Home Theaters

For anyone striving for authenticity to the theater experience at home, several things are needed. Some of these will have to be jury-rigged, but still, a small, concerted effort will give very satisfying results.

As discussed before, the sound of the theater must be realistic, which means that the sound you wish to hear must be clear and reasonably loud at times, while the external noises, and the noise that your theater experience is making, must be separated from each other. This assures happy watching and happy neighbors.

Bass rumbling will be very difficult to stop completely, but if the midrange extensions are effectively dealt with, no one will directly associate the problem with your theater experience. This same muffling of the mid and high ranges so as to not move beyond the theater walls will keep the noise outside -there.

these were found online, and not only do the job of noise control, they personalize your home theater

Not everyone has the funds to treat the room with Sonex, or similar absorbent materials. Some significant others will object to materials like this inhabiting the living room permanently. This cramps the style of the theater that uses a non-dedicated room, but can be dealt with on a per use basis.  Heavy batted curtains can be used, as discussed before, but not everyone will want these heavy curtains to be in place constantly. The ticket here is to make the improvised noise abatement devices extremely easy to install and remove. If it takes less than five minutes to install, and the same amount of time to break down, the chances are high that your usage will not hamper the general good feelings of anticipation of the upcoming event. Never underestimate the use of materials previously purposed elsewhere. For example, if your windows are not huge, small cup hooks can be placed behind the curtain rod, and eyelets installed on large throw pillows, which when the popcorn is getting ready, the pillows can be hung from the cup hooks, and at the bottom of the window, more pillows can sit, leaned in, on the sill. When the movie is over, the pillows go back on the divan, or in a corner, ready for overflow seating.

these are cheap, work well to stop noise in both directions, and work as overflow seating should the need arise

Speaking of refreshments, don’t skimp here. Realism requires a small effort, but the small differences will be appreciated. High quality popcorn, with real clarified butter, makes the home theater at once like, yet better than what one drives to see. (It’s healthier than the stuff with palm and coconut oils also - so forget about the calories, and accept that the butter calories are a wash, but your health comes out on top.) Have small confections available for your guests, or yourself if alone, it’s always good to feel comfortable with the things you are consuming during the movie. Drinks should be cold before the start of the movie, because nothing kills the effort more than watered down soda.

yes - that’s the ticket! buckets can be bought from most theaters, and are another little touch of realism

No one knows exactly how well anyone else sees in low light, and, although there is a pause button, that’s not part of the theater experience, is it? If you have your room ‘theater-dark’ you will likely need a couple of small floor lights to help others on their way to your bathroom. Small old fashioned Christmas tree lights, or bathroom night lights that fluoresce are the key here. Just enough light to see, but not distract from the movie for others is what you want. If you are decorating your dedicated theater room, you lucky soul, small low voltage halogen lights of the proper color would be nice - if you are really tricky, you can ‘bring up the house lights’ at the end of the movie! Another possibility is putting the lights slightly above and behind your storage facility for the media. This will allow movie changes easily, for ‘double headers’, and also allow you to show off your collection, while providing ambient light for bathroom runs.

these low voltage devices will fit in many tight places, and can be aimed away from the viewer’s eyes, so not to distract, but provide light - for temporary installations, a finished 2×4 36″ long with 4 of these and a well hidden extension cord, can be part of the stuff that goes back in the closet when not in use.

the bulbs are also available in several tints, so that the right effect can be obtained

  there is stuff made for home theaters - if you wish to spend for it

More on the experience to come - investigation continues as I go to see the ‘really big screen’!

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