 The home entertainment center concept has evolved dramatically over
the past decade, from a single "tube" TV and a DVD player to
full-blown, high-definition multimedia centers. The technology today
offers a more immersive experience. And with a proper setup, you can
enjoy the full potential of the pride and joy of your living room.
Technologist and industry veteran Tom Campbell, who helped launch
high-definition TVs and played a key role in the recent emergence of
"Ultra HD," has some tips for setting up the ideal viewing space for
your home theater:
Control lighting
"While darkness is great in a big movie theater, it's not always
practical for your home theater. You'll need to manage lighting in
the room to ensure the best picture quality, whether you're enjoying
a family movie with the kids or watching the big game with friends,"
Campbell says.
Choose adjustable lighting. Place lights on a dimmer so you can
adapt the lighting level depending on what you're watching. Outfit
windows with shades that can easily be closed to further darken the
room. For times when the lights will be on, be sure to position
lights so they won't create glare on the TV screen. And, if
possible, avoid placing your screen in direct light from outside,
such as opposite a window.
Maximize TV positioning
Believe it or not, the TV's height or the angle at which your
eyes meet the screen can actually affect how good the picture looks.
If you're putting the TV on a stand, position the screen so your
eyes are level with the bottom third of the display. Generally, the
center of your screen should be no more than 42 to 52 inches above
the floor. If you don't already have your TV, for the widest viewing
angles, you want a plasma or an LED TV with IPS technology, like LG,
which ensures a good picture for off-angle viewing, both horizontal
and vertical.
"A TV over the mantel or fireplace may look nice, but that height
can mean an awkward angle for maximum viewing quality," Campbell
says. "Viewers may have to crane their necks to see well, and the
picture quality might be compromised."
An adjustable wall mount can help you adapt the angle of the TV
so you still have a straight-on angle and good picture. The wall
mounts can also help with different viewing arrangements or lighting
conditions, based on the time of day.
Find the optimal viewing distance
The best-quality equipment can leave you disappointed if you
aren't watching from the optimal viewing position. Sitting too close
to a large-screen "Full HD" TV can make the picture appear grainy.
Too far, and you'll lose the immersive feeling a big screen
provides.
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Opinions vary on what's the best distance from the screen for
viewing. According to Brian Markwalter, senior vice president of
research and standards for the Consumer Electronics Association, a
simple way to calculate the optimal viewing distance is to multiply
the diagonal size of your TV by two or three.
"That number will tell you how many inches you should sit away
from the screen for the best possible picture," he says. "Remember,
though, to measure from the screen to the point where your eyes
would be, not the back or front of the furniture you'll be sitting
on."
Keep in mind that in addition to the size of the screen, the
resolution will affect your calculations.
"Generally speaking," Markwalter says, "you'll want to sit
farther away from a larger screen, but if it has a higher
resolution, you can sit closer."
For example, a "4K" TV like LG's 84-inch Ultra HD TV offers four
times the resolution of typical HDTVs, meaning more detail, so
viewers get a crisp, clear picture from as close as 5 feet. If you
want a large screen in a small space, an Ultra HD TV is an ideal
solution.
Take care of sound quality
Campbell advises that, while you may love the look of your
hardwoods and hate to cover up the view from the picture window,
bare floors, walls and windows can make your home theater sound as
if it has an echo, or the sound may be too sharp and bright. On the
other hand, if the room is heavily padded with wall-to-wall
carpeting, heavy drapes and lots of cushioned furniture, you may
think sound seems muffled. A mixture of different surfaces and
materials can help ensure the best sound quality.
"Position the center speaker channel in the center of the screen,
either above, below or directly behind. Additional surround-sound
speakers should be placed around the room -- to the side, above or
even behind the audience," explains Campbell.
With a good-quality TV and some proper space planning, you can
ensure your home theater delivers the best viewing experience
possible.
[Brandpoint]
LDN 2013 Spring Home Improvement
Magazine
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