Watch movies on the large screen, at home, in your own living room, with the best home theatre system is truly a wonderful feeling. There are no rigid guidelines about what makes a room with a television into a complete “home theater.” At the very least it’s a larger, better picture with better sound. But it’s not only electronics enthusiasts and lottery winners who are getting into home theaters. Families who want an engaging movie experience without the expensive popcorn are also upgrading, thanks to affordable options across the board. More info about Brentwood apartments
To set up a movie theater in your house, first you’ll need to prepare a room. Whether it’s the basement, the attic or the bedroom of a high school graduate, you’ll need to make sure it’s clean and ready for action.
You’ll need to get the following items: A TV, a DVD player, speakers and a projector. Finally, you’ll have to put it alltogether. Throughout the process, keep in mind that in the end what matters is comfort and enjoyment. This is the guide you’re looking for, from layout through choosing curtains and the most critical part of the set,the projector itself.
Projector
Projectors are the type of equipment that you should buy based on how much money you’re willing to spend. No matter what your budget is, it will be the biggest investment in your home theater system. Don’t go into buying a projector without having seen one in action. You’ll save yourself a lot of trouble if you take the time to visit local stores and see projectors in person before purchasing them.
Projectors come in two sizes: 720p and 1080p. A lot of people think they’re the same thing, but they aren’t. With a 1080p projector, you’ll get a much sharper picture than with a 720p projector. That said, the difference between 720p and 1080p is pretty small. You won’t see any noticeable difference unless you’re watching movies or playing games on your TV. So, if you’re not planning on doing either of those things, then you probably don’t need a higher-resolution projector.
One specification you’ll see quoted very often is “lumen”, except where it’s so low as to be ashamed. Lumen is a measurement of how much light an LED emits; in layman’s terms, the brightness. Low lumens – 1500 or lower – will only be visible in dark rooms. 3000 lumen and above will be visible in daylight. Truthfully, any projected image will look best when there’s less ambient light.
Another important factor to consider is the life expectancy of the lamp. Most projectors come equipped with an estimated lifespan based on how often they’re used. A few thousand hours is considered average, so if you’ve got a high-end unit, expect around five years before it needs replacing. You’ll also need to keep track of the projected image size. Some projectors offer a choice between a 4K resolution and a Full HD one, and the former tends to consume more energy than the latter.
In addition to bulb replacements, you’ll need to clean the air filters every 3-6 month, replacing them if they’ve perished.
Finally, stay well away from any ultra-portable or LED-based projectors; they may last longer, but the image quality is horrendous and they typically have 10% of the lumen output of a bulb-based model.
A quick note on image ratios: widescreen means 16:9 ratio, great for gaming, movies and general use. Avoid older projectors that only have XGA, WXGA, and SXGA, as these are all 4:3 ratio and less than 108op resolution.
Layout and Structural Considerations
When planning a home cinema room, one of the main considerations is how far the projection system needs to be placed from the wall. Projectors require a certain amount of space between themselves and the screen they’re projecting onto, so if you place them too close together then you’ll end up with a small viewing area. You should also consider where you intend to position the speakers, because they’ll need to be able to hear the audio coming out of the projector.
Of course, throw angles vary by manufacturer and model – once you’ve found a suitable projector, check this handy projection calculator tool to work backwards from your desired screen size to find the distance between the projector and the wall where the image will be displayed. Or conversely, the distance between the projector lens and the wall where the picture will be seen.
The projector also requires a clear line for the beam of light to pass through; any obstructions in the path – such as human heads, feet, or furniture – will block the image. The best place to put the projector is on the ceiling. A small coffee table works just fine for use with ultra-short throw devices or temporary use, but if you’re projecting from off to one side (and not directly overhead), the image gets seriously distorted. Don’t do it. Also make sure that your projector is adequately ventilated on all sides; don’t mount it inside anything, because the heat buildup will cause the bulb to burn out quickly. These things get really warm.
Finally, don‘t forget seating. If your budget allows, you can splurge on premium movie theater seats with built-in refrigerators and coffee makers. Or if you’re not into fancy stuff, just get yourself an old couch and watch movies together.
Screen
Experts will tell you the same thing: You need a projector, a screen, and a room. But they’re wrong. You can project onto any surface, including walls, windows, doors, ceilings, and floors. And if your projector doesn’t have a built-in screen, you can buy one separately. That means you can project onto just about any surface you’d like. So why do experts say you need a specific type of room? They’re probably just trying to make a buck off of you.
If you are buying a screen, avoid high gain models (which focus the light back toward you), as they can result in hotspots of bright light in the center and bad image quality when viewing from the sides. Elite screens offer a good balance between affordability, size and quality; or you can buy special paints with a reflective coating if you’d rather use the wall but want better performance.
Not all of us are able to afford to spend so much money just on a good screen or fancy paint though, and to be frank a matte white wall is not going to provide you with a large enough projection surface for a fraction off the price of a comparable size screen. Unless you really need your projector to work in a bright environment, then you can get 95 percent of the image quality on an inexpensive matte white wall for hundreds less than what you would pay for a similar sized screen.
Surround Sound
An apartment theater is nothing without surround sound – 5.1 at least, which means 2 front, 2 rear, 1 centre speaker and a subwoofer. 7.1 and 9.1 are becoming increasingly common now, too.
You can buy cable conduit from any hardware store — these usually snap together and come with an adhesive surface to stick them to the wall or skirtboard. Under-carpeting wiring is also an option; however, you’ll need to use a tensioner to pull the carpet back into place.
In summary
Choose a suitable projector before you start. Higher lumens are better and will help make your image visible in brighter conditions. Aim for 1080P if you can afford it – it’s an absolute necessity if you’re planning a large screen size. Otherwise just stay clear of any resolution below 1024×768, and ensure 1080P means 1080P output, and not just “compatible”.
Use the projector calculator to work out where best to place your projector. You can then either mount it to the ceiling or plan your furniture around that, so that nothing gets in the way of the projected image.
Consider your surround sound system next, along with speaker placement and cable paths.
For best quality, buy a screen – but the price goes up fast for larger screens, so you’ll probably end up paying more. A perfectly smooth matte white wall will produce results indistinguishable from most people at a fraction the cost.
Blackout curtains may be an important part of your home theater system if you want the best possible picture quality. However, they aren’t absolutely necessary. You can get by without them if you’re willing to sacrifice some image clarity.
An apartment theater is certainly an investment that will pay off in spades for years to come, improving your enjoyment of movies, television and games. At the very least buy yourself a projector! More info about Brentwood apartments for rent
