Home Theatre near you

The wall decides how the mount is attached. On drywall, the mount must be fastened into the studs or with anchors rated for the load; old plaster on lath can crack and hides studs that are harder to locate; brick, block and concrete need masonry anchors and the right drill. Check the mount's rating against the TV's weight and size, and remember that an articulating arm pulls harder on the wall when extended. A single TV on a solid wall, with cables in a surface channel, is often a job for a handyman.

Hiding cables inside the wall looks cleaner but comes with rules. Only cable made and rated for in-wall use belongs there, and a TV's power cord must never be fed through the wall, so power behind the screen comes from an outlet installed by an electrician. Many wall cavities contain horizontal fire blocking that the installer has to work around and seal again where cables pass, and cable running through an air-handling space or a shared wall may need a higher fire rating. Keep low-voltage cable crossing power wiring rather than running alongside it, to avoid hum.

Sound often does more for the experience than a bigger screen. The right setup depends on the room, how much wiring you're willing to hide and who else lives in the house.

Before cutting holes for built-in speakers, the installer checks the ceiling for joists, ducts, pipes, wiring and insulation, and may use back boxes to limit sound leaking into the room above. Under an attic, those openings must also keep the air and vapour barrier intact.

A room with hard floors, bare walls and large windows echoes, and dialogue turns muddy however good the speakers are. Acoustic treatment tames those reflections: area rugs, upholstered seating, heavy curtains, bookshelves, and fabric-wrapped panels where sound first bounces off the side walls, with bass traps in the corners if the low end booms.

Treatment isn't soundproofing. Treatment improves how the room sounds; soundproofing keeps sound from reaching bedrooms, the floor above or a neighbour, and relies on construction such as added mass, decoupled drywall, insulated cavities and sealed gaps. If the theatre shares a wall or floor with someone who sleeps, plan soundproofing with a soundproofing contractor before the drywall goes up.

Basements suit media rooms because they're dark and away from bedrooms, but they bring constraints. Moisture comes first: electronics, speakers, fabric panels and projector screens don't tolerate damp air or water, so leaks, efflorescence or a musty smell should be dealt with before finishing. A dehumidifier helps, and equipment should sit off the floor in case of a flood or sewer backup.

Low ceilings, beams and ducts limit where a projector, screen and ceiling speakers can go, and bulkheads often end up hiding cable runs. Ventilate equipment cabinets, since receivers and amplifiers give off heat in a closed space, and keep access to cleanouts, valves and the electrical panel.

A large screen, a receiver, powered subwoofers, a projector and a game console can overload a shared circuit, especially in a basement where the same circuit may feed lights and other outlets. Tripped breakers or warm plugs are warning signs, and power strips plugged into each other behind the cabinet are a fire hazard. New or dedicated circuits, outlets behind the screen or in the ceiling for a projector, and whole-home surge protection at the panel are jobs for a licensed electrician, never do-it-yourself work.

Under ESA's rules in Ontario, the only people you can legally hire for electrical work in your home are Licensed Electrical Contractors and the electricians they employ. In Quebec, the CMEQ points out that only a master electrician may carry out electrical work for others, directly or through their employees. At the cabinet, a good surge protector made for electronics adds a second layer of protection for sensitive equipment.

Streaming at the best picture quality depends on a steady connection. A network cable to the media cabinet is more reliable than Wi-Fi, especially in a basement, and a small network switch there can serve the TV, the console and the receiver. If the signal is weak, see the home networking page for mesh systems, access points and cable runs.

Smart TVs and streaming devices are connected devices like any other. Get Cyber Safe recommends changing default usernames, using strong passwords, turning on automatic updates and switching off features such as cameras, microphones and Bluetooth when you're not using them. Ask the installer to set up the remote, the apps and the input names so everyone can use the system, and to leave a short written guide.

A home theatre should work for everyone who watches. Plan these features from the start, since some depend on wiring and placement.