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Choosing your home theater is one of the most important decisions you will make this year. If you make the right decisions it will bring you hours of enjoyment, if you make the wrong decisions it will bring you nothing but headaches. Here are some basics that you need to know to make the right decision for your needs.

-Look at what you plan on using it for. If it is for music, you will need a high quality stereo amplifier and only two speakers. If you want it for movies, you will need a good DVD player with a digital out, and at least a Dolby Digital 5.1 Amp. I prefer DTS ES, which is 6.1 (These numbers tell you how many speaker channels there are 6.1= 6 speakers + 1 powered Subwoofer).

-Bigger is not better anymore. Most people want smaller speakers that perform better. It may cost you a little bit more, but the system will be nicer and less intrusive if you pay a little more for smaller higher performing speakers.

-The DVD player needs a digital out to get the digital sound of DTS or Dolby digital. If you hook it up any other way, you will not be getting the best sound out of your home theater. To hook the DVD player up digitally, you need to use either an optical wire, or a PCM cable. Many people think that optical is better, but in fact it is not superior in any way, except that it is really cool to have.

-There is much argument over the use of wiring and how it effects your home theater. Many audiophiles will argue that better wire equals better sound. I always say to buy cheaper wire when you start to keep costs low, then upgrade it when after you have had it for a while. One thing to remember with wires is that you should always use equal lengths of wire. If one speaker has a longer wire, it will effect how long the power takes to get to it, and even 1 millisecond can have dramatic effects in sound performance.

-You want to try and match speakers whenever possible different types of speakers have different sound, and mixing speakers will affect the performance. Speakers should also be spaced at equal distances from your main seating area. If you are really concerned about he distances, you can get a decibel meter and compare and adjust the decibel level of all speakers from your main seating location.

-Subwoofers sound different if you place them in different areas. If you find that you are not getting enough bass, or a sufficient level of performance out of your sub, try moving it around to a different spot. I find that if you have it facing a corner, you will notice a significant difference in performance.

-It may seem obvious, but make sure that the power output on your amp does not exceed the maximum acceptable by your speakers. If it does, you will probably blow them, also make sure that the power on your amp is not too low for your speakers either. Generally speaking, you should never have to turn your volume up passed half way, if you do, the power will not be as clean and will not sound as good.

-One last thing that is always good for a home theater is a powerbar. You spend a fortune on this stuff and you need to protect it against power spikes and surges. You can buy a cheap one to get the job done, but there are home theater specific power bars available. I use the Monster Powerbar. They have created a superior powerbar that protects your equipment and also has a power filter in it that cleans the power before sending it out to your equipment. The cleaner power creates a longer life expectancy and improves quality and performance.

Follow my simple steps, and you will be enjoying great sound for years to come!

Learn more about this author, D. Trump.
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