Be Smart in building a Home Theater - size does not matter

For a lot of people, as seen on many TV shows and movies, a home theater setup is mandatory piece of there home. You wouldn't find a home without a kitchen. To many the same can be said of a home theater, it's a necessary part of the house. The initial home theaters were born out of necessity. Filmmakers needed to preview footage, movies and watch screen tests. They slowly grew into status symbol amongst the wealthy in Hollywood and very quickly spread across the nation.

Early home theaters were very primitive compared to today's super theater setups. Often they were small with a projector and some theater seating. Some more advanced early users however created elaborate rooms that were made to match the rest of their homes.

Nowadays it is very easy to setup your own similar system. Unlike the early days, today there is a vast range of equipment to be had. There are many models of screens, projectors, monitors and seating. If you want the full movie theater experience you can even buy hotdog, cotton candy and of course, popcorn machines.

Before you start to purchase equipment left and right like I know you will be tempted to do first take into consideration your floor space. 50 years ago finding space for your 25-inch television was a simple task. Today we have so many components and cables that it can be difficult to place it all. Look at your projected space and imagine where the big-screen TV, seven speakers, and multitude of AV gear are going to go. Many people also have a tendency to build a system that is much to powerful for their limited amount of space.

Without a solid initial game plan your home theater goal will soon become an expensive mess. If you can barely squeeze in a flat panel television then that is pretty much the extent of your theater. If your only space available is a corner of your living room that narrows down the list of what you can and cannot have as well. A home theater that fits your space and your style is not what you want, no matter how hard that salesman pushes. A home theater should recreate being at a movie theater. Find your spaces and move from there.

Believe it or not size does not matter in the home theater game. It's the overall feeling that your home theater puts you into. The sound should be crisp and deep while the screen should temporarily avert your mind to what your surroundings are.