Setting up a home theatre in Kerala: Things to remember

With the rise in popularity of OTT platforms, every home in Kerala is becoming a mini-theatre. However, there are several things to consider when setting up a home theatre.

Room
Room selection is the first and most important consideration when setting up a home theatre. Rectangular rooms can cause sound irregularities. The screen should be placed on a smaller wall, close to the main speakers. Ideally, the room chosen for the home theatre should not have windows. Windows reflect sound, affecting the audio quality, and let in light, affecting the visual experience. Correcting these issues can add significant costs. A simple and effective solution for sound control is using cardboard boxes filled with egg cartons.

While plain walls are suitable for sound control, avoid large expanses of free space. To address this, use wood panels intermittently on the walls or consider specialized sound absorption panels designed for home theatres. Sound plays a crucial role in a good home theatre experience. Advances in speaker technology and competition among leading speaker manufacturers have made high-quality speakers readily available.

Placement
A typical 5.1 surround sound home theatre system uses three speakers and a woofer at the front of the room. The other two speakers should be placed on either side of the seating area. Speakers should be placed at least 20 inches away from the walls. Ensure that all seating provides an optimum viewing angle and is spaced appropriately. For example, with a 60-inch screen, seating should be approximately 7.5 feet away.

Woofers
The subwoofer is a crucial element of a home theatre system. Several channel configurations are available, such as 2.1, 5.1, and 7.1. The first number indicates the number of speakers, and '.1' represents the subwoofer. Subwoofers are essential for reproducing low-frequency, powerful sounds. Many speakers struggle to deliver the low bass found in genres like jazz, blues, and classical music; this is where the subwoofer excels. A 5.1 home theatre system typically includes two front speakers, two surround speakers, a centre speaker, and a Low-Frequency Effects (LFE) channel or subwoofer – a total of six channels. For most home theatre setups, 5.1 is ideal.

Speakers
Various speaker types are available, including centre channel speakers and tower speakers. However, the choice should consider the size of your TV and subwoofer. A large speaker with a small subwoofer is not effective and won't deliver the desired sound quality. Tower speakers are unnecessary with a small TV. To prevent sound reflection off the walls, use carpets, curtains, or drapes.
Home theatre systems are available in the market ranging from ₹15,000 to ₹15,00,000. The choice depends on your room's suitability and your specific needs.