Modern technology now allows us to bring what was once only the domain of specialised building spaces right into our own homes. The home theatre lets you enjoy the experience of the big screen every day of the week, not just for movies, but sports, concerts, pay TV, games and even surfing the net. Several key components go into creating this environment.

The most obvious component you’ll require is the large screen TV. The minimum would be a 76cm to 86cm traditional tube or Liquid Crystal Display LCD TV. The most popular screen size is 106 cm and Digital Light Processing (DLP)  screens can give you up to 180 cm of dramatic impact. You really need to be sitting at a comfortable distance from your screen. The larger the screen, the further back you need to be. It’s just common sense. As a general rule, multiply the screen width by 3.3 and that should be the approximate minimum distance you need to be sitting away from the screen. If you have a 1.06 m (the most popular size) plasma screen, you would need to sit back approximately 3.5 m from the screen. The choice is yours, but ensure that it is 1080i HD-TV ready. Projectors and quality screen combination takes you into the next level. Smaller, lighter and less expensive projectors are now available as a result of technology advances. LCD and DLP projectors are the most popular with the latter delivering stunning pictures with very high black levels and excellent contrast. The advice of an experienced home theatre expert such as Living Entertainment North Coast will ensure that you obtain a projector suited to your living environment and the number of people it would accommodate.

To obtain the right sound, you will require speakers and subwoofers. A home theatre system would have a minimum of six speakers. The left and right speakers are common to the stereo reproduction we are most familiar with. In addition to this, the home theatre requires a matching centre speaker for both dialogue and on-screen action, two surround speakers for ambience and special effects, and a powerful subwoofer for reproducing low bass.

Unless you plan on only watching traditional broadcast, cable or satellite TV content, a DVD player would be an ideal source for handling both movies and conventional CDs to produce crisp, colourful video and Dolby Digital audio. If the intention is to connect the player to either a projector or HD-TV, obtain a player with component output and progressive scan.

Pulling all of the above together would be your Audio/Video Receiver. This would be the heart of any good system. Select receivers that have sufficient inputs and outputs for all your current gear with enough left over for later additions. Surround formats such as Dolby Digital 5.1 or DTS are a must and the facility for additional speakers for 6.1 or 7.1 is another consideration.

Going the ‘whole hog’ with customised furniture to create the ‘theatre’ look take home theatre creation to its ultimate level. The choices are endless and this is where consulting with an expert comes into play. The décor, with custom crafted furniture, cinema seating and cabinets that combine aesthetics with technical imperatives like damping vibrations and adequate cooling are the domain of the home theatre expert.

Sound is 50% of the experience. If you don't have a good sound system, you cut the experience dramatically.

George Lucas, movie director

Speakers strategically placed around the room create truly dramatic soundscapes. A typical 5.1-channel setup involves a pair of front speakers, a centre channel speaker, a pair of rear or surround speakers and a subwoofer. Whether you are using small speakers (also known as satellites) that mount discreetly on walls or shelves, or large floor-standing tower speakers, you'll hear details you never dreamed were audible.

The main options for surround sound are to purchase a packaged home theatre system or create one from separate components. Less expensive packages generally prove disappointing, although good quality systems can be obtained at reasonable prices. For a less expansive room, an easy to set up system would be ideal for the person who is not overly concerned about tweaking the sound and video settings. The better quality package systems can deliver impressive performance. Pure sound quality however comes from a set of well chosen individual components.

The sound connoisseur who appreciates control to achieve the precise type of sound preferred will do well with the flexibility and expandability that separate components are able to offer. So give a little thought and ask yourself:

1. Is the system to be used mainly for serious music listening?
2. Will the system form part of a home theatre system?
3. Will this be the start for possible future expansion?

A smart home wiring network uses the latest in data and TV cabling to deliver and distribute phone, data, internet, video, audio and TV signals from a centrally located enclosure or room. Any of these services can be wired to any room you wish via wall outlets containing standard data and TV entertainment points.

A more advanced cable network allows for the introduction of a whole home control system. Sub systems such as lighting, heating, air conditioning, audio-visual, security and telephone can all communicate using simple touch screens and key pads

As audio-visual specialists, we are experts in planning and installing these systems, ideally at the same time as you're doing your electrical wiring. Retrofitting may also be a practical proposition.