Setting Up A Home Theater System

You saved the cash and finally purchased that home theater system you have been eyeing at the furniture store. The salesman tells you repeatedly how much you will love your new system and how easy it is to hook up, “you’ll feel like your at the movies, in no time” he says, loading the system in your car. Now on your way home, you are so excited, you just can’t wait to get home and hook that baby up! Once home however, you remove everything from the boxes and your enthusiasm quickly becomes confusion which in turn leads to frustration. There appears to be a jumble of a hundred cords and several different components with ports that are labeled input and output. Well just relax, don’t go packing everything up to return it just yet, there is hope.

When attempting to get your new system up and running think of the components, such as the DVD player, as the beginning point and the TV and loudspeaker as the end point. Your goal is to get video signal from the add on components to the TV or video display and to hear audio from your speakers. The follow instructions are for a basic setup, consisting of a television, AV receiver, DVD player and a VCR or DVD recorder. This setup can be a little difficult, but is not impossible and usually takes about an hour and a half.

Setting up a home theater system:

1. Connect the satellite, cable or antenna service (whichever you currently use) to the VCR or DVD recorder, and then to the television. This allows both the TV and the VCR/DVD recorder to broadcast a signal. If you currently use both a DVD and VCR recorder it is best to have your incoming cable (satellite or antenna) split and hooked up separately.

2. The audio and video outputs of VCR/DVD recorder should be connected to your AV receivers video inputs. If you are wanting to use both the VCR and DVD, use the VCR1 connection on your AV receiver to connect your VCR and the VCR2 connection for your DVD recorder.

3. Then connect the VCR audio and video outputs to the audio video inputs of the AV receiver. This allows for recording video signals coming through the AV receiver and for play back and viewing of the signal on the television.

4. Now connect one video output of the DVD player to the DVD player video input of your AV receiver. Also, now is the time to connect the digital optical or digital coaxial audio to the receiver. which will provide you with digital surround sound. You can also use a DVD players digital audio connection.

5. If you want to connect a CD only player or changer to the TV, connect the CD’s analog or digital audio to your receiver.

6. Now your ready to hook up your TV monitor, simply run a line from the output of the AV receiver to one of the video inputs on your television. This will allow you to view images from the VCR or DVD player on your TV. Using this setup the AV receiver will need to be on either VCR/DVD player mode, not on a specific channel, to view the video signal from your receiver.

7. Next, if your TV has audio outputs connect them to the TV or aux audio inputs on your AV receiver. This must be done in order to view standard television through the cable or satellite connection. This is also the only way to hear, when offered, programs broadcast in surround sound.

8. If you are using BluRay or HD-DVD players, that you want connected to your system, your setup will depend on the HDMI connections available on your new home theater system. If your system has the HDMI output, hook your BluRay/HD-DVD to it and then to the receiver. If the system has HDMI pass through only, you will have to add a digital audio, using audio or coaxial or a 5.1 channel and an audio connection between the player and receiver in order to use the BluRay or HD-DVD player.

9. Connect the speakers to the AV receiver, watching your polarity, positive is red and negative is black. Also, make sure the speakers are connected ion the proper order, i.e. center, front left and right and rear left and right if its a five speaker system.

10. The subwoofer output line of the AV receiver needs to be connected to the subwoofer. Next, place your loud speaker in the correct position, for your system.

11. Set up surround sound speakers in a way that will provide the best allover sound. What sound is coming out of which speaker will not be discernible, if the speakers are set up correctly. Many systems come with a test tone generator to aid in setting the sound level, if your system does not have one an inexpensive soundmeter can be purchased and will work just as well.

The following is an example of setting us the 5.1 surround sound system, other sound systems will be set up similarly, but will have additional speakers that the manufacturer will provide placement information for.

The front center channel, or speaker, should be placed directly in front, but above or below the level of the television. The subwoofer is put to the left or right of the TV. The left and right main, or front, speakers should be set at an approximately thirty degree angle from the center of the TV, as well as equidistant from it. The surround centers should then be set on the left and right sides of the television, just to the side or behind the listener. If they are locate approximately ninety to one-hundred degrees from the center speaker the sound quality will be improved.
 
Buying a new home theater system can be a rewarding, but expensive experience. Researching the options and prices associated with the system you want can help tremendously. Plan a budget, go shop and when you get home, don’t fret about all of those wires and connections. Educate yourself and setting up your new home theater system will be a pleasant experience.