5 Questions to Ask About Installing a Home Theater Surround Sound System

If you're looking for the ultimate performance from your home theater system, installing a surround sound system is an excellent investment. However, there are a few things to understand about the project and its benefits before diving in. Here are the home theater questions and topics to talk about with your installation specialist. 

1. When do you need this project completed?

Depending on how far along you are on your home theater installation project, finishing it with surround sound can take anywhere from a few hours to several weeks. If you're installing a home theater room in your home, include your surround sound wishes in the planning stages with your contractor. Installing the wiring and other features during construction will eliminate the need to retrofit the sound components. Talk to your local home theater installer early in the planning stages to coordinate the steps from start to finish.  

2. What kind of special features are you interested in?

Home theater surround sound technology is dozens of times better than it was just a few years ago, and it keeps improving. Three-dimensional sound, automatic acoustical adjustments, and room-specific setups are just the start. Your sound specialist will know all the best ways to maximize the potential of various components based on the layout of your home theater space. Discuss all of your system's special feature options with your contractor. 

3. What type of surround sound system would you like?

Surround sound technology for home theater systems has advanced so much that we now discuss the category based on the type of system you're referring to. While Dolby Atmos is one of the current trending systems, it may be more than you need for a simpler home theater setup. Discuss the many different types, sizes, and features of the numerous surround sound systems available. 

4. What is your home theater budget?

Because home theater surround sound systems are available at such a wide variety of performance levels and prices, it's essential to let your sound contractor understand the approximate amount of money you're budgeting for the project. Home theater surround sound systems cost anywhere from a few hundred to thousands of dollars. You can let your specialist provide you with some price point ideas or discuss the budget as a way to maximize your system for the money you're spending.  

5. Where in your home will your system be located?

Home theaters can fit into a variety of room types. Discuss your location with your contractor early in the planning stages. Your specialist can help tailor your system and sound components based on room type, size, and specifics, whether yours is in a basement, attic, separate home addition, or other space.