How to Build A Home Theater System Step by Step

Do you love the large screens, great sound and enjoyment of going to the movies, but don't want to go out every night in order to see a great film? Well, maybe it's time to build a home theater system. Yes, it sounds like a really daunting task, but it doesn't have to be.

The TV

Let's start with the television. Now technically, any basic TV will work, but if you want to begin to duplicate a movie theater experience, you have to start with a bigger screen. For home theaters, at least a 27inch TV is the minimum. There are a few things to keep in mind when purchasing a TV for your home theater. The idea is to get a big screen, but remember where you're going to put it. There's no point in buying a huge TV and then it's so awkward in the space that it makes viewing uncomfortable.

Also, note the quality of the picture when buying a TV. What's the point of a TV that's big on size but small on quality? And lastly, make sure your TV has at least one set of audio/video inputs and one set of outputs. This will be very important when connecting the sound system of your home theater system.

The Surround Sound Receiver

Besides the big screen, sound is one of the major things enjoyed at the movie theater. But how do you get theater sound at home? Well you need to make sure you connect the surround sound receiver, also known as the home theater receiver, because it is one of the most important parts of how to build a home theater system. It is like the brain between your audio and video components. The receiver takes all the signals from the movie or show you're watching and transforms it into surround sound that comes out of the speakers.

The Speakers

Now speakers are another big part of your home theater system. Good sound quality depends on them. You need at least 4 to 5 speakers to create surround sound. It is important to focus on features such as loudness, crispness, and space when choosing speakers. Depending on what your want and your budget, you can choose speakers that deliver a certain level of sound and you can get them as small or as big as you want. If you want to really go the extra mile in replicating your movie experience, you may look into a subwoofer. This is not a necessity, but it does make a big difference when watching an action-packed movie with lots of explosions, for instance. If you're not sure, compare the sound of a movie with and without one when shopping for subwoofers.

VCR

When creating your home theater, you'll probably watch a lot of home movies in addition to your regular TV shows. The VCR, though once really popular, is losing its demand with the increase of DVD players. But if you already have home movies or other items in VHS format and don't want to part with having a VCR, you can still have a great home theater system. The one thing to look out for is to make sure you VCR is compatible to your surround sound system. One way to know if it's compatible is if the words "hi-fi" are on the VCR somewhere. If this is on your VCR, you probably don't have to worry about buying a new one. But if not, instead of buying a new VCR, maybe it's time to invest in a DVD player all together.

DVD

The letters DVD (digital versatile disk) are becoming so common today that VCRs are almost obsolete. If you want to experience the closest thing to actually going out to the movies, watching a video on a DVD player is the next best thing. DVDs allow you to view movies at an intense level and the images are much sharper and crisper with unbelievable sound quality. You can't get these effects with a VCR.

Everyone's idea of how to build a home theater system is different and there's so much to choose from. The most important thing to remember is to make sure you purchase what works best for you.