Whether you're designing an entertainment room or you want to install a whole-house home theater system, it's important that you're fully prepared before you get started. It's easy to just jump into the installation and hope for the best, but doing so can leave you facing some unnecessary challenges. Before you start even drafting the placement and design, there are some things that you should know. Here are some tips for a successful home theater installation.
Create An Installation Plan
Getting the right balance on your home theater's sound requires the right placement on your speakers. Taking the time to plan out your placement before you get started will make it easier to ensure that you have everything you need to get the job done right.
The first thing you need to decide is whether you want to install the speakers in the ceiling, in the wall, or on the wall. Internal mounts are often cleaner and less obtrusive, but if you don't have an attic space or enough space around your wall studs, you may need to choose an external mount and place them on the walls.
Once you know where and how you'll mount the speakers, you can adequately determine how much wire you need, what kind of mounting hardware will be required, and any other supplies you will have to have on hand for power or other needs.
Have Your Supplies Ready
One of the most frustrating things when you're installing a home theater system is getting halfway through the installation and finding out that you're missing something that you need. Before you even start the project, make sure that you have all of the supplies that you will need.
For example, you're going to want a drill with bits that are properly sized for whatever type of mount you're using. That way, you can make the holes the proper size for each speaker without having to do a lot of patchwork later. If you're installing the speakers into the walls, you may need some drywall and paint to patch the areas once you've cut into them, so consider that before you get started.
In addition, it's always a good rule of thumb to add a foot or two to the total amount of wire that you think you need. It's always easier to coil and tie extra speaker wire than it is to have to stretch the wire or splice it to add more length. You'll get more consistent sound if you don't have to cut into the wire.
You'll also want a stud finder if you're mounting the speakers to the studs. Finally, invest in either surge-protected power outlets or a surge protector plug to help keep your theater system from being damaged by fluctuations in the power supply.
Install The System Correctly
Before you mount the speakers, take the time to run all of the wire. Whether you're running it through an attic, crawl space, or inside the walls, having your speaker wire in place first makes the entire installation easier. You can buy fish tape to help you keep track of the wires inside the walls if necessary. With the wire already run, you'll know for sure that you have enough wire to get the job done before you start cutting into anything for speaker installation.
When you measure and cut your wires, you'll need a way to keep track of which wire goes to which speaker. You can do this in a couple of different ways. You can use nail polish in different colors for each speaker, putting a small dot on the speaker and a little swipe on the corresponding wire. Alternatively, you can use color-coded tape or something similar. The colors make it easier to complete the project because you don't have to try to read a label while you're fishing wire through the walls.
For additional information, contact a company like Evolution Audio Video.
