This may seem like a silly question to some, but there are many people out there who hear the words “home theater” thrown around without really understanding what they mean. While there is no one definition of what really makes a home theater (is it a mini-movie theater in your basement? or just a TV and a sound system?), there are some basic components that most home theaters have, as well as a few extras that many home theaters should have.
In order to determine what your ideal home theater would be, ask yourself a few questions. What kind of entertainment do you like? Movies? CDs? TV? How many people are going to use your home theater? Just the family? Friends and neighbors? What features would you most like to see? Great video? Mind-blowing sound? How much are you willing to spend? Are you a DIY-type, or would you get a professional installation service? By going through a mental checklist of what you’ll use your home theater for, who will be most active in using it, and how you want to approach creating it, you will be able to choose components and design the layout with confidence.
