Home Theater System FAQ: Your Questions Answered

The Most Common Home Theater Questions in One Place

Southern Cinema has been designing and installing home theater systems in the Cumming, Georgia area since 1997, and in that time, we’ve heard just about every question out there regarding private cinemas. To make the process of deciding on the best type of home theater for your property, we’ve put together this quick FAQ on the topic. Check out the answers below, and then give us a call if you still have questions!

Q: What Do I Need in Order to Create a Home Theater?

A: At its most basic level, a home theater requires a room, surround sound, and either a projector and screen or a television. However, a true high-quality theater will include a lot of other elements, such as special seating, acoustic treatments, proper lighting design, and more. Even the size, shape, and layout of the room can have an impact. These high-end theaters go far beyond the sum of their parts to create a full cinematic experience.

Q: Is a Dedicated Theater Better than a Media Room?

A: It’s entirely up to you! Generally speaking, a dedicated home theater will have a better viewing and listening experience because the room will be completely optimized for that purpose alone, while a media room or family room will need to accommodate other uses. But you need to consider which style of room will bring the most value to your lifestyle—if you’re the type of person who wants to enjoy all different types of activities in the space, a multipurpose media room might be a better fit over the high-end theater experience of a dedicated room.

Q: Will Any Seating Work for My Home Theater?

A: Technically, yes, but we wouldn’t recommend it. Certain seating styles can affect the acoustics in the room or impact the viewing abilities of other movie-watchers. The best approach is to use seating designed for theaters.

Q: Indoor or Outdoor: Which is Better for Home Theaters?

A: We’ve actually dedicated an entire blog post to this topic: Indoor vs. Outdoor Home Theater Systems. Each style has its own benefits, so again, it comes down to personal preference.

Q: Can a Home Theater System Really Match the Quality of a Commercial Theater?

A: That’s a question we hear a lot, and the short answer is yes, but the key word there is can. While it definitely is possible for the theater to be even better than a commercial theater, the quality of your home theater will depend greatly on the level of care that goes into the installation process and the quality of the components you use.

Q: How Much Will It Cost / How Long Will It Take to Install a Home Theater?

A: Is the project for new construction or a retrofit of an existing home? Are you bringing in an interior designer or sticking with the basics? How large of a theater do you want? All these questions and more will impact timelines and project cost, so the best way to find out the answer is to speak with a home theater professional. After an initial assessment, we can give you a quote with concrete details.

Q: How Do I Get Started?

A: If you’d like to learn more about the options for adding a theater to your home, the best step forward is to give us a call. We can talk through the different options based on your goals. You can also schedule a visit to our showroom, where you can experience firsthand what it’s like to watch a movie or TV show in a room optimized for that purpose. Just give us a call at 770.888.8848 or fill out this quick form to schedule an appointment.

Have other questions? We want to hear them! Leave a comment below, and we’ll be sure to get back to you.