Choosing the right components for your custom home theater system can be a daunting task. There are so many choices and making sure you get the right set up for your home is important. If you want to create the best home theater system for you and your family, here are a few things you should consider first.
Where to You Fit on the Home Theater Scale?
Before you start shopping, it’s important to figure out where you fit on the scale. It starts with a few questions you want to answer including:
- How often do you listen to music and when?
- Do you immerse yourself in the music or just let it play in the background?
- Does your family enjoy watching movies more or listening to music more?
- How will the look of the system fit with your decor?
- How much can you spend on your new custom home theater system?
Answering these questions will allow you to figure out where you fit on the scale. Once you know where you fit, it will be easier to start matching the right system to your specific needs.
Music or Movies?
Most custom home theater systems will play both music and movies very well. However, these systems can be customized to fit one or the other better. Good sound isn’t just good sound. Music quality requires a different type of speaker system compared to movie quality. These types of tracks are made differently and will play differently on some types of systems.
A good example of how music and movies differ is the unlimited soft-to-loud dynamic range found in movies today. Along with this type of difference, movies also provide a more surround sound type of effect, deeper base and the dialogue will be mixed to the center channel.
Music, on the other hand, provides a more dynamically compressed sound and the base may be nonexistent. Most of the music today isn’t available with multichannel sound, but some of the other music is available in this format.
Does Size Matter?
The simple answer is YES! Size matters quite a bit, actually. If you get speakers for your home theater system and they are too big, it can be overwhelming. However, if they are too small, you may not get the sound quality you desire.
If you want to feel the sound and you want a very powerful experience, a system with 2,500 cubic feet or larger will provide just what you need. This type of system will be a full-size and full-range system with plenty of big sound.
The size of your speakers and your overall system will be based on the size of the room, too. When you’re using the custom home theater system for a larger space, larger speakers are a necessity. However, with a smaller space, you can get away with smaller speakers.
These are just a few of the many things to consider when choosing a custom home theater and sound system. If you’re considering a new system for your home, make sure it fits perfectly with your needs and your space.