How to Set Up a Receiver-Based Home Theater System

Once you get your home theatre receiver to your house, there is still plenty of work to do before you can enjoy it. This article will make the set up process for your new receiver based home theatre system a breeze. Here are some steps on how to set up a receiver-based home theater system.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Home Theater System
• DVD
• Receiver
• Television

1. Read the owner’s manual for instructions that are specific to your components.
2. Make sure you have all of the necessary wires to hook up components to you home theatre receiver. Most components come with wires, but you may need to purchase extra speaker wire.
3. Plug the red, white and yellow component wires from your cable, antenna or dish into your VCR/ DVD player. Run another set of component wires from the VCR/DVD player into your television or projector. Make sure you plug the RCA cables into the “antenna out” on your cable or satellite box and into the “antenna in” on your television.
4. Connect the VCR and DVD player into the back of your receiver. Be sure to plug the color-corresponding wires into the “in” slots on the receiver and the “out” slots from the VCR/DVD player.
5. Now connect your CD player, phonograph, tape player and any other audio playback machines into your home theatre receiver. Most receivers will have labels on the rear for the corresponding audio components.
6. Connect the speakers and subwoofer to the back of your home theatre receiver. Pay attention to the polarity of the wire you are plugging in; make sure it matches the input.
7. Position the speakers with the left and right speakers pointed directly forward, the subwoofer below the television, the center speaker on top of the television and the surround speakers mounted on the back wall.
8. Test your system and adjust the placement and settings to your personal preferences.

Tips & Warnings

• Purchase components that meet your specific needs. Don’t spend too much money on a system that is more than what you need. A small theater needs less powerful equipment than a theater for a large living room with vaulted ceilings.
• Be sure that all your components are compatible. Pay special attention to the compatibility of the amplifier and speakers.
• Be sure to plug each color into its color-corresponding slot.
• Keep your boxes and the packing material. These will come in handy if you have to move or return any items.
• Your television’s sound output will come through the receiver. To turn up the volume you will just need to adjust the receiver’s volume.
• Read the manual before setting it up. The manual will contain helpful set-up information and may prevent you from voiding the warranty by assembling it improperly.
• Never plug components into a receiver that is powered on. This could result in electric shock.
• Always hook components into the proper space. Every space on the back of a receiver is clearly labeled with the name of the components that should go there. Never force something to go in to a slot.

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