DIY Network

Home Theater: How to Install a Home Theater A recessed movie screen frame was built and the walls were painted a dark tone to create a cinema setting in this home theater project. From "Sweat Equity" episode DSEQ-108

Enhance your home theater with movie-themed posters, wall sconces or even a popcorn machine.

Amy showed Dawn and Ron how to frame specifically for their home theater, but now the real work begins. Running AV cords through the frame, soundproofing under the drywall and painting the walls will all add to the cinema experience. Ron and Dawn hire professionals to install the peripherals so their finished product will be worth the price.

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Materials:

sound stop board
AV rack
home theater components: stereo, DVD player, receiver, etc.
wall-mounted speakers
AV cables
projector
screen
keyhole saw
screwdriver
paint

	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D
	Figure E
	Figure F
	Figure G
	Figure H

Home Theater Installation Tips:

• Running AV cords behind the walls gives the room a tidy and professional appearance.

• Building your own home theater can save you some serious cash, but having a professional for the initial plan and the finishing touches is often worth the price.

Safety Alerts:

• Always wear protective eyewear when working with power tools.

• When working with electricity always turn off your circuits prior to working with electrical components.

How to Install a Home Theater:

• Contractor Adam Berlin helps Ron design and install a frame that will be compatible with their home theater room and that will support their recessed movie screen (figure A).

• Ben and Ash of Audio Visual Specialties come in to plan the space. Ash runs AV cables through the framing (figure B), leaving wires exposed behind the screen for a center speaker, on either side of the screen for right and left speakers and in the ceiling for the projector. Then he brings all these cables to the back of the room, where all the components are housed.

• After installing a soundboard and the drywall, Ron primes the room a cobalt blue. He finishes the room with a navy blue (figure C).

  Tip: For a dark navy color, prime a white wall with a dark primer. This will save you from painting more coats of your final color. And a dark room will provide you with the best image from your home theater.

• When the paint dries, Ben and Ash return to install the peripherals. They cut holes in the drywall for the wall-mounted speakers (figure D), and then they attach the AV cables to the speakers (figure E) and secure the speaker to the wall with a screwdriver (figure F). Balancing the sound with a right speaker, a left speaker and a center speaker will provide the optimum sound quality.

• Ben hangs Ron’s custom-built movie screen into the recessed space (figure G).

• Next, Ash attaches the projector to the ceiling and calibrates the image to the screen (figure H).

  Tip: Your best home theater investment is in the video system, whether it is a projector or a television.

• Ben and Ash mount Ron’s DVD player, stereo and receiver in an AV rack, and attach all the cables. They test the image and sound quality to make sure all of the system components run smoothly.

RESOURCES :

Handyman Matters
Website: www.handymanmatters.com

Home Theater Marketplace
Website: HTmarket.com

GUESTS :

Adam Berlin
General Contractor
Maverick Home Remodeling Inc.
Website: www.RenewTheHome.com

Ben VanFossen
Audio Video Specialties LLC
Website: www.avsofdenver.com

Ash Hampshire
Audio Video Specialties LLC
Website: www.avsofdenver.com