Home theater system installation tips,tricks and advice for beginners
May 11, 2007 by Joe Boyle · Leave a Comment
Home theater system installation tips, trick and advice for beginners … great idea you are probably thinking I haven’t got a clue where to get started with my home theater installation and I could do with some handy hints so I don’t make a total hash of it.
Well have you noticed that most men … myself included always start to do things the wrong way round? Let me give you an example we decide we are going to decorate the bedroom don’t know one end of paint brush from another but it will save money.
3 Weeks Later You End Up Paying
But after 3 weeks we have the wife or girlfriend saying we are not sleeping with them until it’s finished we eventually give up and go and call a painter and decorator. Who after various tut’s and hmm’s that’s going to be expensive ends up costing us twice what it would of if we gave him the job in the first place.
Well doing it yourself home theater installation is a bit like that for many people, they get everything home from the store decide the couple of hundred the guy was going to charge for setting it all up was money better in their pockets and they start getting everything out of the boxes throw the instruction books in the corner and start assembling this mass of wires and components.
Good DIY Project or Dumb Idea?
So you might be asking is home theater installation a good DIY project or a recipe for disaster? The answer to that question will depend both your experience level (which if your are a newbie is likley to be pretty scant) and on the exact nature of the home theater system in question.
A good rule of thumb is if you paid more than a few hundred don’t even dream about trying to set it up yourself if you spent thousands of dollars on top end home theater equipment and don’t know your woofer from your tweeter or your center speaker from your decoder you are asking for trouble.
If the work involves wireless installation or cutting holes in panels and you are hopeless at DIY don’t even go there…
Mistakes Cost Money!
But few of us, however, are looking for anything quite that extreme but remember a simple mistake can cost a lot to put right.
If however you simply paid a few hundred dollars on an all-in-one home theater system which you brought off the net or second hand off eBay don’t bother paying for a professional instal unless you are a complete techno phobe.These low-end systems are particularly built for ease of installation and can be handled by pretty much anyone who reads the intructions.
Again, however, most of us don’t fall into this category either even less read the instructions…
The greater number of us fall somewhere between these two extremes.
Perhaps we have purchased separate components and a nice five-speaker surround sound set, but have stopped short of making a huge investment that would obviously warrant professional help.
Those of us in the middle and have read the manuals properly can generally handle a pretty basic home theater installation when it just involves connecting all the home theater components .
First, and most importantly, if you a novice or even if you are upgrading some home theater componets you should read all documentation and instructions things change. I had never even heard of an Optilink when I brought my first system and if you import from the Far East like I did a few years ago you can forget scart as they moved on from that years ago.
It is also important to have a clear understanding of how to hook things up and why they are hooked up this way. Don’t be tempted just to dive in immediately, read the supporting materials provided by the manufacturer even if they are poor translation which looks like it was written by a 7th grader or worse. I have found some manufacturers provide very useful information and with high end equipment this can be essential.
Second, use the right tools for the job. Home theater installations that involve using the kitchen equipment are likely to have several weak links. Take the time to use the right tools for the job and don’t compromise on quality of connectors,speaker wires and the like…
Finally, stop if it isn’t working!!!
It is possible to do permanent damage to components during installation and you if not done properly. You don’t want to hear a big bang and kiss goodbye to hundreds of dollars of equipment in puff of smoke.Most equipment has protection circuitry but it is not designed to be a substitute for stupidty or lack of understanding.
Generally, damage of this sort is not covered by warranties. Don’t risk your investment by experimenting when something goes wrong. Consult the documentation and troubleshoot likely problems. If nothing seems to work, put the project down and call in a pro every time…
Most of us can handle our home theater installation needs. All we need to do is remember a few basic guidelines and we are likely to emerge from the process with a fully operable home entertainment center that will make movie watching at home a real joy just follow my home theater installation tips. and tricks and you’ll be OK.
Tags: av components, do it yourself, home theater, home theater advice, home theater installation, optilink
Which Home Theater Selection Mistakes Do You Make?
January 23, 2007 by Joe Boyle · Leave a Comment
So which home theater selection mistakes are you making or have made in the past?
We all want to own home theater equipment but so many people don’t carry out the required research to get it right first time round.
As a result, they end up with systems that don’t do what they need them to do which I have to confess has been me on more than one occasion.
I still frequently kick myself knowing that I should have brought that Bose system I was offered in Malaysia for less than half the cost of the US. Still no point in living with regrets as long as you learn from your mistakes right?
Sometimes they end up with systems that are far too powerful than what they really need that was why I should of brought the Bose instead of the system with subwoofer which sounds like the San Adres fault is cracking open. Great for the blockbusters but sucked on the concert video’s.
Being a well-informed and researched buyer can avoid all of this although I have to say I should have know better at the time.
Today I will discuss a few common errors in home theater selection in hopes of providing you with the information you need to avoid such problems.
Tags: amplifiers, blockbusters, bose, Home Theater Equipment, home theater systems, movie, Toshiba
Common Solutions To Home Theater Sound Problems
January 23, 2007 by Joe Boyle · Leave a Comment
Common solutions to home theater sound problems is something I get asked for frequently by readers of home theater fanatic almost daily.
Sometimes a reader thinks they have assembled the perfect home theater system only to find themselves dissatisfied with the performance which more often than not is a sound issue rather than picture.
In some cases, this is attributable to just simply making a poor purchase or buying incompatible equipment.Today I am going to look at some common causes of disappointment and will look at how such problems can be avoided by choosing products that better meet your needs and will enhance your pleasure with your home theater equipment.
Tags: home theater problems, home theater upgrade, hometheater, speaker connectors, speaker wires, stereo amplifier, video playback
