Get Professional Advice on a Major Installation
Whether you are a great do-it-yourselfer or a complete novice with a large amount of cash to work with, the best way to get the most out of your custom built home theater, is to either pay a licensed contractor that also does home theater construction or a licensed home theater installer that does construction.
The reason I take this perspective is that the best way to evaluate the potential of your room, is to have someone knowledgeable in the field actually come in, assess the environment in person, and take note of any good points and bad points, as well as suggesting options on where to place your components for maximum benefit and ease of use.
In addition, you will get a much more accurate budget picture of the whole project as the installer/contractor will not overlook small details that you may have overlooked, that could end up being significant.
Factors to Take Into Consideration
Some of the factors that a professional will consider when installing a home theater include:
1. The size of the room.
2. Where your audience will sit in relation to the screen.
3. Acoustical properties of the room.
4. Ambient light issues that may affect the type of video display system to be used.
5. Whether a projection system or large screen television will work best.
6. Whether In-wall or standalone speakers would be most effective.
7. Where your components will be located.
8. Room Ventilation for both the viewers and home theater components.
These, and other, factors can be determined best by an on-site inspection of the actual room or by looking a architectural plans for a home to be constructed with home theater in mind.
Best Resources For Custom Installation Help
1. Contact retailers, such as Best Buy, Tweeter, etc... and find out who they subcontract with for their home theater installations. In addition, there are independent dealers and home remodelers in many cities that specialize in custom home theater construction and installation.
2. Contact CEDIA (Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association for information on a licensed installer/contractor near you. CEDIA is a worldwide association of home theater and custom electronics specialists. In fact, if you are so inclined, you may be able to take a CEDIA sponsored course or workshop and become an expert home theater installer yourself.
Another good source for finding a Home Theater Installer is All Home Theaters.com. This site is a national database of home theater installers and related audio/video and security system installers throughout the U.S.
For more perspective on what to expect when working with a home theater installer, check out my article: The Role of the Custom Home Theater Installer
Also, if you need additional do-it-yourself tips for adding to or making modifications to your custom installation, check out the great resources from Home Theater Builder Magazine.
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