What NOT To Do In Your Home Theater! - Blu-ray Forum

DarkDune · 07-24-2009, 08:02 PM

Lots of advice on what to do to improve your Home Theater. Anyone have some suggestions -- from personal experience if possible -- on what NOT to do in your Home Theater?

Let the stories roll!

Fors* · 07-24-2009, 08:11 PM

Never run just a single line of anything thru the walls. Always run at least a second line (HDMI cables, Component Cables, speaker wire, etc....) because if you ever have a problem with the cables/wires, you are basically screwed or you will be really inconvenienced in trying to run them thru the walls at a later date. Always run a "back-up" run of cables/wires from the start!!

Also, never allow anyone to use your speakers or subs as an end table or your kids to save the princess in the tower from the mean old dragon....both of these are self-explanatory.

DarkDune · 07-24-2009, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by forsberg21

Never run just a single line of anything thru the walls. Always run at least a second line (HDMI cables, Component Cables, speaker wire, etc....) because if you ever have a problem with the cables/wires, you are basically screwed or you will be really inconvenienced in trying to run them thru the walls at a later date. Always run a "back-up" run of cables/wires from the start!!

Really good advice!

sarge1976 · 07-24-2009, 08:31 PM

If you have cats, get them declawed before buying a new pair of speakers! I now have little "pills" on my speaker grills

Another_Dude · 07-24-2009, 08:34 PM

Don't buy the Bose Cinemate system.

My buddy did against my advice, and after setting it up it went back to Best Buy and we got him a AVR and speakers.

Beta Man · 07-24-2009, 09:04 PM

don't setup the projector until you're finished building the room...... The build just takes FOREVER if you don't have the proper motivation.

dolphinc · 07-24-2009, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by forsberg21

Never run just a single line of anything thru the walls. Always run at least a second line (HDMI cables, Component Cables, speaker wire, etc....) because if you ever have a problem with the cables/wires, you are basically screwed or you will be really inconvenienced in trying to run them thru the walls at a later date. Always run a "back-up" run of cables/wires from the start!!

Also, never allow anyone to use your speakers or subs as an end table or your kids to save the princess in the tower from the mean old dragon....both of these are self-explanatory.

Really good advice, also never host a cock fight in your HT area, not easy cleanup.

Irrob · 07-24-2009, 09:15 PM

Never, I mean NEVER plug any of your gear directly into a wall outlet. At a minimum, get a surge protector.

genkifd · 07-24-2009, 09:32 PM

before playing around with electrical gear (speaker wires etc) - turn off the power first...... you can blow your reciever.....

Brain Sturgeon · 07-24-2009, 09:47 PM

Always measure two or three times before cutting/drilling, etc. Remember that the size of lumber is not what it is actually called-- it's a 1/2" shorter. A 2"x8" is a 1.5"x7.5". Do your math multiple times before making final cuts/drilling/etc.

Get yourself a good speed square if you're building anything that involves right angles (framing of any sort).

Don't be afraid to cut holes in drywall to run cable/conduits. Your finished product will look much better and drywall repairs are surprisingly easy.

If you're installing your home theater in the basement, make sure that it is 100%, no-holds-barred, lock-stock-and-two-smoking-barrels floodproof/septic-tank-overflow-proof. QueueCumber (Jeff Kalman) over at AVS had a beautiful, Rives designed listening/theater room with easily over $100k worth of gear that was just ruined by a septic tank back up and overflow.

ALWAYS pick the larger screen or you'll lament it later.

Oh, and.... Stay thirsty, my friends...

Ofcrlunchbox14 · 07-24-2009, 10:09 PM

any suggestions on where to run speaker wire if not through the walls. pulling up the carpet would probably be a little difficult for me. maybe just a throw rug to cover it up, lol

btf1980 · 07-25-2009, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Irrob

Never, I mean NEVER plug any of your gear directly into a wall outlet. At a minimum, get a surge protector.

I disagree. You should plug your power amp directly into a wall outlet.

PitbullMike · 07-25-2009, 06:42 PM

1.)Never put nick nacks on top of your speakers(even if its the wife's)

2.)Never place any gear(PS3,Power Conditioner etc)on the floor

and thats pretty much all I can think about

md99 · 07-25-2009, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dolphinc

Really good advice, also never host a cock fight in your HT area, not easy cleanup.

What?!?

