Home Entertainment: Mounting, Theater Sound and Whole‑Home Audio (The Straightforward Guide)

What a great system feels like

You press one button and everything wakes up at the right inputs and volumes. Dialogue is clear without being harsh, bass is tight rather than boomy, and there are no mystery remotes. The difference is thoughtful design and careful calibration — not necessarily the most expensive gear.

Start with the room

Room size and seating decide screen size, speaker placement and wiring. We plan gear around the space — not the other way around.

For open‑plan living rooms, we often recommend a high‑quality soundbar with a discreet sub and surrounds. For dedicated spaces, a properly specified receiver and speaker package with acoustic treatment delivers a step change in immersion.

Mounting done right

We pay attention to height and viewing angle so long sessions stay comfortable. Power relocation and low‑voltage routing keep the wall tidy and safe.

• Stud‑secure mount (fixed/tilt/articulating as needed)
• In‑wall power + low‑voltage passthrough for a clean look
• Soundbar mounting and cable concealment

Immersive sound without the guesswork

Even a modest system can sound excellent when setup is correct. We time‑align speakers, set crossovers, and balance the room so you hear detail and impact without fatigue.

• Speaker placement for clarity and impact
• Calibration: levels, distance, EQ
• Quiet, ventilated equipment racks

Whole‑home audio the easy way

Multi‑room audio should be effortless. We use Sonos or similar platforms for robust streaming, tidy in‑ceiling/in‑wall speakers, and simple volume controls. Zones can stay perfectly in sync or play independently across the home and outdoors.

Case study: Clean media wall, no wires

In Westport we replaced a bulky cabinet with a clean media wall: a 77‑inch display on a tilt mount, soundbar mount with hidden power and low‑voltage pass‑through, and equipment relocated to a ventilated closet rack. One remote controls streaming, cable and gaming. The room looks calmer and sounds better — because gear and cabling are now in the right places.

Home entertainment checklist

• Pick screen size for distance (not wall size)
• Mount at eye level; avoid neck‑tilt installs
• Calibrate audio for clarity before chasing more bass
• Hide power/low‑voltage for safety and aesthetics
• Centralize gear; keep the display area quiet and tidy

Choosing screen size and placement

Bigger is not always better — correct size depends on viewing distance and content. For 4K, many people like a seating distance of roughly 1.0–1.5× the diagonal (e.g., 8–10 ft for a 77‑inch). We consider room layout, sightlines and window glare to place the display where eyes rest naturally without neck tilt.

Mount the center of the screen near seated eye height, and angle it slightly down only when viewing is often standing. We measure, mark studs, and verify cable routes before drilling so the final result looks intentional, not improvised.

HDMI, eARC and gaming features explained

Modern sources demand modern connections. We specify high‑speed certified HDMI for 4K HDR, use eARC to return uncompressed audio from the TV to the receiver/soundbar, and enable ALLM/VRR on gaming systems for smoother motion. Long runs use active HDMI or HDMI‑over‑Cat baluns with proper bandwidth headroom.

We keep inputs labeled and consistent across remotes so switching is muscle‑memory. If you game, we balance low‑latency settings with accurate picture modes so sports and movies still look natural.

Atmos and speaker layouts that work

A clear center channel is half the experience — we size and position it so dialogue locks to the screen. For Atmos, we use in‑ceiling or elevation speakers placed symmetrically; if the room can’t support heights, a tuned 5.1 or 7.1 layout still delivers great immersion.

• Start with solid LCR (left/center/right) placement
• Use surrounds at ear height; heights above ear line
• Aim tweeters toward main seating, not the ceiling

Subwoofers: tight bass without boom

Bass behaves like room‑sized waves. One sub in the corner may be convenient but often creates peaks and nulls. We test positions (front wall, mid‑wall, opposing corners) and use phase, crossover and level to blend smoothly with the mains.

Dual subs help even out bass across a couch or multiple rows. After placement we run room correction and fine‑tune by ear so explosions hit with impact but voices remain clear.

• Target 80 Hz crossover to start; adjust by speaker size
• Phase‑match subs at the main seat; verify with sweeps
• Use isolation pads on suspended floors to reduce rattles

Acoustics that improve clarity

Bare rooms are echoey. A rug between you and the speakers, lined curtains and a few discreet wall panels at first‑reflection points can transform intelligibility. We prefer panels that match decor so upgrades feel designed, not tacked on.

In dedicated rooms we add bass traps and side/rear absorption in a pattern that balances liveliness with control. The goal is clear dialogue and precise imaging without a ‘dead’ feel.

Control that passes the family test

One remote (or a simple app) should do it all. We program activities like Watch TV, Stream, or Game so sources, inputs and lighting adjust together. Physical buttons for volume and power keep things intuitive; voice and keypads are great additions, not replacements.

We also leave a laminated quick‑start card near the seating area so guests and babysitters can operate the system without help.

Power, protection and ventilation

Behind the beauty is safety. We relocate power legally in‑wall, route low‑voltage separately, and protect equipment with surge suppression and a UPS where appropriate. Fans or passive ventilation keep receivers and media players cool so they last.

Cable labels at both ends and a tidy rack save future headaches — and make upgrades painless.

FAQ: quick answers

• Can I hide every wire? Yes — with in‑wall power and low‑voltage pass‑throughs.
• Do I need Atmos? Not always; a tuned 5.1 done well often beats a messy 7.1.4.
• Is Sonos ‘good enough’? For most homes, yes — and it integrates beautifully.
• How long does install take? Mounts are often same‑day; theaters vary by scope.