Home Theater Audio Tips

home theater audio tips - Specialized AV Sacramento

Home Theater Audio Tips

Movies are filmed to make viewers feel like they’re a part of the story. That’s why a good surround-sound system is crucial to a good movie night. With multiple speakers in a surround sound system, the movie is brought to life. If you’re planning an upcoming movie night, follow these home theater audio tips recommended by Specialized Audio and Video in Sacramento, CA.

Home Theater Surround Sound

If you can, we recommend purchasing the best audio speakers from an audio and video company. Although standard surround systems may seem easier, an AV specialist will have the best recommendations for your unique needs. Sacramento homeowners often purchase standard surround sounds, but it’s not adequate for something like a home theater. Trust us. There’s a lot more that goes into speakers than you think.

Keep Your Chairs Away from Walls/Speakers

Many people make the mistake of putting their chairs against the wall. Doing this can actually affect your surround sound experience. If you’re spending time and money on creating the best home theater, then you should avoid any chance of too much bass. A good rule of thumb is to put at least four feet of distance between you and the wall/speakers. Our friends at Headwaters Construction, Inc., a general contractor in Sacramento, agree that both homeowners and business owners make this mistake. Although it may seem like a good idea to purchase home theater chairs right away, it’s important to make sure they fit the space properly. 

Add Enough Subwoofers

Two subwoofers are needed for a single row of seats. If you have two rows of seats, you would need at least four subs, if not more. Smooth bass will not be provided by a horn-loaded mega sub. It will definitely provide you with a lot of it, but you will also experience huge peaks and dips while listening. To provide clear, smooth bass throughout your seating area, our AV experts recommend using more subs. 

Acoustics Are Key

Your audio system accounts for just half of the sound you hear, says Sacramento AV experts. The other half of the equation is the bed. Room acoustics are a minefield of differing opinions and self-proclaimed experts. Our recommendation is to stick to the fundamentals. Add enough bass trapping to monitor your room modes. Deep fiberglass traps are extremely efficient and inexpensive; the only drawback is that they take up a lot of room. 

After that, add just enough absorption to make your room sound good. It should not have a “dead” or “echoey” tone. It should feel normal to have a conversation with someone in your theater. When you have wall-to-wall carpet and home theater chairs, you don’t usually need any more absorption.

Hire a Professional

One of the most common mistakes people make when designing their home theater is doing it themselves. More often than not, you’ll spend more time and money figuring it out compared to hiring a professional to do the job. At Specialized Audio and Video, we want nothing but the best for our customers. Contact Specialized AV today for an estimate on custom home theater design or our other audio and video services.