The Room

If you’re lucky enough to be considering your very own dream home cinema from scratch, then bear in mind that square rooms present more challenges than rectangular rooms - a ratio of 1 to 1.6-2.4 is ideal. Try to avoid dimensions where adjacent walls are a similar size to each other, and, if you want multiple rows of seating, don’t forget you will need to account for a tiered seat riser which may have implications for speaker and projector height.

Some of the best dedicated home theatres we’ve created are tucked away, maybe in an unloved spare room, attic, or basement, slightly away from the busier areas of the house. Finally, any first-class home cinema will also need to be acoustically treated, which you will need to account for.

Some fundamental aspects to consider for your projector are:

• Brightness - Projector brightness is measured in lumens. Whilst lower lumen projectors work in a perfectly light controlled room, larger screen sizes (and lighter rooms), need a brighter projector
• Resolution - Most home cinema projectors are either 4K (3840 x 2160 pixels) or Full HD (1920 x 1080). Basically, the higher the resolution, the better the picture quality should be.
• Screen Size The bigger the screen size, the brighter your projector will need to be, and remember, the image size the projector displays is directly linked to the distance the projector is from the screen. The further away, the larger the image - this is sometimes quite complicated, so make sure you ask for our expert help when specifying your system!

Speaker position can have a bearing on the best type of screen for your project. You could consider an acoustically transparent screen which allows you to has speakers directly behind the screen (without impeding their acoustic performance). This is a great solution if you want the speakers to be as unobtrusive as possible.

The goal of any theatre room should be to utterly immerse you in the experience but getting there can be challenging. Professional advice goes a long way in any AV project, so reach out, even if you’re not quite ready to build your perfect home cinema, as planning and advice at this early stage is vital. You can use our contact form to get in touch with your local store who will be delighted to discuss your project with you.

In reality, an AVR is an exceptionally clever (and often fairly challenging to properly set up) device. Among other things, it’s a video switching hub for all of your different sources, it recognises the audio format (e.g. Dolby Digital, DTS, Atmos etc) and decodes the digital signal accordingly, then works out exactly where it is sending each of the many individual channels of audio, in order to give that 3D audio experience.

Not only all of this but it also employs an enormous amount of digital signal processing to compensate for the acoustics of the room it is in to give the most accurate audio reproduction possible. So, not that simple at all!

For larger systems, rather than going for an all-in-one AVR, it is worth considering separate components, as this offers higher performance and greater flexibility. An “AV Processor” deals with the inputs and preamp components, along with the signal processing, decoding and equalization.

The best way to power larger, more demanding loudspeakers, is by employing a separate “Multi-Channel Power Amplifier” which can deliver huge current on demand, usually via a massive high voltage transformer. Whilst this is a relatively simple device, it still must be able to go from exquisitely detailed and intimate, to explosively loud and powerful, while all the time, retaining the same levels of audio quality as a traditional hi-fi amplifier - only with up to eleven channels, instead of just two!

“A 5.1 system? Nope, mine’s a 7.2.4!” Speaker Layout

One of the most important decisions is the number of speakers you want to support. Carefully consider your room size, amplification, and the kind of content you like to watch. In theory, you can run as many speakers as you can power, but for most home cinemas, five to eleven channels will be sufficient.

It’s worth at this point mentioning how we denote the various speaker setups in home cinema systems. The most common traditional setup was always a 5.1 system. The “5” was the number of full range speakers (in this case, front left, centre, front right, rear left and rear right), and the “.1” denoted a single subwoofer dealing with the bass.

Larger spaces may consider scaling up, but for most dedicated home theatre rooms a 7.1.4 channel system is more than enough to create a truly thrilling audio experience. If you plan to have raised seating, you may have additional challenges getting the audio to sound the same throughout the room. In many instances, adding more speakers or subwoofers can help fill out any room problems that might lessen your experience.

Dolby Atmos effects speakers are one of the latest developments in cinema and should be a priority in order to deliver the ultimate audio experience. It’s not always easy to add ceiling speakers after you’ve finished, so it’s a good idea to plan for Atmos speakers during your design period.

Popular configurations:

• 7.1.4 - Three fronts, two sides, and two rears, alongside four Atmos speakers. Needs a receiver that can handle eleven powered channels.
• 5.1.4 - As above but you drop the two side surrounds. It’s good idea to prioritise Atmos speakers over surround speakers, as you’ll need at least four Atmos speakers for the height effect to be convincing. You’ll need at least nine powered channels for this setup.
• 5.1.2 - Extremely straightforward to setup, usually forgoing in-ceiling Atmos speakers for elevation speakers atop your front left and right speakers. Requires a seven-channel receiver.
• 7.1 - Standard (non-Atmos) surround sound layout meaning you will be forgoing Atmos effect speakers.

Finishing touches and calibration

Speakers are usually tested in an anechoic chamber, ideally with an even response from top to bottom. However, once this speaker is placed in your room, the sound waves start interacting with other speakers, the walls, floor, and ceiling, hugely impacting the response you’ll get. Whilst every room is different, room equalization software can curtail some of the worst offending peaks, getting you close to the intended sound of the speaker. This software is often built into the AVR or processor, but getting it right takes time and can make the difference between a good, and a “great” system!

Alongside these traditional source components, with recent improvements in digital audio processing, TVs are fast becoming another important source that many audiophiles want to blend into their system.

Just let us know your aims and we’ll point you in the right direction, and once you’ve decided how you’re listening, we can set it all up faultlessly so you can get on with enjoying your music.

How far you go into separates is completely up to you. Depending on your requirements we can specify a system that involves the bare minimum number of “boxes” on your rack, or go down the (immensely fun) rabbit hole of DAC’s, DDC, streamers, networking upgrades, DSP’s, valve amps, passive and active pre-amps, stereo amps, and mono-blocks! It’s hard to overstate the benefit of each component part of your hi fi setup being optimised specifically for its intended role, not to mention the countless upgrade possibilities.

Whilst research and comparing the specification and features for your next amplifier is important, more so is hearing how everything works together. A great system is only great if you love how it sounds. Brief us on your requirements and we can help narrow down your choice given the vast range of amplification options there are to choose from.

Also, bear in mind that every room is different, so placing your speakers in the ideal listening position might not always be possible, but we urge experimenting with placement when feasible. That said, knowing the basics of where to start will save you a lot of time and trouble. This is especially the case with subwoofers, which are often a challenge to position discretely.

Don’t forget that speakers will also sound different in different rooms, so you shouldn’t base your decision solely from reviews. Given the important role of the loudspeaker in a system, careful matching is imperative, so do take the time to visit one of our stores to listen to as many as you can.

Consider tackling some of the issues your room may pose through precise placement of professionally made diffusors and absorbers. You can achieve great success with only a few panels in most small rooms, as long as they are placed in the correct position in relation to your speakers. Alternatively you can opt for a more discrete option through careful placement of soft furnishings, and furniture positioning.

Whilst treating your room may not stop your subwoofer from annoying your neighbour, don’t underestimate that transformative effect it can have on your listening experience. With so many treatment products on the market we can help you make the best choice for your room, budget and taste.