ClosetPlace
603 569-5609 make life easier
Newbie's Guide to Building a Home Entertainment Center
Planning Your Home’s Media Center
Boy, do things change quickly in the realm of electronic media devices. Just five years ago I purchased a new TV to watch the Patriots play the Panthers in the Super Bowl. TV’s have evolved through several generations since then, and when confronting the decision to make an upgrade prior to this season’s Super Bowl game. HD TV, Internet enabled TV, HDMI ports, USB port, DVG, DVD, Blue Ray, LCD, LED, Plasma... my mind boggled at the choices in options and features.
Okay, so after hours on the Internet, and then several more hours of trudging through retail stores, chatting up the Geek Squad and several Sears electronics sales people, we finally made a product choice—a 42” LCD, HDTV, and a Blu-Ray player that is internet ready to stream internet content onto my TV.
Wow! Twelve short years ago I had a TV the weight and size of an anchor streaming the airway with a pair of rabbit ears.
What a new world HDTV is! The new box—or should I say wafer—was super easy to set up as was the Blu-Ray player.
Only one problem. Who has an Ethernet connection next to their TV? Well, I’m sure there’s lots of really tech-savvy folks out there who have planned for just this very thing, and a whole lot more. The rest of us have lots of catching up to do. But now, after you read these tips on setting up your home’s entertainment center, you’ll be one of the smart guys too.
What kind of pre-wiring do you need to do? Internet connections, sound systems, Tivo. If you are thinking of building a home entertainment cabinet or purchasing a new TV or DVD player you'll want to consider updating the wiring in the wall you'll be working with, or even your whole house. The ways we use video, music, and personal computing devices are evolving and everything seems to be converging into one integrated piece.
The wiring basics:
You'll want to consider what type of devices you want to connect both now and into the future to provide the right connections without creating a super rat's nest of cobbled together wiring. Consider these at minimum:
- Coaxial cable
- Ethernet ports
- Speaker wiring
- Satellite radio
- Cable box
Components and devices:
Consider how you use these devices. The options for integrating all of your entertainment and communication devices into your home are staggering. The basics may involve one wall or you may want a central video and music control system integrated intro every room of your home.
- TV
- DVD or Blue Ray player
- Radio
- I pod docking
- Stereo Components
- Hard drive/PC
- Wireless mouse and keyboard
- wireless speaker system
- telephone
Wire Management:
Whatever your set-up, you want it neat and organized so you can clean house, maintain your system, and solve problems when they arrise. I like to consult with my electricain to help me set up any media space, from living room to home office. If you are thinking of integrated control systems for your whole home that involve media, home theater, lighting, and security, a specialty firm like DC Home Systems can provide the expert service and advice you need.
Other Considerations:
Consult with your dealer or installer to get the most out of your entertainment devices. For best layout of your room, locating seating, window treatments, lighting, etc, you may benefit from a consult with an interior decorator like Randy Trainor at CRT Interiors.
- Sizing your TV
- speaker locations
- Mounting options
- Viewing height
- Viewing distance
- Lighting
- Window treatment
Good luck.
