How to Set Up a Home Theater

Do you love movies or playing video games? Do you long to have the feeling of being inside a movie theater without stepping foot outside your door? Then a home theater may be the next step in intensifying your experience. With some simple steps, you can have the home theater of your dreams.

Things You'll Need

• Screwdriver
• Screws
• Speaker wire
• HDMI component cable (optional)
• Coaxial Digital Cable (optional)
• Specialized component cable (optional)

Instructions

1. Take measurements of your room. This is an important step: you want a system that works well within the intended space.

2. Establish a budget.

3. Go online or to local stores to learn what home theater systems are available, and which ones would work well within the perimeters of your room and your budget. If you go to a store, ask a lot of questions, and listen to as many systems as you are able.

4. Bring the components of the system into your house once you have made your decision and purchased your home theater.

5. Set up the center speaker. Place it as close to the center of the front of your room as possible. Attach the other end of the speaker wires to the receiver, making certain match the red and black wires with the corresponding posts or terminals.

6. Attach one end of the speaker wires to the posts at the back of the speaker, making certain to match the red/positive wire with the red post, and the black wire with the black post. (If the wires are not color-coded, look for little crosses or some other markings to differentiate the two wires.)

7. Fasten the other end of the speaker wires to the receiver, making certain match the red and black wires with the corresponding posts or terminals.

8. Place the front left and right speakers as illustrated in the manual. Be careful to match up the speaker wires with the appropriate posts at the back of the speakers. Attach the other end of the speaker wires to the receiver.

9. Hook up your surround speakers as illustrated in the manual, if your system came with them. Be certain to hook up the speaker wires to the appropriate posts on the back of the speakers, then attach the other end of the wires to the receiver.

10. Set up the subwoofer as illustrated in the manual. Placement is critical and will depend on the layout of the room. If the wire for the subwoofer is not supplied with the system, buy the wire specified in the manual. You may be given a choice of grades from which to chose, as well as various lengths. Attach the other the wire to the subwoofer and the receiver.

11. Connect your source components such as your TV, DVD player, video player, and game systems. Simply plug the two ends of the cables into the labeled or color-coded sockets. If your system does not have labels on the back of the receiver, check the manual for information.

12. Sit back and enjoy.

Tips & Warnings

• Follow the instructions in the home theater system manual carefully. By not doing so, you could create a system that does not work properly or to its specifications.

• In order to maintain consistent polarity, always connect either end of the speaker wires in the same fashion: the black/negative wire to the black/negative terminals of the speakers and receiver, and the red/positive wire to the red/positive terminals of the speakers and receiver.

• Keep the boxes for all the home theater components in case you have to return the system to the store.

Resources

• The Best Buy site has a helpful section on setting up a home theater system
• CNET offers not only describes the benefits of home theater, but provides a list of components that are available with product reviews.
• Hometheatersetup.com provides information about home theater systems, and how to set up home theaters.