Disky76 · 07-24-2009, 09:41 PM

Don't tell your friends that you have a new, front-projection hi-def theatre in your home without expecting them to always come over, repeatedly, and suggest to always have gatherings "at your house...since you have the theatre!!".

You will soon find that you rarely go out anymore. Because the party will always come to you.

DarkDune · 07-24-2009, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Disky76

Don't tell your friends that you have a new, front-projection hi-def theatre in your home without expecting them to always come over, repeatedly, and suggest to always have gatherings "at your house...since you have the theatre!!".

You will soon find that you rarely go out anymore. Because the party will always come to you.

And if you did, change the locks and don't give out the keys!

DBLN8 · 07-25-2009, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkDune

Lots of advice on what to do to improve your Home Theater. Anyone have some suggestions -- from personal experience if possible -- on what NOT to do in your Home Theater?

Let the stories roll!

Do not leave a can of cheese whiz on the sofa when your done watching a film, because if your chocolate lab is anything like mine it's going to be all over the front of your telly and the walls and all things surrounding your telly when she comes down during the night to munch on the pressurized can...

all good it cleaned up but she was in the "dog house" untill that afternoon

xneox · 07-26-2009, 02:07 AM

Do NOT be afraid to go all MacGyver on your stuff where needed and reasonable. I recently upgraded to pre-made speaker cables and really hated how they stuck up out of the speaker inputs.

Looks like my speaker is getting a fillup:

So I was thinking this morning as I lay in bed...why don't I just flip 'em?

Four screws each:

Rotate, re-insert, and throw the screws back in:

And voila! Much better.

This was a simple fix, and if I never considered taking a screwdriver to my speakers as an option, I'd have been putting up with something I didn't have to. Do NOT be afraid!

Aerodude73 · 07-26-2009, 03:00 AM

Great Job "XNEOX" - I don't mind personally the "fill-up" look with my banana plugs, but if you're happy & it works -- that's ALL that matters! Nice work "McGyver"

Hammie · 07-26-2009, 03:09 AM

Great job with the mod!

Do they sound different? I wondered since you changed the direction of the connectors, if more power was going to the mids versus the highs?

j/k!!!

07-24-2009, 08:02 PM	#1
DarkDune Blu-ray Samurai Top ranked HT gallery Member since:Aug 2008 Home Theater Gallery:164 Blu-ray collection:280 Blu-ray reviews: 7	What NOT To Do In Your Home Theater! Lots of advice on what to do to improve your Home Theater. Anyone have some suggestions -- from personal experience if possible -- on what NOT to do in your Home Theater? Let the stories roll!

07-24-2009, 08:11 PM	#2
Fors* Moderator Top ranked HT gallery Top contributor Member since:Jan 2009 Location:Pottstown, PA Home Theater Gallery:160 4K collection:12 Blu-ray collection:142 Trading Score:11	Never run just a single line of anything thru the walls. Always run at least a second line (HDMI cables, Component Cables, speaker wire, etc....) because if you ever have a problem with the cables/wires, you are basically screwed or you will be really inconvenienced in trying to run them thru the walls at a later date. Always run a "back-up" run of cables/wires from the start!! Also, never allow anyone to use your speakers or subs as an end table or your kids to save the princess in the tower from the mean old dragon....both of these are self-explanatory. Last edited by Fors; 07-24-2009 at 08:45 PM.*

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07-24-2009, 08:31 PM	#4
sarge1976 Power Member Member since:Nov 2007 Location:Shillington,PA Home Theater Gallery:22 Blu-ray collection:1038 Blu-ray reviews:6 Trading Score:4	If you have cats, get them declawed before buying a new pair of speakers! I now have little "pills" on my speaker grills

07-24-2009, 08:34 PM	#5
Another_Dude Blu-ray Guru Member since:Dec 2008 Blu-ray collection:191 Blu-ray reviews:8	Don't buy the Bose Cinemate system. My buddy did against my advice, and after setting it up it went back to Best Buy and we got him a AVR and speakers.

07-24-2009, 09:04 PM	#6
Beta Man Moderator Top contributor Member since:Jan 2008 Location:Juuuuuuuust A Bit Outside.... Home Theater Gallery:4 Blu-ray collection:268 Blu-ray reviews: 18 Trading Score:25	don't setup the projector until you're finished building the room...... The build just takes FOREVER if you don't have the proper motivation.

