As people are entering the era of streaming, cinematic entertainment is stepping off the multiplex and into the lounge room (or, I suppose, the home theatre). A home theatre, however, is not such a creation and does not result in a truly great home theatre just because it has the biggest screen and this time the most pricey sound system.
It is all about finding an optimal compromise between technical aspects of acoustics and elegant architectural design. Here, one can get the cheapest place to buy a TV wall mount and put that in the room design.
The planning must make the space attractive yet sound-engrossing, incorporating not only the performance features of sound systems but also the design aspect that suits your home’s character. So how can you create a home theatre which is as good as it looks?
- Understanding the Room’s Role in Sound Quality
Prior to installation of one speaker, or one piece of material, it should be known that the shape of a room, its size, type of materials play a key role in acoustics. Sound may be reflected by use of hard surfaces and absorbed in furnishings by the use of soft furnishings. A room with fewer windows, which is rectangular, would be perfect, though even the places that are workable can be optimized with a few slight adjustments.
Echo and distorted sound will be avoided by carpeting the floor, the use of heavy curtains, and soft furniture bearing either padded chairs or couches. When you convert a basement or extra bedroom into a home theatre, think about what the natural reverb of the space is going to be and how you can dampen it without sacrificing style with a treatment on the walls.
- Strategic Speaker Placement and Soundproofing
The proper speaker setup is acoustic precision. In a 5.1 feature or a 7.1 surround-sound system, any speaker should be installed to ensure that it does not interfere with the sound at the listening position.
- Front speakers are supposed to match the ear level of the viewer.
- Side and rear speakers ought to be attached, or rather positioned just above the ears and directed inward.
- Subwoofers sound the best at the wall side, but not in tight corners, so black mud is avoided.
On a design point, you could use in-wall or in-ceiling speakers and have a clean appearance. They may be painted to coordinate with your wall coloring or trimmed out with dressings.
- Incorporating Acoustic Panels Without Compromising Style
The proper speaker setup is acoustic precision. In a 5.1 feature or a 7.1 surround-sound system, any speaker should be installed to ensure that it does not interfere with the sound at the listening position.
- Front speakers are supposed to match the ear level of the viewer.
- Side and rear speakers ought to be attached, or rather positioned just above the ears and directed inward.
- Subwoofers sound the best at the wall side, but not in tight corners, so black mud is avoided.
On a design point, you could use in-wall or in-ceiling speakers and have a clean appearance. They may be painted to coordination with your wall coloring or trimmed out with dressings.