Installing surround sound in your home theater can be an expensive endeavor, but with some savvy planning and budget-friendly gear, you can create an immersive audio experience without breaking the bank. In this comprehensive guide, I'll walk you through the entire process of wiring a home theater for surround sound on a budget.
Choosing Surround Sound Formats
The first step is deciding which surround sound format you want to use. Here are the most popular options:
5.1 Surround Sound
This format uses 5 full-range speakers and a subwoofer. The speakers include:
- Front left and right - On either side of the TV screen
- Center - Above or below the TV to anchor dialog
- Surrounds - On the side and rear walls
- Subwoofer - Provides deep bass effects
The ".1" refers to the single subwoofer. 5.1 provides a very immersive experience and is easy to set up.
7.1 Surround Sound
This adds two additional surround speakers to a 5.1 system:
- Side surrounds - Located between the front and rear surrounds
The two extra speakers make for even more immersive effects. However, 7.1 requires more wires and speakers.
Dolby Atmos
Dolby Atmos adds height channels for overhead effects. This can be done by installing speakers in the ceiling or enabled speakers that bounce sound off the ceiling. Atmos requires special AV receivers and content. It provides the most immersive experience but at the highest cost.
For a budget home theater, I recommend starting with a 5.1 system. It provides excellent surround sound without the complexity of 7.1 or Atmos.
Choosing Speakers and Subwoofer
When buying speakers and a subwoofer on a budget, there are a few strategies:
- Shop sales for last year's models
- Consider speaker packages for savings
- Look for budget brands like Dayton Audio and Monoprice
- Buy refurbished or used equipment
- Start with a 2.1 system and expand later
Some great budget-friendly models to look for:
- Micca MB42X - Highly rated bookshelf speaker pair for fronts or surrounds
- Micca COVO-S - Compact speakers perfect for surrounds
- Dayton Audio SUB-1200 - Excellent entry-level powered subwoofer
A full 5.1 system can be pieced together for under $300 if you shop smart.
Planning Speaker Placement
Proper speaker placement is crucial for good surround sound. Here are some key tips:
Front Left and Right
- Place at ear level to the sides of the TV
- Angle inward slightly toward the central seating
Center Channel
- Place directly above or below the TV
- Closer to ear level is ideal
Surrounds
- Place to the sides of the seating at minimum
- Slightly behind is ideal
- 1-2 feet above ear level
Subwoofer
- Place in a corner for boosted bass
- Away from walls to reduce boominess
Experiment with moving speakers incrementally until you achieve the optimal balance.
Wiring Options
You have a few options for wiring your surround sound speakers:
Option 1: Speaker Wire
- Runs directly to each speaker
- Provides best sound quality
- Requires wire through walls and attic
Option 2: Wireless Speakers
- No wires between speakers and receiver
- Convenient but can affect sound
- Requires power at each speaker
Option 3: In-Wall Speaker Wire
- Built-in channels through walls
- Clean look but labor intensive
- Allow easy wall speaker installations
Speaker wire offers the best performance for the money. Wireless reduces clutter but may compress dynamics. Pre-wiring in walls takes lots of effort.
I recommend starting with regular speaker wire. It's easy to run along baseboards and under carpet temporarily before deciding whether to wire through walls and make permanent.
Running Speaker Wire
Here are some tips for neatly running speaker wire:
- Use 14 or 16 gauge oxygen-free copper wire
- Run wire along edges of walls and under carpet
- Stick down with flat cable hooks or cable ramps
- Paint wires to match walls for minimal visibility
For more hidden wiring, you can:
- Fish wires through walls and ceilings
- Run wire through crawl spaces or attics
- Use wall plates to hide connections
Buy spool of speaker wire and cut to custom lengths as needed. Leave extra slack to avoid strain.
Connecting Equipment
Follow these steps to connect your AV receiver, speakers and TV:
1. Receiver to Speakers
- Connect wire pairs to positive and negative terminals
- Observe polarity - don't reverse + and -
2. Receiver to TV
- Use HDMI cable for video and audio
- Alternative is optical/analog audio with RCA video cable
3. External Devices to Receiver
- Game systems, streamers etc connect via HDMI
- Use optical for audio-only sources like CD players
4. Power on and Configure
- Set speaker distances and crossover
- Adjust individual speaker volumes
- Enable any audio enhancements like Dolby Pro Logic
Take time to dial in the settings for optimal audio. Now you can immerse yourself in surround sound without going broke!
Troubleshooting Common Audio Issues
If you experience issues with low volume, no sound, buzzing or other audio problems, here are some things to check:
- Are all audio connections secure?
- Are speaker wires connected properly with good polarity?
- Is the source device output set correctly?
- Have you selected the proper input on the receiver?
- Are all speakers set to "small" or "large" correctly in the receiver settings?
- Is the volume turned up sufficiently on the receiver and TV/source?
- Are sound settings like Dolby enabled on compatible content?
- Is the room too echoey or are speakers too close to walls?
Carefully re-checking wiring and settings can fix many basic issues. Proper speaker placement also goes a long way.
With good planning and strategic budgeting, you can assemble an amazing surround sound system without overspending. Follow this guide and enjoy the sensory immersion that only multichannel audio can provide! Let me know if you have any other questions.