07-24-2009, 09:15 PM	#8
Irrob Blu-ray Guru Top ranked HT gallery Top contributor Member since:Aug 2007 Location:USA Home Theater Gallery:49 4K collection:61 Blu-ray collection:880 DVD collection:16 Blu-ray reviews: 4 Trading Score:91	Never, I mean NEVER plug any of your gear directly into a wall outlet. At a minimum, get a surge protector.

07-24-2009, 09:32 PM	#9
genkifd Active Member Member since:Jul 2009 Location:Melbourne, Australia Home Theater Gallery:10 Blu-ray collection:259	before playing around with electrical gear (speaker wires etc) - turn off the power first...... you can blow your reciever.....

07-24-2009, 09:47 PM	#10
Brain Sturgeon Expert Member Top ranked HT gallery Member since:Sep 2007 Home Theater Gallery:39	Always measure two or three times before cutting/drilling, etc. Remember that the size of lumber is not what it is actually called-- it's a 1/2" shorter. A 2"x8" is a 1.5"x7.5". Do your math multiple times before making final cuts/drilling/etc. Get yourself a good speed square if you're building anything that involves right angles (framing of any sort). Don't be afraid to cut holes in drywall to run cable/conduits. Your finished product will look much better and drywall repairs are surprisingly easy. If you're installing your home theater in the basement, make sure that it is 100%, no-holds-barred, lock-stock-and-two-smoking-barrels floodproof/septic-tank-overflow-proof. QueueCumber (Jeff Kalman) over at AVS had a beautiful, Rives designed listening/theater room with easily over $100k worth of gear that was just ruined by a septic tank back up and overflow. ALWAYS pick the larger screen or you'll lament it later. Oh, and.... Stay thirsty, my friends...

07-24-2009, 10:09 PM	#11
Ofcrlunchbox14 Active Member Member since:Oct 2008 Location:Tampa	any suggestions on where to run speaker wire if not through the walls. pulling up the carpet would probably be a little difficult for me. maybe just a throw rug to cover it up, lol

07-25-2009, 06:42 PM	#13
PitbullMike Expert Member Member since:Jan 2009 Location:Texas Home Theater Gallery:14 Blu-ray collection:17 Trading Score:3	1.)Never put nick nacks on top of your speakers(even if its the wife's) 2.)Never place any gear(PS3,Power Conditioner etc)on the floor and thats pretty much all I can think about

07-24-2009, 09:41 PM	#15
Disky76 Active Member Member since:Nov 2008 Location:FL Home Theater Gallery:20 Blu-ray collection:61 Blu-ray reviews:6	Don't tell your friends that you have a new, front-projection hi-def theatre in your home without expecting them to always come over, repeatedly, and suggest to always have gatherings "at your house...since you have the theatre!!". You will soon find that you rarely go out anymore. Because the party will always come to you.

07-26-2009, 02:07 AM	#18
xneox Expert Member Member since:Jan 2009 Location:Hartford, CT	Do NOT be afraid to go all MacGyver on your stuff where needed and reasonable. I recently upgraded to pre-made speaker cables and really hated how they stuck up out of the speaker inputs. Looks like my speaker is getting a fillup: So I was thinking this morning as I lay in bed...why don't I just flip 'em? Four screws each: Rotate, re-insert, and throw the screws back in: And voila! Much better. This was a simple fix, and if I never considered taking a screwdriver to my speakers as an option, I'd have been putting up with something I didn't have to. Do NOT be afraid!

07-26-2009, 03:00 AM	#19
Aerodude73 Blu-ray Archduke Member since:Oct 2008 Location:Middletown, RI (MEMBER OF THE "ECPP")™ Home Theater Gallery:134 4K collection:423 Blu-ray collection:2493 DVD collection:7 Digital collection:3 Blu-ray reviews:9 Trading Score:31	Great Job "XNEOX" - I don't mind personally the "fill-up" look with my banana plugs, but if you're happy & it works -- that's ALL that matters! Nice work "McGyver"

07-26-2009, 03:09 AM	#20
Hammie Blu-ray Champion Top ranked HT gallery Top contributor Member since:May 2008 Location:Washington, DC Metro Home Theater Gallery:53 Blu-ray collection:545 DVD collection:12 Trading Score:12	Great job with the mod! Do they sound different? I wondered since you changed the direction of the connectors, if more power was going to the mids versus the highs? j/k!!!

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