SETTING UP YOUR HOME IS AS EASY AS 1,2…

April 14, 2010

By David Susilo & Glen Peloso

So, you’ve bought your home theatre essentials – that shiny new plasma television with its matching Blu-ray player, those towering speakers, and that heavyweight champion of a receiver… but what next?

First we have to talk about wiring. There is no need to buy über-expensive HDMI and speaker wires. For most applications, cheap (but not cheaply built) HDMI cables and thick speaker wires (12 AWG or larger) are adequate.

Now what? It’s time to set up your home theatre.

First, install your TV at eye level when you’re sitting down. Failure to do so will be a real pain in the neck – literally. Make sure you don’t sit too far from the television – no further away than double the screen width. Why pay an exorbitant amount for that enormous TV when you’re going to view it from a couple hundred yards away? Then go to your TV menu, set the video preset to “movie” and be done with it. Ideally, you want the TV to be ISF-calibrated by a certified ISF technician (your Uncle Bob will not do, unless he is ISF certified, of course) to a standard adhered to by studios around the world. This is done not only to better your viewing experience, but also to prolong the life of your TV since other modes, especially “dynamic” tend to shorten the life of your TV and burn your retinas.

Second, install your speakers. Remember, it’s called “surround sound.” That means the sound surrounds you, therefore the speakers should be placed around you in an equidistant manner with you sitting right smack-dab in the middle. If this is not possible (most setups will force you to sit closer to the rear speakers) then you’ll need to set up your receiver further. In this day and age, most receivers will have their own automatic calibration systems. So instead of giving you a formula on how to set your home theatre and throw you a barrage of technical mumbo-jumbo, just get the supplied mic that comes with your receiver, set it at the spot where you usually sit, prop it with a bunch of pillows so it’s at your ear level pointing up, then press the button. That’s it. You’re now ready to enjoy your glitzy new home theatre. Of course, you can make your home theatre look spiffy with various home-theatre accessories and a really nice sofa, but I can’t advise you there. For that you have to go to my buddy Glen (Glen Peloso Interiors) for advice. Read on!

In the style of any good television show, I start by thanking David for that introduction and the camera cuts to me (Glen) on location. However this is print, and the location is wherever you’re reading this, so use your imagination!

From a décor perspective, you would ideally like to free the room of wires criss-crossing every visible area, so it’s a good idea to plan this carefully and bury the wires in the walls. We are all too often in love with the idea of the television and size, but haven’t really thought about how it will fit in the room. Once you have it there, it becomes the esthetic focus of the space. If that room also has a fireplace, I recommend that you hang the television above the fireplace so the room doesn’t have two focuses. The fireplace will win that battle every time, as it is generally brick or stone, and built in.

Presuming you don’t have a fireplace, you have to decide how the television will arrive at the desired height. You can either wall-mount the TV and have the components below it, or you can build a shelving unit specifically for the TV and sit it on a shelf. The advantage is that TVs are now relatively narrow so you won’t need to take up 24 in. of floor space for your built-in unit. The base of the built-in should be approximately 15 in. deep to house the components, and some thought must be given to how you will activate those units via remote control. If the doors are solid then an “eye” can be installed in the face of the door, or the doors can be made of mesh to allow for remote-control signals to reach your TV. Conversely you can leave the components fully exposed, as they generally look pretty fantastic these days.

I think it is also a good idea to arrange for some storage around the television. Your collection of CDs and DVDs can quickly turn into a mess if they don’t have a proper home. The addition of children and the accompanying Xbox and Wii will make you wish that you added storage. There’s no guarantee they will use it, but at least it will be there!

Make sure the room has comfortable seating with some support. Generally, you’re going to sit for a long stretch of time while you watch your favourite shows and movies. Also consider the fabric that you use on this seating. Experience tells me that there is going to be some eating accompanying the watching. I would avoid sofas with too many cushions, as it is difficult to get great back support. Theatre seating isn’t essential if it’s out of the budget, but be sure to find seating that suits the ratio of tail bone to knees so you can sit up comfortably for a prolonged period of time.

The final thing to consider in this room is the light source. Ideally you want the room to have controlled lighting. That means that you want to be able to block out the day or street lights completely and control the lighting yourself. Often “home theatres” are in the basement because that room has the least amount of window glazing, but wherever you place the television, remember that you are going to want black-out panels on the windows. The ideal situation is pot lighting or indirect lighting to avoid glare on the screen, but still allow for some other light source in the room regardless of how dim.

Once the television is set up and the room is together, there is nothing left except time for the family, friends and loved ones to get together in the room and enjoy! Now back to you – in the control room!

Glen Peloso has been an endless student of the creative process. In more than 10 years in the design business, Glen’s name is known internationally, appearing on more than 300 contracts in both commercial and residential design. His success lead to the start of his own firm, Glen Peloso Interiors. www.glenpelosointeriors.com
David Susilo is an audio/video specialist and photographer. For more info, visit www.davidsusilo.com

Filed under: FROM THE EXPERTS