http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/06/ask-engadget-hd-how-do-i-take-my-home-theater-to-the-next-level/ Engadget Comments for Ask Engadget HD: How do I take my home theater to the next level? http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/06/ask-engadget-hd-how-do-i-take-my-home-theater-to-the-next-level/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/06/ask-engadget-hd-how-do-i-take-my-home-theater-to-the-next-level/
Second, I'd do a nice sub (like Emotiva's new model, an AV123 MFW15, or a Hsu or SVS) to really kick the bass up a notch.

Third, I'd consider speakers or seating, depending on which of those is the weak link in your current setup. I don't think you need a $20k set of speakers for HT, but that's very subjective. Let me put it this way. If your speakers came from a big box store, you could probably do better. Emotiva, Axiom, Ascend, Paradigm, Polk, etc. Just nothing from Bose!]]>May 6th 2010 3:39PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/05/06/ask-engadget-hd-how-do-i-take-my-home-theater-to-the-next-level/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/06/ask-engadget-hd-how-do-i-take-my-home-theater-to-the-next-level/Funny, just last night a visited a friend's house were he had done exactly that. His dedicated home theater is just a small curtained off side of his basement. It is very modest size, but he's still got a 106" screen and a 1080p projector. But the black ceiling and black curtained walls really made the picture pop when the lights were turned off. I just got his only screen and 720p projector from him. But my basement room is a lot bigger and it currently multi-purpose. I think I may still do the black curtains though.]]>May 7th 2010 2:33PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/05/06/ask-engadget-hd-how-do-i-take-my-home-theater-to-the-next-level/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/06/ask-engadget-hd-how-do-i-take-my-home-theater-to-the-next-level/May 6th 2010 3:44PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/05/06/ask-engadget-hd-how-do-i-take-my-home-theater-to-the-next-level/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/06/ask-engadget-hd-how-do-i-take-my-home-theater-to-the-next-level/
I made custom shelving with Ambient Lighting built in. I thought it was a nice touch. If you want unique though and have some dough, Stadium seating with subwoofers in the seats, and a keg-orator built in!

All the sudden my urinal idea makes a little more sense...]]>May 6th 2010 3:45PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/05/06/ask-engadget-hd-how-do-i-take-my-home-theater-to-the-next-level/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/06/ask-engadget-hd-how-do-i-take-my-home-theater-to-the-next-level/May 7th 2010 1:57PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/05/06/ask-engadget-hd-how-do-i-take-my-home-theater-to-the-next-level/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/06/ask-engadget-hd-how-do-i-take-my-home-theater-to-the-next-level/May 6th 2010 4:03PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/05/06/ask-engadget-hd-how-do-i-take-my-home-theater-to-the-next-level/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/06/ask-engadget-hd-how-do-i-take-my-home-theater-to-the-next-level/May 6th 2010 6:11PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/05/06/ask-engadget-hd-how-do-i-take-my-home-theater-to-the-next-level/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/06/ask-engadget-hd-how-do-i-take-my-home-theater-to-the-next-level/
They make a loveseat style with no center arm. That's what we use.]]>May 7th 2010 2:03PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/05/06/ask-engadget-hd-how-do-i-take-my-home-theater-to-the-next-level/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/06/ask-engadget-hd-how-do-i-take-my-home-theater-to-the-next-level/
I am a gear freak, but after hearing some great theaters which had properly-designed rooms, I was sold on fixing the room before spending serious money on the gear.

The room in question had about $30,000 in isolation and treatments, yet the cost of all the speakers (active) and preamp was just under $30,000. Yet, I have heard $100,000+ of speakers/amps/preamp in a 'normal' room, and it just didn't do anything for me.]]>May 6th 2010 6:19PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/05/06/ask-engadget-hd-how-do-i-take-my-home-theater-to-the-next-level/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/06/ask-engadget-hd-how-do-i-take-my-home-theater-to-the-next-level/]]>May 6th 2010 6:27PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/05/06/ask-engadget-hd-how-do-i-take-my-home-theater-to-the-next-level/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/06/ask-engadget-hd-how-do-i-take-my-home-theater-to-the-next-level/May 6th 2010 6:43PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/05/06/ask-engadget-hd-how-do-i-take-my-home-theater-to-the-next-level/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/06/ask-engadget-hd-how-do-i-take-my-home-theater-to-the-next-level/May 6th 2010 6:57PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/05/06/ask-engadget-hd-how-do-i-take-my-home-theater-to-the-next-level/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/06/ask-engadget-hd-how-do-i-take-my-home-theater-to-the-next-level/
After the room's construction is addressed, focus on acoustically treating your room and adjust the lighting to make the most of your audio/video environment.

All the while, you should be planning ahead for silent HVAC. You should make sure that dedicated electrical outlets are in the proper positions. Make sure that all of your cabling is run correctly in the walls, ceiling and floor.

If you create a great room, then and only then can you reap the rewards of your carefully selected gear :)]]>May 7th 2010 5:40AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/05/06/ask-engadget-hd-how-do-i-take-my-home-theater-to-the-next-level/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/06/ask-engadget-hd-how-do-i-take-my-home-theater-to-the-next-level/May 7th 2010 10:33AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/05/06/ask-engadget-hd-how-do-i-take-my-home-theater-to-the-next-level/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/06/ask-engadget-hd-how-do-i-take-my-home-theater-to-the-next-level/May 7th 2010 1:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/05/06/ask-engadget-hd-how-do-i-take-my-home-theater-to-the-next-level/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/06/ask-engadget-hd-how-do-i-take-my-home-theater-to-the-next-level/May 7th 2010 10:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/05/06/ask-engadget-hd-how-do-i-take-my-home-theater-to-the-next-level/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/06/ask-engadget-hd-how-do-i-take-my-home-theater-to-the-next-level/
If you're listening to same bass heavy music and ever wonder why certain low frequences sound a little louder than other low frequencies in your room, then you probably need a bass trap.]]>May 8th 2010 9:17AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/05/06/ask-engadget-hd-how-do-i-take-my-home-theater-to-the-next-level/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/06/ask-engadget-hd-how-do-i-take-my-home-theater-to-the-next-level/May 18th 2010 1:54PM