True Home Theater Costs Will Surprise You
Are you interested in installing a real home theater in your home? Maybe you dream of watching your favorite movies on a large screen with surround sound. However, the cost may scare you because you think there is a hefty price tag associated with home theater costs. Keep reading to find out more about the actual costs associated with creating your own personal home theater.
What Can You Expect To Pay?
A home theater ranges in price. You can set up one that fits into your budget, no matter what the budget may be. It can start as low as $500 if you have a setup that is intended for a beginner. However, the upper end of that cost can go as high as you want it to based on the equipment and setup you have. An average price range for a home theater is from $5,000 to $50,000.
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What Do You Really Need For a Home Theater?
Before we get into the cost of everything, let’s talk about what equipment you need for your home theater. There are some items that you must need for your home theater. There are other items that are on your want list for a home theater, depending on your budget.
Here are some items to consider for your home theater:
Device for Viewing
This could be a projector and screen or TV. If it is a TV, it should be larger than 50 inches. A screen and projector give you the best experience mimicking a movie theater.
Device for Media
A device that you use for viewing can be just about anything, such as a DVD player, Blu-Ray player, VCR, streaming device, or game console.
Speakers
A home theater system should have surround sound, which typically includes five speakers but can go up to nine, and a subwoofer. Or you could opt for a soundbar instead of the speakers.
AV Receiver
This should be the hub for your home theater and the place you plug in speakers, viewing devices, and media players. You can switch between all devices to control the volume and equalizer.
Cables and Wires
All devices must be connected with cables, such as RCA, VGA, HDMI, and digital audio. In addition, speakers must be wired to each other, which you have to do.
Upgrades to consider if your budget allows it
Soundproofing - if you can afford it, this is a great addition to your home theater system. It allows you to use your home theater system at a higher volume without disturbing your neighbors.
Lighting - most likely, your home theater space has at least one window. You want to ensure you have blackout blinds or curtains to cover up the window to reduce any glare that may be on your screen. You also need to ensure you have the proper lighting for your theater.
Seating - while you can have any sofa or chairs you want for your home theater, the experience will be heightened with theater seating, which could include reclining chairs, beanbags, or some other customized seating.
Acoustic Conditioning - this is not the same as soundproofing. This manages echoes, crossover noise, and reverberation. It provides a clearer sound.
AV Receiver
As mentioned above, this is the hub of your home theater system. For that reason, this is where you want to start. This can be the foundation for your home theater system on which you build everything else. You can find an AV receiver for as low as $149; however, keep in mind this is going to control everything about your home theater.
You may not want to be the cheapest one you can find. You want one that is able to handle and connect all of your devices. If you are interested in keeping your budget as low as possible, you should look for something in the $200 range. You want to shop around when looking in this price range. You want quality technology that is not temperamental. Be sure to read the reviews.
If you have more money to spend, you should look for a receiver in the $500 to $2,000 range. That is a wide range, and you want to compare the items. Be sure to get what you need and do not pay for the name.
Viewing Device
This is where you must choose between a TV and a projector and screen setup. First, take a look at the TV you have and determine if that is something you want in your home theater. If deciding to get a TV, stay in the 50 inches to 80 inches range. If you are going to go bigger, then get a projector and screen. For a TV, you must decide if you want HD or 4K, but 4K is probably the best solution. For a basic 4K TV at 50 inches, you can expect the price to range from $250 to $400. A mid-range one is going to cost $800 to $1,500.
If you are interested in a projector and screen, you still want to look for a 4K. There are features that impact the cost of a projector, including lamp type, brightness, resolution, portability, and other features. You want to do your homework and compare the options available to you. You should expect a basic projector to start at around $300. You can find them for less than that, but they probably are not the best quality. A mid-range projector will be between $500 and $1,500. A high-end projector is going to cost around $5,000.
Speakers
A large amount of your home theater costs is going to come from the speakers. This will make the largest impact on your experience. The sound quality is what makes your home theater. A 5.1 channel system gives you five speakers and one subwoofer. This is the base model and minimum amount you want to have. You can find this setup for about $100, but it is not going to sound good. It will not be balanced. If you are on a strict budget, you could spend about $200 on a speaker system. However, for a mid-range speaker system, plan to spend about $500. You will notice improved sound quality.
A high-end speaker system is going to cost between $5,000 to $8,000. These are going to be industry leading speakers, but you may not notice a huge improvement in sound. You do not want to find yourself simply paying for the name.
Wiring
You are going to need wiring and connection cables. You may have some cable around the house and, if not, can easily pick them up for a relatively low cost. Whenever you can, get gold-plated cables to give you the best picture. It would be best if you also had wiring for your speakers. You will have to do the wiring yourself, which is simple.
However, knowing which wire to get may not be. There is copper, silver, and gold wiring. Copper is the least expensive and costs less than $25 for 300 feet or $50 for higher quality versions. Silver wiring is more expensive, around $200 a meter. This is going to give you a clearer audio sound but may not be worth the price. You can most likely only find it at specialty electronics companies. Gold wiring gives you an even better sound, but the price is incredibly high.
Extras
Earlier in the article, we mention the extras that you could consider if your budget allows. These perks can really drive up your home theater costs. Perhaps you have been saving for this, and you have a large budget, you may want to add in some extra options.
Soundproofing and acoustic treatment for your home theater may be a consideration. The cost depends on the materials you use and if you choose to do it yourself or hire a professional. You could add some more drywall, add in decoupling and dampening, or put in carpeting.
It is hard to know exactly how much material you will need, but if you are adding drywall, expect to spend about $500. Hiring a professional could cost you $1,500 and up. If you want to soundproof your room yourself, it may cost you about $1,000.
Need More Help With Your Home Theater Costs?
A home theater may be a dream of yours that you have wanted for a long time. The one thing that is holding you back is the money. You may not have the extra cash to set up a home theater in your home. You can, however, save for it. If you are interested in getting some help learning how to save money for your home theater system, visit the Goalry Mall. We have countless resources available to help you. If you want to save money, our Mall can help you create a budget that helps you focus on saving all the money you need.
Maybe you do not want to wait that long, and you want your home theater faster; Goalry Mall has information about using credit properly to protect your credit score. So before you decide to make this large of a purchase like this on credit, come to the Goalry Mall and learn how it can impact you.
Conclusion
A home theater system can bring you a lot of enjoyment, especially if you are a movie buff or enjoy spending time at home with your family and friends watching movies. It can be a great way to have inexpensive nights in. That is after you get it all installed. Before you jump right into buying equipment for your home theater, read this article to find out the various pieces and how much they might cost you.