resolution of your display. For example, if your budget allows, it is recommended to use an 8K display (once they come to market later in 2018) as compared to a 4K. The higher the resolution, the better. The physical size of the display though depends on the size of your room. Practically speaking, as a general rule, choose the largest size screen that fits in your room, that has the highest pixel density, and fits in your budget.

Choose The Gear That Is Right For Your Theater

There is a wide range of gear to choose from for your theater needs. Should you use a projector in your media room or an 4k TV? Should you use a fully integrated receiver or should you explore outboard processors? Should you incorporate automation that is compatible with your custom home theater or even entire home? There are many options available so where do you start? Rely on the recommendations of local professionals, Capitol Technology Group, the team that does this every day! For more information on Custom Home Theaters for your home in the Austin, Round Rock, Lakeway, Georgetown, Houston, The Woodlands, Cypress, Sugar Land, Spring, Humble, Sugar Land, and Pearland, Texas area, give us a call or CONTACT US by filling out this short form.

*[Dolby Atmos Event | Home Cinema | Inspired Dwellings ....
http://inspireddwellings.com/blog/dolby-atmos-event-the-future-of-home-cinema]